My husband read the name Holden in a name book and I really like it. Seems very cute for a young boy and also strong for a man. DH and I both have very popular names so we like that it is rare but also easy to spell and pronounce.
My question is this - do you think the kid will get too many "were you named after Holden Caufield from Catcher in the Rye?" comments? I know asking others for opinions on names is risky, but I thought this would be a good forum to get opinions from all over the place. I'm thinking that Catcher in the Rye isn't on as many reading lists as it was 10/20 years ago (in fact, I never read it in high school) but one of my friends isn't so sure.
Thanks ladies!
Re: Opinion on boy's name - Holden
It was on our short list of names. No, we weren't doing all literary names LOL!
I love it!
I'm sure Atticus will get lots of "were you named after Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird?" He can say what ever he wants. We didn't choose the name based on that, but if he thinks the idea is cool, he can say he was.
I immediately thought of Holden Caufield, and The Catcher in the Rye is still on a lot of school lists (nephew just read it and my co-worker's kid did too--different school districts).
However, I don't think there's anythng wrong with the name and if you like it you should go for it. A lot of people have names with a literary connection.
Catcher in the Rye is one of my fav. books, so I did think of that, but I still love the name!
Same.
I love this name. I say go for it. Even if people do think Catcher in the Rye when they hear it, I don't think it matters.
It's a pretty popular read around here, not that I think many people would remember the main character's name. I LOVE the name Holden and would be on my list but I have the whole name-predetermines-personality thing...he goes a bit nutso in the book and just can't bring myself to use it for my LO's name if it's a boy, though I wish I wasn't as superstitious!
I say go for it! And if people ask you if you got it from the book I'd proudly say yes! As you can tell from my SN I would take someone thinking I'm educated in literature as a huge compliment!!
I like it but i will say the first thing to come to mind is As The World Turns, there's a guy on it named Holden. Second I think the Simpson's and Bart doing his prank calls to the bar "Holden McGroin" or "*** Hurts from Holden"??
Agreed. It's a great book and a great name!
I thought William Holden
I'm not really a fan of the name. But I don't think you'll get too many of the "Catcher in the Rye" comments.
I do love the name Holden, I always have. But yes, I immediately think 'Catcher in the Rye'.
I always got 'Oh are you named after Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm?" which, even though I never read, older generations all seemed to have heard of. My name isnt even spelled the same, so yes, I think your son will hear that question quite often. HOWEVER it never really bothered me. I like my name, regardless of the association some people have with it. Im sure your son would feel the same
FYI, that guy's name was Hayden Fox, not Holden.