I just realized I may have a problem with initials

queenbone · September 2012

Because very few names we like start with vowels, we don't have to worry much about initials spelling bad things. But as I was putting away water bottles with the boys' initials on them I started thinking about potential DS3's initials. They'd be GBW. Which sure, isn't exactly the same as George W. Bush, unless we got something with the monogram with the LN in the middle... then he would be GWB. This is totally unappealing to me.

I have thrown George off our list in the past because I don't like the idea of him going by George W. in school if there is more than one George in his class. George is a family name for me and one that DH, DS1, and I all really like so it is a good compromise name for us.

If you are not a fan of Bush, would this bother you and make you reconsider the name George?

tcfreedom · September 2012

It would not keep me from using a name that has family meaning.

persephonerose · September 2012

I would not reconsider. I would not have made the connection unless you pointed it out.

strawberrytree · September 2012

Heh, my son is a GB!

I guess for me it would depend on how much stuff we got monogrammed. If everything he owned was monogrammed, then tbh it might make me cringe every time I saw a monogram GWB. If you don't monogram stuff constantly, it'd be no big deal for me.

RedCardinal · September 2012

I wouldn't reconsider. I would have never even thought twice about the George W Bush same initials thing. George is great, and I love that it's a family name.

swimiz500 · September 2012

Well, George is not super popular, so he isn't likely to be one of 10 Georges and need to be known as George W., so I wouldn't worry about that. And I am not a Bush fan at all (quite the opposite, in fact), and I still wouldn't let that deter me. I doubt anyone would make any kind of connection to it. I'd say go for it!

queenbone · September 2012

strawberrytree:
Heh, my son is a GB! I guess for me it would depend on how much stuff we got monogrammed. If everything he owned was monogrammed, then tbh it might make me cringe every time I saw a monogram GWB. If you don't monogram stuff constantly, it'd be no big deal for me.

That's a good point. So far neither boy has anything monogrammed. We aren't really monogrammers, but the potential is there. And I have been thinking about getting duffel bags for both boys and putting their monograms on it.

queenbone · September 2012

swimiz500:
Well, George is not super popular, so he isn't likely to be one of 10 Georges and need to be known as George W., so I wouldn't worry about that. And I am not a Bush fan at all (quite the opposite, in fact), and I still wouldn't let that deter me. I doubt anyone would make any kind of connection to it. I'd say go for it!

True, but I do occasionally hear George around here. And just my luck he would have two in his class. Considering my Francis just had a Frances in his swim class of only 6 kids, you just never know.

g8trkim · September 2012

I think you're way overthinking it. Plus once he's in school we will be a few terms past George W. Bush and most people won't even think twice about it.

kacelle · September 2012

It would not keep me from using the name. Also, boys' monograms don't place the LN in the middle; that's the girl monogramming standard.

austenreader85 · September 2012

MelRC117:
I would have never thought of it if you didn't point it out. TBH I think if I would connect George W. with any president it would be George Washington. George isn't popular so I don't think it would be an issue.

This. With just George W I'd think of George Washington, and wouldn't even think that if I knew the W was for a different last name. I also agree with the points that we will be several terms past Bush by the time he is in school that others won't think of it. You can also choose not to monogram and unless your dislike for him so deep, I think in a term or two there is potential for another president for you to dislike more. And I certainly would never give up a family name or one I loved over it. If I were choosing between a few, then maybe it would be worth crossing it off, but if I were entirely love then nope, not letting Bush get to me!

emilys629 · September 2012

You are way overthinking it. And this is from a person who had the initials EW. It literally made no impact on my life. My son's initials are LDS. We are not mormon and I'm not afraid of anyone thinking we are or that the initials are meant as anything.

FrickandFrack · September 2012

tcfreedom:
It would not keep me from using a name that has family meaning.

This.

meow78 · September 2012

"If you are not a fan of Bush, would this bother you and make you reconsider the name George? "

Yep!! Definitely.

TrudyCampbell · September 2012

You're over thinking it. I love the name George but unfortunately it doesn't work with my last name (Carlin)

rnbeth477 · September 2012

I like the name George, but I agree I would not want to name my LO George W. However, if you're using a different 1st name and GWB are just the initials I don't think it's a big deal.

EGMphoto · September 2012

I think you are seriously overthinking this.

pooman · September 2012

I love this post because we did the same thing. George is a family name. We were almost sure we were going to use it. Then I remember our most recent ex-president and it totally killed it for me. So for me, ESPECIALLY with similar initials, it would be dead in the water.