****I tried to post this with a poll and I think I dorked things up and can’t find it. I’m sorry if this is a duplicate.
I am two months away from having my first son after two daughters. If this were a girl’s name, I think this would be locked and loaded, but we are struggling so bad with boy names.
I originally had [name_m]Holden[/name_m] on my list, but my husband nixed it for popularity saying he hears it everywhere. I had even brought it up a second time, and then moments later we heard a mom call her little boy by the name, so the point was proven. He comes to my two nights ago saying all of a sudden he really likes it. I’m partly worried that this is just because we binge watched season 3 of the Expanse (whose main character is [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Holden[/name_m]).
The name works for us. It sounds good with our last name* (rhymes with [name_u]Parker[/name_u] but starts with an H), it sounds good with our daughters’ names ([name_f]Isla[/name_f] and [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]), and my oldest daughter even said she liked it (she’s almost 5 and hasn’t said that about any name so far).
*Finding a name that sounds right with our last name has been hard. My husband’s name is [name_m]Ian[/name_m], and the only names that have sounded right were names ending in -an/-en/-in.
Yet…I still have some potential qualms:
-It’s punny. “Holdin’ baby [name_m]Holden[/name_m]”
-It doesn’t have a nickname, unless I really try to squeeze “[name_u]Ollie[/name_u]” out of it.
And probably the most concerning:
-I’ve never read Catcher in the [name_m]Rye[/name_m].
From what I’ve read about the character, he doesn’t seem like that great of a person…or there’s a love/hate relationship with him. The internet is very polarized on this haha. I can play dumb, and I have a different character (the Expanse) that I can fall back on if someone asks this question, but I’m just wondering…should I read the book? Or will that ruin the name for me? Can I name my son [name_m]Holden[/name_m] without ever reading the book? [name_m]Will[/name_m] he hate me if he gets to high school and has to read it?
I have several semi-related thoughts, so I’m just going to list them out.
-“Holdin’ baby [name_m]Holden[/name_m]” simply isn’t a big deal/deal breaker. You can find a word play and/or a pun in most names if you try hard enough.
Instead of [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] use [name_f]Oly[/name_f]. I know someone who uses this nickname for another name and I think that it make sense for [name_m]Holden[/name_m].
Nicknames don’t have to be related to a given name. There are infinite pet names available.
[name_u]Read[/name_u] Catcher in the [name_m]Rye[/name_m] just to make sure you don’t absolutely despise the book. It is okay if the book isn’t your favorite, but make sure that you can stand it. Others (colleagues, acquaintances, relatives, etc.) might assume that your [name_m]Holden[/name_m] is named after/inspired by [name_m]Salinger[/name_m]'s [name_m]Holden[/name_m].
[name_m]Holden[/name_m] Caulfield isn’t a particularity likable character, but his wasn’t written to be. He is vulnerable, depressed, and afraid of responsibilities. He doesn’t know how to properly handle these feelings.
I think you need to read the book before making a decision about bestowing this name, since that is a strong and widespread association. You need to be sure you can live with people possibly assuming you chose it for that reason, even if they don’t say anything. And some people really do identify with the character of [name_m]Holden[/name_m] Caulfield.
For what it’s worth, I HATED the Catcher in the [name_m]Rye[/name_m], but I don’t really associate the name with it because I knew a [name_m]Holden[/name_m] long before I read the book.
I don’t think holdin’ [name_m]Holden[/name_m] is really going to be an issue. Like, a one time joke, maybe, and then it’s done. You’ll get something like that with 90% of names and I don’t think it usually need to be a deal breaker. Signed - a Sexy [name_f]Lexy[/name_f]. Annoying but not life altering.
The [name_m]Holden[/name_m] I knew didn’t really have a nickname, but I don’t think you really need one for 2 syllable names. I come from a big nickname family, most of the time they’ll just figure something out if there isn’t an obvious choice, or it could stem from something completely unrelated to their name anyway.
I agree with the above points, but just wanted to add: [name_m]Hal[/name_m] feels like a plausible nickname for [name_m]Holden[/name_m], if you like that? (I do!)
Or, if you’re willing to look beyond -n ending names, how about something similar in sound but without the literary association, like [name_u]Hollis[/name_u], [name_m]Harlan[/name_m], [name_u]Holland[/name_u] or [name_u]Hayden[/name_u]?
I have read the book and I wouldn’t assume you were naming after it! I think if you love it, use it! (Holdin a baby wouldn’t have occurred to me). The only problem I can see is lack of obvious nicknames- if that is important to you. My sons name doesn’t lend itself to nicknames and that’s been slightly annoying as we all end up calling him random things like “buddy”or even “lulu” which has absolutely no connection! But no nickname has really stuck. Maybe “hank” would work for [name_m]Holden[/name_m]!?
I don’t associate [name_m]Holden[/name_m] with that book. I know a [name_m]Holden[/name_m] and I don’t think his parents have read it. [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t think it’s a big deal. It’s a sweet name!
I’m super neurotic, but here’s how I break down the alternative suggestions. I appreciate so much you offering them, but I ruin everything lol:
[name_u]Hollis[/name_u]: I love this name. It’s actually a surname in a favorite book. HOWEVER, I feel like it’d come off too feminine. Or substitute teachers would read it as [name_f]Holly[/name_f]/[name_f]Holly[/name_f]'s/[name_f]Holli[/name_f]'s.
[name_m]Harlan[/name_m]: Sounds like an old man name, but not OLD man name like [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]. More like a grumpy 60 year old that yells at you to get off his grass and says things that offend everyone.
[name_u]Holland[/name_u]: I like this as well, but it’s the last name of a close co-worker that I don’t particularly like.
[name_u]Hayden[/name_u]: I’ve always liked the sound of this, but the -aiden names were so popular there for awhile. Also, my cousin’s son’s name is [name_m]Raiden[/name_m].
The nickname part is so funny. With our oldest daughter, I was deadset on having a nickname-proof name. My name is [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], and I grew up as [name_u]Alex[/name_u], and I’ve never particularly liked it. But kids are also mean, and it being androgynous was just an easy target. With our second daughter, I feel like we almost worked backwards from a nickname to seal her first name (we call her [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] like your son!). And I think I’ve become enamored with her having a nickname, that I kind of wanted one for my son, too.
I know someone mentioned pet names, and trust me, both of my kids have a handful of those, but it’s just not the same.
I really like the nickname [name_m]Iggy[/name_m], but I’m not sure it would make sense, nor do I like any name that I could squeeze [name_m]Iggy[/name_m] from.