[name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]? Does it help to know it’s a family name? Does it sound too odd even if you know it’s a family name?
I guess the real issue is people hearing it aren’t going to know it’s my husband’s grandmother’s maiden name and that there’s a “reason.” Our style isn’t generally surname-y, either. WDYT? [name_f]My[/name_f] husband is normally anti-surname but his [name_f]Nan[/name_f] was so wonderful (to me too, as well as him) that we could make an exception. There are no male FNs names from his side he’s fond of.
Other boys names we both like are: [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Dominic[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_m]Leonardo[/name_m], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], [name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_m]Judah[/name_m], [name_u]Owen[/name_u]/[name_m]Eoin[/name_m], [name_m]Damian[/name_m]. And then my own tastes skew clunky/Biblical and he gets weirded out.
He is very fond of Celtic wonders like [name_f]Roisin[/name_f], [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], [name_f]Niamh[/name_f], etc. for girls. But NOT [name_m]Gavin[/name_m], [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_m]Callum[/name_m], etc. for boys, mostly due to Gavins, Declans, and Callums he knows…
I’ve heard it as a surname here and there and actually I think it makes for a charming surname … But I suggest you place it in the middle spot. Not because its unusable but because it sounds like you guys have some ideas for some easier names that it think go really well with it. Maybe try some combinations out with the names you’ve selected together and see what you think
YES. [name_f]My[/name_f] answer is yes! It’s totally usable, totally adorable, and my absolute favorite name of ALL TIME!
I suppose I may be a little biased considering that this name is in fact, my #1 favorite boys name. But I do think it could work well as a first name, absolutely.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you pronounce it Cav-uh-naw? I have seen this as a last name but never as a first! I think it’s very neat, and would definitely use it as a middle name, especially because it’s a family name.
I think it would make a stately middle name. It’s hard for me to think of it as a first name. For example, if I were taking a voice message from a “[name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]”, I’d have to ask him to repeat his name at least once and then tell me how to spell it.
[name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m] is a nice name, I like it! I’ve always spelled it [name_m]Cavanaugh[/name_m], though, so that would confuse me.
If you’re worried about too surname-y, try [name_m]Cavan[/name_m]. Sounds a bit like [name_m]Gavin[/name_m], but with a C. I know a boy by the name and everyone I know thinks it is the sweetest name. I agree, it is pretty great!
Definitely useable. I would have to check the both pronounciation and spelling if I saw it or heard it, so would personally err to using it as a middle name as it is frustrating if you ALWAYS have to clarify your name, but it is not way too out there to write it off if you adore it as a first name. [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_m]Judah[/name_m] are all names I am partial to too.
I guess it depends on where you live, because here that is a common last name. Spelled with a c or a k. There were many cavanaughs in my school for example. For that reason I don’t see this as a usable first name at all. But I also don’t like surnames as firsts anyway so I’m biased. It would sound nice in the middle though.
I think it TOTALLY works. I’ve known guys named [name_m]Hart[/name_m], [name_u]Talley[/name_u] and Caulfield because they were family surnames(not in that same family, in case that wasn’t clear) and they worked for those guys. I also know a girl named McAllister, while her sister’s name is not at all surname-y and it works just fine. Surnames often really work on men and [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m] is really good. [name_u]Van[/name_u] or Cav are possible nickname options but I like it as a whole as well. [name_m]Hart[/name_m] and [name_u]Tal[/name_u] both had [name_m]John[/name_m] as their first name and went by the surname-y middles. Caulfield was called Fields and McAllister sometimes goes by [name_f]Ally[/name_f]. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!
I think [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m] is a little too much, and it’s hard to pronounce. Also, when looking at it, I’m not sure if I could find a simpler nickname to pull out of it. The fact that this is a family name does nothing for me.
I do [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] all your other boy names that you have listed, and because of this I suggest making [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m] a middle name to any of your other top boy names.
[name_m]Finnian[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Lysander[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Leonardo[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_u]Aidan[/name_u] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m] (this is the only one I dislike, just because of the EXTREME trendiness of [name_u]Aidan[/name_u])
[name_m]Judah[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_u]Owen[/name_u]/[name_m]Eoin[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
[name_m]Damian[/name_m] [name_m]Cavanagh[/name_m]
I think it’s a lovely way to honor someone who was so special to you both. I say if you love it - go for it. People will probably comment that it’s an unusual (though not unheard of) first name and you can tell the story of how you chose it.
