I’ve gone back and forth with [name_u]Charles[/name_u] NN [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] so much. [name_u]Charles[/name_u] is my dad’s name, his dad’s name and his dad’s name. I would have been [name_u]Charles[/name_u] had I been a boy. On my mom’s side I have a favorite uncle, a favorite cousin, and a great great grandfather with the name. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband’s grandfather was [name_u]Clyde[/name_u], but his wife only ever called him [name_u]Charlie[/name_u]. The first time she met him she said he looked like a [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] and it stuck. Now here’s the rub. Our last name sounds like “mantis” minus the T. Is Charles/Charlie “Mantis” too close to [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_m]Manson[/name_m]? I go back and forth on whether our positive associations outweigh the negative and after reading the earlier threads on [name_m]Booth[/name_m] it has me wondering again because I had been leaning towards using it again. If you don’t think it’s usable, do you think it’s usable as a middle name? I have [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] and [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u] on my long list.
Absolutely wouldn’t have occurred to me, personally. Definitely usable in front, although Jasper Charles is amazing imho!
I guessed this was what you were going to ask, but that’s because my brain was looking for a problem. If I encountered a kid called Charles ‘mantis’ at work, I probably wouldn’t think any more of it. Charles is such a solid, sort of universal and timeless name, that I think it’s okay (unless your surname was literally Manson) (in fact, I feel like I knew a Charles Mason so 
). I do think Jasper Charles is particularly excellent though!
Thank you for the votes of confidence on [name_u]Charles[/name_u]. That makes me feel much better about using it. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband doesn’t mind the association at all (he loves my dad and would love to name a son after him) and I have a group of friends who are all name nerds who have also assured me that it’s ok to use, but my sister has said she wouldn’t use it at all because of [name_m]Manson[/name_m]. And she’s big into genealogy and loves when I name kids after ancestors (she’s childless by choice), so she also makes me second guess. However, she’s also the one I shouldn’t have listened to when it came to naming my third and sticking to the accidental N ending theme. Maybe I just need to stop talking to her about names. 
As for [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u], I appreciate y’all’s compliments. I love both names individually and I feel like [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] is THE name for a boy, but I struggle with the flow of [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u]. I think this is just a me problem, but it feels backwards to me. But I’m used to [name_u]Charles[/name_u] being in the front and ER ending names being in the middle. That’s the pattern in my family. I’ve posted about this before and everyone said just make it [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] instead of [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] so he doesn’t have to worry about anything going by his middle name, but the flow seriously bugs me. I can’t help it! Adding the [name_u]Dean[/name_u] on does help a bit though.
[name_u]Charles[/name_u] is completely usable imo. [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought is actually of [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] [name_m]Brown[/name_m]!
I don’t live in the US but I still know who [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_m]Manson[/name_m] is - if I met a [name_u]Charles[/name_u] M…. I wouldn’t link them. So I think you can use it if it doesn’t worry you!
Other assorted thoughts:
- You could have [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] as his first name (so no Charles) to sidestep any perceived problem
- I love [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] - it reminds me of my brother’s name, J@ckson [name_u]Charles[/name_u] - but [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] is spunkier! It works so well with your last name too.
- I think [name_u]Charles[/name_u] flows to your last name in a middle spot (if you decide to use it there) and, to me, the [name_u]Dean[/name_u] addition makes the name less cool and more clunky - the [name_u]Dean[/name_u] competes with [name_u]Charles[/name_u] as two sort of unrelated names (I think bc both one syllable names and stylistically and rhythmically very different). I find it much harder to say with your last name than without [name_u]Dean[/name_u]: [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] flows perfectly to my ear!
Nope, I totally didn’t see it until you pointed it out. [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] Mantis does not make me think [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_m]Manson[/name_m]. And with all of the family ties, I’m not sure you could use a different name 
I wouldnt have thought of it if it hadnt been mentioned. I think [name_u]Charles[/name_u] Mantis is fine!
It’s close, but not close enough to discredit it. I think you can pull it off, especially if you’ll be calling him Charlie as well; Charlie “Mantis” does not evoke Charles Manson to me at all! I think it’s safe, and clearly THE choice for you, so don’t sweat it!
ETA: I asked my mom and step mom, with no context, and while my mom didn’t jump to Charles Manson, my step mom did. So I think you’ll get some people who do think it, but it won’t be everybody! My mom also says you could go with nn Chuck to further avoid it! I still think Charlie works perfectly well, but Chuck is a great alternative!
I don’t think it’s too close to stop you from using it, especially with how much special meaning it has for you! [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] is also a lovely combo.
@TrulyBrilliant All of the men named Charles in my family either go by Chuck or Chuckie (my dad is both depending on who he’s talking to) including several who are still alive. I wouldn’t want to add to the confusion. Funny story. My mom is Sheron Kay and her twin is Karen Fay. Sheron Kay married Charles Elton and Karen Fay married Charles Hilton. Every time my dad and uncle see each other it’s, “Hey, Chuck! How are you, Chuck? Whatcha been up to, Chuck?” lol They get a kick out of it. 
But yeah, I agree there will likely be the occasional person who makes the connection. I think I’m ok with that. I do think our positive associations outweigh the negative.
Edit: I already have to explain sometimes why I chose Benton for my oldest because it’s a town name in my state and it seems weird to a lot of people here that we would choose it. I actually really enjoy explaining that he was named after his great great grandfather. It gives me an opportunity to talk about names! lol Maybe Charles will provide a similar opportunity.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] want to suggest [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] [name_u]Clyde[/name_u] as a combo! [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] sounds great, btw!
my first thought is [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_u]Charles[/name_u]!
First association is king [name_u]Charles[/name_u], but again I live where [name_u]Charles[/name_u] isn’t a common name at all and I have never met a real one ever, so I wouldn’t be the best person to be asked. I have no idea of [name_u]Charles[/name_u] [name_m]Manson[/name_m] is, too.
I think [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_u]Charles[/name_u] is the best. [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] is so sweet! Reminds me of the colour green and a happy child.