I’ve been looking for a middle name for [name_m]Clark[/name_m] and I can’t get [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] out of my head lately. Biggest problem in my mind is that I’ve never really liked names that are so completely tied to one person and I’m really not a fan of Dickens (Although I will say that the muppet version of a [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] [name_f]Carol[/name_f] is fantastic). I do love the idea of [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] as a symbol of reform. I know it won’t likely come up very often being a middle name and all, but my due date is 11/21 and I will likely deliver closer to the 28th. It seems like anything after thanksgiving around here is [name_u]Christmas[/name_u], so I’m wondering if you think its appropriate, too much, or silly to consider.
Also, I’d like some general thoughts on [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] as a combo.
We are also considering [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] [name_m]Damien[/name_m].
While I do love the thought of [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] (they sound really good together!)…I do see how it could potentially be a problem. Really, having your son in [name_u]November[/name_u] doesn’t make a difference than if you were having him in [name_u]June[/name_u]; most people will think of the Scrooge character after hearing [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]. That or they will start making sneeze jokes (many of my friends and I used to call the character Ebsneezer when we were kids…). I don’t know…it’s too risky (and believe me I’m nearly fearless when it comes to names…). It’s risky because 1) the character was mean (even though later he turns around) 2) kids already find the name very funny (ones I’ve met any way)
It sounds sooo nice with [name_m]Clark[/name_m]…but I think that the negatives definitely outweigh the positive. Sorry ( I know how you feel about the tied-to-one-person names…if it wasn’t for exactly that one person my son would be named [name_m]Eros[/name_m] and a future daughter would be named [name_f]Madonna[/name_f] haha)
Have you considered [name_m]Eben[/name_m] as a middle name instead (it takes out the sneeze jokes as well as the character association but keeps the beginning sound of [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]…)? [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Eben[/name_m] sounds nice.
[name_m]Oscar[/name_m] [name_m]Damien[/name_m] is nice as well.
I think as a mn [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] works really well.
For me it’s to Scrooge (pre-reformy) but, if for you it symbolizes the reform then I think it’s a brilliant choice to use.
Please consider it just the way it is and don’t shorten or bastardize it to something else.
It’s a distinguished Old Testament name that is so under-used because of the character.
It is rather handsome and has a great sound to it. Go for it.
You are considering it as a mn not a fn so most people won’t even know that [name_m]Clark[/name_m] E is [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]
it’s not like you are saddling your child with a name that will be difficult throughout adolescence.
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] has strong family ties for me, so I’ve always thought of that over Scrooge. Most people are going to go to Scrooge straight away though. I don’t want to call it unusable because it isn’t. It’s just really risky. He’s either going to hate you for it or be really neutral about it. I like [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] a lot more than [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] [name_m]Damien[/name_m]. Maybe [name_m]Eliezer[/name_m] if you can’t commit to [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]?
I’ve put some thought into using just [name_m]Eben[/name_m] or [name_m]Ezra[/name_m], but I much prefer the flow of [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] with our last name. I hadn’t thought of Ebsneezer, but it doesn’t seem that bad to me, not like having fart in your name.
@southern.maple - We also prefer [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] to [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] [name_m]Damien[/name_m]. Its just strange because usually we have settled for a safer option.
I am afraid that [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] just keeps growing on me. In addition to a symbol of reform, I also think the biblical connection gives it strength. It also appears in “come thou fount of every blessing” which is such an inspiring hymn.
So here’s the big problem. My Husband is completely on board! Usually, he brings me back to earth whenever I suggest anything “too weird”, but since its in the middle he has absolutely no objection. I even tried talking names with him last night and he told me that he thought we had already decided on [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]. So I need some severe backlash so I can test how much I am willing to put up with.
I don’t like the idea of choosing a “shocking” name just to get attention, but I really like [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m].
It doesn’t make me think of [name_u]Christmas[/name_u], but definitely makes me think of Scrooge. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m] or [name_m]Eleazar[/name_m]? [name_m]Endymion[/name_m]? Englebert?
Hah, for me [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] is just the name of the church I’m attend every once in a while - so I don’t associate it with [name_m]Charles[/name_m] Dickens… But I admit I may have associated it with him, if it hadn’t been for my church.
But [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] is such a lovely name… I actually say you go for it. [name_m]How[/name_m] often do you hear the middle names of people?
I don’t associate the name with [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]. However I can see the problem where people might say, “[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]? Like [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] Scrooge?”. People should not say this because it is rude but i think it might happen. But if you don’t think you will have a problem with that then use it!
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_m]Eleazar[/name_m]? Is it el-lee-AY(like the letter A)-zar? Or is it el-AY-zar? Or is it something entirely different? If it is el-lee-AY-zar then I like the flow just as well, but it wouldn’t hold the same meanings to me as [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]. It would just be a name that I have never heard of. On the other hand, it wouldn’t carry any of the Scrooge burden.
I mean people will associate with Scrooge and say it… but at the end of the day I do not believe it to be that bad of an association.
After all it is a middle name… and the story did have a happy ending
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] just makes me think ‘geezer’. Perhaps [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], [name_m]Clark[/name_m] Jeduthan, [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gideon[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Eleazar[/name_m] is E-[name_u]Lee[/name_u]-Zer, but I might be mistaken.
To me the name is highly associate with the character, but more problematic are the ugly sounds in the name “eeze” isn’t a nice sound. Geezer,Sleaze,Weezer…nothing pleasant there at all.
I actually really adore the name [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m].
It represents remembering a place and time when God helped you–his faithfulness. And of course the connection to Scrooge is a strong one, but he learned to focus on the important things in life.
I know it’s not a beautiful name and that people connect it with crotchetiness but I still like it.
This is one of my very favorite guilty pleasure names. In fact, if my next one is another boy I may throw all caution to the wind and go for it. Such an awesome meaning, and I find it to be hipster/geek chic. I’m leaning towards the nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]. For a middle I think it would be grand with [name_m]Clark[/name_m]!
[name_m]Eben[/name_m]-ezer means “hitherto has The [name_m]Lord[/name_m] helped us”. An [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] is something you look back on and know The [name_m]Lord[/name_m] was particularly near or helping you through it. Thus raising an [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] means recalling to mind how The [name_m]Lord[/name_m] has carried you. It was used much among Christians in previous centuries. The [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] carol character doesn’t even come to mind for me. If you use it, understand the meaning and be ready to give reason for using it. With really different names you don’t want your answer for using it to be “we just thought it sounded so nice with this other name.” You know? It’s a good strong name.
( I know how you feel about the tied-to-one-person names…if it wasn’t for exactly that one person my son would be named [name_m]Eros[/name_m] and a future daughter would be named [name_f]Madonna[/name_f] haha)