[name_m]Hi[/name_m] berries! I’m pregnant with my fourth child and have the name [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] on my short list (if it’s a boy, haha). My only concern is that I already have a son named [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] - and there once lived a famous poet named [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] [name_u]Spenser[/name_u]. Should this be a deterrent? In your opinion, is this something that the average American in 2017 would notice and think odd? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Other names I like well enough to use: [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Charles[/name_m] and [name_m]Truman[/name_m]… and of course I’m open to suggestions. Thanks.
I don’t think I would be helpful since I don’t live in [name_u]America[/name_u], but I think [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] are fine! Also, I’ve never heard of the poet but his last name is spelt [name_u]Spenser[/name_u], so I think it would be fine. Good luck! And I think [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] make good sibsets.
I’m not American either, but I don’t think it’s a problem. [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] [name_u]Spenser[/name_u] isn’t that well-known amongst the general population I don’t think; his work isn’t generally studied in schools so only those who are into classic literature would make the connection probably. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if people do, it’s not a bad or negative connection.
I don’t think it’s problematic - party because I don’t think a lot of people will make that connection and partly because it’s not a bad connection to have.
I’m American and my husband is Canadian. I got my Master’s in English Literature and he got his PhD in English Literature. I don’t think it’s an immediate association for most Americans. Each name is a familiar and established first name. It’s not like siblings named [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] and [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m].
I asked my husband what he thought of siblings [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and [name_u]Spenser[/name_u] and he said, “Are their parents big fans of the Faerie Queene?” So there are people who will see the connection but it would never be a bad association for the people who see it. [name_u]Spenser[/name_u] was one of the great English poets. I don’t think he’s taught in most high schools and he probably wouldn’t be taught in the freshman lit class non-English majors might be required to take.
I think you’re good but this might be better as a poll in the boys’ names forum.
I went to [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] [name_u]Spenser[/name_u] straightaway, but I had to study some of his works in university. It appears that most people aren’t familiar, so I wouldn’t be too concerned? Plus, the order is reversed, so with kids like, say, [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], I wouldn’t really make the association at all. I’m not sure I’d even notice it if there was a kid named [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] don’t introduce [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] right before [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] and I think you’ll be fine.
