I’ve decided that I <3 surnames as first names. However, I feel weird using a surname that isn’t in our family tree. (How do you feel about that - is it feasible to use a surname that you don’t have in your family?)
I’ve been scouring and DH’s family has a few Herringtons. Do you think Herrington is usable? What sort of nicknames would he have? I can only think of “Harry” and I’m not a fan of that.
Also, many surnames end in “son”, “ton”, & the like. Our last name is Wilson. Is that too matchy?
Herrington is just too surnamey in my opinion. Especially with [name]Wilson[/name] as a surname. It just ends up sounding double barrelled. Herriot would sound better.
As to nicknames. Herry (not [name]Harry[/name] as the first sound is different) or [name]Ringo[/name]?
When I hear Herrington I think of herring and I smell fish.
Sorry.
EDIT
Herrington is very over-the-top to me. I would use it as a middle name (where over-the-top choices can make a name very distinguished) or consider something shorter and similar like Harris.
herrington reminds me of fish. I dont find it to be a very complimenting name sorry =( and it is too much of a mouthful matched with your last name.
If you really are set on it though, another possible nickname could be “[name]Tony[/name]”
and I agree strongly with southern.maple…[name]Harrison[/name] is a great name!! and has some similar sounds in it as herrington! I strongly recommend using that instead!
Herrington is definitely TOO surnamey in my opinion to be a first name and would sound overly pretentious, and it sounds kind of bad with [name]Wilson[/name]. Sorry! I agree with pps that maybe you could find a different name that was “inspired” by a family name if you don’t like any family names – this is what I would be doing if I were you. I’m all for family names for kids, but I prefer to keep surnames to the middle spot. And first name surnames that are not in your family tree do not go over well with me. It makes me think the parents were trying to sound fancy or rich or something. I should qualify that I’m only talking about surname-y names because many surnames are actually first names: [name]James[/name], for example.