My hubby and I are STILL trying to find a name for baby #6. I am in love with [name]Hobbes[/name] [name]Johann[/name] ([name]Johann[/name] is a family name) but my hubby compares it to [name]Elmo[/name] in that the tiger connection is as strong as the puppet connection. I disagree because I think it fits beautifully into the surname-as-first-name trend and feels masculine but mischievous and charming–much like my second choice, [name]Oscar[/name], that my hubby has vetoed because of The Office. Sigh.
We’re actually making progress (although it doesn’t feel like it) because my hubby did make one real suggestion: [name]Wyatt[/name]. I love it but it is my younger brother’s name and my sister is using it for her boy due one month before mine. She wouldn’t care if I used it three years from now, but two [name]Wyatt[/name]'s a month apart is a little much and it would bug her. So . . . I vetoed it. Hubs is not happy about that.
Okay–sorry to bore you with the agonizing details of our search for a name. I think [name]Hobbes[/name] goes BEAUTIFULLY with our other boys’ names: Cowen and [name]Eli[/name].
I think [name]Hobbes[/name] is much more interesting than [name]Wyatt[/name], which may be heading toward trendy [name]IMO[/name].
[name]Hobbes[/name] [name]Johann[/name] has beautiful flow. Very gentle but strong. Only con for me is that it has a slight “butlery” feel about it (like Jeeves.)
I do think of [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name], but I also think of [name]Thomas[/name] [name]Hobbes[/name]. The tiger was not the only one ever to bear the name. And the character on the Office (never seen it) certainly doesn’t hold the monopoly on [name]Oscar[/name]! Harumph!
When I saw Hobbes on the subject line, my first thought was Thomas Hobbes, the philosopher. (Actually, my real first thought was “someone wants to name their kid after their hobby?” And then I realized it said Hobbes.) My second thought was Calvin and Hobbes, but I don’t think it’s a bad association. So I think it’s handsome and usable.
Honestly my first thought when I saw your subject was [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name]. I don’t think it makes it unusable, but it’s definitely still a very strong connection that most people will think of. So if that bothers you, it’s best to move on to other names.
[name]Hobbes[/name] is the name of my giant tiger-looking orange tabby cat so it makes it hard for me to picture on a child. That and the character from [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name].
I didn’t think of [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] at all. But I still don’t like it. If I were a little boy, I would not like to be named [name]Hobbes[/name]. If I were a grown man I would like even less to be named [name]Hobbes[/name]. I just don’t like it as a first name at all.
I have to agree with your husband, unfortunately. [name]Hobbes[/name] is all the tiger from [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] to me. I think that it would be fine as a middle name, but it doesn’t quite work as a first name for me. I much prefer [name]Oscar[/name]. I’m not familiar with the character from The Office, but I feel like [name]Oscar[/name] is a fairly familiar name and has a lot of different references.
My main asociation with the name [name]Hobbes[/name] is the philosopher, whom I have a negative opinion of. I’d recommend reading some [name]Hobbes[/name] before going with the name.
Ok I don’t watch much TV at all (or consume other pop culture)… so I’m not the best judge, but I know about [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] and did not think of it at all until you said it.
I’ve seen The Office (and hated it) so not aware of the apparent [name]Oscar[/name] monopoly. I mean it’s valid if it makes him think of it but it’s not true that it is what everyone will think of!
But alas, husbands can be the great hurdle to great names! (I say this in jest, mostly towards my own!!!)
Definitely have to “get there” together and find one you both like/love… I don’t think you should cave on [name]Wyatt[/name] because your veto reason is valid for reals.
Sooooo while I’d for sure have to side with you on this one, that may not solve your problem!
I’m in the same boat, but have 4 more months to hit on just the right one that doesn’t get vetoed, while avoiding such horrors as [name]Thaddeus[/name] (maybe it’s just me, as I’ve seen it on lists!!!) and [name]Xerxes[/name].
Sigh!
Good luck, maybe he’ll change his mind on [name]Hobbes[/name], or maybe the name you both love is just around the corner…
I was thinking to myself, “What would make [name]Hobbes[/name] feel less butlery?” I tried adding “son” to the end, and immediately the name sounded more down-to-earth (to me.) So here are some other -son names for your consideration. Not that any of them are necessarily better than [name]Hobbes[/name], but they have a similar feeling of roundness and closure, a similar formality.
emmabobemma, thank you so much for trying to help. This naming thing is keeping me up at nights–seriously. Of me and my two sisters who are due pretty much exactly the same time as me, I’m the last one to find a name. That’s only a problem because they don’t want to spend hours talking about it anymore. [name]One[/name] is going with [name]Stirling[/name] [name]Russell[/name] and the other is going with [name]Wyatt[/name] [name]Blake[/name]. And me . . . we’re just not there.
I had [name]Reuben[/name] and [name]Dawson[/name] on my list but hubby doesn’t like either. I like [name]Hans[/name]. I taught a young man with that name and he was a sweetheart so it has good vibes for me. My hubby doesn’t like it. I also like [name]Leif[/name] but hubs most emphatically does not. I like [name]Fischer[/name] but hubs doesn’t like that either.
It always feels impossible until you find the right name.
[name]One[/name] is going with [name]Stirling[/name] [name]Russell[/name] and the other is going with [name]Wyatt[/name] [name]Blake[/name]. And me . . . we’re just not there.