…without subjecting any future son to years of bullying? The name is [name]Merlin[/name]. I’ve loved it for a very long time and would like to use it as a first name, but do you think it’s too ‘out there’?
*Not pregnant! [name]Just[/name] thinking about names.
If you like the name [name]Merlin[/name], you should read The Boy Who Fell To [name]Earth[/name] by [name]Kathy[/name] Lette. It deals with this name beautifully.
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I knew a couple guys named [name]Merlin[/name] who were adults when I was a teenager and it never seemed like a big deal. I never even really made the association with [name]Merlin[/name] the Magician or anything like that. I think if kids want to bully a kid they will find a way regardless of the name.
I think it’s not that bad at all : ) The truth is funky/unique names don’t ruin lives at all. I’ve met a [name]Pagan[/name], a Darth, and folks with names much weirder than that, and the truth is, they’re doing quite all right. “Haha, [name]Merlin[/name], that’s weird,” will be about the extent of it, I imagine, if that. Kids are much more open to bizarre names than adults are. We’re set in our ways in a way that kids are not.
Something to consider is, [name]Merlin[/name] has very strong associations (obviously), so I wouldn’t pick it just if you like the sound of it but nothing else.
I think it is usable.
Cool : ) I’d much rather meet a [name]Merlin[/name] than a [name]Bristol[/name] or a [name]Grayson[/name] etc.
Hmm. I’m not sure. I think it will completely depend on where you live and what kinds of names your son’s schoolmates and friends will have. Here in [name]Santa[/name] [name]Monica[/name], everyone is named [name]Journey[/name] and [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Sequoia[/name], so [name]Merlin[/name] would be fine. Elsewhere, with all of the Braydens and Carsons on the school football team, little [name]Merlin[/name] would have it REALLY tough.
Have you thought about variants, like Merriman, [name]Merle[/name], [name]Merrill[/name], [name]Emrys[/name], [name]Ambrose[/name], [name]Marlin[/name] (that would work very well thanks to the large fish and sports team)?
I think the associations are strong & the sound itself isn’t the nicest imo. The -lin end could be more problematic than the magical connections.
I agree with the pp about location. Here in [name]Brooklyn[/name] it wouldn’t be the strangest.
[name]Do[/name] you like the sound or the magical connection?
[name]Merlin[/name] is cool and I think it’s useable, however I agree with blade & taz, location (and what type of school you want to send your child to) is important.
I like both to be honest. I was facinated by [name]King[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] etc when I was younger, but I also think the name’s very soft and gentle, but still masculine.