I really think [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] [name_u]Paine[/name_u] was a fantastic historical figure and would be a great role model for a namesake. But is [name_u]Paine[/name_u] completely un-useable as a first name? Thank you!
(And no, I would not consider using [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] at all or [name_u]Paine[/name_u] as a middle name. I am specifically asking for opinions on [name_u]Paine[/name_u] as a first name)
I know someone that used it. Honestly, it’s not something I would do. It would be a “pain” for the child. However, anything seems to go now.
A nice idea, but I can’t get behind it as a name. Sorry!
I would not do it, the association with “pain” might be too strong (and if you live somewhere where people speak [name_m]French[/name_m], the association with the word “bread”). But of course if you feel like it’s the perfect name, go for it. Or maybe shift it to the middle spot and find another name to go with it?
Have you considered maybe spelling it as [name_m]Payne[/name_m]? That’d lose a lot of the association with ‘pain’ for me.
Hmmm, it’s not for me. But that’s not to say it’s unusable! It’s not far from names like [name_m]Penn[/name_m] so I think it could be done. I wonder if the surname variant [name_m]Payne[/name_m] would be any better? (I understand that diminishes the honour, though.)
I would not name a child [name_u]Paine[/name_u].
I think it’s unusable.
No, it sounds kind of derogatory. If I heard a mother call for [name_u]Paine[/name_u] on the playground, I’d assume she was calling the kid a pain, not that it was his honest to god name. Spelling it differently wouldn’t fix that either. It still sounds the same.
I like it.
I wouldn’t try it. There are some good alternatives, like [name_u]Payton[/name_u], [name_u]Pace[/name_u], [name_u]Pax[/name_u], or even [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]… although he wouldn’t be a namesake then. I still wouldn’t go for that name. I just think it would get unrelenting odd looks from people nearly every time he was introduced to anyone.
I just do not think [name_u]Paine[/name_u] is usable as a first name. I am a big fan of word names, especially nature names and some other words woth nice meanings or even more “neutral” words, but [name_u]Paine[/name_u] is way too negative in my opinion.
I don’t think [name_u]Paine[/name_u] is usable at all 
I’m sorry. It reminds me of the opposite of a virtue name…there are kids named [name_f]Joy[/name_f], [name_f]Faith[/name_f], and [name_m]Valor[/name_m]…then [name_u]Paine[/name_u]? I don’t think it would be a great idea.
When I consider a name for a child I think about if I would like to have that name and in this case the answer is no.
Maybe I just have an awful taste in names, but I kinda like [name_u]Paine[/name_u] as a first name. There’s a historical significance, it’s unique, has some charm.
Sure, it’s undeniably close to ‘pain’ but I honestly doubt that he’d be terribly teased for it. I mean, what’s the worst that can be said? “Ooh, your name is ‘pain’! Ouch” Like, that would get old super quickly.
Besides, wouldn’t that be sort of cool? I see it as akin to names like [name_m]Spike[/name_m], [name_m]Butch[/name_m] and [name_u]Rebel[/name_u]. Word names with a bit of an edge.
I’m totally playing devil’s advocate, but I don’t think [name_u]Paine[/name_u] is totally unusable 
As somebody with the maiden name [name_m]Payne[/name_m] who experience some nasty name calling I would say no - even more so as a first name.
As someone who was bullied well into middle school, kids will use ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING to make fun of a kid. No, please don’t do this.