Respondents: 52 (This poll is closed)
I think [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m]/[name_u]Remy[/name_u] is very usable! There’s definitely an allusion to the artist, but I think that’s a positive association.
Thank you labelo. I’m glad you like the combo. I’m glad you only see it as an allusion as initially I couldn’t separate the name from the artist.
I really do like this name a lot, which is sort of unexpected as I didn’t actually think this name was usable. Had this not been my poll, I probably would have voted no.
So it’s reassuring to see that so many berries think this is a usable name!
I wouldn’t find it strange to meet a little [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m]. And if you plan on calling your son [name_u]Remy[/name_u], his full name won’t even come up on a daily basis.
Definitely - cute/ charming/ masculine and unusual !
[name_f]Love[/name_f] remy for short!
What’s your middle??
I’m not familiar with the teeth whitener, but the painter is the obvious connotation. I’m all for it, though; two of my favorite boys’ names are [name_m]Galileo[/name_m] and [name_m]Aristotle[/name_m]. I don’t find the name [name_u]Remy[/name_u] unisex, however; it’s a very [name_m]French[/name_m] boys’ name with a very [name_m]French[/name_m] meaning, and [name_m]French[/name_m]/[name_m]French[/name_m]-speaking people will definitely look at you a little funny if you are a girl called [name_u]Remy[/name_u]. The “girls’” version is generally spelled [name_u]Remi[/name_u].
I am an art historian, so I am biased that it’s too much associated with the artist. Seems like a big shadow to live in your whole life: “[name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m]? Like the artist?” But maybe that’s just my fantasyland where everyone loves art. I think [name_u]Remy[/name_u] is a nice, masculine name on its own.
I think a lot of names we love come from a passionate connection to something - history art music pop culture… If those positive associations make names meaningful and therefore give history and passion to our children’s names - isn’t it more special to use those names - and tell our child the story of their name…
I am surprised at home much I like [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m]! I did not have an immediate connection to the artist or teeth whitener. I think it is a great name. Very unique but not “weird”. [name_u]Remy[/name_u] is a great nn too. Loving the whole thing.
I think [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m] is very usable. You have the potential nickname [name_u]Remy[/name_u] or also [name_m]Brandt[/name_m]!
I voted maybe. I like [name_u]Remy[/name_u] on it’s own much better. I think it’s usable in the sense that it’s familiar & easy to pronounce & it has nickname options and a great namesake. I also think the namesake is so strong that it puts the name over-the-top and it feels too associated to the arts. I think it’s easy to come off as pretentious when using names with such overt ties to the arts. And yes, the popular tooth whitener doesn’t help the name either. Is it usable? Yes. [name_m]Will[/name_m] some people find it pretentious? Probably. [name_m]Will[/name_m] some people think of tooth paste? Yes.
I never expected so much feedback! Thank you
@flaunt: That’s great to hear.
@ma2be: The name got my attention due to my fave comic book character Remy LeBeau (aka Gambit from X-men)… I kind of also want to use the middle name Lebeau? which of course is overtly obvious. I was considering Beau but it doesn’t flow as well. If I do end up using this name I’ll let his daddy pick a middle, or use this as a middle and still use Remy as his nn. If I ever do use it I’ll be back to get suggestions for a middle.
@bibliophile: I appreciate the support and the fact that you also like names with such strong namesakes. Whilst I think this should strictly be a male name, it has been unisexed already. There was Dr. Remy Hadley on house (yes a female :S) and last year. Remy was given to 195 girls and 233 boys last year so it is close enough to 50/50 for me. I like names with genders, but this is too nice a name to pass up for me.
@peacebird10: I like art, but I’m not an artist nor do I have a job related to the arts so personally I can look past the strong association. But I understand that different people think differently (hence the creation of this thread) so I like hearing others opinions. I appreciate the feedback especially coming from an art related background. Good food for thought.
@tfzolghadr: excellent point with Saskia. I don’t think it is strange if someone has an art related name and is not an artist. To me a name is something I like and whatever profession my child chooses is something completely unrelated. Quite the contrary, I actually think it would be more of an issue if they were an artist because they’d have big shoes to fill. Should he choose another profession, I’d just think of him as someone with an unusual name (but I do see your point with the irony). I plan to take my kids as individuals and not envision what their personality should be, as they will be their own person. But I do understand that people think differently and it is nice to hear someone with the opposite view on things, again it is all food for thought!
@ma2be: i do agree with that point! I like names with meaning alot.
@asche926: I very much agree with you, I immediately loved Rembrandt as a name when someone suggested it, to me it was far ahead of most of the other (also great) suggestions.
@shieldsc: Always great to hear more positive feedback.
@tarayaz: I like Remy alot but the unisex usage turns me off a bit from the name. I understand the pretentious, over-the-top feel this name gives to some people as, I feel the same way about other names with just as distinct namesakes. Hence this poll, I like this name aesthetically but I had all the same concerns you did.
I could never use it because of the strong associations it has. However, if they do not bother you, go for it!
I am/was an art history major, and although [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m] was a great painter (and my first association with the name… didn’t even think of the tooth whitener) that’s also the reason I wouldn’t use the name. It just seems pretentious, but that might be just me.
I think [name_u]Remy[/name_u] on its own is fine. I would not go [name_u]Remy[/name_u]/[name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m] Lebeau… too much surname for one combo, and your son might not appreciate the comic book reference as much as you do. Lebeau would be a nice middle name for a different first, though.
[name_u]Remy[/name_u] is very cute! I knew a [name_u]Remi[/name_u] with the full name [name_m]Remington[/name_m]. However, I know that is a type of gun.
[name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m] definitely = artist to me I’m afraid. I’ve never heard of the tooth whitener, so I can’t comment on that. It definitely feels like a ‘one-person name’ to me and I think I would find it odd on an actual person and even more so if I discovered that his parents weren’t massively in to art. I see no reason why you can’t just use [name_u]Remy[/name_u] on its own, it’s a completely legitimate boys name and a very nice one too. It’s also probably familiar to most people through the film Ratatouille.
Thanks berries, it is great to see so much support for this name!
@corajsb: I appreciate your opinion and the support.
@greyer: I’m okay with pretentious but it is a legitimate concern. I’m actually considering Lebeau as a first name if I don’t go through with [name_u]Remy[/name_u]/[name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m]. I just didn’t want to name 2 of my kids after the same guy so I figured I’d just use it all on one kid if I get the chance, especially as I don’t plan on using the middle much.
@tangocamper: I had no idea [name_m]Remington[/name_m] was a type of gun. I considered [name_m]Remington[/name_m] for [name_u]Remy[/name_u] but I wanted some other options.
@hanniekitt: I just despise unisex names. This name is a male name in origin but it is being used as nearly 50:50 unisex. I don’t like the gender confusion, I like gender distinction. I can see the appeal of this name especially given current naming trends where it could pick up and be alot more popular. I can deal with the popularity but not the gender confusion that comes with the popularity is something I am not fond of.