I was browsing [name_u]Cal[/name_u]-names because I was catastrophizing the possibility of [name_m]Callum[/name_m] booming in the U.S. and wanted alternatives in case of emergency. (No, not expecting, just a drama queen, haha.) I stumbled across [name_m]Calhoun[/name_m], and I’m very unfamiliar with it - which is exciting, because discovering names is getting a bit harder!
NB says it is of Irish origin, meaning “from the narrow forest,” and describes it as "a beaming, friendly Irish last-name-first-name waiting to be discovered. "
I did some searching and it seems like the common pronunciation is cal-HOON, which might be one of a couple different pronounciations, I’m not sure. I’m trying to wrap my head around it. I like how it sounds kind of “fresh” and think it’s cool, I’m just having a trouble getting a full feel of it.
What do you think? [name_m]How[/name_m] would you picture someone with this name?
[name_m]Calhoun[/name_m] has a couple of different associations for me.
1- [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Calhoun[/name_m] was a 19th century, American statesman who unsuccessfully ran for President. So the association would be a serious statesman.
2- [name_u]Noah[/name_u] [name_m]Calhoun[/name_m] was the hero in “The Notebook”, so it’s kind of a romantic association.
Personally, I don’t love the “hoon” sound. But I love the nickname “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]”.
I think it sounds stately but I automatically think of [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Calhoun[/name_m] who was pro-slavery. So the namesake really kills the name for me. I’m not sure if everyone would think of that, though. I’m from the south and he was the Senator of South [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] so he might be more familiar to people down here than other parts of the country.
Sorry but I’m not a fan of this name (and it’s sad for me to say it because I’m of Irish heritage :)). [name_m]Calhoun[/name_m] just sounds like an Irish pub name to my ears.