Yeah, I know… hear me out. My SO’s grandfather was named [name_m]Lester[/name_m], called [name_u]Les[/name_u]. He passed away 3 years ago but he is/was one of the most important people in M’s life and he really wants to honor him. Obviously he recognizes that a boy named [name_m]Lester[/name_m] might be teased and he’s willing to put it in the middle slot, but he also suggested the age-old tactic of using his grandfather’s name as the first name but calling him by his middle name.
[name_m]Roland[/name_m] is a name we both like… so something like [name_m]Lester[/name_m] [name_m]Roland[/name_m] _____, called [name_m]Roland[/name_m] or [name_u]Les[/name_u]. Probably would legally go by L. [name_m]Roland[/name_m] ______. Versus just [name_m]Roland[/name_m] [name_m]Lester[/name_m] _______, for example anyway.
Obviously I know [name_m]Lester[/name_m] is not the ideal name to have to honor, but is it really that terrible? I know it would mean a lot to M to (eventually) use his grandfather’s name. I don’t know his grandfather’s middle name and neither did he, but I don’t think he’d go for a roundabout way of honoring him anyway. Which is fine, because I want to use my grandfather’s name, [name_m]Donald[/name_m], as a middle for a future son so I can’t complain. But WDYT?
You could honor him with names that sound similar to [name_m]Lester[/name_m], such as [name_m]Lazare[/name_m], [name_u]Lisle[/name_u], [name_m]Liston[/name_m], [name_m]Lars[/name_m], [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m], Lutz, [name_m]Leicester[/name_m], etc. Or maybe Grandpa [name_m]Lester[/name_m] has a middle name that you could use? Or a word that describes what your SO liked best about him?
I’m a big proponent of honor names. I think the ideas you have are terrific. [name_u]Les[/name_u] is a fine nickname or going by his middle name is a viable option.
Where i’m from, people use the name [name_m]Lester[/name_m] to describe creepy, gross men. For example, “Stay away from that old man’s house. He’s a [name_m]Lester[/name_m]!” As in… you know.
With that being said, I don’t ever think it’s a good idea to choose names based on what responses you think others will have! I think if it’s special to you guys, you should definitely go for it. sounds like you’re thinking of options for nicknames so that’s good! He’ll have a nickname, a middle name, and he could even go by his last name in school/to his peers if he wanted. Or he could proudly say, “My name is [name_m]Lester[/name_m]!”
[name_u]Les[/name_u] is a kickass name… first or middle! It also pays tribute to your relative while giving your child his own name.
I don’t think [name_m]Lester[/name_m] is horrible at all. Maybe it is just I am not from US but still. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_m]Chester[/name_m] or [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m] will work since they sound similar?
It depends on where you live. This is worth researching the school culture & school policies where you live. Where I live the letter L. isn’t going to fly on the school attendance sheets for the first name, and some teacher refuse to call a kid anything but the legal first name on the attendance sheet. So even if you call him by his middle name [name_m]Roland[/name_m], the teachers individually (or the school as a whole) may call him [name_m]Lester[/name_m], his legal first name. Also, where I live [name_m]Lester[/name_m] the Molester is beyond tempting, it’s pure irresistible tease-bait, omg! My advice: Call him [name_m]Roland[/name_m] [name_m]Lester[/name_m] as his legal name (fn, mn) and you won’t have to worry. If your husband willing to put it in the middle then seriously just do that. Good luck!
I think [name_m]Lester[/name_m] is a fine middle name. I completely understand your SO’s desire to honor his grandfather, but I like using the first names for the parents’ favorite and then using the middle name slot as a way to honor a person or place that is significant to the parents. I really dislike when people do the whole ‘my child goes by his/her middle name’ thing because it just seems unnecessarily complicated. If you don’t want him to actually use the name [name_m]Lester[/name_m], I would use it as a middle name.
I love that your using [name_m]Lester[/name_m] to honor someone. Names with neanings are the best. I would personally use it in the middle. [name_m]Roland[/name_m] [name_m]Lester[/name_m] flows well and I think you could still call him [name_u]Les[/name_u] as a nickname, or simply use [name_m]Roland[/name_m]. This would be my preference only because if school- every year he may start of with a name tag and pencil box labeled “[name_m]Lester[/name_m]” from his teacher. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought! Good luck!
I’m so pleasantly surprised by the lack of “Eww, how could you do that to your child?” responses! Lol it’s definitely not ideal, or a name I’d choose on my own by any stretch of the imagination but I was definitely expecting him to bring it up at some point because his grandfather was so important in his life.
“[name_m]Lester[/name_m] the molester” is a big fear of mine and I’d never want my kid to go through life embarrassed to tell people his name (or selfishly, for me to feel embarrassed when someone asked what my sweet, cuddly baby’s name was and to have to tell them [name_m]Lester[/name_m]). M has already said if we used it up front we’d need to set aside bail money for he beats up the people that make fun of his kid’s name, lol.
I’m 99% sure he won’t go for a variation like [name_m]Chester[/name_m], [name_m]Lazare[/name_m], etc. I appreciate the suggestions though!
Is [name_u]Les[/name_u] a bad nickname in itself? Because it sounds like “less”? Could it stand on it’s own? But then it’s problematic because M’s last name sounds identical to the word “belts”.
It’s not an immediate concern (I’m not pregnant) but as a name nerd I had to give it some thought Thanks for all the feedback so far!
I think if it’s special to you guys, you should definitely go for it.