[name_f]My[/name_f] husband loves the name [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]. Our surname is [name_u]Jackson[/name_u]. I do not admire the actor by that appellation too the poit that we long-list the name [name_u]Sam[/name_u] every time it gets down to a decision. The actor is 76 something years old and will one day be a foreign concept to all but film buffs.
The question: [name_m]Can[/name_m] we reasonably name a child [name_u]Sam[/name_u] (Samuel) [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] without binding him to that actor whom I dislike?
I think itâs a generous thought, but naming a child [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] today could be like naming a kid [name_m]Marlon[/name_m] [name_m]Brando[/name_m], [name_u]Cary[/name_u] [name_m]Grant[/name_m], [name_m]Errol[/name_m] [name_u]Flynn[/name_u], [name_m]Humphry[/name_m] [name_m]Bogart[/name_m], [name_u]Charleston[/name_u] [name_m]Heston[/name_m] or [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Garbo[/name_f] back in the 1980s. [name_f]Generous[/name_f] because SLJ is one in a hundred thousand famous actors today, rather than the leading actors of the past. Does that help frame the question?
He is however in big kid-friendly franchises like Star Wars and Marvel, so I feel like children born now are likely to spot Samuel Jackson in the credits more than once and have a reasonable idea who he is.
If itâs definitely your name, Iâd say do it anyway - but thereâs a really strong chance that the connection will continually be made and âbindâ the association as you put it.
Both names are common so I donât really think itâs a big deal. Plus, the L. in the actorâs name makes it seem different enough to me. Iâve never heard his name without the L.
I feel like if you donât like the actor, you shouldnât give your kid the same exact first and last name as them? I donât think the L in his name makes it that much different. Regardless of the staying power of the actor, youâre naming a kid now. People are going to comment on it and youâll definitely get a couple of references to the actor. Are you going to be annoyed by that?
Have you considered using [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] as a middle name? [name_u]Or[/name_u] using a different full name like [name_m]Samwell[/name_m], [name_m]Samson[/name_m], etc to get nickname [name_u]Sam[/name_u]?
Yeah. We really messed up and gave the other 3 boys J middle names with increasing syllables [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Joseph[/name_u], [name_m]Josiah[/name_m]. Next post: 4 syllable non-weird J names for a boy.
I know. Itâs super ocd of me.
[name_m]Samwell[/name_m] sounds enough like [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], I feel like that wonât make a blink of difference if weâre going to catch an earful on the SLJ reference. [name_m]Samson[/name_m] and [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] end too rhymey for my taste.
good luck on finding a name! for what its worth, I love [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] as a name but I probably wouldnât use it in your situation
[name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m]? [name_u]Jericho[/name_u] and [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m] arenât 4 syllables but they sound and feel longer to me than most other J boys names.
I mean, if you love the name that much I donât think itâs a dealbreaker. If he consistently goes by [name_u]Sam[/name_u] (as most Samuels do) itâs hardly likely people will notice. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if his full name is being read out in school or whatever, âSam Jacksonâ is hardly likely to invoke SLJ in the minds of children. That said, there are so many wonderful names out there. If youâre not widely passionate about the name and the association already bothers you, I wouldnât be pursuing it.
If you can get past the association, would be ok with comments, and love the name, go for it. Otherwise donât use a name that makes you think of a dusty dude.
I think if the connection bothers you, you shouldnât do it. would you be okay with comments about the actor? Would you think about the actor every time you hear the name?
With that being said I think the names are common enough that it wouldnât be such a big deal.
Would you be open to just using Sam? Or maybe Solomon nn Sam? Maybe Samal or Samir?
I wouldnât think of the actor, to be honest, but then Iâm neither US-based or particularly into his genre of films. I have heard of him, but always as [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] L.
I think certainly [name_u]Sam[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] is totally fine, and as others have said both first and surname are quite common so I think that helps [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] not to feel too tied as well.
Might your husband go for [name_u]Daniel[/name_u]? [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u]? [name_m]Silas[/name_m]? [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] or [name_m]Lucian[/name_m]?
Iâve heard of [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] but, honestly, I had to look him up to check where. I think depending on where you live, it may be safe. If I heard [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] in the wild, I would not think âlike the actor?!â though I may think âIsnât there some guy named that in x films?â. As long as youâre not planning on naming the child [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_m]Leroy[/name_m] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u], I donât see why you couldnât use it. (Teenberry)
P.S. Although this is coming from a woman that thinks [name_u]Michael[/name_u] [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] sings & [name_u]Michael[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] shoots, so do with that what you will.
Good point. I really love the name [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. Itâs more about [name_u]Sam[/name_u] than it is [name_m]Samuel[/name_m].
[name_f]My[/name_f] father in law is [name_u]Michael[/name_u]. I mean, but heâs like 70 something. He goes by âMike.â And I have a nephew named [name_m]Andrew[/name_m]. Itâs not ideal, but they survive. And I bet few people forget their names!
@Swag_Piss thatâs a great way to simplify the issue and make a decision. Youâre a fixer and I like that.
@wishmay Iâm mostly wondering if there will be such a strong connection 15 years from now. Never considered [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. I think the âmonâ might be too rhymey with â-sonâ still though. Good thoughts!
@katinka I usually donât think of the actor without adding the L also. [name_f]Thankful[/name_f] for the bland surname I suppose! We have a [name_u]Daniel[/name_u]. I like [name_m]Silas[/name_m], but not as much as [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]. [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] is too angelic and hubby nixed any [name_m]Luke[/name_m] derivatives.
@Sophie_sawriter ha! Thatâs great news. Iâm in [name_u]America[/name_u]. Jordan/ [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] x3 Youâre a comedian.
Theyâre both common names anyway, and besides I donât associate [name_u]Sam[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] with the actor. Iâm 13, so perhaps too young to know who that is, but still- I think itâs fine. [name_m]Just[/name_m] DONâT name him [name_u]Michael[/name_u].
Yes. I think its a generic enough name (NOT in a bad way!) that youll be alright. And like you said when he grows up even less of an issue. His peers definitely wont (i hope) get the reference. And there are so many people out there who have same names as celebrities or characters in film. Dont settle for something else just bc of the guy from Pulp Fiction. This child will be so prominent in your life that his own personality and identity will far overshadow the actorâs in your mind that it wont be long before you dont even think about the actor when you hear [name_u]Sam[/name_u] [name_u]Jackson[/name_u], but your own child instead.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] because both the names are common doesnât mean the association wonât be overpowering. Think of the name [name_u]Will[/name_u] [name_m]Smith[/name_m]. Both [name_u]Will[/name_u] and [name_m]Smith[/name_m] are extremely common, but itâs still one person who dominates that nameâŚwould be kind of a pain to have that name!
Looks like Iâm in the minority here but I definitely wouldnât do it. Yes theyâre common names, but as someone else pointed out, that doesnât make the combination any less associated to him (Michael [name_u]Jackson[/name_u], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_u]Wilde[/name_u], [name_f]Britney[/name_f] Spears, the list goes on and on - all very common names but you still immediately think of the celeb). And yeah he may be older but right now heâs still very relevant and well known. Heâs in literally some of the biggest franchises in the world.
To be fair I am a big star wars and marvel fan and never heard of him or at least havenât made that connection. Also Iâm not in the us if that helps. I donât even know what he did
[name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Joseph[/name_u], [name_m]Josiah[/name_m]. Next post: 4 syllable non-weird J names for a boy.
