Thoughts?
Boo! It reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird! A neat surname name - would you call him [name]Rad[/name]? Ha. [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Radley[/name] feel a bit odd together for me. I don’t think surname names are bad with [name]Dash[/name]'s name at all, but [name]Dash[/name] and [name]Rad[/name] rhyme a bit, right?
[name]Lemon[/name] 
I think it could definitely be an interesting middle name, especially if it has meaning for you but as a first name I think it would get mistaken for [name]Bradley[/name] a lot. And like [name]Lemon[/name] said, shortening to [name]Rad[/name] doesn’t work as well as [name]Dash[/name]!
Haha, we would totally call him [name]Rad[/name]… but not to the extent we call [name]Dash[/name] “[name]Dash[/name]”, you know? I like that it’s sort of a combo of [name]Riley[/name], [name]Rafferty[/name] and [name]Bradley[/name]. I also like, but wouldn’t use, [name]Rawley[/name] and [name]Rowley[/name]. I love the initial R for boys. I think the connection to Boo [name]Radley[/name] is great, since (like all the [name]Atticus[/name] fans) To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite of mine. [name]Even[/name] [name]Chris[/name] liked that book, and he’s not much of a reader. A literary connection is by no means required in a name for me, but it would be a cool connection I think seeing as how [name]Dash[/name] has [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Hammett[/name].
I actually like surnames a lot for boys. And [name]Dashiell[/name] is a surname, you know. I think I like them because even if they’re unusual, the fact that they’re surnames gives them kind of a traditional spin. I mean, people have been using them as first names for boys forever.
[name]Dash[/name] and [name]Rad[/name] definitely do share that “a”, which isn’t a plus, but it’s not a deal breaker, either. But I think they would be “[name]Dash[/name] and [name]Radley[/name]” most often. [name]Radley[/name] is nice and easy to say, I think. But gwensmom, you’re so right about getting mistaken for [name]Bradley[/name]. I think that could happen a LOT.
I do like it, [name]Lyndsay[/name]. I do. I think I also just worry that it sounds a little feminine? [name]Radley[/name]? Huh. I don’t know why I think that, though…
[name]Radley[/name] [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] would be quite handsome. I forgot what your [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] combination a while back was, but I still think [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] is awesome, and with [name]Radley[/name]? Divine. He could be [name]Rad[/name] - gosh, that’s rad! - or RC, though that’s a little too cola for my liking.
[name]Lemon[/name]
I can see how it could seem feminine, since it’s close to [name]Hadley[/name] and [name]Riley[/name]. But I still prefer [name]Riley[/name] for boys. Apparently I love boys names that end in -ley. [name]Wesley[/name], [name]Oakley[/name] (don’t worry, I won’t use this), and a bunch of others I can’t remember right now.
Hmm, I hadn’t thought of [name]Radley[/name] [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name]. Actually, that middle name will likely get switched to [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Nick[/name]. Though I still like [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] a lot. I can’t mention names without my mom telling me how awful [name]Cloud[/name] is, even as a middle name. Seriously. She’s told me that like 50 separate times. Next boy will be ___ [name]William[/name] Warfield, though. [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield?
Oh! The combo was [name]Finn[/name] [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Cloud[/name]. I still love it, but I’m not so sure about [name]Finn[/name] these days. I know it’s still not actually popular, but I’m afraid I’ve missed the boat and it’ll already be yesterdays news by the time I get to it. That sounds so snobby, oh my gosh. But I think it’s because I got my name when it was already past it’s peak, that’s bugged me ever since I found out about the SSA ratings, lol.
[name]Chris[/name] is really stuck on [name]Lincoln[/name] “[name]Link[/name]” again. He said he’ll stop fighting [name]Betsey[/name] if I agree to [name]Link[/name]. Ughhhhhh. He seems to love [name]Radley[/name], though.
Oh! I love [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield! That’s fabulous. Yep, I’d use that one, [name]Lyndsay[/name]. It gives [name]Radley[/name] a bit more of a masculine strength, right?
I like [name]Wesley[/name], too, and [name]Hadley[/name] and [name]Riley[/name] are nice. I actually think [name]Hadley[/name] and [name]Halsey[/name] are great for girls, but I like [name]Reilly[/name] most, for a boy. Or a pet! And, if you think [name]Finn[/name] is yesterday’s news, would you consider [name]Flynn[/name]? [name]Dash[/name] and [name]Flynn[/name] are cute together, I think.
L
If you went with [name]Radford[/name] his nn could be [name]Ford[/name].
First and foremost I’ve been to a place near [name]Radley[/name] in the UK so that is what it makes me think of first.
But as a name it sounds different and classy. [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield has a good feel to it, and doesn’t sound too feminine to me at all. Certainly no more than say [name]Bradley[/name] for example.
[name]Do[/name] you really love [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield, [name]Lemon[/name]? I think it’s rather strong and cool. One thing I love about this name is that I’m pretty sure no one will hate it. In my family, I mean. I mean it’s not really hatable in the way that some of my favorites are ([name]August[/name], [name]Frederick[/name], [name]Hart[/name], [name]Angus[/name], etc.). It fits in quite nicely, but he’d always be the only one.
[name]Rollo[/name], I love [name]Ford[/name]! I will have to ask my husband what he thinks of [name]Radford[/name], he loves Hartford.
[name]Chelsea[/name], I love that you think it seems “different and classy”! I totally agree, and those are two major pluses in my book! I don’t think it’s too feminine, but it doesn’t bother me if it can be seen that way anyway. When [name]Dashiell[/name] was a baby his name was mistaken as a girls name ALL the time.
[name]Do[/name] you guys think it’s too close to [name]Riley[/name], though?
No. If anything it’s closer to [name]Bradley[/name] in sound than [name]Riley[/name]. I don’t get [name]Riley[/name] from it at all, honestly! I just think great literature! And that’s always neat, right? [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Radley[/name]. I like it! But, yes, I definitely think a strong and sturdy middle name combination (i.e., [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield) is in order. I could see a little boy with hair a bit darker than [name]Dash[/name]'s being a [name]Radley[/name]… 
L
I agree with [name]Lemon[/name], I think it’s closer to [name]Bradley[/name] than [name]Riley[/name] too. The other possibility which it sounds like is [name]Hadley[/name], which when I looked it up I was surprised to see is trending girls, but only around the 400’s.
Certainly I don’t think it’s too close to [name]Riley[/name] and in fact I think it’s a very nice alternative for a boy to [name]Riley[/name] which seems to have swung more or less over to the girls. I think it goes well with [name]Dashiell[/name] too and like [name]Lemon[/name] said, with a nice strong traditional male name it’s very clear as to the gender.
I like it.
Hmm, I just wrote a comment and I don’t know where it went. [name]Do[/name] you think this boy looks like a [name]Radley[/name]? http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2010/03/funny-five-year-old-boy.jpg I think so.
I’m excited that [name]Radley[/name] has gotten such a positive response! I wasn’t really expecting it. I liked it a lot before and now I like it even more :). [name]Radley[/name] [name]William[/name] Warfield really is handsome, isn’t it? I can actually see myself using this one, how exciting!
Yes, that’s little [name]Rad[/name]! 
Honestly, I don’t like it. I’m in the minority but if just feels like the B was left of [name]Bradley[/name]. I think you’ll have to correct a lot of people who think they’re mishearing you and so take on the B. I also think ‘rad’ is a dated word and gives the same feel to the nn.
I like [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Radley[/name] / [name]Dash[/name] and [name]Rad[/name] pretty well. I don’t think it’s too close to [name]Riley[/name] or [name]Bradley[/name] in the end, although those are fair considerations. It sounds like you’ve had some kind of similar experiences with [name]Dashiell[/name] / [name]Dash[/name] and it’s been fine in the end. I really like the suggestion of [name]Radford[/name] nn [name]Ford[/name]. However, if you are looking for a surname-ish [name]Ra[/name]- I really do love [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Rafferty[/name] / [name]Dash[/name] and [name]Raff[/name]. Maybe [name]Rafferty[/name]'s a little celebu-baby right now, and maybe [name]Dash[/name] and [name]Raff[/name] are still a little close, but I do love that name and personally think it fits well. Had you thought of it and already rejected it? Sorry if so! : D. Best wishes in any case!
lyndsay, i think we have very similar naming styles. i also have a son named dashiell. and wes, rafferty, finnegan and ridley were all on our short list. have you thought of ridley? i like radley, it definitely looks like the kid in the picture, which actually looks like it could be my dashiell in a few years! like someone else said, rad, is a little outdated as a word, but i think that could be a good thing. i also like pairing it with a classic middle like william.
neuilly- I totally see both of your points. Being confused for [name]Bradley[/name] would probably get annoying, but I don’t think it would be too big of a deal. Interesting that you think “rad” being a dated word makes the name seem dated, I hadn’t thought of it that way. I actually think it seems more like an updated version of [name]Bradley[/name], I don’t know. We wouldn’t use [name]Rad[/name] as a nickname in the way you’d use, say, [name]Mike[/name] for [name]Michael[/name]. It’d be more of a short form, for when we’re being lazy speakers.
jesba- I have thought about [name]Rafferty[/name], quite a lot, actually. I think it’s awesome, but it’s just a little bit off for me. Kind of like [name]Atticus[/name] (why is this always my example), I can’t imagine saying it 100 times a day. I like [name]Raff[/name], but not [name]Rafe[/name], and [name]Raffy[/name] is SO tied to the children’s singer for me since my mom was a preschool teacher when he was popular, we listened to his tapes way too much. It’s one of those names I would be beyond thrilled for my son to be best friends with, but just can’t use myself. Also, my husband “doesn’t get it”. It is a very good suggestion though, thank you!
jello412- Woo! Nice name choice! I love your short list, too I’ve thought of [name]Ridley[/name], but I don’t like it quite as much and it reminds me of [name]Ridley[/name] [name]Scott[/name], which is really a neutral association for me, it’s just that I can’t think [name]Ridley[/name] without following it with [name]Scott[/name] in my head. Also, my BFF intends to use [name]Ripley[/name] is she ever has another girl (years in the future). I know [name]Radley[/name] is really close to that, but [name]Ridley[/name] is even closer. We live on opposite coasts though, so it doesn’t really matter. [name]How[/name] funny that the picture looks like your [name]Dashiell[/name], it looks like mine, too! But a bit more mischievous and with brown hair instead of blonde. It’s exactly what I imagine my next boy to look like! Can you expand on what you mean by the word rad being dated being a good thing? What is your sons middle name, if you don’t mind my asking? And, as the mother of a [name]Dashiell[/name], do you think [name]Dashiell[/name] and [name]Radley[/name] would make good brothers?
Wow, that [name]Raffy[/name] ([name]Raffi[/name]?) allusion brought back memories, it had been years since I thought of it! And now I think of the craft material rafia! Ha! [name]Glad[/name] it was a good suggestion even if it can’t work : D!
FYI if you didn’t already try this, if you search boys’ names beginning with [name]Rad[/name] on NB, it includes [name]Radborn[/name] (and [name]Radborne[/name], [name]Radbourn[/name], et al), [name]Radburn[/name], and [name]Radcliff/name as well as [name]Radley[/name] and [name]Radford[/name] (and [name]Radical[/name] ; )). [name]Radley[/name] is the best to my ear currently, although I kind of like [name]Radcliff[/name] in a way I can’t quite describe…I’m probably thinking of [name]Daniel[/name] [name]Radcliff[/name], who’s not especially positive in my eyes or anything, but maybe slightly. Or maybe it’s [name]Heathcliff[/name] from Wuthering Heights : D.
Best wishes!
When I was trying to look up [name]Radley[/name] last night as used for a name I also found [name]Ridley[/name], but I prefer [name]Radley[/name] much more than [name]Ridley[/name]. Of the names that Jesba mentioned [name]Radcliff/name is the only other one that I prefer and I still like [name]Radley[/name] ahead of that.