So DH and I recently began discussing names for our first baby (a girl) and came to the rather unsurprising conclusion that our tastes have very little in common. After going through my long list of every name I’ve liked since roughly 2009, he reduced said list from well over 100 names to about 6 that he “didn’t totally hate.” Most of these names aren’t names I’ve seriously considered in quite some time.
This brings us to [name_u]Scout[/name_u]. DH seems to have really latched onto [name_u]Scout[/name_u], but, despite it having been on my list, I’m not totally sure how I feel about it as a standalone name (I preferred it as a nickname for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]). So, please give me your impressions of [name_u]Scout[/name_u].
Can it age well? What kind of girl/woman do you picture? What would you pair in sibset for any future brothers or sisters? Any middle name suggestions? I get that [name_u]Scout[/name_u] definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but any feedback you have would be great!
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]Scout[/name_u] as a nn for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], however as a stand-alone name I don’t think it’s as lovely. I 100% think of [name_f]Demi[/name_f] [name_m]Moore[/name_m] and [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] [name_m]Willis[/name_m]’ daughter and I remember when she was little (and I was a kid) and the mothers in my area would criticize her and her sister’s names during play dates with their rag mags. So, I don’t have good feelings towards it in general.
It’s hard to imagine a middle aged mom of two running into [name_m]Wal[/name_m]-[name_u]Mart[/name_u] named [name_u]Scout[/name_u] BUT it’s also hard to imagine one named [name_f]Kinsley[/name_f] or [name_u]Paisley[/name_u] too, and in the next 30 years that won’t be so weird. So while it’s not my style and it’s hard to picture on a woman, I think it would work out fine for her. There may be times when she’s assumed male based on her name but so will the Rileys, Emersons, and Rowans.
I honestly can’t decide what works for a sibset with [name_u]Scout[/name_u]. All male names sound like brothers, feminine names sound like brother/sister in my opinion and unisex leads to a lot of confusion. Something like [name_u]Scout[/name_u] and [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is nice but the styles just don’t work. [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] and [name_u]Everett[/name_u] I adore though!
I definitely prefer it as a nickname, it just feels a bit too harsh in sound for me.
I think a girl named [name_u]Scout[/name_u] would be fine - I’m a firm believer that pretty much any name will age fine. I think sibsets would be hard with it, do you go for something else unisex? What if the next name you agree on is [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]? etc.
I think if you’re hesitant about it that’s enough to not use it. But if you’re more open to it, how about:
I hear [name_u]Scout[/name_u], and I think To Kill A Mockingbird which I consider a positive. And considering how fast [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] is growing, you’re probably not the only one with it on your list. From my bookworm perspective [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] and [name_u]Scout[/name_u] are both huge literary classic names, although I don’t think of it as a natural nickname to [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f].
We’re not too concerned about people possibly thinking the name is male as it seems like jumping to that conclusion will be far less easily with the current crop of baby names. Plus, for me, [name_u]Scout[/name_u] will always be female because of TKAM.
I agree that sibsets will be troublesome. It’s one of my holdbacks on the name, and as it’s currently the only name on our list it’s hard to see how it might pair with others we like.
Thanks so much for the middle name suggestions! I quite like [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Annabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], and [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f].
[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_u]Scout[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]. Can’t you have [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] on the birth certificate and call her [name_u]Scout[/name_u] if/when it fits?
@fionnabhair you’re entitled to your opinion though we obviously disagree. Personally I found [name_u]Scout[/name_u] much more in line with other occupation or virtue names (both of which can be fairly common) than a random noun.
@mgk it’s something I’m suggesting but DH isn’t a fan of [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] so far.
I have mixed feelings when it comes to [name_u]Scout[/name_u]. [name_u]Scout[/name_u] stands alone just fine, no formal name needed. It also has a powerful and positive connotation from To Kill a Mockingbird, although I vastly prefer [name_u]Harper[/name_u] for that reference.
The only thing holding me back is the girl/boy/Cub [name_u]Scout[/name_u] reference. I was a Girl [name_u]Scout[/name_u] growing up so that’s my reference to the name [name_u]Scout[/name_u]. I cannot look at the name without vividly remembering selling cookies, camping, making swaps, bandanas, etc.
I loved the book To Kill A Mockingbird , and ever since then I thought about naming a girl [name_u]Scout[/name_u]! I think [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] as a first name is wonderful and [name_u]Scout[/name_u] as a nn is awesome. I would pair [name_u]Scout[/name_u] if it is a stand alone name with something ultra feminine as: [name_u]Scout[/name_u] with the following consideration for middles such as: [name_f]Angelina[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], Bethwyn or [name_f]Linnea[/name_f].
I just met a girl called [name_u]Scout[/name_u], and she wore it magnificently! I think it could be quite fashionable, whether as a nickname or a full name. Really fierce and intelligent.
While I like it as a nn for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], I think the ‘just-by-its-self’ name, [name_u]Scout[/name_u], is rather adorable… yet strong. I can see a little newborn [name_u]Scout[/name_u], a kid/teen [name_u]Scout[/name_u], and an adult [name_u]Scout[/name_u]. It’s unique, but not wild and crazy. I find it to be pretty, and I prefer it over [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], nn [name_u]Scout[/name_u], as I just don’t see it as a-mazing!
To me it’s not appealing. It wasn’t even the character’s real name, just a nickname. It seems like it really really wants you to know its a TKAM reference, and then it’s like congrats, I read that in ninth grade too, same as everyone…?
And [name_u]Scout[/name_u]'s overused compared to, say, [name_f]Calpurnia[/name_f].
I think that [name_u]Scout[/name_u] should be a nickname or middle name. I love every one of your choices from your signature. Can’t go wrong with those.