I’ve liked the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u] for a long time but recently it’s potentially become my top name (now it’s wrestling with [name_m]Ewan[/name_m]), overthrowing [name_m]Declan[/name_m] (too trendy?) and [name_m]Miles[/name_m] (new student in my daughter’s class and is suddenly her best friend - weird). I’ve always thought of [name_u]Dean[/name_u] as an underused classic. It’s rugged yet sophisticated. I feel like it could “fit” well with my daughter’s name ([name_f]Nora[/name_f]). My only hiccup, as silly as it may be, is a nickname. I know, I know… it’s a one syllable name and absolutely no need for one. I totally agree. However, knowing myself, it’s not necessarily about the length of the name, but just giving your kid that pet name of endearment. For instance, I call my daughter either [name_f]Nora[/name_f] or [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f]Cate[/name_f] (full name is [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f]Cathleen[/name_f]).
For [name_u]Dean[/name_u]… well, I can’t go with [name_f]Deanie[/name_f] so I was thinking [name_u]Denny[/name_u]. Too far-fetched? I would introduce him as [name_u]Dean[/name_u] just like I do with [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. Only myself and my mother call her [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f]Cate[/name_f] and I like it that way. So, I presume if I used [name_u]Denny[/name_u] as a nickname, it would be the same. Now, [name_u]Dean[/name_u] isn’t just a name I like; it also has familial significance to me. You see, my father’s first name is [name_m]DEnnis[/name_m] and my paternal grandmother’s first name is [name_f]ANna[/name_f]. My father goes by “[name_m]Den[/name_m]” for the most part. If we use [name_u]Dean[/name_u], the middle name would most likely be [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] (my husband’s name is [name_u]James[/name_u] and my brother-in-law’s name is [name_m]Jason[/name_m]). My husband likes the idea of DJ, but I can’t get DJ [name_m]Tanner[/name_m] out of my head. To me, “[name_m]Den[/name_m]” and “[name_u]Dean[/name_u]” sound more similar than “[name_m]Den[/name_m]” and “[name_u]Denny[/name_u]”… am I right? Or is it just too close regardless?
I understand that it’s silly for me to obsess over nothing more than a POTENTIAL nickname that would most likely only be used within close family, but I’m just thinking if it catches on and if people end up calling him [name_u]Denny[/name_u], would it be too bizarre that it came from [name_u]Dean[/name_u]?
Also, back-tracking a little… aside from my nickname question, what do you think of the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u]? What about [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]? And does it sound like it works with [name_f]Nora[/name_f]? What about the nickname [name_u]Denny[/name_u] on its own (meaning just as a nickname in general, not necessarily for any particular name)? Too old-fashioned? Lame?
I love the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u], and I really like [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_u]Dean[/name_u] together. As siblings [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_u]Dean[/name_u] feel very 50s/60s retro, but in a good way. [name_u]Denny[/name_u] just makes me think of the restaurant chain.
I love the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u]! It’s very high on my list. [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] is great and I also really like [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_u]Dean[/name_u] together.
As far as the nickname [name_u]Denny[/name_u] goes, it does sound a little bit dated, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You never know what kind of nickname a child will get after he/she is born. My name is very nicknamable, but I go by my full (very long) name with almost everybody except my parents, and their nicknames for me aren’t related to my name. If it’s just something diminutive you’re looking for, you’ll find it whether it’s [name_u]Denny[/name_u], DJ, or something you’ve never even considered.
My first thought was Deaner. [name_u]Denny[/name_u] just makes me think of greasy food from college days. I do like [name_u]Dean[/name_u]…another option would be [name_u]Rebel[/name_u]. ([name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]—>[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u]—> [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] without a Cause). Along those lines you could also go w/[name_m]Jett[/name_m] or [name_u]Jamie[/name_u].
[name_f]Love[/name_f] the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u]. [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] sounds good together and so does [name_u]Dean[/name_u] and [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. But one commenter noted how [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] was closely related to [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u], and I have to agree with that. But even so, I personally like the nickname DJ. My dads friends call him DJ, so I’ve grown up hearing the name DJ and I like it.
I agree with the others that [name_u]Dean[/name_u] and [name_f]Nora[/name_f] make a wonderful sib set.
Also, agree with you on the merits of [name_u]Dean[/name_u] (to me, very rugged, very solid).
The nickname that came to mind at first was [name_m]Dino[/name_m] (read: [name_u]Dean[/name_u]-o) or [name_f]Deanie[/name_f]. Neither of these would put me off this good name. As for [name_u]Denny[/name_u], I’m partial to it thanks to an Uncle and grandpa with this name, though they’re both [name_m]Dennis[/name_m].
Thanks everyone! I don’t know why, but I totally hadn’t thought of the horrendous food chain and now it’s totally turned me off to [name_u]Denny[/name_u]! The whole [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u] similarity doesn’t bother me as I love him and his movies. [name_m]Dino[/name_m] could be a cute option just for family; I definitely wouldn’t want that to be a name he was called all the time, though!
If you were going for the [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u] connection, then I think [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] is fabulous. I knew a guy named [name_m]Dino[/name_m] in middle school. He was a few years older than me but he rode my bus. I think [name_m]Dino[/name_m] might have been his actual name? Anyway, he wore it very well.
A friend’s brother is named [name_u]Dean[/name_u] and he goes by [name_m]Dino[/name_m] among close family and some friends. I think that would be cute, especially when young.
My nephew is named [name_u]Dean[/name_u], and everyone pretty much calls him [name_u]Dean[/name_u], [name_m]Dino[/name_m], or [name_u]Baby[/name_u] D.
I really like [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]. It has a cool rugged feel, and when [name_u]Dean[/name_u] and [name_f]Nora[/name_f] are combined, it sounds really cool retro.
I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_u]Dean[/name_u]. Cool and masculine but still so simple. Some people say it sounds dated, but I’ve never even met a [name_u]Dean[/name_u].
I like [name_u]Dean[/name_u]. Like others, [name_m]Dino[/name_m] was my first thought for a nickname. I think [name_u]Dean[/name_u] nn [name_m]Dino[/name_m] is cute.
I adore the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u] and I think it’s great with [name_f]Nora[/name_f]! [name_u]Denny[/name_u] or [name_m]Den[/name_m] could work as a nickname, or just plain D could work as well. I think it’s great. [name_m]Just[/name_m] rugged, but not hokey at all. Neutral enough to suit any type. [name_u]Denny[/name_u] isn’t my style, but it is distinct. My biggest association is [name_u]Dean[/name_u] Moriarty from On The Road, the [name_u]Neal[/name_u] [name_u]Cassady[/name_u] character. I would avoid any middles that tie into the [name_m]Kerouac[/name_m]/[name_f]Beat[/name_f] [name_f]Gen[/name_f] theme as that might make the name too themey. The longer place-name, [name_u]Aberdeen[/name_u] might work for you as well.
I love [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]. [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Dean[/name_u] was an awesome person, one of my very favorite actors so maybe thats why I love it so much. I don’t think its too strong a connectikn though. After all, you won’t be using his last name all that often. [name_u]Denny[/name_u] works. But maybe when he gets older you’ll find a nickname that fits his personality like [name_m]Buddy[/name_m] or [name_m]Junior[/name_m] or something like that. My brother’s firsr name is [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] and my mom used to call him [name_m]Buddy[/name_m]-[name_m]Buck[/name_m] as a pet name, however he hated this. [name_u]Dean[/name_u] is a little old fashioned but I love that. There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think its lame.
I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u]. My first association with it is [name_u]Dean[/name_u] from Supernatural - I think strong, masculine, handsome, no nonsense. To me it is on the same plane as [name_m]Frank[/name_m] - straight forward, no frills, retro, cuts out any crap.
[name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] is a lovely combination, especially considering the meaning to you. Nicknames wise, I like the suggestion of Deano/[name_m]Dino[/name_m], especially as you could call him Deano-saur! DJ is ok, but from that you can also call him Deej or Didge, at a stretch?
I agree with all of this. I can’t hear the name [name_u]Dean[/name_u] without thinking of Supernatural. It is a no-frills, rugged, down-to-earth, hard-working, sexy name. I like [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]!
(GP of mine is also Castiel. But that’s more Supernatural stuff. I shall be going now.)
I love [name_u]Dean[/name_u]! and [name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] works nicely. DJ is a very cute nickname. I knew someone named DJ and it aged very well on him. Also, like you said, a nickname isn’t totally necessary, so any nickname you come up with will be unique to your family (and sometimes those don’t even have to do with the name!). I also think you should not count [name_m]Miles[/name_m] out just because your daughter made a friend named [name_m]Miles[/name_m]. If they are not going to get married, there is no reason to stay away from the name!!!
