This way or that way?

Boy Names
1

We’re having a boy next month (already have two girls, [name]Margaret[/name] ([name]Maggie[/name]) and [name]Eleanor[/name]). The day we found out it was a boy, it took DH and I about 30 minutes to come up with a name we loved, but now I’m having second thoughts. Specifically, we’re set on first and middle names, but now I can’t decide which should be which.

DH’s name is [name]Robert[/name] ([name]Rob[/name]), and so is his dad ([name]Bob[/name]). I strongly dislike [name]Bob[/name]/[name]Bobby[/name] and we don’t want the confusion of a second [name]Rob[/name] in the house. More offbeat nicknames like [name]Robin[/name] and [name]Bo[/name] are also off the table. So we initially decided to name the baby [name]Robert[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name], to be called [name]Dashiell[/name]. That way, we keep the “[name]Robert[/name]” tradition intact and give the kid a very conventional name he could choose to use when he’s older, but we also get to call him a name we adore.

But now I"m thinking we’re making things too complicated, and that he should just be [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name]. I keep reading comments on blogs and message boards about what a pain it is for a kid to have to explain constantly that he doesn’t use his first name, so on the one hand [name]Dashiell[/name] as his first name makes sense. On the other hand, we have two strong arguments against going with [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name]: (1) Breaking the tradition of [name]Robert[/name] as a first name, which I rather like, and (2) unbeknownst to us when we picked the name, there’s a character in the Incredibles called [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name]. Not that big a deal, except that my daughters are newly obsessed with the Incredibles and the connection is bound to be made and noted on.

FWIW, the baby’s last name will start with F.

WWYD?

2

I would name him [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name]. I think babies should be named what they will be called. Otherwise, he will be explaining his name forever. I actually like The Incredibles connection and think most kids will think its cool.

3

I’m very against having anyone with the same first name as dad. I am married to a junior and it is a never-ending problem, especially now that his dad is having financial trouble.

4

I agree, [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name]. He still gets the [name]Robert[/name] name after his dad and grandfather, and since you were going to call him [name]Dashiell[/name] anyway, I think it only makes sense.

5

I’d go with [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Robert[/name] too. You’re still using [name]Robert[/name] and since you’re going to be calling him [name]Dashiell[/name] anyway, it’ll be less confusing for everyone. I wouldn’t worry about The Incredibles connection either. I’ve seen that movie a few times and while I remembered that the son’s name was [name]Dash[/name], I was completely unaware that his full name was [name]Dashiell[/name] (or that he has the middle name [name]Robert[/name], apparently). It’s not as strong a connection as say [name]Jasmine[/name] or [name]Ariel[/name].

6

I’m named [name]Joseph[/name] [name]Clark[/name] and have always gone by [name]Clark[/name]. [name]Clark[/name] was made my middle name simply because it flows better after [name]Joseph[/name]. In my experience, going by your middle name is not a big deal. You do have to correct teachers and doctors and other official-types from time to time, but it’s not a terribly difficult or taxing thing to do.

And on the plus side, when i get a call for [name]Joseph[/name] i know i can just hang up.

So don’t sweat [name]Robert[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] - it’s a very cool name either way.