Foster is a name I have looooved for a long time. I think it sounds like a dignified older name that people have just forgotten about. And it feels very sparkly and bright to me because it reminds me of phosphorescence. But I decided it was unusable because of foster care and foster’s beer. But just yesterday my husband says he likes it too, so now I am all excited about Foster again. What do you think of Foster? Is it a dignified name or something made up? Is it a strange name because of the associations? Or are those not important?
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[name_m]Foster[/name_m] is usable imo.
Similar ideas if you’re on the fence still… [name_u]Forest[/name_u], [name_m]Ferris[/name_m], [name_m]Baxter[/name_m], [name_m]Hector[/name_m], [name_m]Fraser[/name_m], [name_u]Porter[/name_u], [name_u]Palmer[/name_u].
If you guys both like the name, than use it. I consider if more as a surname, well-established and known, which seems to be a popular trend.
I like [name_m]Foster[/name_m], I knew a [name_m]Foster[/name_m] growing up so it feels very familiar to me.
As its not so commonly used it feels less trendy (and therefore likely to feel dated) than [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u] or [name_u]Cooper[/name_u].
Like lots of surname names it doesn’t necessarily lend itself well to nicknames which could be a pro or a con dpending on how you feel about nicknames.
I think I’m in minority on here, but I don’t like/wouldn’t use [name_m]Foster[/name_m] because of the word foster. It’s not a totally bad meaning or association, but it’s not extremely positive either.
Fosters beer doesn’t mean anything to me so I don’t find that association a big deal.
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i love Foster! i think it’s been used enough as a first name to be a reasonable pick - people might briefly think of foster care, etc., but i don’t think that the association is strong enough to make it unusable.
I can very much see why you love it! It has that surname, strong feel that I absolutely love in boy names as well.
However, we are a family through adoption so using that as a name would just be very odd and uncomfortable. If you don’t ever plan to adopt then I don’t think those around you would immediately (or maybe ever) think of foster care when they heard his name. I also recommend you not using the name if you have family members that have either spent time in foster care or have adopted from foster care, just to be sensitive to that individual.
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This is exactly what I came to say. It always shocks me to see people using the name Foster as someone with 2 adopted brothers.
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Yes, I don’t really see foster care as a negative association, but enough people have said it is to give me pause
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[name_m]Foster[/name_m] is cool and earthy. I quite like it
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bananas!
Personally I find [name_m]Foster[/name_m] more of a surname than a first name, but I do definitely think it works for a middle. [name_m]Foster[/name_m] Care and [name_m]Foster[/name_m] Beer aren’t the best associations but that doesn’t make the name completely unusable.
[name_f]Every[/name_f] name has associations. I happen to enjoy beer (though I’ve never heard of Foster’s) and appreciate the kindness of much of foster care.
I’ve loved [name_m]Foster[/name_m] forever too because of happy associations with a little brother named [name_m]Foster[/name_m] in the Gone Away [name_u]Lake[/name_u] books by [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] Enright (excellent books!).
I had never thought of phosphorescence, but that is a lovely association.
It is a dignified, older name that people have forgotten about. Would love to meet one! (And check out that book, as that [name_m]Foster[/name_m] is a doll!)
PS It also seems important to not be burdened by other people’s associations. One poster pointed out that to foster something is to help it grow and thrive. And that is a beautiful thing.
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I honestly love [name_m]Foster[/name_m]. It’s not my personal style, but I’d love to see others use it! I knew a [name_m]Foster[/name_m] in high school and he was creative, out-going & extremely kind.
I don’t associate it with [name_m]Foster[/name_m] care or any sort of brand
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Unfortunately it’s the name of a famous beer.
I love [name_m]Foster[/name_m], but as a foster parent I definitely find it jarring. I can’t fathom introducing " my son, Foster." There are sooo many kids who get saddled with that label; giving it to a child by choice is a bit baffling. But maybe that’s just because I’m part of that world.
I know a family who named their son Foss, and I think that’s a pretty fantastic and super cool name.
Anyway, that’s just one mom’s opinion 
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I think it’s fair to say the foster care system is very traumatic! There are so many lovely foster parents but for a kid to grow up in the system is extremely traumatic, confusing, scary, and many other things. That’s my personal reason why I wouldn’t use that name but I get that most people have that association!