[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all,
So I have been a massive [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] fan ever since I was a kid, back when my Mum used to read me “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibilities” before bed. So ever since I was a kid, I wanted to name my son [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. To me, it sounded classic, soft and gentle- just like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u].
So when I met and married my husband, I was thrilled that he loved the name [name_u]Austen[/name_u] too!
But now that we’re preparing to start TTC at the end of the year, we’ve been looking a bit more into the name. We live in a tiny state in Australia, and the name [name_m]Austin[/name_m] is totally unheard of here. We have never met anyone with the name, or anyone who knows anyone with the name [name_m]Austin[/name_m], or [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. But now that we’ve been reading more about the name, we’ve seen that [name_m]Austin[/name_m] is a very common name in [name_u]America[/name_u] and is a more harsh, southern name.
Is this right about [name_m]Austin[/name_m]? And what do you think about the spelling [name_u]Austen[/name_u]? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that changes the connotations around the name at all, or does it just seem like a “kr8tive” name?
I have always liked [name_m]Austin[/name_m], ever since I found out that is one of my Mum’s favourite boys names, but she never got to use it because she only had me :). I prefer the spelling [name_u]Austen[/name_u] as well, I do think it softens it. If you love it, use it! [name_f]Do[/name_f] not worry about the connotations. If it is rare where you live, then people will not have any negative vibes about the name, and will associate it with your child, so will have a positive association.
If you’ve had your heart set on it for so long then I say you should use it. You love the name and that is as good a reason as any to use it. I love [name_m]Austin[/name_m] and [name_u]Austen[/name_u] is a lovely variant with a subtle nob to the wonderful author (I say subtle because I wonder how many will notice).
I agree with PP. If you’ve loved the name forever then use it. Plus [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] is famous enough that if you say “after [name_f]Jane[/name_f]” people won’t think it’s a creative spelling. I’d actually be more concerned about how my son would feel being named after one of the most prolific rom-com writers in history. ([name_f]My[/name_f] fiancé - actually all my guy friend - roll their eyes when they see my travel copy of P&P which i lug everywhere and have read way too often. Not because it’s the same book all the time but because they don’t love the rom-com genre.
If you are still worried about [name_u]Austen[/name_u] but want to honor [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] there are some awesome names in her books that would work for a boy… [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], [name_u]Darcy[/name_u], [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]Bennet[/name_m], [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_m]Edward[/name_m], [name_m]Fitzwilliam[/name_m], [name_m]Charles[/name_m], [name_u]Wallis[/name_u], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Russel[/name_m], [name_m]Walter[/name_m], [name_m]Harry[/name_m] + much more (this is what came to me off the top of my head).
I prefer [name_m]Austin[/name_m] because it is a place name.
Personally, I just think it may be weird naming a son after [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u], maybe a daughter not a son. This is an issue on it’s own because [name_u]Austen[/name_u] is typically a male name.
I think [name_u]Austen[/name_u]'s lovely, to me it looks better than [name_m]Austin[/name_m] (which reminds me of [name_m]Austin[/name_m] [name_m]Powers[/name_m]), and also makes me think dustbin. Basically [name_u]Austen[/name_u] is a lot nicer, and the [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] association is amazing, I’d think of her first, but it would be subtle. I think a name like [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] might be a bit too obvious, but [name_m]Bennet[/name_m]'s okay as well.
I love it. I worked with a little guy named [name_m]Austin[/name_m] who was about 7 years old & absolutely adorable. He was a little trouble maker - my favourite kind of kid
[name_m]Austin[/name_m] is actually a medieval contraction of [name_m]Augustine[/name_m].
I prefer [name_m]Austin[/name_m] because it’s the original spelling but if the name is unheard of, I think you could get away with the [name_u]Austen[/name_u] spelling. BTW, I’ve known girls with the name and its usually spelled [name_u]Austen[/name_u].
I actually really love the name and the [name_u]Austen[/name_u] spelling with all connotations aside.
I agree that it might be weird to have a son named after a romantic writer but I think thats the only major issue and I don’t believe it should stop you from using it.
I don’t think [name_u]Austen[/name_u] looks like a kreeatif spelling of [name_m]Austin[/name_m], rather like his (or her) parents are big fans of [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. While I think she’s a great namesake, I really dislike (spelled it either way), sorry!
I think of [name_m]Austin[/name_m] as a very southern name. I did not have classmates with this name until I moved from a northern state to a southern state as a teen. It is associated first with [name_m]Austin[/name_m], [name_u]Texas[/name_u]…not [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. However, when I do think [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u], it is much more appealing. Since you live in Australia it would seem that the literary side would be more obvious than the place.
According to “research” included in one of today’s NPR stories, people think that a child (or at least a girl) named [name_u]Austen[/name_u] is likely from an educated, well-to-do family.
I’m a huge [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] fan (just look at my signature) and my mother loves her books too so I kind of grew up with them. It’s not my style but I’d love to meet an [name_u]Austen[/name_u]! It’s great it has so much meaning to you and that you and your husband both love it. The “ten” ending (or “ton” which sounds the same) is quite common these days so it doesn’t sound that unfamiliar. [name_m]Austin[/name_m] is fine, I think of the place first even though I’m Canadian, but I prefer [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. I think of both as being unisex, [name_m]Austin[/name_m] seems more masculine and [name_u]Austen[/name_u] more feminine because the author was a woman, but both usable on either gender.
Personally, I’m rather appalled at the comments that a boy might not like being named after a romance novelist. Well, anyone could potentially dislike their name for a multitude of reasons, but why call out this one in particular? [name_u]Austen[/name_u]'s work has been well received and respected by scholars and “regular” readers alike of both genders for a long time, and hardly anyone would argue against her work deserving a place in the historical English literary canon. It’s not like she wrote trashy Harlequin romances or something. (Sorry, I guess that’s overreacting a bit, but she’s one of my favourite authors and I can’t help but defend her. )
[name_f]My[/name_f] future brother-in-law is named [name_u]Austen[/name_u], and he was named after [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u]! He wears it well.
Thankyou all so much! You have definitely put my mind at ease!
And I think men can definitely appreciate [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] as well as women… One of the first conversations I ever had with my now husband, was about who was better, [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] [name_m]Bertram[/name_m] or [name_m]George[/name_m] Knightley. (He said [name_m]Bertram[/name_m], I said Knightley )
I was thinking what name to give my future son, to match my future daughter [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]…
[name_m]Austin[/name_m] / [name_u]Austen[/name_u] has been one of my favourites since I was 17. [name_f]My[/name_f] bestie had a short-lived crush on an [name_m]Austin[/name_m] in high school. I never met him, but her eyes used to light up whenever she spoke about him. It was the first time I’d heard of a boy with the name [name_m]Austin[/name_m] so it was fresh, different and unique. Nameberry keeps making reference to [name_m]Austin[/name_m] [name_m]Powers[/name_m], saying that the name has been tarnished because of the movie, but I never thought of that. I thought it was a strong, handsome name.
I love the meaning of [name_m]Austin[/name_m] - ‘great’ ‘magnificent’.
Also, my hubby is born in [name_u]August[/name_u], and people often say he looks like [name_m]Steve[/name_m] [name_m]Austin[/name_m], but he’s not a fan of the name unfortunately. He adores the very bold name [name_m]Samson[/name_m] nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u].
I was wondering about which spelling to use also… It seems that girls are named [name_u]Austen[/name_u]. I don’t like this. To me, it’s a very masculine name. In my opinion, girls should be called something like [name_f]Augustina[/name_f] instead.
Finally, I’m from Aus also. According to the McCrindle Research website, [name_m]Austin[/name_m] was ranked #81. 322 boys were named [name_m]Austin[/name_m] Australia-wide in 2013. Not too common, compared to 1,997 [name_m]Williams[/name_m].
)