What Do You Think About Fenton?

Boy Names
1

Fenton is one of my very favorite male names and yet I’ve never met or taught one before.

I am curious to know what others think of it, what images and associations arise.

My love for it is fivefold:

  1. Fenton Hardy is the name of the Hardy Boys’ father in the retro series I love rereading (only the old ones).
  2. Fenton glass was my favorite as a girl: old-fashioned, nostalgic, hobnail milk glass, etc. Not sure if they still exist.
  3. Fenton is an English name meaning marsh town and must come from the fens of East Anglia, home of Dorothy L. Sayers’ wonderful Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, The Nine Tailors.
  4. Fenton’s Creamery makes the best ice cream I have ever tasted (Oakland, CA).
  5. I find names that start with an F refreshing (except the hideous ones like Fulvia) and I am drawn to that -on ending for male names (Fenton, Gordon, Martin, Gideon, Benjamin, Lorcan, etc.)

What do you think?

PS My last reason for liking it is the nickname Fen which is cool the way Ren might be for Lawrence.

2

Any one of your reasons is enough! [name_m]Fenton[/name_m] is super great, and I agree that Fen is a good nn. [name_m]Fenton[/name_m] also has that perfect blend of easy to say/spell and isn’t weird, but is really unique.

3

It’s not my style, but I really like your reasons for wanting to use it. [name_m]Fenton[/name_m] is meaningful to you, and that’s what matters!

4

At first I was like “bleh, weird, sounds made-up/surnamey”, but after reading your reasons and looking at it a second time, I could see it growing on me. I don’t really care for Fen as a nn though. I could too easily see it turning into “Fenny” (fanny!).

5

Probably a only UK thing- there was a viral video a few years back that cropped up everywhere. The dog in it was called [name_m]Fenton[/name_m] and that’s my sole association with the name. I can’t imagine a child called [name_m]Fenton[/name_m]: JESUS CHRIST IN RICHMOND PARK: ORIGINAL UPLOAD - YouTube

6

I like it. It’s very close to [name_m]Fintan[/name_m], which has special meaning to me.

7

Yeah, that’s what I was going to say. But I don’t imagine it matters to you anyway.

8

I think your reasons for using it are lovely but I’m afraid all I think of are fentanyl patches used for pain.

9

If I heard it on a child I’d assume it was just another random trendy surname-as-first name. I like your reasons for using it, though. It’s certainly not bad, and it definitely fits in with current naming trends.

10

I think of [name_m]Fenton[/name_m] & [name_u]Fallon[/name_u] the jewelry line. It’s not really my style cause it feels a bit preppy, but the fashion association gives it some edge for me which I like. I would just consider avoiding [name_u]Fallon[/name_u] as a sibling name in the future :slight_smile: