See the results of this poll: Drop or keep the "s"?
Respondents: 27 (This poll is closed)
- Drop the “s” : 21 (78%)
- Keep the “s”: 6 (22%)
I think if it’s the plural form of a common name, like the ones you listed, then yeah, I think it would sound weird as a first name. Also, someone named something like [name]Matthews[/name] would probably just get mistakenly called [name]Matthew[/name] most of the time anyway. If it was the plural form of a not common first name ([name]Brooks[/name], [name]Anders[/name], etc.) then I think it would be fine.
I would keep the S if I were using it as a mn, and I would drop it for a first name. I just think have having something like [name]Jeffries[/name] as a first name, they’d be CONSTANTLY mistaken as “[name]Jeffrey[/name]” and if were me, I’d get annoyed eventually. In the middle name spot, it wouldn’t be an issue at all, I don’t think. Some will probably still mistake it for [name]Jeffrey[/name] (as an example) but it’s “just” a middle name.
I would drop the S!
As first names, surnames that are just first names with an s do sound ridiculous in my opinion with the s.
If I met someone who insisted on being called Jacobs or [name]Matthews[/name] I would think they were kinda crazy.
Other names like [name]Hobbes[/name], Fetters, [name]Hays[/name], Tellas, etc. – I don’t think it would make it better or worse to remove the s.
Though in general, I’m not in favor of using surnames as first names, but I do like the idea of honoring family by using [name]Matthew[/name] instead of [name]Matthews[/name].
I would drop the s as well.
i votedto drop the s.
however, if the full name sound better with thes, i say keepit.
the British triple-jumper [name]Phillips[/name] Idowu, has a “plural firstname” and i like it a lot, much more thatn [name]Phillip[/name] anyway.
I don’t know, I think it depends on the surname. Mine was [name]Roberts[/name], which I think sounds ridiculous and looks like a typo for a fn. Now, I actually like Andrews, especially in the mn spot. However, most of the other surnames mentioned ([name]Phillips[/name], [name]Matthews[/name], Jacobs,) do sound much, much better when the s is dropped. DH agrees!
I would drop the s in the cases you are talking about. I met a guy a few years ago named [name]Evans[/name] and I thought it was bizarre. I’m sure he is constantly correcting people.
I would drop the ‘s’ if you were to use it as a first name but in the middle slot (as long as it flowed well) I have no real issue with it.
It would depend on your maiden name and married ln, [name]Brooks[/name] would be fine, Andrews might not be.
It depends on the name and what you’re going for. I like the -s because it signals that it’s a surname. If I’m using a surname, I’m using it as is.
Thanks for the responses.
I love maiden names as first (or middle) names; it’s a very old Southern tradition that I plan to continue with my children. [name]One[/name] of the maiden names I want to use is a plural surname, and who knows what will be on my husband’s family tree… Lately I’ve been wondering if I would drop the “s” or keep the “s”. On one hand, keeping the “s” keeps the surname intact. I feel the “s” adds a little more meaning and clearly says: “I’m a maiden name!” On the other hand, I feel like keeping the “s” causes more trouble than it may be worth - i.e. always being called [name]Andrew[/name] instead of Andrews or the first name looking like a typo on forms.
Hmm, lots to consider.