[name_u]Baby[/name_u] boy (brother to [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f]) is due within the next two weeks, so we’re down to the wire. I’ve posted several threads/polls on Nameberry over the past few weeks, and have gotten some great feedback on a variety of names. Each time, I’ve included the name [name_m]Walt[/name_m] ([name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_m]Luke[/name_m]) as one of our front-runners, and while it’s gotten some really good reactions, it’s gotten totally decimated in any polls (i.e., 1 vote out of 40).
However, at the same time, my husband is lobbying HARD for it. He wants a little son called [name_m]Walt[/name_m]. And I have to say I really like it too. If he came today, I think that’s what we’d be naming him.
Is [name_m]Walt[/name_m] just one of those names that gets good feedback, but people can’t quite vote for when it comes down to it? Does it take an “I’m just going to just do it” attitude to dust off one of these retro names and go for it, despite popular opinion? (I keep telling my husband about the poll results and he says that of course [name_m]Walt[/name_m] is going to lose to names like [name_m]Luke[/name_m] and [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] and [name_u]Jude[/name_u] and [name_m]Ben[/name_m]… but that’s not the point.)
Anyway, just wondering about [name_m]Walt[/name_m]!
Not sure why people aren’t voting for [name_m]Walt[/name_m], but it really doesn’t matter. I guess its debatable whether [name_m]Walter[/name_m] is ready for a comeback or not, but I personally love [name_m]Walter[/name_m]/[name_m]Walt[/name_m]! You should definitely use it…especially since you and your husband both agree on it!
I’ve always loved them (Great Uncle [name_m]Walter[/name_m], plus [name_f]Anne[/name_f] of [name_u]Green[/name_u] Gables’ son, [name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]).
Soft sounding yet masculine.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t worry what others think if you and your husband love the name.
I’ve grown fond of [name_m]Walter[/name_m]/[name_m]Walt[/name_m] over the years but I admit it took awhile and even now I do prefer just [name_m]Walt[/name_m] to [name_m]Walter[/name_m] (I know it’s very un[name_u]Berry[/name_u] of me to say so. :)). Nevermind, it’s a great name with lots of history to back it up. [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_m]Walt[/name_m] sound mighty fine together. If you love it like your husband seems to, then I would encourage you to choose it.
Being a huge Disney fan, I love the name [name_m]Walt[/name_m]. I would never use it personally as I have difficulty saying it (I struggle with certain ‘L’ sounds).
Seeing as both you and your husband love it you should definitely go for it! [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_m]Walter[/name_m] are adorable together.
If you and your husband both really like the name, why wouldn’t you choose it? We’re just a bunch of strangers on the Internet, after all. The most important thing is that you and your husband are happy with the name.
I strongly dislike [name_m]Walt[/name_m], which is largely the reason we aren’t using [name_m]Walter[/name_m] even though we really want to honor my husband’s grandfather. It reminds me of an old man, or a huge nerd, like [name_f]Meg[/name_f] [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]'s fiance [name_m]Walter[/name_m] in Sleepless in Seattle. I imagine this feeling is why so many prefer other names on your list. Since you were curious.
Having said that, the second you named an adorable baby that, all of those connotations would be lost for people that met him. It’s just that most of us haven’t met a cute young [name_m]Walt[/name_m]. So if you both love it, I say go for it.
(As an aside, we may use [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], even though it causes similar geriatric throwbacks for most people.)
Speaking from personal experience, it can be agonizingly difficult to find a name that both parents love and want to use. Getting other people’s opinion can be great for whittling down a long list, but in the end he is your child and [name_m]Walter[/name_m] sounds like the perfect choice. I’m sure he will be melting hearts the second he is born regardless of how popular his name is.
I say go for it, it may not of gotten the most votes but both you and your husband seem to love it and it is you who are naming the baby.
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] is a lovely name and has the awesome nn [name_m]Walt[/name_m]
Thanks for all of the good feedback, everyone. I totally realize that the most important people to approve of the name are the parents… but I just don’t want to make the decision in a vacuum (a heavily-influenced husband vacuum, mind you). There are plenty of parents who choose to name their kid [name_f]Braydynn[/name_f] or Jaxsyn and seem to think it’s a good idea, and don’t come in for a reality check to see what others may think of it.
Bottom line, I just want our son to like his name (and for others to like it), so the best way I know to pre-determine its likability is to ask fine folks like you all.
Thanks again for the honest feedback along the way. [name_m]Will[/name_m] let you all know if we go with [name_m]Walt[/name_m].
I quite like [name_m]Walter[/name_m]. If you and your husband agree, go for it! I would likely not use it for my child, simply because there are other names that hold more family significance, etc… so maybe when put up against other choices voters just don’t enjoy [name_m]Walt[/name_m] as much. I do not think that implies anything about the name other than that you’ll be fairly safe from having lots of other Walts in his classes, though
Use it!!! [name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_m]Luke[/name_m] is so dashing and sounds perfect with [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f]. And you [name_m]BOTH[/name_m] love it! I think you’ve found “the one!”