We are down to 2 names, please tell me which fear would bother you more or less:
Henry James S... (German LN) Mild fear: people will call him Hank, don't love the nickname would try to correct people away from using it when he's young
Or
Owen James S (German LN) Mild fear: he would have the same initials as OJ Simpson, people would try to call him OJ or tease him for his initials. I like Owen slightly more than Henry. Both Grandmas have pointed out the initials being a bit funny.
What are your thoughts/opinions? Henry is slightly less popular in our area, but we are aware both names are popular and that doesn't bother us.
Well for one his main initials he would use would be OS. So the fact that his middle initial is J would have zero deciding factor for me. I don't think people even know most of their friends middle names.
I have only known one Henry with the nn Hank so I don't think that's a huge issue either. The only thing is what if he likes Hank?
Both names are fine, but... I prefer Owen over Henry any day. I do not believe OJ is going to have the same meaning to your child's generation that it did for your parents. Kids being born now will have no idea who OJ Simpson is, nor will they care. He is a huge has-been already, let alone in another 5-10 years by the time your child and his peers would be old enough to make such a connection. Basically, my feelings on the OJ thing boils down to "who cares?" And unless you intend to call him by his initials, it is unlikely anyone would ever give it a second thought, anyway.
As for Henry James, there is nothing wrong with the name. Very solid. But my very first thought was the classic novelist. Are you a fan? If you are, then by all means, give a nod. If not... It seems maybe a little strange. Sure, he is older than OJ by far, but he is a famous author still studied in school and such. I think that name would have much more potential for people making a connection down the road, if you wanted to avoid such a thing.
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Based off of your fears, id choose henry. I didnt even know hank was a nn for henry..i thought hank was its own name. So idk how many peoplenwould actually think to call your son hank.
If were going by preference, I think owen James sounds nicer. Very handsome.
Pick your favorite, because both your concerns are nonissues at least in my area. Hank is such an outdated nn that no one will go there without prompting. Simpson has faded from all relevance.
Post by helenahhandbasket on Feb 9, 2015 13:13:02 GMT -5
I prefer Henry to Owen in general, but most people won't know your kid's MN name. If it's really bothering you -- can you use a different MN? Maybe save James for a subsequent child?
I think both are nonissues. Hank isn't an intuitive NN for Henry. We're not talking Joshua/Josh here. No one will call him Hank unless you ask them to.
I think calling people by their initials isn't really a thing anymore. I don't think anyone will call him O.J. unless you do. And all three initials just isn't a big deal. Unless initials spell ASS, KKK or FUK, I don't think people even notice them.
I agree with this. Normally I recommend not using a name if you dislike a natural nn for it but I don't think people would call him Hank unless instructed to. It's just not a common enough nickname.
I prefer Owen to Henry personally and do not think the OJ thing would be more than a comment or two when he's first born. We actually had a neighbor named OJ Simpson when I was a kid. It didn't affect him and it was the exact same name.
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Post by billyhorrible on Feb 9, 2015 15:24:34 GMT -5
I don't think either of your concerns are actually issues. I don't think Hank is quite the intuitive nickname for Henry that say Rob is for Robert. People rarely jump to it.
Likewise, the only people I know who go by initials are people who have chosen that for themselves. I know no one who has been deemed an initial name by their peers, most of whom don't know the middle name.
However, leaping off of spring78, I will say that not only is Henry James a famous author (one of my favorites) but this also is probably the most common combination of first and middle names I have ever seen. As an example, I personally know 4 Henry James under the age of age of 4 (one born just a week or so ago). There are two people on this forum who have sons named Henry James (one born last week). And this is the second post since January 20 about naming a son Henry James on this board/TB.
Thank you for all the input. I think we are bringing them both. The middle name, although common, is a family name that I feel very sentimental about. I think I am taking people's quips about the names too seriously. It's nice to come here and get an outside opinion!
Neither of the reasons you listed seem like a big deal to me and they wouldn't deter me from using either name. I prefer Henry to Owen, but both are fine names.
Post by reginaphalange on Feb 10, 2015 19:09:49 GMT -5
neither of those reasons would deter me. If people call him Hank just correct them and continue with Henry. I know several Henrys and none of them get called Hank. For Owen, middle names are rarely mentioned and even if the initials were it would be OJS and most likely never just OJ.
I think both are nonissues. Hank isn't an intuitive NN for Henry. We're not talking Joshua/Josh here. No one will call him Hank unless you ask them to.
I think calling people by their initials isn't really a thing anymore. I don't think anyone will call him O.J. unless you do. And all three initials just isn't a big deal. Unless initials spell ASS, KKK or FUK, I don't think people even notice them.
This. I prefer Henry personally. I also don't know most of my friends' MNs or almost any of my daughter's little friends' middle names
Post by heyitsmamac on Feb 12, 2015 6:07:04 GMT -5
I like both names and i think ypur concerns are really a non issue. I have a Henry and nobody has ever called him Hank (except when I jokingly do) but like pp pointed out its not a natural nn like Joshua/Josh or Michael/Mike.
I prefer Owen over Henry. Also I would assume you were a huge Henry James literature fan, so I would steer clear of Henry James. Even if I heard Owen James and thought OJ, I would not think the initials odd and I would probably think orange juice before I thought of OJ Simpson.
We have a Henry. When he was first born a few older relatives and friends asked us if we planned on using Hank as a nickname. We said no and on one has ever brought it up again. I wouldn't be concerned at all.
And clearly I prefer Henry to Owen, although we did consider both names.
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