Swistle,
I read your blog religiously and am constantly looking for new and/or unique baby names to add to my collection of names. I currently have a 3.5 year old girl named E11ery (last name is the capitol of Alabama)- you actually helped me out with a middle name dilemma when I was expecting her. While we are currently not trying to conceive due to some life transitions, it won’t be much longer before we try to expand our family. At one point I pictured having two to three children but I’m currently 34 years old so I’m guessing we will only have one more due to my age. Anyway, I really hope that our next child winds up being a girl as well but as you know, we have no control over that. We have a name picked out that we would like to use for a future girl and that is R0zlyn. The reason I’m writing you is that I JUST came across the name Laedyn (it belongs to a little girl) and LOVE it which leaves me wondering a couple of things. I’ve never heard Laedyn as a first name- only as a last name spelled Layden or as the adjective spelled laden. Is this usable as a first name? Does it sound more like a girl’s name or a boy’s name or is it completely unisex that one would not be able to guess the gender based on the name? Furthermore, does it pair better with E11ery than R0zlyn? I’m sure you will make mention that it sounds very similar to Lakyn or Leighton (both have various spellings) and both are pleasing to my ear. I searched your blog to see if anyone had suggested this name before and no one had! I would love to have your thoughts on this name and would love a poll!
Sincerely,
Ash
The basic elements of Laedyn work. It looks name-like. It sounds name-like. It would easily join the Aiden/Braden/Caden/Hayden group. The -ae- and the -yn make it feminine. The nickname Lady would be super cute.
Despite these promising signs, however, I wouldn’t recommend it. The first issue is the word “laden”: “burdened” and “weighed down” are not positive associations. The second issue is the connection to the sexually-charged word “laid.” And the third issue is that we already have the name Leighton, which dodges the first two issues: changing it very slightly doesn’t seem worth it in this case.
To answer your other questions: If the name were spelled Laedyn, the -ae- and -yn would make me assume a girl (and I do think that’s a very pretty spelling); if it were spelled Laden or Layden, it would be too unisex for me to guess. The Layden spelling would lean feminine for me because of Layla, but there are plenty of boys named Brayden and Hayden, so I wouldn’t be at all confident.
I hesitate to say it pairs better with E11ery than R0zlyn does; I do think so, but I hesitate to say it because it seems like an endorsement of the name. It’s not enough of an issue to make me want to use it, but both Laedyn and E11ery have a unisex/surname/modern sound, while R0zlyn is a very old name and distinctly girl. But E11ery and R0zlyn are fine together, and before recommending the name Laedyn for purely style-coordination reasons I’d come up with a long list of other options (Finley, Piper, Brinley, Campbell, Delaney, Linley, Teagan, Hadley, Gracen, Kinsley, Devany, Locklyn, etc.).
Let’s have a poll to see what everyone else thinks:
No. Laedyn (no matter how it is spelled) will just be setting her up for “getting laid” jokes when she gets older.
I knew a girl named Leyden (pronounced lie-den), which I always thought was really pretty. There’s also a town in the Netherlands named Leiden, pronounced the same. I assumed that Laedyn was pronounced the same, and just a convoluted spelling for it. I don’t think the pronunciation Laden works at ALL, but I think Leyden could be a good alternative.
Not that this will occur to many people, but Factor V Leiden is a hematologic mutation that puts the patient at risk for abnormal blood clots. It was named for the city where it was found.
I voted No, not really for that reason, but because of the “laid” issue and the burden meaning. I really like the name Leah, Lee/Leigh. Maybe Leigh from TX can share her experience? If Leigh is her name?
I think the spelling looks really pretty, but the associations take it out of the running. If you really like the Lay sound at the beginning, look at names that have it. Layla, Laney, Lacey, Laekyn, Leina,.
In this instance, I have to admit that I disagree with Swistle. Laedyn isn’t my favorite name on the planet, but the LW “LOVES” it and has asked simply whether it is “usable as a first name.” In my opinion it is 100% usable as a first name (in fact, I am acquainted with a kid named “Layton” who is a boy). It looks like a name, it sounds like a name, it has familiar name sound-patterns. I agree that it is similar to “Leighton” and therefore probably not a name that is strictly necessary, but the LW is aware of the name Leighton and has acknowledged they are similar, so I see no problem with it. Certainly there are many other pairs of very similar names in use, and I don’t see a reason to draw a line at this one. The associations with “getting laid” and the word “laden” seem like vast leaps to me–neither of these things would EVER cross my mind if I met a person named “Laedyn” or “Layden” (and, oddly, nobody seems to have these issues with the (highly regarded) name “Leighton” although the pronunciation is very similar). LW, my vote is that if you love the name you should go for it! Also, FWIW, I think the spelling “Laedyn” is definitely a girl’s name while “Layden” could be unisex. So perhaps it could be your potential boy name.
It looks like I’m in the minority here. I like the name and think it would be fine to use. I did not make the “getting laid” association or the “laden, burdened, weighed-down” association either. They are definitely things to consider.
Personally, it didn’t change my opinion of the name.
Even after being told the “getting laid” associations that STILL is not where my brain goes when I see/hear Laedyn. It also sounds close enough to “Leighton” to me that I also don’t immediately go the “laden” route in my head. It’s not my personal name style, but to me it sounds completely legit as a first name – very on trend both with spelling and name-sounds. I’m in the leaning yes / definitely yes camp.
Because of the issues laid out by Swistle, I would very much prefer the name Leighton (by any spelling – Laetyn?)
Oops! Was working on my comment when you posted this, but I second this idea!
If I first encountered the name spoken aloud, rather than written, I would wonder why someone named her child Laden (that’s how I would hear it, and it carries all the neutral-to-negative associations Swistle mentioned–heaviness, burden). If I first encountered it in writing, I would file it in the Creative Spelling category (with, for example, Londyn, Madisyn, etc.), and would maybe think the parents had contorted the spelling as much as possible to distinguish it from the word “laden.” But on the other hand, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this blog, it’s that for every person who categorically dislikes -dyn modifications, there’s apparently another who thinks they make a name more appealing. It’s worth considering that people in the first camp might react to this name as a Madisyn-style creation.
Elizabeth raises a good point above, but I think there’s a world of difference between Laedyn and Layton/Leighton (just as there is between the established name Payton and the Sister Wives name Paedon). If you have positive feelings about Layton/Leighton, is it possible that you would like a modified version–like Laeton?
Laedyn does read both “name” and “girl” to me, but I have to admit I would roll my eyes (internally!) a little if I saw it on a class list or in the newspaper. The Aiden/Braden/Caden/Hayden thing is a trend that appears to be winding down now, and Laedyn seems like a somewhat forced derivative of that. I also agree with the other people who notes that there are more established names with similar sounds that I might consider instead. But I don’t think Laedyn is a train wreck or totally unusable, and I don’t know that the “laden” or “getting laid” associations are strong enough to warrant too much worry for me.
Exactly my thoughts. I wouldn’t jump to laden or getting laid, and it certainly looks like a name, but…not a fan. It’s definitely on the Aidan, Brayden, Caden, Hayden, Jaden train, which is overdone and passé. And it screams kreative spelling to me. But that’s really just my taste, so take it for what it’s worth.
I love Rosalyn or Rozlyn, and think it’s very pretty with Ellery. If you’re set on Laedyn, I’d really urge Leighton. But if you love it, I do think it is usable as a first name! And it looks and sounds feminine to me.
Exactly this.
I did go immediately to the teasing the poor girl might get in middle school/ high school with a name that contains laid (even if not that spelling) I didn’t immediately go with the laden thing because I pronounce that word as lad-den not lay-den (which is how I would pronounce Laedyn) If you were going to pronounce it lad-den I wouldn’t like it for a girl simply because the association of lad to boys would be somewhat confusing. I know that people can and will used just about anything for a name without considering the possible outcomes, but I’m with Swistle on this one.
In the U.S. the word “laden” is pronounced like lay-den and not like lad-den.
In Oklahoma it’s often pronounced lad-den. But we say stuff in a weird way sometimes.
I don’t think the world really needs any more “rhymes w/ Aiden” names…and I agree with the issues re: getting laid/laden.
I LOVE the name R0zlyn. It was my grandmother’s name (spelled Roslyn) and she went by Roz.
What about Roswell for a boy?
Or maybe Roscoe or just Ross?
Other boy names you might like:
Clayton
Grayson/Greyson
Holden
Lincoln
Logan
Landon
Declan
Mason
Rowan
Camden
Lane
Lucas
Dashiell
Julian
Caleb
Jacob
Jameson
Cole
Nathan
My instant thought was “heavy-laden”, “grief-laden”, etc. I wouldn’t use it for that reason alone. I personally wouldn’t want to saddle a child with a name that brings to mind oppression and burden. I didn’t make the “laid” connection until Swistle said it, but I’m sure teens would go there (then again, teens can find a way to make fun of any name on the planet, so that alone wouldn’t be a deterrent).
If I saw it written out, as I did here, I would know it’s a girl’s name. However, if I just heard someone on a playground calling, “Lay-den!” I would have no idea if that person was looking for a boy or a girl.
I agree that it does have a pretty sound, and people have certainly used stranger names. So if you truly love it, go for it. But for me, it would be a no-go.
I would guess that Laedyn is a girl. Maybe Laidon would be the “boy spelling” in my mind.
Though just hearing the name spoken, I might not be able to tell. It’s similar to Landon (boy) and London (girl) so I likely wouldn’t know. The spelling Laedyn does read feminine to me.
My first thought was that I wouldn’t use it as a name, because my first thought was that it sounds like “laden” = burdened. Which is a negative association in my mind. The more you think about the name, the more it sounds like a name alongside Hayden, Jaiden etc. But I wouldn’t want people to hear my daughter’s name for the first time and think “Burdened / weighed down.”
I didn’t think of the “laid” association until Swistle mentioned it, but I do think that is rather unfortunate too.
I agree with others that it’s name-like enough to be useable as a name but I dislike both the spelling (which seems contrived and too cutesy) and the associations. I think the “laid” association is strengthened by having a place-name for a last name, so that it would sound like “laid in (Capitol of Alabama)”–whether this would most often bring to mind eggs, sex, or graveyards I’m unsure, but none are good in my mind.
For what it’s worth: I had my three children when I was ages 35, 39, and 41. If we had more time and money, I’d try for another even though I’m about to turn 42.
P.S. Forgot to say that I really like Rozlyn, but I would spell it Roslyn, Rosalyn, Rosalind, or even Roselin with nn Roz. I don’t like the z in the formal name.
Ellery and Leighton sound as well as look beautiful together (maybe it’s the hanging y in Ellery and the hanging g in Leighton, and the strong lines of the E and the L at the beginnings?)! I strongly encourage you to use the name but with that spelling! It eliminates all of the problems of Laedyn, and yet it still sounds special enough to me to stand up next to Ellery! In fact, it strikes me as the perfect little sister name for an Ellery. Leighton!! I love it! And you already find the sounds of it pleasing! Rozlyn actually sounds more like a big sister to me.
While I do not love the name, I also don’t hate it. It kind if goes with Ellery. I also don’t get the “laid” connection. I actually am bothered by the “laid” in Adelaide, but not Laedyn. I say go for it if you both love it. I’m kind if surprised Swistle has such an definitive “no” against using this name.
I wouldn’t call my no “definitive.” I just vote no, personally, for the reasons I listed.
I went right to burdened- but the commenter who pointed out that the place name as last name really brings out the sexual connotations in the name, and would make me extremely uncomfortable using it. Rozlyn (especially that spelling) goes nicely with Ellery and I think would make a nice name.
Rozlyn is lovely and is goes quite well with E11ery. I don’t see a problem at all with sisters with these names. (Although admittedly I’m one of those people that doesn’t really care whether names fit into someone else’s idea of a good sibset.) Laedyn, like a lot of the …aden names, just seems a little less fresh than Rozlyn or E11ery. However, names are very personal, and if Laedyn is the name you love, then don’t be swayed by the rest of us.
I have more of a positive association with “laden”. I think of a table laden with delicious foods or a woman laden with diamonds.
My vote is still with Leighton, though. I think it’s a great pairing with E11ery.
I am rather tired of the a-den names like Aiden, Jayden, Cayden, etc. Since they have been so trendy, I do prefer Roz!yn.
No. It’s the twice over problematic/bad meanings and associations that Swistle noted– first, “laden” is like “burden”, not a positive word, and then the association with “laid.” Sadly!
However, Leighton is wonderful both on its own and paired with E11ery! Why not go with it? It hits a similar E11ery sweet spot of familiar but still uncommon, too.
If you go with R0zlyn, is that the spelling you’re set on? Since E11ery has the regular/dominant spelling of her name, my instinct would be to spell her sister’s name with an “s”– R0slyn.
Other ideas:
Romilly
Hayden
Rosalie
Rosalind
Aidan (yes, for a girl)
Dylan (yes, for a girl)
Julienne
Adrienne
Garland
I think it’s fine to use! I don’t get the “laid” connotation from it at all. My mind didn’t go there and even when swistle said it, I thought ‘what?’ So I vote you could definitely use it :)
I vote no, just because Laedyn (Place name last name), sounds so close to laid in (Place name last name). There’s the sexual connotation, but it also brings to mind being laid to rest in that place. What about Lakyn? Or Larkin? I also think Rozlyn is beautiful, but think the softer Roslyn spelling ties in really well with Ellery.
FWIW- we have friends with a “Laelyn”, a name I believe that was simply inspired by a few connections they had to the letter “L”. Next to another Layla in the family, it’s no more or less unusual, or than Laedyn would be, I guess.
How about the beautiful Irish name, Líadan? I find Ellery and Liadan beautiful together.