Sarah writes:<\/p>\n
I’ve enjoyed reading your advice. I wonder if you could help my husband and I….I’m due in two weeks (end of Jan. 2012) and we’re still struggling (stressing a bit) with baby names. We have two children (Hugh Thomas age 4, Claire Ann age 3). We don’t know if we’re having a boy or a girl. (Hugh is a family name…starting with my grandfather and it goes way back and Thomas is my father-in-law. Claire was just a name we liked and Ann is a favorite family name on both sides.) Our last name is Irish – sounds like Fitzpatrick. My husband’s ancestry is all Irish – I’m of Irish and Scottish descent.<\/p>\n
One boy name that we both like is Grant Regan. Grant is another family name and Regan is a family surname. I would love your thoughts on a quick question regarding this…do you think we’re crazy to have sons named Hugh and Grant since there is an actor named Hugh Grant? (For the record I like Hugh Grant so I don’t have bad associations with his name.)<\/p>\n
Some of the other boys names we’re considering are:<\/p>\n
George Regan (George – after my father + husband’s grandfather)
\nCormac Regan (Cormac – a shortened version of a family surname name)
\nCormac George<\/p>\nOur hesitation with Cormac is that there are conflicting defintitions – one is impure son (not so nice), others are son of charioteer or raven. I’m not sure how much weight to give these definitions or if I should let the family tie of the name matter more.<\/p>\n
For girls we’re even more lost. Here are some we’ve been thinking of:<\/p>\n
Alexandra Christine (I’ve always loved Alexandra and Christine is after my late mother-in-law)
\nAlexandra Regan
\nAlexandra Jane
\nSadie Christine
\nMollie Katherine
\nKatherine Regan
\nAlice Regan
\nAlice Christine
\nGeorgia Regan
\nAbigail Regan
\nFlora Christine<\/p>\nAny thoughts or ideas would be most welcome!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI will make this quick so the other commenters can get at it too: it’s already been a week since you wrote, so TIME IS SHORT.<\/p>\nBrothers named Hugh and Grant immediately bring the actor to mind, and for me it’s to startling and comic effect. Like siblings named Ronald and Reagan, or Charles and Darwin. I vote no—but with great regret. If nothing else, I think you and they would get completely fed up with people remarking on the connection.<\/p>\n
Instead I suggest Graham (even this is a little close, but it helps that there is a sister in between), Reid, or Dean. (I wish I could recommend Clark, too, but I think it’s too close to Claire.)<\/p>\n
And I love your idea of George, and feel like pushing you to use it. George Regan! Very handsome. That’s my favorite.<\/p>\n