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11-19-2012 at 9:57 AM
SaraSmile1...
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Famous first & middle - too tacky?

DH and I will find out the sex of our baby next week.  We already have a girl name picked out but we're still debating our boy choice.  One of our top contenders is Benjamin.  We picked it out purely because we like the name.  However, DH came up with an interesting but a little wacky idea.  He suggested the middle name Franklin.  Normally, I wouldn't like the name at all.  However, I'm finding myself opening up to the idea.  DH is known for being a historical and political buff, and I myself am a fan of Benjamin Franklin.  Most people would just know him as Benjamin or Ben, only people who knew his middle name would get the connection.  Also, our last name begins with "F" so his initials would be BFF, which I think is pretty awesome.

We haven't discussed our choices with family, and I have a feeling I'd get the *groan* from my family for this name.  Is this famous, slightly-secret (middle name) choice extremely tacky?
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11-19-2012 at 10:03 AM
austenread...
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It used to be quite common.  I'm a historian and wouldn't side eye it.  We named DS after Teddy Roosevelt and while his middle name isn't Roosevelt it does start with an R, partially because of that.

Now, if you were naming directly after a Kardashian or some celebrity who hasn't given anything to culture and history then I'd side eye for sure.

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11-19-2012 at 10:06 AM
StarBe
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on DH's side of the family there are a few Benjamin Franklin LN... no one seems to mind but we all do see the connection to History, how can you not, and even so it's no big deal!

 Very cute - I say go for it!

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11-19-2012 at 10:11 AM
Joy2611
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I love history.  I live in Philadelphia just a few blocks from Independence Hall.  It's one of my favorite things about the city.

I'd groan at Benjamin Franklin LastName.  Sorry.   Maybe it's just because I'm so immersed in all things Ben Franklin, but it's just a bit hokey to me.  It also reminds me of the National Treasure movies.  Wasn't Nicolas Cage Benjamin Franklin Gates?  Eeeeh.
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11-19-2012 at 10:23 AM
MrsKatieW
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My grandfather was Woodrow Wilson LN (Wilson was president at the time). He hated being named after a public figure.
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11-19-2012 at 10:24 AM
MySallyGir...
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I probably would but our DS is Franklin.  :)  Not after Ben Franklin but just because DH and I liked the name
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11-19-2012 at 10:31 AM
Crys1925
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austenreader85:

Now, if you were naming directly after a Kardashian or some celebrity who hasn't given anything to culture and history then I'd side eye for sure.

This exactly!

 
11-19-2012 at 10:33 AM
sharksfan
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I don't find it tacky at all.  Very few people will even know the middle name.  If you love it, go for it!
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11-19-2012 at 10:37 AM
caramia582
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I wouldn't call it tacky, I think it's kinda cool.  Definitely a good namesake to have.  I say go for it.. and I lol'd to the BFF initials, that's so cute!
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11-19-2012 at 10:39 AM
MelRC117
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I think its a good choice to do something like that if you choose not to do a family name in the MN spot (which I prefer).  Since your DH likes history, etc I think it would be neat.  Like you said most people don't know the MN anyways.  However I'm somewhat biased, I may be sold on naming our next boy Joseph Brady Colton aka the original GI Joe.  People might groan but you know what?  If it has meaning for you and your DH and you both are on board with it, why not?
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11-19-2012 at 11:07 AM
Emerald27
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I think it's a great choice! Not tacky at all!

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11-19-2012 at 11:16 AM
Helenahhan...
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I kind of like it, actually.

Ditto those that said the difference is that you are choosing a historical figure, not a reality TV celeb.

FWIW, DH and I have discussed using Roosevelt as a FN for a future DS.

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11-19-2012 at 11:26 AM
Washington...
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I really like the idea!
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11-19-2012 at 11:52 AM
abell77
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I don't think it's tacky, but it is a little cheesy.  Having said that, there are far worse names you could have come up with so, while I wouldn't choose this name combo myself, if it means that much to you then I guess you should go for it.
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11-19-2012 at 11:55 AM
letranger
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I work in the museum field in Philadelphia. Historically being named for founding fathers is common it boomed in the Late 1800 early 1900s.

I think it's cute not cheesy.
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11-19-2012 at 12:12 PM
ScarletOfl...
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Why not? People used to be named after presidents and military commanders all the time!
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11-19-2012 at 12:20 PM
g8trkim
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Yeah, I think it's pretty tacky. I mean, you could be named after worse people than Benjamin Frankin, but still... kind of cheesy. And I think BFF as initials is a little cheesy too, especially on a boy.
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11-19-2012 at 12:22 PM
Raeily
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I wouldn't think anything bad about it. As long as it's actually a cool historical figure and not a Kardashian like someone else said. 

Just make sure you're comfortable yelling, "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LN!" when he's in trouble.... 
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11-19-2012 at 12:25 PM
countrywed
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I just think parents like history.  My Great Grandpa was George Washington Lastname.  Born of the same birthday.
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11-19-2012 at 3:05 PM
jennyshawn...
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I think if you like it, who cares what other people think. I think it's neat, but DS middle name is also Franklin, so I might be a little partial to it, haha.
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11-19-2012 at 4:07 PM
af1274
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Joy2611:

I love history.  I live in Philadelphia just a few blocks from Independence Hall.  It's one of my favorite things about the city.

I'd groan at Benjamin Franklin LastName.  Sorry.   Maybe it's just because I'm so immersed in all things Ben Franklin, but it's just a bit hokey to me.  It also reminds me of the National Treasure movies.  Wasn't Nicolas Cage Benjamin Franklin Gates?  Eeeeh.

Yeah, this is how I feel too, except that I'm about an hour and a half outside Philly. Sorry, OP.
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11-19-2012 at 6:19 PM
blu-eyedwi...
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letranger:
I work in the museum field in Philadelphia. Historically being named for founding fathers is common it boomed in the Late 1800 early 1900s. I think it's cute not cheesy.

Like George Washington Carver?

 

FWIW, I think there are probably quite a few unintentional naming after celebrities - like the Dylan Thomas suggestion in a post below, or I have friends with a Henry James, so I don't think that many people will side-eye it.

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11-19-2012 at 6:22 PM
kmpls
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abell77:
I don't think it's tacky, but it is a little cheesy.  Having said that, there are far worse names you could have come up with so, while I wouldn't choose this name combo myself, if it means that much to you then I guess you should go for it.

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11-19-2012 at 6:31 PM
this decaf...
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I love both Benjamin & Franklin.

If it really bothers you, you could use Frank but I think everyone would think of Ben Franklin anyways! I think it's fine. 

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11-19-2012 at 10:18 PM
queenbone
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It's a little cheesy, but I kinda like it.

We were very close to naming DS2 Francis Lloyd W--. Both names are family names for DH and Lloyd is the name of an obscure sports legend he adores. I loved the idea of him having the same initials as Frank Lloyd Wright. In the end DH couldn't pull the trigger on it so we used a different MN.
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11-20-2012 at 1:14 PM
LexiLupin
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Hawkeye from M*A*S*H was Benjamin Franklin Pierce. Now that is hardcore history nerdiness.

I'll ditto the PP who said it isn't tacky, but a little cheesy. If it were me, I'd go for a lesser-known historical figure if there was one meaningful to both myself and DH. So I guess I wouldn't do it unless you're both actually really big fans of Benny Frank, not just 'eh, he was a neat guy, why not.'

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11-20-2012 at 3:41 PM
Willowmere
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Anyone remember the movie "The Sandlot"? One of the kids was Benjamin Franklin "The Jet" Rodriguez. We got a kitten when I was 10, and that's what I named him. Yes, my cat's last name was Rodriguez. ; )
 
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