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01-15-2013 at 2:22 PM
magpie1127
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Leland James: I've asked this before, but PLEASE tell me your honest opinions

Leland James is our current frontrunner for a boy. Leland (pronounced lee-land, not lay-land) was DH's late grandpa's name. James is my dad's name.

On one hand, Leland is unusual but it bears all the markings of trendy names today: It's vintage, sounds a bit like a surname, has a unisex vibe, is pleasant sounding, etc.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that I'm in love with it. I worry about what "kind" of a name it is.

So, how would you classify Leland? I want something classic/established, yet uncommon. Does it meet the criteria?
Or, does it sound kind of trendy to you? We have friends who just named their son Ryland, which I strongly dislike. To me, it sounds juvenile, kind of made-up, etc. Does Leland sound like that?

Also, what are some sibset options that would go with Leland? I want to know what group it would fit into. Is it more of a "Henry" name or a "Ryland" name? Or something else entirely? What are your thoughts on Leland with our frontrunner girl name - Eloise? Other suggestions would also be appreciated!

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01-15-2013 at 2:36 PM
TheWop
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I live in Michigan and the Detroit Tigers manager is Jim Leyland (pretty sure pronounced the same as Leland), so if I heard that name in MI, I'd assume you were a Tigers fan.

I do not think it sounds classic. Uncommon yes, but not classic IMO. I see it as more of a Ryland than a Henry type name. Leland is very "I'm trying really hard to be cool with this old school name."  I would picture a parent saying "His name is Leland." with a giant grin like they're somehow seeking your approval, yet proud they chose something different (does that make sense?).  BUT if I knew you and knew the history of the name, I'd say "That's cool.".  I don't know if I'm making sense in this post, but those are my thoughts.  LOL.

I like Eloise.  


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01-15-2013 at 2:41 PM
Ladiebug71...
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I like it.  It is an older name, not too common, but not too strange.

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01-15-2013 at 2:41 PM
MelRC117
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I disagree with Wop...I don't see it as a Ryland name...maybe because I feel like I've known a Leland but I can definitely see how it would get that "I used an old fashioned name to be cool" vibe.  Also, since you explained your reasoning and from your name choices I wouldn't think you did it to be trendy at all.  I don't at all see it getting very popular like Charlie, Oliver and Henry have become. 

The first thing I think of though? Dog the Bounty Hunter's son.


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01-15-2013 at 2:44 PM
toothpaste...
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I would catagorize it closer to Rylan or trendy then to a classic name. My friend has a 4 year old named Leeland, and I think I actually prefer Leeland to Leland but it may just be because that's what I am familiar with.
01-15-2013 at 2:45 PM
Iloveshane...
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Leland is okay but reminds me of Dog The Bounty Hunter! Eloise is okay too!

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01-15-2013 at 2:45 PM
jgengo0
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 I don't know why, but it always sounds a little feminine to me. However, it's a fine name.

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01-15-2013 at 2:45 PM
BreanneL24
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I went to high school with a boy who's middle name was Leland and he was so incredibly embarrassed by it and people made fun on him. We went to a really small school where everyone knew everything about everyone so maybe that had something to do with it. Either way, I definitely wouldn't use it as a FN.

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01-15-2013 at 2:46 PM
virginiagi...
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I will be honest with you - Leland is nms at all. I wouldn't say it sounds made up (I agree with you that Ryland sounds contrived), but, to me, it's a very deeply southern country name that I hear among the local folks here in the mountains of rural SW VA.

I agree that it's less common but I don't think it's a Henry name. I really like the name Henry, btw!


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01-15-2013 at 2:47 PM
heddy79
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I know a girl named Leland, but I think its too masculine for her.  I like it for a boy.

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01-15-2013 at 2:47 PM
plunderb
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I definitely think of Leland as an older name.

But I don't think it's quite turned the corner from "old man" toward "distinguished." When I think of names like Henry or Theodore or Edmund, they evoke sort of Edwardian splendor. I think Leland is a little uneasy in that crowd — it doesn't sounds as sophisticated.

Which is ridiculous. I mean, it's an old English name that should sound right at home with those other names. But it does have a more rural vibe to it, at least to my ear. I would class it with Chester — a name very much appropriate to that era, but not quite the right sound for the modern revival.

Of course, it's a family name, so the style considerations are secondary. I definitely think Leland and Henry over Leland and Rylan.

01-15-2013 at 2:47 PM
magpie1127
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AH! You guys are confirming all my worst fears!!

 It's not my favorite name in the world, but it means a ton to my DH. Sad I hastily agreed to this name in college, and now that I'm a bit older I'm wishing that I hadn't! I like offbeat, yet classic names (like Hugo, Graham, Leo, Oliver, etc.), but I can't find anything that lets Leland work in the MN spot. The flow never works out..


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01-15-2013 at 2:52 PM
Crys1925
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virginiagirl11:

I will be honest with you - Leland is nms at all. I wouldn't say it sounds made up (I agree with you that Ryland sounds contrived), but, to me, it's a very deeply southern country name that I hear among the local folks here in the mountains of rural SW VA.

I agree that it's less common but I don't think it's a Henry name. I really like the name Henry, btw!

Totally agree - it made me think southern, but not the good kind! I do not like it at all.

 
01-15-2013 at 2:53 PM
TheWop
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magpie1127:

AH! You guys are confirming all my worst fears!!

 It's not my favorite name in the world, but it means a ton to my DH. Sad I hastily agreed to this name in college, and now that I'm a bit older I'm wishing that I hadn't! I like offbeat, yet classic names (like Hugo, Graham, Leo, Oliver, etc.), but I can't find anything that lets Leland work in the MN spot. The flow never works out..

Family significance ALWAYS trumps flow IMO.  Don't let lack of flow deter you from using it as a middle name if that's the best way to use it.  Find a FN you and your H agree on and use Leland as a MN regardless. And sure, you agreed to the name in college, but if you don't love it anymore as a FN your H should understand.


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01-15-2013 at 3:02 PM
2Dash
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It sounds like though you want to use it for family reasons - you really don't like it.

Have you considered James Leland - this is definitely more classic - still has the family names and the nickname Jamie is cute for a little guy while James is more sophisticated for an older guy.


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01-15-2013 at 3:04 PM
magpie1127
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2Dash:

It sounds like though you want to use it for family reasons - you really don't like it.

Have you considered James Leland - this is definitely more classic - still has the family names and the nickname Jamie is cute for a little guy while James is more sophisticated for an older guy.

Ugh. Don't I wish? DH isn't into it. He is still basically set on the names we picked when we were, like, 20 years old! This is what I get for always wanting to talk about baby names ...


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01-15-2013 at 3:37 PM
Grace0609
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Leland for a first name strikes me more hillbilly than trendy. Sorry. I do like it for family meaning in the middle name spot.


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01-15-2013 at 3:41 PM
PepVeroni
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TheWop:
magpie1127:

AH! You guys are confirming all my worst fears!!

 It's not my favorite name in the world, but it means a ton to my DH. Sad I hastily agreed to this name in college, and now that I'm a bit older I'm wishing that I hadn't! I like offbeat, yet classic names (like Hugo, Graham, Leo, Oliver, etc.), but I can't find anything that lets Leland work in the MN spot. The flow never works out..

Family significance ALWAYS trumps flow IMO.  Don't let lack of flow deter you from using it as a middle name if that's the best way to use it.  Find a FN you and your H agree on and use Leland as a MN regardless. And sure, you agreed to the name in college, but if you don't love it anymore as a FN your H should understand.



Agree with this. Our girl middle name is Giovanna because of family significance. It doesn't sound great with any of our front runner fns, and I've had a few people point that out on message boards, but the vast majority have agreed that family significance trumps flow. In your case, I don't think a lot of your first name options are bad at all with mn Leland.

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01-15-2013 at 3:44 PM
Joy2611
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Hmmm... I don't get a trendy vibe from Leland at all.  Now that you mention it, I can see where you are coming from, but off the bat, I think it's an old man, uncommon name.  To me, it's trendy in the vintage/old people name way but that's about it.  I definitely don't think of it as unisex - yikes.  It's ALL boy and certainly not in the same league as Ryland!

I will say I'm not a fan of Leland.   It doesn't do anything for me.  It's a fine name, but just not pleasant sounding to me.  It feels like it's from a different time period but not in the way that it's coming around to fit in this one (like Eleanor, Beatrice and Edward feel old but are coming back).  I also don't have a personal association with it so that could change my feelings.

 
01-15-2013 at 4:59 PM
JeseyJo
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I actually love the name Leland.. My brother in law's name is Leland James. I like that it's an older name, but doesn't sound too old man-ish. And I don't agree it sounds trendy or made up. I'd use it if it weren't my BIL's name. 

 
01-15-2013 at 5:32 PM
granolaok
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When I hear Leland, my first thought is the police chief on Monk.  I think that's the only place I've ever heard it.

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01-15-2013 at 5:53 PM
Keri Marie
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DH's best friend for 25 years is named Leland. I love the name.

He's a smart, professional man and a great father. He's Shorter than average. "Leland" makes me think of him. He sometimes goes by Lee around family.

01-15-2013 at 5:58 PM
SarahL77
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I taught a Leland. He went by Lee. He was named after a grandfather, but he hated his name. If I was set on using this name, I'd probably make it a middle name.

I don't consider it a Ryland. I consider it at Walter or Francis.

I like Eloise a lot.

01-15-2013 at 7:14 PM
chelleb24
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I actually love Leeland! I first heard the name as a teacher when I saw his work in the hallway and I fell in love with the name without even knowing who the child was. I now have him in my class and his is so adorable.
 
01-15-2013 at 7:55 PM
elizdg
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TheWop:
magpie1127:

AH! You guys are confirming all my worst fears!!

 It's not my favorite name in the world, but it means a ton to my DH. Sad I hastily agreed to this name in college, and now that I'm a bit older I'm wishing that I hadn't! I like offbeat, yet classic names (like Hugo, Graham, Leo, Oliver, etc.), but I can't find anything that lets Leland work in the MN spot. The flow never works out..

Family significance ALWAYS trumps flow IMO.  Don't let lack of flow deter you from using it as a middle name if that's the best way to use it.  Find a FN you and your H agree on and use Leland as a MN regardless. And sure, you agreed to the name in college, but if you don't love it anymore as a FN your H should understand.

this. DS is Graham Stuart. I don't love the flow, but we love Graham and it was important to me to use Stuart as the MN after my dad.

 

also, fwiw, I think Leland is a classic name, not trendy. I know several older men named this. 


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01-15-2013 at 8:16 PM
magpie1127
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Thanks for the help, everyone! I love the sound of Leland, but as I've gotten older I've started to learn about names' connotations, and Leland makes me worried for some reason. I just don't know if it evokes the right image, though I love the sound of it and the meaning behind it. It also just seems like it would fit naturally into our family.

 We'll have to see!


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01-15-2013 at 8:38 PM
austenread...
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I like it.  I would assume it's an old family name, maybe a surname.  I don't think it's part of the vintage names returning thing but I don't think it sounds old and stuffy either.  I don't get the "bad" southern (assuming they mean white trash/redneck) vibe at all.  And I like the flow with James as a middle name.  I could see it going with a sister named Eloise some day.

But it does sound like you're not in love with it.


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01-15-2013 at 8:47 PM
jebrmbbeb
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Leland James is nice sounding, if you like Leland. To me it sounds very old, like Edgar and Whillamena. My brother in laws name is Ryan Leland because it's after his grandpa Leland. There's a good chance people will call him Lee too. I don't think it's trendy at all! I think it's past the traditional/classy category more into old man category. Sorry just my honest opinion. It does go with Eloise though. And I say if you love it use it! I just wouldn't say it's cute or trendy in an old fashioned way (like Oliver or Henry). 

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01-15-2013 at 9:04 PM
af1274
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Leland does not sound juvenile to me. We considered it as a MN because it was the MN of DH's great-great grandfather who fought in WWI (Everett Leland was his name). So to me it represents strength and courage. I think it's completely different than Ryland.

I do think it meets the criteria you're looking for, but I understand why you're not in love with it. There's definitely something I like about it, but I don't know if I like it above all other names. However, I think it's great that that's the name of your DH's grandfather and that would make me like it a lot more.

As far as Eloise goes, I really like it... but I do see it becoming more popular over the next several years. If that doesn't bother you, I think it's a great name.


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01-16-2013 at 9:51 AM
IrishTrave...
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My uncle's name is Leland, pronounced the way you like. He's in his 70s. I think it's a little bit of a throwback name, but I like it.

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