Help - need opinions on boy's name

[Lucy'sMommy]

Hi! I'm due Aug. 26th. I mostly lurk but I have a question for all of you...
I just found out yesterday that we're having a little boy! We're super excited. My husband and I both like the name Anchor for a boy (one of the few we both agree on), but I've never heard it used.
The baby's name would be Anchor Edward Lastname. Edward is a family name - no way around it really.
The meaning behind it is a good one - it's a symbol for hope and strength. It has a special meaning for us stemming from my miscarriage last year as well.

What do you think? Cool? Too weird? Possible drawbacks? Possible good things?

[mataji4]

You really want feedback on a name you really like and agree upon???

I'm sorry, I don't like it. It just doesn't sound like a name to me. It sounds hard. When I say it, I hear "anger." Sorry!

[HappyMommy2]

I think it sounds cool. Reminds me of boating.

But really, PP is right. Don't ask for opinions if you both love it! Just consider yourself lucky!!

[VillageMom6]

I love the Edward part!

I'm not a fan of word names. To me, they are a fad and I'm more of a traditional sort of gal.

But if you and hubby are in agreement, you are doing better than hubby and I are!

[zinemama]

DDCC

I agree that it sounds like "anger."

More importantly, it just sounds goofy. Anchor is not a name. It's an object. Prepare for lots of "anchors aweigh!" and "hoist that anchor" and "Feeling anchored down these days, har har," and god forbid he's a little chubby because then it will be, "Yeah, I'll bet he weighs as much as an anchor."

This child will be the butt of bad puns his entire life. It's like throwing him to the wolves.

[AmyKT]

Hi Lucy'sMommy! It's good to see you on here! Congrats on your little boy!

I've never heard of the name Anchor, but it could grow on me. I always think about nicknames, because names inevitably get shortened. Are you cool with Anch (pronounced "Aynk") as a nickname? Sounds almost like Hank, which I happen to really like.

If we were having a boy, our top name was Archer, which is somewhat similar, and we would have called him Archie.

ETA: I wouldn't worry that it's not been used (as far as you know). Willow is a noun, as is Skye and River and Holly and Ruby, etc, and those are accepted names. We think of unusual names as being a modern, "trendy" thing, but in the old days, people made up names all the time. For goodness sake, my grandfather was named Venis and he had a brother named Sterling. DH has a grandmother Avis and an Ora. And virture names (Honor, Chastity, Hope, etc) were huge during colonial and pioneer times, and completely unheard of until then.

[JamieFay]

I just have to say that I'm a fan of weird, different and unique names. I can appreciate wanting to go against the norm. My youngest son's middle name is Locke, and technically that's a "word name" so I'm not against them.

I think the name Anchor LOOKS really cool written down. Said out loud it kind of reminds *me of "canker" and I could also so someone misunderstanding and thinking you said "anger". Once I got over it, I think it might grow on me. I certainly don't *hate it. There are much worse names out there, however you have to be warned. You will, for the rest of your life, have to introduce him as "Anchor....yes, Anchor....like an anchor on a ship". You will most likely get a double take from even the kindest of folk, just to make sure they heard you right. And from the not-so-nice, rude, my-opinion-matters person? You will get flat out (said in a unbelievably disgusted tone) "ANCHOR!? Like on a ship!?"

As a PP said, there are the drawbacks of being compared to a ship anchor, OR a news anchor. Actually, the more I thought about it the more I started thinking of Ron Burgandy . As an adult, he is going to have to say his name twice to unbelieving people. It's something you can't escape with a name like that. My SIL has a son name Brick (named after Paul Newman's character in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and she gets it all the time. The wide eyed startled, "HUH?!" reaction...and in my opinion "Brick" is an established name.

So take all this into consideration. There are going to be people that outright HATE it (think about how people reacted when Gwenyth Paltrow named her daughter Apple...and I think that sounds cute!) Although, honestly the same goes for so many names out there (I have quite a few negative reactions to all my children's names, including the new one). There are drawbacks but if you can deal with them, then absolutely go for it.

[JamieFay]

Originally Posted by AmyKT

ETA: I wouldn't worry that it's not been used (as far as you know). Willow is a noun, as is Skye and River and Holly and Ruby, etc, and those are accepted names. We think of unusual names as being a modern, "trendy" thing, but in the old days, people made up names all the time. For goodness sake, my grandfather was named Venis and he had a brother named Sterling. DH has a grandmother Avis and an Ora. And virture names (Honor, Chastity, Hope, etc) were huge during colonial and pioneer times, and completely unheard of until then.

My Father-In-Law's Aunt was named TinyBelle. Yes, TinyBelle. He's from Kentucky and has quite an accent and I always assumed he *had to be saying "Tyna Belle". Then I researched their family tree and found a census for his family. There it was, recorded: "TinyBelle". I was shocked, lol! It's true that there are names that are virtually extinct that were once quite normal!

[Lucy'sMommy]

Thanks - see, that's why I posted. You guys have brought up things I never would have thought of being associated with the name. I appreciate your input. And yes, I definitely still want opinions even though my husband and I both like it. We're not the ones that will be stuck with the name. Real world perceptions are important. Names are important! I knew it was one that could go either way - either good or horrible. We have a few others we're considering and that one was by far the most unusual.

[the elyse]

i like it! my dh would as well, he loves anything nautical (murdoc was our boy name, it means 'the sea') and is going to flip when i tell him your ds' name! go for it!

[laughymama]

I went to elementary school with a boy named Anchor!! No joke.

I don't recall anyone ever making fun of his name...then again I never remember anyone getting teased about their name and I went to school with quite a few oddly named kids. Mostly the reaction was, "Oh you're name's Atilla? That's different!" but nothing negative. I realize this doesn't mean that it's like this everywhere though.

I love how it looks...saying it makes it more difficult for me to picture myself calling my son that but this is YOUR son..so if you dig it, do it. I like it.

[somegirl99]

I love the look of it, and my DH is also very much into nautical things so I'm sure would love it too. However, I guess I've spent too much time in Asia because when I say it, I think of Angkor Wat.

[matey]

I also like the look, but it is hard sounding when I speak it, and I definetly see the anger and canker references. I agree with people saying if you both like it then that's comething, but at the same time you dont want to second guessing yourself the whole time. We decided on out "name" tonight. We were between two names. One that we were confident about and one that we really liked but were having some reservations about. We decided to go with the one we are confident about.

[Dahlea]

I like it but if you both do that's more important!

[philomom]

Originally Posted by zinemama

DDCC

I agree that it sounds like "anger."

More importantly, it just sounds goofy. Anchor is not a name. It's an object. Prepare for lots of "anchors aweigh!" and "hoist that anchor" and "Feeling anchored down these days, har har," and god forbid he's a little chubby because then it will be, "Yeah, I'll bet he weighs as much as an anchor."

This child will be the butt of bad puns his entire life. It's like throwing him to the wolves.

[momtoafireteam]

I guess I will be the dissent in some ways. I thought we named our oldest a "weird" name, and we got a fair bit of negative feedback at the time. Fast forward to 4 years later and the first day of school and my "weird" kid hung his school bag next to Princess, Viola, Truck, Bee, shall I go on? And thats not in some trendy liberal place, that was in the midwest in a middle class area in a church pre-K. Fast forward another 4 years and my kid has one of the most normal names in the 2nd grade.

My point is, I dont think Anchor is that weird, it doesnt have any negative connotation as a word (like you are calling him "Chicken" or "Vulva" : ) and I would bet that not as many people will flip out as are making out in this thread. JMO.

[MissMorgan]

Originally Posted by momtoafireteam

I guess I will be the dissent in some ways. I thought we named our oldest a "weird" name, and we got a fair bit of negative feedback at the time. Fast forward to 4 years later and the first day of school and my "weird" kid hung his school bag next to Princess, Viola, Truck, Bee, shall I go on? And thats not in some trendy liberal place, that was in the midwest in a middle class area in a church pre-K. Fast forward another 4 years and my kid has one of the most normal names in the 2nd grade.

My point is, I dont think Anchor is that weird, it doesnt have any negative connotation as a word (like you are calling him "Chicken" or "Vulva" : ) and I would bet that not as many people will flip out as are making out in this thread. JMO.

Some of the responses here (and in other threads) have been so negative that I completely understand why many people refuse to divulge names online or in person before the child is born.

[momongeon]

Refer to the baby by that name for a bit. If it seem to flow OK keep it. Try the other name too. One will seem right. There are lots of name I do not like and reasons why I don't like them. People will name their children what they want regardless of my opinion and that is the way it should be. He may love being unique or he may hate it. There are names out there that just go to a whole new level comparatively. I saw this site that had the worst names ever. The one that makes me laugh the most is "Number 16 Bus Stop." Honestly who names their kid that? When I see the name Anchor that thought does not enter my mind b/c it is not crazy IMO. If you name him Anchor Away or Anchor Man I may say that.

If you agree on a name you are in a good place.

[Lucy'sMommy]

Originally Posted by MissMorgan

Some of the responses here (and in other threads) have been so negative that I completely understand why many people refuse to divulge names online or in person before the child is born.

Seriously.

Thanks all for your input - we probably aren't going to go with this one. Definitely not because of anything negative anyone here has said, but we found another name over the weekend that we both love and agree on. Now we can't really picture him being named anything else.

[somegirl99]

LM, so glad you found a name you both love!

Originally Posted by momongeon

There are names out there that just go to a whole new level comparatively. I saw this site that had the worst names ever. The one that makes me laugh the most is "Number 16 Bus Stop." Honestly who names their kid that?

DH suggested last week that we name our boy "Help, I'm trapped in a driver's license factory!" so he could have the funniest DL ever.