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I like it, as far as the way it sounds, but....it's just too uncommon surnamey to be used if it's not a family name. (And of course you're aware that Branwell Bronte was so named because Branwell was his mother's maiden name.) It's not like Jackson or Harper or Carson or Taylor, which are all common surnames. They're so common that they can cross over into general first name use. Branwell is just too uncommon for that. Like it would be weird for me to see somebody use my maiden name, was which was an uncommon name of Eastern European origin, as a first name, just because they liked the sound of it. I'd be like, WTF? I feel the same way about Branwell.

I really like this. I has kind of a medieval feel to me and seems rather soft and sweet, which I normally dislike in male names, but this one just seems to work. I might run it by DBF later.

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Branwell David is kind of awesome imo. Again not sure why, it just has some sort of snap to it.

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Other combos:
Branwell Harper
Branwell Darcy (too much Bronte and Austen in one name?)
Branwell Lawrence
Branwell Orson
Seoras Branwell
Vladan Branwell

I like Branwell, because I like the name Bran. I think Branwell sounds very handsome and distinguished, but yes, a bit snooty too perhaps.

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How about Branwell Alasdair? I think it's quite dashing.

I like it! Branwell David is good. I'mm probably think of more combos later. Branwell Conor?

I agree. It is cool, in a snooty sort of way. And it's a GP of mine.

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I feel guilty about it because it was a family surname for the Brontes (or should I say Bruntys?). It had meaning for them. There are some surnames that I don't mind using for their role model sake, like Emmet (Irish patriot) / Emmett (Emmett Till). But Branwell, poor soul, didn't do anything role modely except be a brother to some darn good writers. ETA: Although I've suspected that he's the inspiration for "The Graduate" and the character of Mrs. Robinson. Am I way off in that?

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But yeah. Still a cool name.

This message was edited 12/8/2010, 2:47 PM

I like it. I like the sort of haunting quality it has in that it symbolizes wasted potential. His sisters thought Branwell was more talented than they, and he kept saying he was going to write the greatest novel of all time, but he never got around to it and died from drinking too much (right?).

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Branwell David is nice, I like the look of the v and i there by it. I think I'd pick something like Branwell Vincent or Branwell Victor. You're right, it is endearingly snooty.

This message was edited 12/8/2010, 2:45 PM

I don't like, it looks trendy because of the "br" start and at the same time snooty. Plus it makes me think of "bran". Also, didn't he have a very miserable life?

Kinda prefer Bramwell namely cos of the nickname Bram!

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Bramwell Mattias