Message: "Aldous" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Aldous

by quintus

3/3/2011, 1:27 PM

What are your thoughts on Aldous?

Thanks!

#Aldous

Replies

- Wordsmith

3/3/2011, 3:13 PM

I really enjoy its grandfatherly feel.

- Pie

3/3/2011, 2:43 PM

It seems to have been a unisex name at one point; in the Victorian birth records for the UK there are a couple of Aldous Marys and Aldous Anns, and an Aldous Louise. Apparently, as a surname, it may have come from a Middle English female name, Aldus / Alduse /Aldusa, so maybe that's why there are girls with it.
I think I'd probably find it quite interesting if it was less tied to one particular famous person, especially if I saw it on a girl, knowing about its origins. But as everyone is going to think of Huxley, it seems a little self-consciously literary.

- telfalathiel +3

3/3/2011, 2:17 PM

It's okay. My best friend was considering it as a middle name for her future son, but she's changed her mind and is going with Abraham, for which I am glad. She was considering Aldous because Aldous Huxley is one of her husband's favorite writers. When I hear Aldous, that's exactly who I think of.

- jeannie. +2

3/3/2011, 10:30 PM

I prefer a middle name based on an awesome author than a religious figure. And Aldous is way cooler for a kid than Abraham, which is undeniably lame.

- beethoven (blaaarg)

3/5/2011, 8:53 AM

"Undeniably"? No way! Abraham is hella cool; Aldous falls flat by comparison.

- queenv (guest)

3/4/2011, 8:42 AM

Hey, my grandson's name is Abraham! I don't think it's lame---it's awesome. But you're entitled to your opinion, of course---I'm just stating my opposing one! My grandson was not named after the religious figure, though---he was named after Abraham Lincoln.

- Kitty (vomiting) +2

3/3/2011, 2:02 PM

Huxley.

My first thought.

It's usable. I don't mind it.

- elsie (scholasticastewart)

3/3/2011, 4:13 PM

Same

- Ozma (MelvinSpelvin)

3/3/2011, 3:05 PM

Ditto.

- MoonAgeDaydreamer

3/3/2011, 2:00 PM

Huxley comes to mind. He was pretty cool. Overall, I approve.

- erb816 +2

3/3/2011, 1:59 PM

Other than the Russell Brand association ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek"), I think Aldous is a fantastic name. I think of a quirky artists who likes old books as much as hiking.

- erb816 +1

3/3/2011, 2:51 PM

I guess I was the only one...

... who thought of the movie character. Everyone else is talking about the writer Aldous Huxley. Unfortunately, I've never heard of him. :-(

- Llewella (penguiny7)

3/3/2011, 3:08 PM

He wrote Brave New World.

- Llewella (penguiny7)

3/3/2011, 1:50 PM

I like it. It feels kind of stuffy, but in a good way. Like dashingly nerdy man who has a room full of old books in his house.

View Message

Replies