help prove me right to my wife.

[phosphorescence]

Stonewall is a label of wine and an LGBT charity. I wouldn't do it, as much as I detest McKane.

Actually, studies have shown the exact opposite of what you assert in terms of "making it" - employers are more likely to interview those with more traditional names than what they perceive to be less educated appellations. Another point that I may eventually tire of making, but haven't yet, is that there is no such thing as "very unique", it is a superlative adjective because unique means "only one". The quantifier is redundant in this case, as in "more/less unique".

[nat108]

I've never ever heard of the Stonewall riots. There have been countless riots in history and Stonewall is not known like the L.A. riots, for example

I'd prefer just Kane instead of McKane, so I'll go with Stonewall. You'll get Stonewall Jackson and Oliver Stone references

[saramee]

I actually like them both because they're different and there is something dignified about each of them. My first choice would be McKane but Stonewall is good too. I live in the south so the first thing I thought of was, of course, Stonewall Jackson.

To me these don't sound like politicians or sports figures - they sound like names from a novel about the old south.

Good luck.

[water buffalo]

Phosphorescence just wondering what you would suggest since you hate my choices? By the way where are you from, that when you hear Stonewall you think of wine and homosexual riots?

[ninanoo]

I don't think the OP has anything to worry about as far as job applications and the like goes. I don't write my entire name on things like that, a middle initial maybe, but not the whole name.

Saying that, I am torn. I think Oliver Mckane sounds really good. Oliver Stonewall not as good, but "Stonewall Jackson" is really cool! sooooooooo, i haven't voted. i think both are nice!

[dracodrake]

The only 2 things I think of when I hear Stonewall is the riot & Stonewall Jackson. I don't know why the person said they're not famous like the LA Riots, considering they're a very famous moment in civil rights history, & the reason for every Pride parade since. As for your original question, I prefer Stonewall, as Mc names are overplayed. Not really a fan of either name, as they sound like conservative politicians, but you didn't ask my opinion on that. ;p

[catloverd]

I'm surprised so many people like stonewall despite what people have been posting... honestly I didn't know anything about the riots, but to me it's just not a name. Stonewall is just Stone and wall smooshed together. All I can imagine is a wall made of stone, a stone wall :/ to me it's just not a name, so my vote goes to: Oliver McKane Ervin, McKane even though that one reminds me of John McCain, which I can see where people are getting the politician thing from....

Isn't there any other more normal kind of names you can use for the middle? I mean Oliver is pretty normal compared to the middle names, maybe:

Oliver Jude
Oliver Miles
Oliver Doyle
Oliver James
Oliver Joe
Oliver Andrew
Oliver Maddox
Oliver Vincent
Oliver Ray
Oliver Easton
Oliver Weston
Oliver Owen
Oliver Quinn
Oliver Wyatt
Oliver Kieran
Oliver Aiden
Oliver Holden
Oliver Maxwell
Oliver Zane
Oliver Tobias
Oliver Henry

[goodhope]

Oliver McKane Ervin got my vote, both because I like the sound more and because Stonewall makes me think too much of "stonewalling"--being obstructive and uncooperative. Overall, I find it a more negative name.

[babyoneday]

I immediately thought of the Stonewall riots. Seems odd to use the name if you arent trying to honour that. Although in terms of sound/spelling I prefer Stonewall to McKane.

[catheyc]

I immediately think of Stonewall Jackson; I have never heard of the riots. That being said, I don't really care for either of them. Are they family names? If they're family names I can see using them, but otherwise, I'd pick something more normal like pp's suggestion of Jude, Maxwell, or Henry. But that's just my style -- everyone's style is different. Of the two, I prefer McKane. Stonewall seems (to me) a little too over the top tough and seems like a big name to live up to.