I love Atticus, but...

[melissa2]

Oh dear, I can't be entirely rational over this name because I AM one of those rabid Mockingbird fans with an eternal crush on Atticus Finch. FWIW, I didn't appreciate the book until I read it as an adult. I also love the idea of Gus as a nickname-- and Caleb, Jack and Gus flow quite nicely, imo.

[ashthedreamer]

\Does it make you feel any better that Atticus isn't just about Atticus Finch? I don't think it's pretentious to name you child after a philosopher, a martyr, and archbishop, or a character who stood up for good and right things.

Oh, wow, yes, I definitely do! I had seen that there were some Greek philosophers named Atticus but I figured they were fairly obscure and that most would just automatically think of Atticus Finch. But the Christian martyr thing--I didn't even know but just knowing someone named Atticus was willing to die for his faith means everything to me and it's something I would love to pass down to my son--that makes me love Atticus even more!

I love the suggestion of Gus as a nn, too--would it be weird to have a Jack August Cole and an Atticus, nn Gus? I'm not saying I would, haha, I just thought it might be weird since August is already on my list.

Lindsay and Parker--I had already considered Lincoln Atticus, actually! I just felt like it might be a lot of name for one kid, and can you imagine being named after Abraham Lincoln AND Atticus Finch? That might be a lot to live up to!

It seems a shame to stuff it in the MN spot, but I might if it just doesn't fit with my other favorites... My lists right now are Isabelle, Arianne, Olivia, Charlotte (nn Lola), Violet, Rachel, Daphne, Lydia, Magda, Lillian/Liliana, and Josephine (Posey) for girls, and Caleb, Jack, Asher, Everett, Grayson (Gray), Brody, Spencer, Bailey, Avery, Beckett, Boone, Henry, and Lincoln--does Atticus work well in a sibset with any of them? If not, what can you see as Atticus's siblings?

I'm tossing around Atticus Samuel, Atticus James, Atticus Henry, and maybe Jude Atticus as combos... It seems like Atticus needs a short-and-sweet, simple FN if it's the MN.

[dantea]

I'm glad I made you feel better!

I like Atticus James and Atticus Henry. I also like:

Atticus Everett
Atticus Brody
Atticus Bailey
Atticus Boone *


I don't think it would be weird to have a Jack August Cole and an Atticus that went by Gus, especially if Jack August Cole doesn't go by Gus.

[ferntailwp]

I love Atticus! I haven't heard many people say it's pretentious, only a few. I like the nn Atti, but Kit is cool. Not a fan of Gus, but it might go better with your other name. Jude Atticus is really cute, though.

[noahsark]

I love Atticus too. Not sure if I could use it, I think it would seem too pretenious in Ireland, as we're a bit more conservative name wise, but I love what it stands for in Atticus Finch too!
I would strongly recommend you use it.

I also saw someone recommend Ace as a NN in a thread months ago, I liked it and it stuck in my head!
(I think Rio Atticus is my favourite all round celeb choice too!)

[meepallie]

LOVE Atticus. Love, love, love it. It's not pretentious at all, in my opinion. Cass might be a cool nickname. And Atti is a somewhat popular nickname for boys in Europe, not too feminine at all. If you love Atticus, I say GO for it!

[catloverd]

Personally I would avoid the name, but that's just because my fiance's friend was picked on for having the name Atticus. It's not that the kids knew it was from a book, since he was picked on it since he was little, but it's just weird. He was apparently teased more so in high school when it was found out that it came from a book. I don't know him well enough, but that's the main reason my fiance' shies away from some of the names I like, like Ezra, since it's not "common" and he doesn't want his kid picked on like his friend was.

So just a warning, be prepared that the kid might be teased all through his life......

I live in America too, so if you live in Europe, this might not apply....

[mandyjai13]

I think Atticus is a cute name. Something that is old-fashioned and classy, but not too boring or run-of-the-mill. Its easily spelled and pronounced but not overused and I think Atticus Finch is a good namesake.

[ksheja]

I used to think it was pretentious but it has grown on me a bit. I mentioned it to my 17-year-old son (who read TKMB last year) and he thinks it's cool. Not sure how he would feel if it were actually his name though.

[saracita00]

I'm afraid I may have been one to slip the dreaded "P" word on this name. Though upon reflection, I'm not sure I actually think it's pretentious so much as I just simply think it sounds harsh and ugly. There are very few -us ending names I like in the first place, and the T and C in the same name are just grating to me. It's hard for me to get around that, and TKMB is definitely the pop culture connection everyone will make and I'm in the "meh" boat on that subject for sure. There's really just nothing I find appealing about the name whatsoever, but it really comes down to taste. There's nothing "wrong" with it and it's certainly not in the same category as the multiple-apostrophe names pp mentioned (which really DO seem pretentious).

I do think that Atticus is almost jarringly different from your other usual name choices. I could see you working it into a mn slot though and honestly, I'd love to see you do it because I bet it would be great.