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Help[Opinions] Re: Bruce or Graham
in reply to a message by Amy Boyd
Bruce: it was my dad's name. I always thought it sounded like a dad name - the way Kevin and Brian do now. But it was never quite as marshmallowy as those. My dad was sarcastic-mouthed and a 50s rebel type in his youth, and that might be why it wasn't marshmallowy - also influenced by characters like Willis and Springsteen. I gave Bruce to my son as a middle name (in honor of my dad, not because I particularly liked it) and now I like it more and more and can see it working as a first name for a boy.
Graham: I say it GRAM. When I was a kid I said Gray-um crackers and learned by observation that I was "incorrect" (everyone else called them gram crackers), so I feel like Gray-um sounds affected (or ignorant, but it could be me who is ignorant, right? haha). Graham sounds very English and homey and tweedy. And surnamey, a little bit. Sort of formal. I knew one Graham growing up (prn GRAM) and he was dorky but smart. I think it's a decent name, but it's nms.
I think Bruce Boyd sounds spunky and capable. Graham Boyd sounds respectable and dignified. I think the biggest difference I perceive is - to put it crudely - Bruce sounds more middle class, Graham sounds yuppie.
Graham: I say it GRAM. When I was a kid I said Gray-um crackers and learned by observation that I was "incorrect" (everyone else called them gram crackers), so I feel like Gray-um sounds affected (or ignorant, but it could be me who is ignorant, right? haha). Graham sounds very English and homey and tweedy. And surnamey, a little bit. Sort of formal. I knew one Graham growing up (prn GRAM) and he was dorky but smart. I think it's a decent name, but it's nms.
I think Bruce Boyd sounds spunky and capable. Graham Boyd sounds respectable and dignified. I think the biggest difference I perceive is - to put it crudely - Bruce sounds more middle class, Graham sounds yuppie.
This message was edited 9/5/2012, 10:35 AM
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Replies
Very interesting take - thanks for the perspective. For what it's worth, I like names like Brian and Kevin (can't use either). Add in Lee, Wayne, and Banner and yes, I think you definitely nix the marshmallowy factor.
Graham is my husband's middle name. His parents aren't American born so he pronounces it Gray-um, as I believe does the rest of the English speaking world outside of the USA. I grew up saying Gray-um but I think most here say GRAM. It is surnamey and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Funny enough, Bruce is a more famous surname but I don't get the same feel from it.
You've definitely given me something to think about.
Graham is my husband's middle name. His parents aren't American born so he pronounces it Gray-um, as I believe does the rest of the English speaking world outside of the USA. I grew up saying Gray-um but I think most here say GRAM. It is surnamey and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Funny enough, Bruce is a more famous surname but I don't get the same feel from it.
You've definitely given me something to think about.
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Springsteen, duh!
Should have come to mind, but didn't. Instead, I associated the actor, whom I like, and a mechanical shark.
Should have come to mind, but didn't. Instead, I associated the actor, whom I like, and a mechanical shark.
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