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Well I don’t like it and it does remind me of Macaulay Culkin, but if you really like it you should use it, it’s not like you’re trying to name your child Hitler or something.

Well, like everyone said, it is only associated with Macaulay Culkin. I think it's clunky and doesn't really sound like a name, plus I question the spelling every time. It just doesn't look right and Coll doesn't make sense to me because of the spelling, in Macaulay it would be Caul, but that makes me think on en caul, like in the amniotic sac. I also don't think it fits in with Alex and Sylvie.

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If you're really like the au sound maybe consider August/Augustine/Augustus, Austin, Claude, Laurence, Maurice, Paul, Saul, Vaughn.
Scottish names with similar feel/sound: Alistair, Callum, Collin (Coll would make sense), Lachlan, Malcolm, Murray, Wallace
Coll nicknames: Colin/Collin/Collins
Mac nicknames: Cormac, Mackenzie, Macsen

Congrats! If the important people (you+partner if applicable) like it, to heck with other people, right!

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But if you want to know every possible negative thing people might think about the name to test your resolve.... Well, I think Macaulay is kind of gross because the word "caul" jumps out at me, and then all I can think about is a slimy creature in a birth sac whenever I see the name, so there's that. Although many people believe being born with a caul is quite magical.

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Additionally Macaulay has very strong "frat boy in a polo shirt who would definitely kill his girlfriend" energy, you know, that subtle upper middle class malevolence... but Mac is nice and friendly!

The issue with Macaulay is it sort of a one hit wonder with one association that leaps to mind. If it had 2 or 3 famous namesakes or none at all, it would be fine. If you had a family member or friend with the name at least there would be some other association than just the actor.

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What is it about Macaulay that you like? Is it the sound? Origin? Do you like similar surnames like MacCallum, Macfarley, MacAllister or McGuthrie too?

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Here are a few names with a somewhat similar vibe:
Raleigh
Connolly
Carlisle
Bellamy
Romilly
Nickolai
Cody
Montgomery
Ackerley
Adley
Geoffrey
Barclay
Benjamin "Benji"

“This is my labradoodle. This is my schnauzer. And this is Macaulay.” That’s the first thing I thought of too. That and Fry and Laurie always calling each other “m’colleague”.

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Surnames as given names feel more dated with each passing year, especially Mac-names. It’s also so unwieldy. I honestly don’t think it works for any age. It’s too clunky and imposing for a baby name (and that’s coming from the mom of a Theodora), but it sounds too silly to be an adult name. Mac and Coll don’t appeal to me at all.

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Sorry, I just can’t get behind this on any level.

This message was edited 3/1/2023, 1:56 PM

I don't really like the name, it's too associated with the actor. For col nn what about Colin, Colby, Colton, Nicolas, or Cole as a full name or nn for Nicolas
If you like the cau/caw/cor sound what about Corby, Corbin, Corin, Corwin, Corvin, Cormac or Corey, Cornelius?
I keep hearing Macaw when thinking of Macaulay

This message was edited 3/1/2023, 11:33 AM

You really want to be talked out of it?
The worst thing I can think of is that it sounds like "my Collie." It would make THE BEST name for a Collie dog.
It's like Mackenzie, it has that 90s/00s "M'K__" trendy sound. But it's less recognizable as a surname than Mackenzie, and seems less robust and more cutesy (maybe because I picture Culkin as a wimpy looking child. Even though he is like forty now).
- I'm going to pick up Macaulay and go to lunch ...
- Oh! I didn't know you have a dog! Collies are so pretty! What's its name?

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I don't think it's really any worse than Mackenzie for a boy right now. It's better than McKinley. I would not pity your son if you named him Macaulay. I just don't personally like the sound of it.

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Congratulations and best wishes

This message was edited 3/1/2023, 10:34 AM

It's not a bad idea, use it if you like it.

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I like Kailey etc. don't be ashamed of using something you love. In the end the fact that you loved it will matter more to him. Mac is also cute as a nickname.

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You could try Macsen and Colin for similar names and nicknames. Or possibly Max.

If you like it and everyone you know doesn't, then why not use it as a middle name? I have no associations with it, but being named after a film actor or character really does not appeal to me. It seems very Teenage Mother to me. I think of it as just another surname, which is fine if it's keeping a family tradition alive but really, not unless.

It's a bad idea because Macaulay is *only* associated with Macaulay Culkin in the vast majority of people's minds, and I liked Home Alone too, but so what? It's a thirty-plus-year-old slapstick movie that gets shown around Xmas every year and in my own opinion is worth watching mainly for the fun of seeing the two idiot burglars get the holy bejesus beaten out of them rather than for Culkin's acting or his weird lateral lisp. "Uncle Frank, izh zhis a zhoke?"

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And Mac isn't that great a nn either; it's like Buddy or Dude or Hoss, just some generic placeholder used by movie cabbies or cops to address men whose names they don't know.

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Just use Cole as the full name.