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Help[Opinions] Lincoln
Do you think this is usable? I'm sure the association with the President is pretty strong in America, but I like it for the character Lincoln Rhyme in Jeffrey Deaver's novels. Though I don't think there's anything wrong with the inspiration, it seems sort of insubstantial to me. Anyway, WDYT of Lincoln? I would probably call him Linc from time to time.
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Oh, I just love this name! It is definitely one of my top five for boys. I was just thinking about it today and wondering if it had too much assoc. with the president of the U.S., but I decided it was fine, he was a good president anyway.
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I like the name. I would use the nn Linc too. For me the presidential factor wouldn't be very important as i am not in the U.S.
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I like it, but it does have presidential and car associations...
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I think it's kind of cool
I'm not a big fan of the surname-as-first-name trend. But Lincoln is one that I'm willing to let go. I think the nn Linc is very cool.
I'm not a big fan of the surname-as-first-name trend. But Lincoln is one that I'm willing to let go. I think the nn Linc is very cool.
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Reminds me of my grandfather.
Since all he ever drove were Lincolns. :-D
If you can stand up to cracks like that, I'd say it's surely usable. People already have associations for Lincoln, but there are enough different things that come to mind that it's part of the general name pool now, IMO. Does that make sense? It's like Charles--how many famous Charleses can you think of off the top of your head? A bunch. It's kind of like there's enough Charles--and enough Lincoln, Kennedy, William, whatever--to go around.
I think Linc is awesome, but probably because I'm so into the fictional hero Link. :-/
Since all he ever drove were Lincolns. :-D
If you can stand up to cracks like that, I'd say it's surely usable. People already have associations for Lincoln, but there are enough different things that come to mind that it's part of the general name pool now, IMO. Does that make sense? It's like Charles--how many famous Charleses can you think of off the top of your head? A bunch. It's kind of like there's enough Charles--and enough Lincoln, Kennedy, William, whatever--to go around.
I think Linc is awesome, but probably because I'm so into the fictional hero Link. :-/
This message was edited 2/8/2007, 2:52 PM
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LOL -- hadn't even thoought of that.
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i like it but spelled Linkin, I don't know why I just dislike the way Lincoln looks.
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I tend to rather dislike it. To me the first thing that comes to mind is the city in England. I grew up in Lincolnshire, so it seems a bit odd as a given name (my parents' address ends in Lincs, pretty close to the nn you suggested).
If I heard it on an American though I'd think they were trying to make a poitical statement. Haven drew the parallel with Jefferson, Kennedy and so on. Whilst I'm not qualified to say whether I think these were great men, I'd think someone who named their kid after them did and was maybe trying to make a point (a point I would in all likelihood miss because I'm British).
You're not using the name for Abraham Lincoln though. I'm sure it is absolutely usable, but you might have to tolerate people like me thinking it is a political thing.
If I heard it on an American though I'd think they were trying to make a poitical statement. Haven drew the parallel with Jefferson, Kennedy and so on. Whilst I'm not qualified to say whether I think these were great men, I'd think someone who named their kid after them did and was maybe trying to make a point (a point I would in all likelihood miss because I'm British).
You're not using the name for Abraham Lincoln though. I'm sure it is absolutely usable, but you might have to tolerate people like me thinking it is a political thing.
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I think of the show Prison Break more than the President. One of the main characters is Lincoln nn Linc. I do like it though.
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If choosing names from books is wrong, I don't wanna be right. ;) And if Jeffrey Deaver isn't an appropriate place to take inspiration, I'm screwed--comic books can't be much better!
I think Lincoln is handsome, if not really my style. It's a surname-name that doesn't sound pretentious or yuppie as a first name, the way something like Kiefer or Addison does. And Linc is a fine nn.
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I think Lincoln is handsome, if not really my style. It's a surname-name that doesn't sound pretentious or yuppie as a first name, the way something like Kiefer or Addison does. And Linc is a fine nn.
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It's actually a fairly in name
I'm not sure how I personally feel about it, for a few different reasons. I'm not familiar with the novels (though I'll look them up later), but I am quite familiar with the president. I'm not sure how I feel about Lincoln, therefore I'm not sure about the name. (I see Lincoln in the same light as Kennedy, Washington, and Jefferson - presidents who are thought to be far better men than they really were)
It's cute though, and setting politics aside, I'd say use it. As for the inspirtation: I wouldn't worry about it. Names have been inspired by alcohol and cars, I think books aren't at all bad. (Plus, I plan on using Peter from a series of books, and my brother named all three of his kids after various characters in books.)
I'm not sure how I personally feel about it, for a few different reasons. I'm not familiar with the novels (though I'll look them up later), but I am quite familiar with the president. I'm not sure how I feel about Lincoln, therefore I'm not sure about the name. (I see Lincoln in the same light as Kennedy, Washington, and Jefferson - presidents who are thought to be far better men than they really were)
It's cute though, and setting politics aside, I'd say use it. As for the inspirtation: I wouldn't worry about it. Names have been inspired by alcohol and cars, I think books aren't at all bad. (Plus, I plan on using Peter from a series of books, and my brother named all three of his kids after various characters in books.)
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The politics
are my worry, too. Despite my relatively strong opinions on many issues, I really try to stay out of politics themselves, and like you, I'm ambivalent towards the man. It's not enough to ruin it for me since it's more of an indifference than a negative feeling, but I know a lot of other people would think of the president, so I don't know. I like the name itself for its look, sound, and the character, so I guess I have to decide how influential on my opinion of it the Pres will be. This is why I want to see what everyone else thinks haha
are my worry, too. Despite my relatively strong opinions on many issues, I really try to stay out of politics themselves, and like you, I'm ambivalent towards the man. It's not enough to ruin it for me since it's more of an indifference than a negative feeling, but I know a lot of other people would think of the president, so I don't know. I like the name itself for its look, sound, and the character, so I guess I have to decide how influential on my opinion of it the Pres will be. This is why I want to see what everyone else thinks haha
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I can completely understand the desire to not politicize your child's name, but I don't think Lincoln calls up nearly the same level of partisan association as Kennedy, Reagan, or Clinton would. Lincoln is highly admired by many people on both sides of the political spectrum today - Republicans love to note that Lincoln was one of them while Democrats talk about how modern Republicans are vastly different from Lincoln.
I can't help disliking the name itself for reasons completely unrelated to the Presidential connection. For me it's a surname, and despite its historical and current use as a personal name (former RI Senator Lincoln Chafee comes to mind)I can't view it as anything else. Additionally, I don't find the sound attractive and I'm rather annoyed by the non-phonetical spelling. Apparently I'm alone in this, though - Haven's right that the name is becoming more popular. I just looked it up on the Social Security site and Lincoln's steadily moved up in the rankings from 1991 (837) to 2005 (492).
I can't help disliking the name itself for reasons completely unrelated to the Presidential connection. For me it's a surname, and despite its historical and current use as a personal name (former RI Senator Lincoln Chafee comes to mind)I can't view it as anything else. Additionally, I don't find the sound attractive and I'm rather annoyed by the non-phonetical spelling. Apparently I'm alone in this, though - Haven's right that the name is becoming more popular. I just looked it up on the Social Security site and Lincoln's steadily moved up in the rankings from 1991 (837) to 2005 (492).
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It's not about the politics
It's about a man who is idealized far beyond what he really was and treated almost like a God. Hence why I mentioned both Jefferson and Washington in the statement.
I really dislike that part of it.
It's about a man who is idealized far beyond what he really was and treated almost like a God. Hence why I mentioned both Jefferson and Washington in the statement.
I really dislike that part of it.
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Right.
People have deified Lincoln b/c of emancipation, and the truth is, if Lincoln could've united the country without freeing the slaves, then he would never have signed the legislation. People make him into a hero for freeing the slaves, when in reality, he was simply trying to unite the country.
People have deified Lincoln b/c of emancipation, and the truth is, if Lincoln could've united the country without freeing the slaves, then he would never have signed the legislation. People make him into a hero for freeing the slaves, when in reality, he was simply trying to unite the country.
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