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I really like Holden, and I have for years. I see it becoming a little more popular and trendy these days, but it's still not overused or outdated at all imo.

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Some mn suggestions:
Reed / Reid
Elias
Vincent
Jude
Samuel
Graham
Oliver
Rhys

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When I think of Holden, I think of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher In The Rye, which is one of my favourite books ever, and he's definitely my favourite male literary character. I completely love the name.

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One of the boys' combos I love is Jack Holden, so perhaps you could reserve it and have Holden Jack?

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'You twist and turn like a... twisty-turny thing. I say you are a weedy pigeon, and you can call me Susan if it isn't so'
Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry), Blackadder II (Beer)

I think it's a nice name. It's not my style, though. It is a bit too formal sounding for my taste - sort of a modern Harold, but without the warmer nicknaming opportunity. The things that come to mind when I hear it are - a soap opera character (who came on my mom's favorite soap in the mid 1980s), and most of all Holden Caulfield, the character in Catcher in the Rye. So it seems fashionable to me, and a bit literary in a liberal sort of way, and formal. I sort of picture a quiet, moody, attractive man - none of that is negative to me. If you are looking for a sporty, friendly, assertive sounding name, I wouldn't pick Holden in particular, but I don't have the impression a Holden could not be those things too.

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Holden Eric or Holden Virgil would be my combos (because I like these names and I think they flow with it and balance it).

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Honestly, and this is a little crude, but I always remember the sketch on Saterday Night Live where Will Farrell was "interviewing" a couple named Holden and Sharon Dicks.

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I don't mind the name, but it seems to be a little trendy.

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Holden Raphael
Holden Jeremiah
Holden Leonard
Holden Gabriel
Holden Luke

Holden makes me think of William Holden and The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger got Holden Caulfield's name from William Holden and Joan Caulfield who were in a movie together around the time he wrote the book. William Holden is one of my favorite actors, so I would say Holden William would be a great name for your son, but if you pick that one some people may ask if you named him after the actor. Whatever mn you pick, I think Holden is a great name... a lot of character. It's very literary, but I think that's an upside. Good luck with your decision.

Holden is lovely. I'm usually not fond of names ending in -den (Hayden, Brayden, etc) but Holden is different somehow.

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Middle name? I would go with something simple and classic like Holden Alexander.

Holden makes me think of the book, Catcher in the Rye, because it is the name of the main character, which is a pretty cool association in my eyes. The car maker, Holden, isn't really a bad image for a boy. He may grow up to love cars. It is an uncommon but not too weird name. I like it a lot. Any similarities to holding/hold are silly and sweet, not particularly torturous or insulting for a kid. I also think it would sound good with a classic boy mn...some of which have already been suggested. Holden Christopher, Holden James, Holden Jack, Holden Thomas, Holden Jeffrey,

I think that Holden's a nice name, but it sounds a lot like "holdin'" and can cause confusion.
I always picture this beautiful retreat in the Cascade Mountains that I've visited called Holden Village. It's such a gorgeous place, so I have a wonderful association with it :-)

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"A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession."- Albert Camus

No offence, but Holden makes me think of cars. It's a cool name though

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"I pretty much try to stay in a constant state of confusion just because of the expression it leaves on my face." ~ Johnny Depp

This message was edited 3/11/2005, 10:53 PM

Holden- it's not really my favorite name. It's not the worst out there though. It's just ok. In The Good Girl, Jake Gyllenhaal played a guy named Holden. That's all I think of when I hear the name. I think it's some actors dog's name too. I don't mean to bash the name, it's not bad, I've just heard it on a dog, and I LOVE Jake Gyllenhaal.

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For some mn's:

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Holden Grant
Holden Daniel
Holden Shane
Holden William
Holden Jacob
Holden Reily
Holden Phillip
Holden Brent
Holden Chandler

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Holden is one of Australia's major car manufacturers, so I can only think of cars when I hear this name! Sorry

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♦ Chrisell ♦

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All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.

a year ago my cousin had a baby and named her sone Holden Jack. I think that combo sounds nice together.

I don't care for Holden. It's too surname-y for my liking, and I see it as a slang word for the word holding.

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"I'm holden' on for dear life!"

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It's masculine enough, but just not my style. I don't like answering "image" questions, since I feel that no matter what people see or associate with a name, the child will make the name his/her own.

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As for middle names, I suggest Holden Lee, Holden George, Holden James, and Holden Charles.

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-Lissa Hannah-
As soon as tradition has come to be recognized as tradition, it is dead. - Allan Bloom

Holden is nice. I like it but I can see jokes and negative opinions.

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Holden Christopher
Holden Blair
Holden Blake
Holden Michael
Holden Sky
Holden Christian
Holden Ashley
Holden Kenzie
Holden Daniel
Holden Mitchell
Holden Morgan
Holden Patrick
Holden Ray
Holden Riley
Holden Zachary
Holden Alexander