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Saul
I've been reading Saul Bellow, and this set me thinking about the name Saul. I wouldn't use it, but it's quite a cool name. And I guess there's worse namesakes out there than a major 20th-century novelist.
Any thoughts?
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I actually don't mind it at all. My DH's name is Paul, so I wouldn't use it!
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I think Saul and beautiful and underused. My son's name is Solomon, and we don't call him by a nickname, but if we did, Sol would be it. I love it!
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I like Saul. It's kind of quirky and ugly and not really cool, but I think that all works in its favor.I worry that it actually is cool, though. Along with 'geek chic' and the 'old lady' revival, BtN does come across to me sometimes as having a 'Hebrew chic' thing going on. I'm cynical about it being the next wave now that Irish names are getting less face time. That being said, I really do like Saul. It definitely has its own thing going on.
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Lol, I'm probably guilty of Hebrew chic, though I'm generally more drawn to modern Hebrew or yiddish names than purely biblical ones. Anyway, I hope Hebrew names won't become too much of a fad!

This message was edited 10/19/2009, 2:25 PM

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It happens. :-D While fads and trends can be a turn off, you like what you like! Making an entire category of names off-limits to yourself is nonsensical in and of itself.And Saul is pretty great besides. I wouldn't discourage it.
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While I'd avoid individual over-popular names I certainly woulnd't ditch an entire category. But I wouldn't use Saul anyway, independently of how faddish or not it might be. It would be way too weird on an Italian child.
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To be honest this name has always bugged me. I can't put my finger on it. I get the same feeling with Seth.I prefer Solomon (nn Sol) to Saul.

This message was edited 10/19/2009, 11:40 AM

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Also ditto
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ditto on SolomonI've been falling in love with Solomon for a while now :)
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I love Saul, but I would never use it because of the bad biblical connotations.I think opting for Sol as a nickname for Solomon would be great, though!
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There are very few one-syllable names that appeal to me, but Saul I like.
My first associations with the name are King Saul and Saul of Tarsus.
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I know a 30-something Saul. I much prefer Paul.
However, Saul in Hebrew - Shaul - has a more attractive sound than Saul.
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