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HelpCalvin (as Peter's brother)
What do you think of Peter and Calvin as brothers? I have recently started liking Calvin quite a bit. I can't really describe why I like the name...it just feels right. It is familiar but not common. I mentioned the name to some family members and got some blistering remarks. Besides the Calvin and Hobbes association, am I missing something potentially negative about this name?
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I think Peter and Calvin would be awesome as brothers. I don't know that I would use either myself, but I like the names and think they complement each other well. They have a similar feel in my mind.
I can't think of any negative associations with Calvin you migt be missing. I know I personally don't have any negative associations with it.
I can't think of any negative associations with Calvin you migt be missing. I know I personally don't have any negative associations with it.
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I think that Calvin is a lovely, handsome and underused name. However Peter is the opposite to me. Its overused, boring and plain. I think they are really different for brothers. imho.
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ok....
Well, there's not much I can do about Peter's name since he is already two and a half years old. Are you suggesting that I find another "overused, boring and plain" name for his brother? If so, do you have any suggestions?
Well, there's not much I can do about Peter's name since he is already two and a half years old. Are you suggesting that I find another "overused, boring and plain" name for his brother? If so, do you have any suggestions?
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I've seen a negative opinion or two posted here about the name I used for my daughter, which is Victoria. Not many, admittedly, but a few. More frequent is a negative opinion about her nickname, Torrie. Try not to take it personally---I know it's hard, but it helps to remind oneself that it's an opinion, not a matter of right or wrong, and that there is no name that everyone likes.
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I try not to take it personally. The comment caught me off guard because I was asking for opinions about Calvin, not Peter. However, I may not have been clear about that.
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I've actually come to like Victoria because of you. :-D
It used to remind me of a prissy brat but now that you've explained why you chose it and talked about your daughter I've learned to really like it. I can totally see what you mean about how powerful it is.
As for Peter: I don't know how used the name is Australia but I've met a total of two Peters. I don't think it's overused at all - however this is said by someone who adores the name.
It used to remind me of a prissy brat but now that you've explained why you chose it and talked about your daughter I've learned to really like it. I can totally see what you mean about how powerful it is.
As for Peter: I don't know how used the name is Australia but I've met a total of two Peters. I don't think it's overused at all - however this is said by someone who adores the name.
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Thank you! What a nice thing to say.
I've known four Peters during my life, and that's spread over fifty years, and no Peters who are now young or are children, so it doesn't seem overused to me, either.
I've known four Peters during my life, and that's spread over fifty years, and no Peters who are now young or are children, so it doesn't seem overused to me, either.
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Calvin William was my father's name. It's okay. I don't love it nor do I hate it. My sister and I used to kid each other over who would get to name her dd after him (Calvina Wilhelmina). ;-) We were just kidding, believe me.
I think it sounds fine with Peter and the nn Cal is the best part of the name, imo. The only drawback I see is its meaning ('bald'). Then again, no one but a name nerd would know.
I think it sounds fine with Peter and the nn Cal is the best part of the name, imo. The only drawback I see is its meaning ('bald'). Then again, no one but a name nerd would know.
This message was edited 12/27/2010, 9:00 PM
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I like Calvin. I agree that it's familiar but not common, and I like that. Cal is a nice nickname, and both Calvin and Cal work for a person of any age. Peter and Calvin work well for brothers. And Calvin and Hobbes is not a bad association IMO - and I think you can expect a boy named Calvin to have collections of toy tigers and C&H comics!
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No, you're not missing something potentially negative, because there is nothing potentially negative, as I don't feel even the Calvin and Hobbes association is a negative one. I really don't know why you'd get blistering remarks. I love Calvin, it's one of my very favorite boy names, particularly with the nickname Cal. I think it's far and away (far far and away) the best of the names you've mentioned for your coming son, and I urge you to use it for him. Goes fine with Peter.
Heh, heh, I almost said don't listen to other people's opinions, and then I realized that's the very reason you post here, and I want you to listen to mine! But really, those people who are dissing Calvin have questionable taste, to say the least. In my opinion.
By the way, if you do use it, do you think you'd use the nickname Cal?
Heh, heh, I almost said don't listen to other people's opinions, and then I realized that's the very reason you post here, and I want you to listen to mine! But really, those people who are dissing Calvin have questionable taste, to say the least. In my opinion.
By the way, if you do use it, do you think you'd use the nickname Cal?
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I like the nickname Cal alot. It's one of the name's main selling points for me.
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Going purely on sound, it's quite a nice name and it works fine with Peter, but it doesn't have the same solidity to me. Also, what beethoven said about John Calvin. I just had a look at the wikipedia article on Calvinism and its four-point doctrine, and I didn't find it at all appealing. Calvin Klein is quite a negative association for me, too, as I'm always seeing it around the waist of those annoying kids that wear saggy pants!
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I'm surprised no one's mentioned the association of John Calvin, for whom the name came into common use. I think of him every time I hear the name.
Personally I find Calvinism one of the creepier mainstream Christian denominations and would not name a kid Calvin solely because of John Calvin.
Personally I find Calvinism one of the creepier mainstream Christian denominations and would not name a kid Calvin solely because of John Calvin.
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Oddly enough I don't get that connection.
I don't know enough about Calvinism, although I should change that. I've just known enough Calvins - including some awesome ones - that have made the name really cool to me.
Now, though, it's time for me to go read about Calvinism.
I don't know enough about Calvinism, although I should change that. I've just known enough Calvins - including some awesome ones - that have made the name really cool to me.
Now, though, it's time for me to go read about Calvinism.
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You might think that I, the outspoken atheist, would find this association offputting, but I don't. I guess because I myself didn't make the association and didn't think of it until others mentioned it, and I don't think most other people would, either. To me, it's not like Faith and Christian. But to each his own, of course.
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To me it's pretty immediate, but I guess I really paid attention that day in class.
But also if there was a name which meant something I wouldn't want to be associated with to a wider cultural context even if it didn't mean that to me personally, I wouldn't use it.
But also if there was a name which meant something I wouldn't want to be associated with to a wider cultural context even if it didn't mean that to me personally, I wouldn't use it.
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Love it! It's a little stodgy, maybe, but I've recently started liking it very much myself. Part of the appeal for me is that I like the nickname Cal and there just aren't that many full names to go with it.
Peter and Calvin seem very natural together. They're smart picks that, like you said, are familiar but not common.
Peter and Calvin seem very natural together. They're smart picks that, like you said, are familiar but not common.
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Nope.
I've known tons of Calvins growing up, I think it's the coolest name ever. It might be outside of some people's comfort zone but not many. It's cute, it has the nickname of Cal (which I love), plenty of other namesakes and it can fit a wide range of people.
I've known tons of Calvins growing up, I think it's the coolest name ever. It might be outside of some people's comfort zone but not many. It's cute, it has the nickname of Cal (which I love), plenty of other namesakes and it can fit a wide range of people.
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There's nothing desperately wrong with the name, but, to me, it just seems so dated. It's like Keith, you never really meet Keiths under the age of forty.
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Oh, yeah, I forgot about the bald association. It doesn't bother me...I guess I don't put too much stock in the meaning/literal translations of names.
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