View Message

Woodrow
Please give me your opinion/impression of this name. It's pretty high on my list to use IRL, bit is it usable? What would you think if you encountered one? I'd use Woods as a nickname quite often. And finally, any combo ideas? I've yet to come up with anything that sounds "right" photo image_zps50478a13.jpg
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

I like Woodrow but do not like the nn Woods or Woody because I think there is too much possibility of teasing. What about the nn Roe?
vote up1
It's slang for boner.
vote up1
I thought that was Woody.
vote up1
Woodrow is? I've never heard of such a thing. Where do you live?I know Woody is, but I'm not asking about Woody, and in fact would try to avoid it
vote up1
I like Woodrow, for other people. I don't think I would use it because like mirfak it seems a little too cold for my tastes but I do like it. Woods is an awesome nickname though, I'm really liking that. My dad was James Woodrow so that's the only assocition I have with it. But I do like Woodrow James better.I never really thought of Woodrow outside of my dad's middle name (and I thought it was dorky. Still do, but in a cute way) but now it's kind of growing on me.
vote up1
There was a kid named Woodrow where I work. I can't remember if he graduated already or still has a year to go. I never heard any teasing about his name. I just thought 'oh, like Woodrow Wilson' and moved on.
vote up1
WilsonI can't separate Woodrow from Woodrow Wilson.
vote up1
I think it would be awesome to meet a Woodrow. It's an established name but so uncommon that he'd be a little unique. I think it's usable =)
vote up1
I love it. I'm not American, so Woodrow isn't that obvious an associtation for me. Woods and Woody are both nice nicknames. I think it's definitely usable. Unexpected, but usable. Woodrow James
Woodrow Daniel
Woodrow PeterHm... Not easy to find a combo that actually sounds right.
vote up1
This might sound weird but I'd actually rather meet a Woods than a Woodrow. Woodrow is just so heavy. It feels musty and wrinkled like piles of old, water damaged books in an abandoned house. Woods on the other hand is fresh and earthy in a dewy morning grass sort of way.Woods probably appeals more to me because Woodson is a family name. It's a more familiar sound.Woodrow Elias
Woodrow Felix
Woodrow Clement
Woodrow Ivan
Woodrow Francis
Woodrow Louis
Woodrow Harvey
Woodrow Leon
Woodrow Dorian
Woodrow Silas
Woodrow Raphael
Woodrow Martin
Woodrow Isaac
Woodrow John
Woodrow Arthur
Woodrow Lionel
vote up1
I love Woods almost more (giving credit to Ludvig/beethoven/[Emma] for that)! And you nailed both right on the head: fresh vs dusty. But I also love that juxtaposition and the OPTION for both. I'm certainly not opposed to just Woods, though :)Woodrow Elias is really nice, a good mix.
Woodrow Clement has a great air about it, but I feel like it reads too long.
Woodrow Martin has a great ring too, but feels to me like a Fn/LN combo. Uuuugh, this is why it's so hard for me!
vote up1
I like the name Woodrow. I like the soothing folksy sound of it. I don't care for Woody, but some guys could wear it well, and Woods is pretty cool too. I don't think I could use the name myself, just because it's sort of cold feeling to me.This is my response to queenv's opinion. I'm posting it to you instead, because I don't want to argue with her opinion exactly - it's her opinion. I want to explain why my opinion differs, though.There have only been, oh, maybe thirty or forty thousand other Woodrows since Wilson in the US... people are about as likely to have run across a Woodrow (Woody Harrelson? Woody Guthrie? off the top of my head) other than Wilson, as they are to have encountered an Orville, a Dewey, or a Dallas. So, not exactly a one-person name anymore, IMO. It's a surname name that became a first name - past tense. Already happened. Like Cleveland. Like Truman (Capote, plus Harry). Anyway IMO Wilson isn't generally remembered for being a racist, nor for being a Southerner for that matter. I'll buy that he and his name are nerdy, and that the name retains some air of his era and 'progressive' politics. Woodrow Alister
Woodrow Tabor
Woodrow Vivian
Woodrow Ramsey
Woodrow Alden
??
vote up1
I too enjoy the folksy feel, and chalk its "coldness" up to that- its more introverted artist than actually cold-shouldered. I don't care for Woody either but agree the right guy could pull it off. I wouldn't be too torn up if he eventually decided to go by Woody because I think it would take a certain guy to choose that, and he would likely be the type to be able to pull it off. Woodrow Alden is fantastic. It's giving me all kinds of ideas about names similar to Alden (which I already love)
vote up1
Well, you have to be a historical-personage-nerd person like me to know he was a Southerner and a racist, the same way you'd have to be to know it was actually his middle name. I acknowledge that's not what he's known for, and I don't think he was evil or anything like that. But he did spout this sort of nonsense (paraphrasing): "Every Southern boy can imagine that it's 12:00 PM on July 3, 1863 and Pickett hasn't made his charge yet and it's still possible for the Confederacy to win the war and we can still live in that glorious moment."
vote up1
Hm. I'm not seeing how that's as nonsensical as all that - I'd like to see it in context. I grew up on the West Coast, and I've never felt impassioned about the Civil War - I tend to see quotes like that, and responses like yours, with curiosity. (If you want to chat about it, I'll see you in PM or in the Lounge.)I think the take-home message here might be that in some parts of the country, Woodrow might have subtle political associations that a namer might wish to avoid.
vote up1
I'm in Southern Illinois, so it's a good association to know about I suppose, but I've never made such a connection. Without all the nuances queenv seems to know about I've haven't had any impression of Woodrow Wilson other than being an admirable president. I don't mind the connection personally because, as said, I don't hold negative associations to it. Not to mention I don't fully connect Woodrow as a "one-person-name" to the president, and I don't plan on moving any further south than I already am.
vote up1
I really like Woodrow. It makes me think of a mustachioed gentleman with twinkling eyes and a bellow of a laugh drinking sweet tea. The main complaints I see for it is that the nickname Woody is problematic, I guess (for reasons? I never understood the distaste for Woody, it just makes me think of cowboy dolls). Woods is pretty awesome, and I see Brooks used on boys often enough, so why not?Hmm... Maybe...Woodrow Zachariah
Woodrow George
Woodrow Lachlan
Woodrow Ebenezer
Woodrow Luke
Woodrow Finlay
Woodrow Shane
Woodrow Marcus
Woodrow Constantine
Woodrow Lloyd
Woodrow Andreas
Woodrow Julian
vote up1
I've considered using Woods on it's own :) I don't like Woody but I also don't hate it as much as I use to, which is at least beneficial, I think. Woodrow Finley is really nice. I'm not usually a Finley fan but they compliment each other
vote up1
I, like most other Americans, just think of Woodrow Wilson. Most of them probably don't know that Woodrow was actually his middle name, his first name being Thomas. And Woodrow was his middle name because it had been his mother's maiden name. And that's the type of name it is. It's a surname-acceptable-for-middle-name-use-if-it's-a-family-name. Not to mention, pretty much a one-person name. And kind of nerdy, which Wilson was. I want to like him because he was the Governor of New Jersey before he was elected President, and is as close to a President-from-New-Jersey as we've had, but he was actually a Southerner and a racist.
vote up1
I don't think most American would make Woodrow Wilson out to be a racist but truly I don't know. I do have a weird relationship where I think of the president but then push it aside to appreciate the name in it's own. But I don't ignore the presidential association. I don't detest it, but I also feel like Woodrow can stand on its own, even if its other immediate namesakes where named so for Wilson. I have considered using Woods on its own- it flows better with my last name, but Woodrow has always felt more "grounded" and like something Id actually call a name. I also don't mind any "nerdy" feel. The way I see it, a person fits the stereotype, which is comfortable and pleasing, or else they don't, which makes things sort of exciting and more thought provoking. A win-win in my book. And ever changing depending on the consumer

This message was edited 4/3/2015, 11:14 PM

vote up1
It sounds very formal, it seems like it would be so out of place on a little one, and I hate Woody which I feel would be the near inevitable form in early childhood. Woods is good though I can definitely see someone going by it and I would be happy to meet an adult named Woodrow because I hate for names to die out. It makes a rocking middle name.Alaric WoodrowWoodrow Felix
Woodrow Lewis
Woodrow Alexis
Woodrow Matthan
Woodrow Darcy
Woodrow Kyle (mismatched but I like it somehow)
Woodrow Mark
vote up1
I would try my best to avoid Woody, though I know myself well enough to know I would end up trying to put an "ee" ending on a nickname. I like Woodsy well enough too though ;) and I like both Woods and Woodrow-in-full for an adult. Woodrow Kyle does have a nice ring. Kyle injects a certain "youthfulness."
vote up1
It sound like a name of a fictional cartoon character. I don't like it on a real person.
vote up1