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I would have named our son Ian, without hesitation, but unfortunately my SIL had just divorced an Ian so it would have been very tactless, so we didn't. Howard isn't used much where I live - one elderly relative is the only one I know - and though he's a good guy, I haven't got any strong feelings about the name, for or against. And I'm afraid Howie just doesn't do it for me at all.

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Does "Ian Howard Douglas (Howie)" mean Howard would be his name of use, regardless of which name came first? It's more convenient to put the first name first, but I've known plenty of people who use their mns and nobody dies of shock. I must say, though, that two sons named Ian and James would be very wonderful - such a good Scottish vibe.