[Opinions] Re: David vs Alden
in reply to a message by John
I like them about the same, but Alden would feel more like it's my style (for some reason my family just doesn't really do Biblical/Hebrew-origin names) so for a son of my own I'd lean Alden.
I might (!?) rather see my kid date a David than an Alden though, lol.
David has avid in it (I'm weird, I notice these things, but the name seems slightly ... avid to me, like a driven ambitious person - that could be good or bad or neutral), and seems traditional and smart. I think nickname Dave is nice - generic these days, which I'm neutral about, and friendlier than David.
Alden sounds more modern preppyish, like the kind of name that basically traditional parents give a first child when they are really excited and feel like traditional names might be boring. I don't love surnames as firstnames - they seem sort of aspirational, like want-to-sound as if they have the surname in their family, esp when it's an English surname - but Alden doesn't come off totally surnamey.
I met an Alden once, my son's age (now teenaged). His little brother was named Charles (Charlie). They didn't call him Al, but it's a potential thing that could happen - I dunno, it might actually be cool.
If I were wrangling between David and Alden, I'd consider Dean instead of either.
- mirfak
I might (!?) rather see my kid date a David than an Alden though, lol.
David has avid in it (I'm weird, I notice these things, but the name seems slightly ... avid to me, like a driven ambitious person - that could be good or bad or neutral), and seems traditional and smart. I think nickname Dave is nice - generic these days, which I'm neutral about, and friendlier than David.
Alden sounds more modern preppyish, like the kind of name that basically traditional parents give a first child when they are really excited and feel like traditional names might be boring. I don't love surnames as firstnames - they seem sort of aspirational, like want-to-sound as if they have the surname in their family, esp when it's an English surname - but Alden doesn't come off totally surnamey.
I met an Alden once, my son's age (now teenaged). His little brother was named Charles (Charlie). They didn't call him Al, but it's a potential thing that could happen - I dunno, it might actually be cool.
If I were wrangling between David and Alden, I'd consider Dean instead of either.
- mirfak
This message was edited 4/18/2024, 9:41 PM