For a boy of course.

Another thread reawakened my enthusiasm for this name. It is the name of my all-time favourite hero from literature - Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye".

What do you think?

I don't worry so much about bogan car connotations because there is no way on God's green earth I would drive a Holden, and I would be equally happy naming girl children Portia or Mercedes.

So?

so.... um no way

Holden is a car not a kid.

I am a Holden chick but there's no way I'd name a child Holden.

I'm not into cars at all and I like the name Holden. I'm a big fan of Kevin Smith movies and a character in one of those is called Holden, played by Ben Affleck.

However, I would probably go with the similiar name of Halden or something purely for the fact you'd forever get people asking "Oh, did you name him after the car?!"

Hmmm have to say i agree with the girls. Holden out for what??? Frankie J Holden !!!!! Don't like it at all & I too like holden cars but wouldn't name my son that. Plus Portia & Mercedes are lovely girl names (just not for my girls). Poor little guy would prob get a lot of slack by associating the car to his name given how common Holdens are. Everyone would instantly think Car, not Catcher in the Rye.

I think the name is spelt Halden and is a variation of Harold/Henry/Harry.

I'm sorry but no it's awful!.. Everyone would just assume you were a huge race fan!

"Are ya Holden on??"
Sorry...
Not keen
fwiw the lady up the road had a son years back named Ford Cleveland

No.

No.

Apart from the fact that many people will assume it's because of the cars (yes, even though it's not), it's a surname not a first name. And although I think Catcher In The Rye is a great book, I think it's a bit try-hardy pretentious to name a kid after it. Holden Caulfield was a bit of an a*s*hole anyway...

Sorry.

No, sorry.
I know 2 kids (siblings) who are called Caprice & Calais
Yet the parents say they aren't huge car fans!

I think of the Catcher in the Rye first, not the car. But I'm not a car person at all. And I drive a Holden!
Just as an aside, I really like the name Hal.
(Hal Hartley, Hal Porter).

Even without the terrible car associations (not that a Holden is a terrible car, I have two) it is a last name which rules it out for me.

And has been mentioned, do you want Holden Caulfield as a role model? How exhausting having to meet a new teacher ever six months!

What about Jerome?

Ha - I was thinking that, LynnyP!

I love Holden Caulfield Lynn. He is my favourite hero from literature

I know a boy called Holden and everyone has chuckle when they hear his name as the assume its after the car. Poor kid.

I don't like Holden as a name but I don't mind Portia.

I immediately thought of the book but the car association would turn me off using it.

Have you read Catcher in the Rye as an adult BP? Because I used to be a massive HC fan but then I read it again prob 12 mths ago and just found him to be a little twerp (adult perspective iykwim) ...sorry totally off topic

Me too! Even though I drive a Holden, I definitely think of the book first, and as such, I quite like the name. However, I would assume most people would think of the car first.

Not a fan either, I'm afraid., now that is just scary.

Bumble Puppy, Heathcliff is my favourite but a name sake he ain't!

quite honestly when i saw the name Holden i didnt think about a car or book i thought how unusual the name would be.

i believe if the name sounds good why not. it will make he/she an individual thats for sure.

No. What about Ford?

We are a family of HRT fans, but naming a son Holden? Sorry, no way!

B.O.G.A.N.

I'm so sorry OP, that was my first thought as well,
however I've never read Catcher in the Rye, so maybe I'm the bogan!

I don't think it works in Australia.

No way would i do that. it reminds me of a girl i met - she called her boy Calais because that was her favourite Holden car.

NMS at all.

How about Commodore instead?

oh now "hold on" do you want holden to grow up being picked on, i rate that name alongside winston,carmichael and poindexter. HOLD ON to your undies mate here comes a wedgey !!

whether you drive them or not.. ITS A CAR!

Mercedes is actually REAL names, even if they if its a car name...

I think its utterly ridiculous to even contemplate it sorry! but hey, Im sure there are more ridiculous names out there.

Not such a good idea in Australia.

I love the name (huge fan of the book!)

But don't think many people here in Australia see it that way.

They will all expect you to be pro Holden and may cause problems with those that are pro Ford.

nope

Ouch!!

Even as a Holden fan myself (and three in the family!) I wouldn't be going there as it will instantly be connected with the car...

this coming from the girl whose son is named Brock (yes, like Peter Brock)

I shall NOT be telling DH about this thread, he might get a silly idea!!!

No way.

Totally agree - I'm a massive Ford fan, but even with that detail aside - I still think Holden is a name

Ok. I guess we have a consensus. Although I am hardly surprised with the comments.



Actually, Holden is a real name The name came well before the car and the car company was named after the founder.

no, not a fan

I was thinking that......I just looked up in the baby book, and it means hollow in the valley. You probably already knew that anyway!

ETA - Just curious.....how do you feel about the name now?

I stand corrected.. but its still ridiculous.

sorry, another Catcher in the Rye fan (and I have also re-read it recently as an adult and still loved it) yet I can only think of the car... nope, sorry.