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Atticus
Earlier today while visiting a small, local zoo connected to a large park down the road from me, I couldn't help but overhear a few names being called. One of the names, which stood out to me instantly was Atticus with the nn Attie (guessing on the spelling)
What are your thoughts on it? It's not a name you hear everyday (at least I don't) despite it's increase on the charts. Like everyone else, I immediately think of the character of Atticus Finch, and also of attics. (😅) Besides those, I never really had much of a strong opinion on it.
Other names overheard were Carter, Ollie (presumably short for Oliver) Ethan, Piper & Jack, but those are all pretty mainstream.

This message was edited 3/27/2023, 12:09 PM

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I feel like it's crisp, fresh, and respectable. Probably not for much longer now but I would still consider it. Atticus Jean I would consider.
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I know 2 people named Atticus, one of which is called Atty.
Before meeting any I would have thought it was OTT for real life, but now it seems normal, especially with a nickname.
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Atticus has been steadily rising for over a decade in the USA and ranked 266th on the SSA list in 2021. I strongly suspect that it is a name that appeals at this point largely to college-educated White mothers, and there are probably several suburban areas in the USA where it already could no longer be called a "rare" name among the kindergarten set. And of course one thinks of Atticus Finch, he's the original reason this is a regularly used given name in the USA today. However, there was a child actor named Atticus Shaffer featured on the sitcom "The Middle" between 2009 and 2018, a character named Atticus Lincoln was introduced on "Grey's Anatomy" in 2018, and the main character in the HBO series "Lovecraft Country" is Atticus Freeman, so the Hollywood feeback loop is now in full swing, and I expect Atticus to make the top 100 names for boys in the USA very soon.I wrote a column on Atticus back in August 2020 when "Lovecraft Country" premiered, in case anyone's interested:
https://omaha.com/lifestyles/evans-atticus-was-a-relic-of-antiquity-until-to-kill-a-mockingbird/article_86f1b5c0-fb3e-5940-9447-412d626a4b24.html

This message was edited 3/28/2023, 4:22 PM

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Atticus Shaffer; forgot about him. But yeah, I can definitely see the name entering the top 100's. I wholeheartedly agree. It was just honestly surprising to hear as I wasn't really expecting it, and I never heard it used IRL on an "everyday" person, rather than on character or celebrity. I'm sure it won't be the last though.

This message was edited 3/28/2023, 7:09 PM

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I feel like it's eye-rolly but not so much so that I can't call someone that seriously.
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I love it, classic and also trendy in a good way. I love A names for boys. It's solid.
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Atticus is mentioned quite a lot on Nameberry! I think it’s nice, especially with the sweet nickname Kit :)
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Atticus sounds charming on paper but I do feel it would be odd to call a child. I remember reading an article of a mom who said she felt ridiculous calling her child’s “unusual” name across the playground and wished she had named him something else. I imagine Atticus would also produce this effect.
Ethan seems to have earned its place as a “classic” (if not rather milquetoast) name in roster.
Oliver wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the associations with orphans.
The rest are cloyingly trendy.
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I actually really like it, but I’m afraid it might be a bit too much for real life.
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Love: Piper & JackLike: Atticus & CarterNeutral: Oliver (I don’t like the nn Ollie)
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Ditto with Ollie. I never cared for it either.
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Don't like Atticus, Ethan, Jack and Oliver are good
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