Presidential names

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

I have met a lot of kids with last names as first names (i.e. Carter, Cooper, Jackson) and I noticed that a lot of our US Presidents' last names have been appropriated into first names. I thought it might make an interesting discussion on here.

Personally, I've seen 17 out of the 44 as first names (those with an asterisk next to them). I'm wondering if anyone has seen any others and what you think about those without the asterisk. I'm kind of thinking that someone could make Hayes and Nixon work. =) Obviously, Bush and Johnson would cause some major playground taunting.

Also, those of you from other countries, do you see this trend where you live? What last names of presidents, PMs, etc would make good first names?

Cut for an American History refresher.

1. Washington

2. Adams (John)

3. Jefferson*

4. Madison*

5. Monroe*

6. Adams (John Quincy)

7. Jackson*

8. Van Buren

9. Harrison (William H.)*

10. Tyler*

11. Polk

12. Taylor*

13. Filmore

14. Pierce*

15. Buchanan

16. Lincoln*

17. Johnson (Andrew)

18. Grant*

19. Hayes

20. Garfield

21. Arthur*

22. Cleveland

23. Harrison (Benjamin)*

24. Cleveland (again)

25. McKinley

26. Roosevelt (Theodore)

27. Taft

28. Wilson*

29. Harding

30. Coolidge

31. Hoover

32. Roosevelt (Franklin D.)

33. Truman*

34. Eisenhower

35. Kennedy*

36. Johnson (Lyndon B.)

37. Nixon

38. Ford

39. Carter*

40. Reagan*

41. Bush (George H.W.)

42. Clinton*

43. Bush (George W.)

44. Obama

Comments

[eeangel44.livejournal.com]

I've seen Hayes, Ford and Clinton used as first names. I could possibly see some McKinley's , gosh there has to be with the Mc craze.

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I've totally seen Clinton! I forgot to star that one. =)

[rorylareina.livejournal.com]

I know a McKinley. He was named after the mountain, and his sister's name is Denali.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

I know a guy named Ford.

[googlebee-ohmi.livejournal.com]

I love President last names... I want to use them with future boys (but as middle names)

Knox Harrison
Avery Monroe
James Truman
Eli Hayes

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

Knox is my maiden name. To me, it looks weird as a first name but that's just because I used it as a surname for 25 years. Didn't Brad Pitt and Angie name one of their twins Knox?

[googlebee-ohmi.livejournal.com]

yeah i think that they did - it is actually a family name - it was one of my great-grandfather's brothers.

[sing4th.livejournal.com]

20. Garfield - does the cat count? LOL
25. McKinley - I can't pinpoint it, but I am pretty sure I have known of a girl or two with this name.

The ones I like
Jackson
Carter
Reagan - I would not think I'd be a fan of Reagan, but that I know the most adorable little girl with this name. My cousin is named this (boy) but I think it is spelled differently - though I am not sure.
Kennedy - sort of like, for same reason as above - on a girl.

[sing4th.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Truman

[http://users.livejournal.com/-starchild-/]

I've thought about using last names as first names. I personally really like Parker and Jackson, but wouldn't use them.
After reading over this list, I LOVE Hayes.
The only Ford I've ever known of is Ford Prefect from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
And Cleveland is on Family Guy.
I don't think it would be too far fetched to see someone name their child Washington.
And I REALLY hope no one names their child Garfield. They would never hear the end of it.

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

My favorite is Jefferson. I would use that in a heart beat as a middle name if I could find anything I liked as the first name.

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

William Jefferson Clinton! =) I always liked the ring of that name.

[ex-bluebonn.livejournal.com]

I believe Filmore, Garfield, and Cleveland have also been used as names, and I wouldn't be surprised if Obama became popular in the coming years too.

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

Could you use Harrison without people making lame Indiana Jones comments? =)

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

My favorite english progessor from college had two sons named Jackson and Truman. I thought they made such a cute sibset.

[iamkatiei.livejournal.com]

*professor ... haha! sorry.

[smallandneedy.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's not allowed to give your kid a last name as a first name in Norway. Except in a few cases where the name actually is known as a first name, like Magnus or Thomas.
All the prime ministers I can remember have last names I doubt would ever work as a first name.

I have to say, I quite like our naming laws :D

[polly-purebred.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wish the US had naming laws. I work in a hospital and you wouldn't believe some of the names I've seen/heard.

[smallandneedy.livejournal.com]

yeah, I can understand that. Some of the names I've seen in the birth announcements posted on here make me go WTF.

I remember a case in Norway back in 2000. A couple had a baby boy on 01.01.2000 and they wanted to name him Thomas Millennium since he was born on the first day of the new millennium or whatever. They had to apply to the government in order for it to be approved as a legal middle name and I think they won their case, but it took like 6 months to do so.
Thought that was interesting at the time.

[florallove.livejournal.com]

I love Truman! I like Lincoln, too.

[raisintree.livejournal.com]

In addition to the ones you've listed, I've seen Washington, Cleveland, and Roosevelt used at first names.

My favourite remains Truman. Fantastic name inspired by a fantastic (if underrated) president.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

makes me wonder if the roosevelt you know is a male or female?

with the nickname possibility of rose, i kind of wonder.

[skittles22088.livejournal.com]

I could see:
Washington
Jefferson
Madison
Jackson
Harrison
Tyler
Taylor
Pierce
Lincoln
Grant
Garfield
Arthur
Cleveland
McKinley
Roosevelt
Wilson
Truman
Kennedy
Carter
Reagan
Clinton

I would use:
Jackson
Harrison
Lincoln
Grant
Reagan

[nandy-pandy.livejournal.com]

100% chance that I'm naming a future son after a US president. I'm a total dork.

If I have twins, they are totes Franklin and Theodore.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

garfield was a fairly common first name in the early 20th century.

i know a kid named ford. sad, really.