Name of the Day: Holden
He’s the original disaffected youth from Catcher in the Rye, but does he still have his literary cachet?
Thanks to JNE for suggesting Holden as Name of the Day.
JD Salinger was quite the name-giver. There’s Zooey and Esme, Selena and Corrine. Holden Morrissey Caulfield was named after Salinger’s friend, Holden Bowler. But the character put his stamp on the name, more so than many a distinctive literary moniker. The novel was published in 1951 and remains an unusual combination of required reading and beloved book.
Salinger surely had his own reasons for choosing the name, but there’s little doubt that Holden was a perfect pick. The Old English word for hollow was hol; the second element means valley. The meaning is usually given as deep valley – somehow that captures the character nicely.
Like many names related to fields, forests and other features on the landscape, Holden was a place name used primarily in Lancashire and Yorkshire. In other parts of England, Holcomb or Holcombe would’ve been the equivalent.
Like Holcomb/e, Holden is far more common as a surname - two uses immediately come to mind:
- The fictionional Baywatch babe played by Yasmine Bleeth, Caroline Holden;
- Ohio’s Holden Arboretum, named for philanthropist Albert Holden. He’d originally planned to make a gift to Harvard, but his sister convinced him that his native Cleveland needed the gift instead. (Incidentally, Albert had three daughters – Elizabeth, Katharine and Emery.)
But we can’t thank Salinger – or Baywatch, or the arboretum – for Holden’s popularity. Instead, the name started to gain in use after As the World Turns introduced character Holden Snyder in 1985. Holden and his love interest (now wife), Lily Walsh, are among the most enduring couples currently featured on daytime television.
In 1987, Holden debuted at #911. He’s risen steadily ever since. As of last year, he stood at #358.
Perhaps it is the soap opera connection, or maybe it is the literary vibe, but Holden feels rather dramatic - a bit like Romeo or Orlando.
And yet he probably appeals mainly to parents seeking lesser used two syllable, ends-in-n names. Other choices that fit the bill include:
After all, with the US Top 50 dominated by Ethan, Ryan, Logan, Nathan, Christian and Dylan – as well as the Aidan family – it’s logical to look farther afield for a son’s name.
Holden also fits the current trend of adopting surnames in the first spot, plus you can find him all over the map – in the US, Canada and Norway and on Mars and the moon.
Few surname picks have as much literary cachet as Holden. Hawthorne, Hemingway or Thoreau are intriguing, but feel rather extreme. For an American icon with literary cred and the right measure of fits-in-stands-out, it is hard to do better than Holden.
But realize that he’s not nearly as rare as you might imagine.
Filed under: Americana, Last Names First, Literary Babes, Mapquest, Names for Boys, Names of the Day | 13 Comments
Tags: Holden, Holcomb, Holcombe
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I’m generally not up for surname names, and the trendy pattern is a little disconcerting, but I do still like Holden. Being as both Baywatch and daytime soaps are not things I tune into, I had no idea that there were connections there. And I love “Catcher in the Rye” but am not sure it’s a characer name to use. For now, Holden is hanging out on the longer list, but I’m not sure he’d ever get truly considered.
I started reading the beginning of this and I was all, wait, what ATWT? And then reading further saw how influential the soap had been. I wonder how many other boy soap names have gotten more popular following a popular character coming on? I remember hearing anecdotes that Laura had a surge in the early 80s, but I’ve never heard if Luke did as well.
It doesn’t hurt that Holden Snyder is a handsome fellow.
The only thing that puts me off about Holden is its pretentious-factor. So many English Lit majors I have ever known (and having been an English/Creative Writing major, I knew plenty) has called JD Salinger their favorite auther, Catcher in the Rye their favorite novel, Holden Caufield their favorite character, etc. Oh there is another thing that puts me off. Ever see The Good Girl? Jake Gyllenhaal’s character plays Holden. Actually, it’s not his real name, but he identifies with Caulfield or something. Well, he was a little bit…let’s call it…mentally unsteady. Dark.
I don’t know. I would feel pretnentious offering this one up to my husband. We’re still more likely to use Calvin inthe future.
I’m chuckling to myself because my tastes in ‘literature’ are generally very pedestrian at best – seems odd to be lumped in with Lit types (based on the name of course, because it certainly wouldn’t be based on my reading list)… but it’s good to know it has a “trying to hard”/sad and obvious lit snob aspect to it.
Funny about “The Good Girl,” I really liked that movie and had forgotten that character. He struck me as more, say, lackluster than dark, but unbalanced to say the least. No strong associations w/ Calvinism?
All I hear is lazy “holding”. Honestly, this name just holds no appeal for me.
As for the literary connection, I’m with Photo on this one – it seems everyone is calling JD Salinger/Catcher in the Rye/Holden or Harper Lee/To Kill a Mockingbird/Scout their favorite book and are looking to use Holden or Scout as some kind of honorific. I find it more appealing when people are a tad subtle with nods to literature.
(by the way, Calvin is awesome! Miles above Holden)
I like Holden for someone else. It is one of those names that I’d consider using if it was in my family (but, it isn’t). I just can’t see myself using “surname” names unless they are actually family names for me. I really like the sound of lots of them but without the family connection I think it sounds contrived. Holden is one of those names I think would make people ask, “oh, is that a family name?” I wouldn’t want a child of mine to have to answer, “um, no…my mom just liked it.”
I do like Holden so if you don’t have my hangup with “surname” names I’d say go for it!
I am surprised there was no mention of the great actor William Holden. That’s my main association with the name.
*Sound of forehead hitting desk.*
Right you are, Kat!
Mmm, not such a fan of surname names, but I can appreciate the literary associations of this one.
Holden is a very popular brand of car down here (and a racing team, as well), regarded as being quintessentially Aussie, and most people here would think you were just being a bogan if you named your kid Holden.
Not a terribly attractive choice overall but I can definitely see why people use it.
Holden is fine. Not a choice I’d use, but one I can respect.
Photoquilty — I guess I’m technically one of those “English Lit types” too. But my former roommate and I (both English majors) always felt miles removed in attitude and personality from the pretentious, snobby ones in most of our classes. I’m sure you know exactly the kind I’m talking about, and we used to make fun of them at home.
Anyway, my literary taste in names runs toward the traditional Victorian (Frederick, Eleanor) and the obscure medieval (Gawain, Clerimond) — though for usability’s sake, I imagine my kids will all end up with the former.
I know those people, for sure!
I love Holden! It’s among my very favorite names for boys, along w/ Spencer and Darwin. The college of nursing was too far removed from the English dept for me to get turned off by it.