I think they MEANT to name him Sparrow Midnight James Madden – that would follow the same pattern as Harlow Winter Kate Madden. You know, something that ends in -OW, then some kind of nature thing, then a classic name. Somebody mixed up the middle names.
I actually like Sparrow, but not paired with Midnight. Though when I first heard it, all I heard was “Sparrow Midnight” which is much less appealing to me. When the James is added in there, it seems better.
But wait. I’ve just said “Sparrow” a few times, and now I don’t really like it. It’s a little hard to say, and I would DEF have a hard time spitting it out fast enough to yell at the child!
I love their daughter’s name, so I was really looking forward to hear the new baby’s name. But, Sparrow. I’m just not feeling it. And I like unique names, but something about it just doesn’t roll off the tongue for me. But Harlow and Sparrow do sound pretty good together. Maybe I’ll warm up to it.
I don’t like the name Sparrow by itself. It doesn’t sound like a name to me. I especially don’t like it with Harlow. I agree that Sparrow sounds like a girl’s name.
I feel almost relieved to know I am not alone when I said “but Sparrow should be a girl’s name” immediately upon seeing the name. The thing I do like is that they have a traditional name stuck in there. It at least gives the child the option of going by that if sometime in the future they think “what were my parents smoking.”
I don’t particularly like Sparrow, but I DO like that they mixed up the middles – especially with Sparrow and Harlow being so close in sound, its good to make the rhythm of the middles opposite. Also, Sparrow James Midnight Madden sounds much better than Sparrow Midnight James Madden to me, the first being playful and the second feeling heavy and monotonous.
But Sparrow is weird – maybe cute for a baby, but an adult named Sparrow? I agree with above poster, it should be S. James Madden. Much like how Zowie Bowie goes by his middle…
I think the middle unusual middle names of the kids have something to do with when they were born. Harlow has winter; she was born in December. Sparrow has midnight; reports say he was barely born on the 9th. That said, I think the name Sparrow is interesting and original, but I agree that I don’t like it for a boy. Also, it is too rhymy with Harlow for me.
The only thing I can think about Sparrow that makes it better for a boy is the possibility of “Spar” (pronounced “spare”) for a nickname. “Spar Madden” sounds pretty cool. Otherwise, yeah, I think Sparrow sounds feminine.
Hmm….I thought she must have had a girl, too. A Sparrow is such a little bird…delicate…not like a HAWK. It reminds me of my grandfather who used to tell me, “for heavens sake, you eat like a bird!” I might be able to get used to it for a girl…but not a boy…too delicate.
I love their daughter’s name, and I guess I don’t hate Sparrow but it does seem a little feminine to be a boy’s name. Also, I really don’t like that Harlow and Sparrow have such similar endings.
The more I think about it too… I almost wonder if they’re pronouncing it different than the bird… if they’re maybe saying “SPAR-oh” (spar like a fight).
Pronounced that way it sounds a little more masculine/name-like than Bird like…. but the spelling isn’t so great in that case.
Most likely they really did just name him Sparrow, to be pronounced ilke the bird but I’m TRYING here, lol.
I think my main two things are what other people are saying too:
1. Sparrow seems feminine (and if fact if they had two girls, Harlow and Sparrow would be awesome).
2. It bugs me that the two middle names are in a non-coordinating order. I’d prefer Sparrow Midnight James Madden—or else for them to go back in time and use Harlow Kate Winter Madden).
Sparrow SOUNDS masculine but it FEELS feminine. Too weird for my tastes. The order of names doesn’t bother me but then again, that’s just me. I gave a middle name to one of my kids but not the other.
I think they MEANT to name him Sparrow Midnight James Madden – that would follow the same pattern as Harlow Winter Kate Madden. You know, something that ends in -OW, then some kind of nature thing, then a classic name. Somebody mixed up the middle names.
I actually like Sparrow, but not paired with Midnight. Though when I first heard it, all I heard was “Sparrow Midnight” which is much less appealing to me. When the James is added in there, it seems better.
But wait. I’ve just said “Sparrow” a few times, and now I don’t really like it. It’s a little hard to say, and I would DEF have a hard time spitting it out fast enough to yell at the child!
I like the idea of the name Sparrow. Maybe it’s a nod to Captain Jack Sparrow? What I don’t like is that it rhymes with Harlow. Far too confusing.
I love their daughter’s name, so I was really looking forward to hear the new baby’s name. But, Sparrow. I’m just not feeling it. And I like unique names, but something about it just doesn’t roll off the tongue for me. But Harlow and Sparrow do sound pretty good together. Maybe I’ll warm up to it.
Sparrow sounds like a girl’s name to me. Actually, IS the baby a boy? I’m assuming so because of “James,” but perhaps I assume too much.
I wrote to Swistle about this yesterday… Fiona — my gripe is the same as yours! WHY do the middle names not line up??!? That is driving me bonkers.
Also, when did “Midnight” become a name?? He’s not a) a dog or b) a spy for the CIA.
Sparrow’s a feminine name. If they had a daughter, I’d be alright with it, but for a boy? Poor kid.
Sparrow in and of itself isn’t that bad, but to me it just screams “GIRL!!!!”. So, I don’t think it is a good choice for a son.
Oh wait, now I want to roll with this CIA thing…
If he DID ever join the CIA, he has TWO of the good “Spy Pseudonyms” taken!
“Sparrow, we’re going to have to code name you John on the coms”.
I don’t like the name Sparrow by itself. It doesn’t sound like a name to me. I especially don’t like it with Harlow. I agree that Sparrow sounds like a girl’s name.
I agree that Sparrow seems more feminine. The order is also bothering me (seems to be a common “bother”).
I thought/think Harlow is fabulous.
I hope they don’t go all Duggar and try to come up with more names that end in -ow. Can you imagine?
I feel almost relieved to know I am not alone when I said “but Sparrow should be a girl’s name” immediately upon seeing the name. The thing I do like is that they have a traditional name stuck in there. It at least gives the child the option of going by that if sometime in the future they think “what were my parents smoking.”
My first reaction was “aw, they had another girl”, then I read that poor Sparrow is a boy. Poor kid.
The name would be really cute for a girl (even with the James part). For a boy it sounds like he’ll most likely be S. James Madden
Good news is that they’ve given a the kid a lot to work with. He can be Night, James, Jim, etc…
I don’t particularly like Sparrow, but I DO like that they mixed up the middles – especially with Sparrow and Harlow being so close in sound, its good to make the rhythm of the middles opposite. Also, Sparrow James Midnight Madden sounds much better than Sparrow Midnight James Madden to me, the first being playful and the second feeling heavy and monotonous.
But Sparrow is weird – maybe cute for a baby, but an adult named Sparrow? I agree with above poster, it should be S. James Madden. Much like how Zowie Bowie goes by his middle…
I think the middle unusual middle names of the kids have something to do with when they were born. Harlow has winter; she was born in December. Sparrow has midnight; reports say he was barely born on the 9th.
That said, I think the name Sparrow is interesting and original, but I agree that I don’t like it for a boy. Also, it is too rhymy with Harlow for me.
The only thing I can think about Sparrow that makes it better for a boy is the possibility of “Spar” (pronounced “spare”) for a nickname. “Spar Madden” sounds pretty cool. Otherwise, yeah, I think Sparrow sounds feminine.
Hmm….I thought she must have had a girl, too. A Sparrow is such a little bird…delicate…not like a HAWK. It reminds me of my grandfather who used to tell me, “for heavens sake, you eat like a bird!” I might be able to get used to it for a girl…but not a boy…too delicate.
I love their daughter’s name, and I guess I don’t hate Sparrow but it does seem a little feminine to be a boy’s name. Also, I really don’t like that Harlow and Sparrow have such similar endings.
I always thought Harlow was a boy’s name–maybe the kids can swap names? Maybe they can nickname him “Row”? Sorta like Roy?
Sparrow is just too odd for me ;)
The more I think about it too… I almost wonder if they’re pronouncing it different than the bird… if they’re maybe saying “SPAR-oh” (spar like a fight).
Pronounced that way it sounds a little more masculine/name-like than Bird like…. but the spelling isn’t so great in that case.
Most likely they really did just name him Sparrow, to be pronounced ilke the bird but I’m TRYING here, lol.
I’m leaning toward thinking that they wanted the “Pirates of the Caribbean” reference, and thought that Jack was too boring.
But it is really rhyme-y. I’d probably go by S. James Madden as an adult.
I want to know Swistle’s thoughts. I’d have thought that you’d be dying to talk about it too!
Scarlett: I think Swistle will chime in once she’s back from visiting her baby niece! :-D
I think my main two things are what other people are saying too:
1. Sparrow seems feminine (and if fact if they had two girls, Harlow and Sparrow would be awesome).
2. It bugs me that the two middle names are in a non-coordinating order. I’d prefer Sparrow Midnight James Madden—or else for them to go back in time and use Harlow Kate Winter Madden).
Sparrow reminds me a little of Spiro Agnew in sound but not in appearance.
Since we’re discussing it, here’s the Link to a People article that talks about a possible reason they chose the name Sparrow…
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20303902,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines
It says it may have been because of the Simon & Garfunkel song “Sparrow”, and then it has a verse which starts with:
Who will love a little Sparrow? Will no one write her eulogy?
HER! See it, right there? HER? It’s such a girly name.
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Sparrow SOUNDS masculine but it FEELS feminine. Too weird for my tastes. The order of names doesn’t bother me but then again, that’s just me. I gave a middle name to one of my kids but not the other.
Blech. I just don’t like it. There’s a fine line between being original and just being weird. They crossed it.