Hi Jennifer,

Our last name is Wilson and we found out we’re having a boy. My husband and I both love the name Owen, but are afraid our son will be teased since Owen Wilson is a famous actor.

What do you think? Is it okay to name a baby the same name as a celebrity? We really can’t think of any other name we both love.

Sincerely,
Amy Wilson

Dear Amy,

There are many people who share names with celebrities. Mostly because their last names are common, like Jackson or even Wilson! My own sister, for example, is Kate Moss although she uses her married surname now.

I would say that if the celebrity has a bad reputation, then maybe you’d want to stay away from using the same name. But as of now, the actor Owen Wilson is pretty much perceived as being fun and entertaining. I don’t see any problem with this particular name association. Of course, you can’t control what the actor does in the future!

I say if you love the name, go for it. Maybe give your son a great middle name so he can choose which to go by as he gets older.

One caveat I do have about the name Owen, though, is that it’s number 4 on the BabyNames charts and still rising. It’s extremely popular and therefore your son will most likely encounter many other Owens in his classes.

Sincerely,
Jennifer