Auden doesn't make me think of the word odd, because I'd pronouce Auden with more of a "aw" vowel at the beginning, like Laura.

It doesn't sound like a poor man's Aiden.  Instead, to me, it sounds like it's one step ahead - a fresher, trendier Aiden. 

Trend-setting is not what I want out of a name, but if trend-setting is appealing to you, it would be a great choice.

I like the name fine. I don't love it for my own personal use, but I like it for someone else. My first thought, though, was that if you used Auden as a first name, and if you decide to include your surname in the middle, you would most definitely need to use two middle names because using your surname as the only middle name does not have good rhythm at all.

I did not think of "odd" on my own, but as I said the name a few times aloud, focusing on how I pronounce it, it began to sound like a made-up verb, "to odden" - i.e., to make something odd. However, I think that if you don't point it out, most people won't go there on their own.

In your regional accent, what tends to happen to "t" and "d" when they are in the middle of words? I tend to enunciate them, but I know that many many people don't (leading to, for example, Florida radio commercials for the local "dennal cenner", where people can go to get their teeth checked.) If the "d" is typically less strong, it will sound even less like "odd".

I think your description of it is accurate--simple, studious, and sweet.  I would not call it a poor man's Aiden at all.  To me, Auden is to Aiden as Calder is to Carter.  That is, a traditional surname with a cultured background, which sounds like an unusual twist on a modern trendsetter.  The popular version makes it sound fairly normal and "name-y", while it is different enough to still catch people's attention.  The only thing that throws me off about this one is the "odd" sound, which I do hear (and I agree with you that Audley is right out!).  That's enough to make me prefer Alden, but as I mentioned before, I knew Audreys growing up who didn't seem to have a problem, and the name is on the rise I think, so maybe the "odd" is no big deal.  Other than that, it sounds nice with the surname, because Aud and Fon have the same vowel sound for me, so there's that repetition, as well as the repeated d/t and n sounds.  I agree, though, that it would ideally have another middle if you plan on using your surname as a second middle, since that would be 3 names all with the same stressed vowel up front (Aud, Hoff, Fon).  I have the urge to put James in there--I think Auden James H.F. sounds quite handsome. 

I've grown really attached to Xavier C. for you, but Auden is a nice idea too.    

Ditto what everyone else has already said.  

I'll add that another reason for a 2nd middle is not only the way Auden H.F. sounds, but also because you'd be using three surname names right in a row.  I can see the potential for that to cause confusion on forms and such.  I knew someone whose 3 names were all common firsts-think Paul Matthew Arnold (not the real name) and he always complained that they would end up out of order on forms, roll sheets or in computer systems.

James works as a good middle, but I personally find Auden Xavier H.F. to be very dashing.  Smart and sensitive but also adventurous and fun to be around.

You know, in isolation, I agree with your assessment of Auden. It's a nice-sounding name, and I always like literary references. The "odd" thing wouldn't really be an issue for me—I suppose I say them more or less the same, but I think of Aud- and odd- as being so totally different that it wouldn't have even occurred to me if you hadn't pointed it out (it's never occurred to me for Audrey, either, and I have a great-aunt Audie, so I've heard the name spoken quite a bit). 

In today's baby-naming context, though, I do think it's too close to Aiden. I wouldn't call it a poor-man's Aiden... if anything, it's an educated man's Aiden (and I do mean Aiden, not Aidan, as I recognize that Aidan has a long and distinguished history). Auden is only one letter away from Aiden, and the letters that differ lie right next to each other on the keyboard, which would make me afraid that people would think the name was Aiden with a typo. It's also so, so close in sound, with that ultra-trendy -den ending. Even if people don't misread it all the time (which I think they will), it's going to blend right in with the other trendy names.

Also, I wouldn't recommend combining Auden with Camille. Given the popularity of Aubrey, etc. for girls, and the fact that it's an androgynous surname anyway, I think Auden Camille will be more prone to gender confusion than most of your other options. If you can't have Simon, then my vote goes to Xavier Camille.

So. I love the poet, so that colors my opinion somewhat. I think it's a great name.  My slight hesitation is based on the fact that it is gender neutral. In 2011 it was given to 29 girls and 60 boys. The year before, 23 girls and 50 boys. In 2009 it was 39 girls and 44 boys.  So a few more boys are getting the name but not a lot...I'm guessing it appeals to girl parents because of the Aud- beginning (like Audrey but different).  I could see Auden going like Aubrey and Avery did, way over to the girl side in 10 years.  That may not be a big deal, but it's a consideration.  I really like it though, and I'm not usually a huge fan of gender neutral names. It's particular nice with Xavier as a middle name.

I like it! I don't think it's a name that would work for me, personally, but I would like it on someone else's baby.

It definitely doesn't come close to sounding like odd for me. It also sounds very different to Aiden and wouldn't be confused.

Pros: you both like it; it's not common; it sounds nice with your surname; it's unusual without being totally off trend (n ending will fit right in); straight forward spelling and pronunciation.

Cons: it may blend with a lot of other n ending boys names; it might be somewhat gender neutral (although I firmly like it for boys not girls); it probably rules out Camille as a middle due to the gender neutral issue.

I agree with previous posters that Auden Xavier is a winning combo.

The "Au" combination at the start of a word inevitably makes me think of "gold" ("Au" is its symbol on the periodic table, and the Latin word for gold is "aurum").

That's not a bad connotation, I think.

I don't mind Auden. I think if I didn't know you were considering it for a boy I might think it tended a bit feminine -- actor Noah Wyle's daughter's name is Auden -- but it doesn't remind me of "odd" and it doesn't make me think of Aiden or similar names at all. And the WH Auden connection is very cool.

I thought of you tonight when I saw the credits for a movie my boys were watching (Tin Tin) -- the name Xavier Trudeau-Deschenes was among those involved in making the movie. I looked him up -- he's a 2D and 3D Canadian animation artist (http://www.wix.com/xaviertd/folio) -- and I thought a great example of how well Xavier pairs with a French last name.

Fwiw, It doesn't remind me of Aidan et al a bit.

Nor does it make me think of the word odd.

It makes me think of Alden, which I also like, and Adair, which was long my secret fav girl's name (though it's historically male). It also reminds me of Arden.

It's very much a name I'd imagine running into in my sister's upper-crusty neighborhood, where there are routinely parties full of kids with names like Ansel, Daphne, etc....

I think my one concern about it would be that it has a bit of a feminine sound, though I don't really see it becoming a big girl's hit any time soon.

I would pronounce that name as "AWW-den" and so I don't really hear the word "Odd" in it.

I have to say that it's a very nice, unusual name and that I do think that it has the kind of feel that you're looking for (quiet, studious, etc), but I'm not a huge fan.

But my reasons for not liking it all that much are perhaps unique to me. My name is actually my screenname spelled backwards. "Auden" is how folks with foreign accents have pronounced my name, so to me it sounds kind of like a mispronunciation of my own name. I get a "That's not my name!" feeling, which is, of course, ridiculous since you're not trying to say my name!

I think you should use it. My weird reasons are very weird indeed. The name is lovely.

I like Auden. I agree with your read on it: studious, serious, sweet. All lovely qualities in a son :) I also do not think of odd and it appeals to me in a way that Aidan no longer does.

I actually like it better than Xavier, which does read very Catholic to me. Probably because I am Catholic and it's a super popular name with religious yet trendy Catholics these days.

But Auden Camille is perhaps too soft, too much of the same repeated, in a way that Xavier Camille is not.

Are you going to debate these two names now or work with husband on filling that third slot before debating?