# Baby boy's name dilemma **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189 "2010-08-31T22:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/101 "2010-09-06T16:09:36Z")
> [@Herge](#): > > Also, I’m sure he’ll get called **Alex** anyway by most people. . Nope!!! **EVERYBODY!!!** will call him **“AL”** ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/102 "2010-09-06T16:21:22Z")
> [@kathmandu](#): > > I also agree that Alexander is better. It gives him more options when he’s older, and clearly indicates his gender (I know quite a few women named Alex). This. All my kids will have full names and nicknames. I want to give them options to forge their own identity. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/103 "2010-09-06T20:51:40Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > > [@Cazzle](#): > > > > Err… I do. I know about a thousand toddlers named Jack, and I’ve grumbled about every single one. > > OK. That’s a bit much, IMO. Does Megan bother you too? Well, not only do I know about a thousand toddlers named Jack but I also had about a thousand great uncles named Jack and every single one of them was John on their birth certificate. Plus I just hate the name, possibly because it is so overused, so picking faults with it is my bag, baby. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/104 "2010-09-06T22:08:04Z")
Did I miss \*\*Herge \*\*coming back and telling us what name they went with? Or is he just going to leave us hanging? ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/105 "2010-09-07T06:30:02Z")
Just another person coming in to vote Alexander. I was named Beth–not Elizabeth, not Bethany, just Beth. I actually got in trouble in 2nd grade and the teacher called my mother because I spent all morning arguing with the woman who insisted that I had to put my FULL first name on my state testing forms, NOT my nickname. I had tried until I got angry to explain to this woman that my name was Beth, **not** Elizabeth but she continued to assume I just didn’t know any better. When the same stuff started happening in third grade, I just stared listing my name as Elizabeth. My teacher was happy but then my mom got pissed. Please, give him the full name. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/106 "2010-09-07T11:14:12Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > [@Gyrate](#): > > > > Go for the full name, properly spelled. “Alexandor” is just asking to get your kid punched at school (and/or forever known as “Alexandork”). > > Agreed. Kids will make fun of each other no matter what, but why give such easy ammunition? > > Giving a kid a name with a spelling mistake in it means that he’ll spend the rest of his life correcting people on how to spell his name. It could also be counter-producutive in the area of credit - if a bank or a credit card company starts misspelling his name, by using the traditional spelling, it could be difficult to correct all the different records. > > But getting back to the OP - a full name is always better. You’ve got no idea what the tyke will turn into. Maybe he’ll be an “Alex” kind of guy, but maybe he’ll turn into a full-name guy. Give him the option. > > I’ve got a formal name with a common nickname, and I’m always called by the nickname, except when people are trying to be humourous. I guess that’s just the kind of guy I am. > > My brother, on the other hand, also has a formal name with a common nickname, and is never called by the nickname. He’s just a formal guy. > > Give the kid options. Hmmm…my name has a minor mispelling, and my surname has a very very common variation. neither has really caused a problem any more than Steven / Stephen would My kids are going to have fun, they have Given Name, Middle name, surname, chinese name… or for western countries given name, middle name, chinese middle name, surname ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/107 "2010-09-07T19:31:41Z")
I’m sure this is loooooong since moot… but I too would vote for Alexander for the legal name. Others have pointed out (and I agree) that EVERYONE will assume it’s short for Alexander so why not avoid the argument? From my own history: I have a French variant of a very common Catholic name. In the US, the English or Spanish versions are far more common, and 90% of the time, people speaking to me for the first time will call me one of those versions. This is _ **even when they have a printout right in front of them** _. My last name is a less-common variant of a common Jewish name, and 90% of the time it gets spelled with the more-common variant. AND - my parents saddled me with a nickname. My middle name was a family surname, a very common one. They contracted it and changed the spelling (so it’s not even an obvious translation). And they were flabbergasted when Sister Mary Reptile wouldn’t call me that in first grade. So, as you all can guess, I’m all about keeping it simple. And Alexander is about as simple as it gets - hardly anyone will misspell that one. Now, did I follow my own rules with my kids? Er, sort of… one has a hard-to-misspell first name; his middle is less easy but is also used less. My daughter has a name that is misspelled by quite a lot of people, and the ones who spell it right pronounce it wrong. Sigh… Poor kid. At least she was named after someone REALLY cool. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/108 "2010-09-07T19:40:48Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > > [ > > > > Giving a kid a name with a spelling mistake in it means that he’ll spend the rest of his life correcting people on how to spell his name. It could also be counter-producutive in the area of credit - if a bank or a credit card company starts misspelling his name, by using the traditional spelling, it could be difficult to correct all the different records. > > I’ve already addressed the second part (hooray for sending letters to credit agencies to correct fuck ups on behalf of stupid store clerks!), but to the first: amen. My name is Angelique, but it is always a trial when someone over the phone is trying to take down my name. Like I said, my name isn’t an odd spelling, it’s just a different name. > > “It’s Angelique.” > “Angeline?” > “No, Angelique.” > “Angela?” > “No, Angelique. A-N-G-E-L-I-Q-----” > “L-I-N???” > “NO! A-N-G-E-L-I-Q-U-E.” > “Right. Angelina! Got it!” > “GODDAMNIT, NO. THERE IS A Q. A Q. LIKE . . . “QUARTER”.” > “Oh, so a C. Angelica, I’m sorry!” > “AAAAAAAH, A Q!!! MY KINGDOM FOR A Q!!!” > > It’s the Q that really fucks people up, let me tell you. Damn, I’m sorry about that. My dad talked Mom out of Angelique since I have a cousin named Angelena, and they settled on Shannon instead. I’ve always been glad of that… So, was your mom a [Dark Shadows](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelique_Bouchard_Collins) fan, too? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/109 "2010-09-07T20:28:55Z")
“Alexander” would be preferred, “Alex” if you must. Misspelling it to be creative is right out. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/110 "2010-09-07T20:39:47Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > > [ > > > > Giving a kid a name with a spelling mistake in it means that he’ll spend the rest of his life correcting people on how to spell his name. It could also be counter-producutive in the area of credit - if a bank or a credit card company starts misspelling his name, by using the traditional spelling, it could be difficult to correct all the different records. > > I’ve already addressed the second part (hooray for sending letters to credit agencies to correct fuck ups on behalf of stupid store clerks!), but to the first: amen. My name is Angelique, but it is always a trial when someone over the phone is trying to take down my name. Like I said, my name isn’t an odd spelling, it’s just a different name. > > “It’s Angelique.” > “Angeline?” > “No, Angelique.” > “Angela?” > “No, Angelique. A-N-G-E-L-I-Q-----” > “L-I-N???” > “NO! A-N-G-E-L-I-Q-U-E.” > “Right. Angelina! Got it!” > “GODDAMNIT, NO. THERE IS A Q. A Q. LIKE . . . “QUARTER”.” > “Oh, so a C. Angelica, I’m sorry!” > “AAAAAAAH, A Q!!! MY KINGDOM FOR A Q!!!” > > It’s the Q that really fucks people up, let me tell you. Huh. You should move up here - I’ve known two Angeliques, and no one seems to have any trouble with the name. Of course, it’s true that I don’t have any trouble with the name - I’ve no idea what trials the two Angeliques I know have had with customer service reps. Maybe don’t move up here then (although three of our four seasons are indeed beautiful). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/111 "2010-09-07T20:56:23Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > **EVERYBODY!!!** will call him **“AL”** Only if he can call them “Betty”. ---
**Author:** ![Herge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Herge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Herge)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189/112 "2010-09-07T21:02:24Z")
Wow, a lot of responses! Seems the tide of opinion is towards calling him Alexander. That is also the conclusion we have come to. I think I managed to talk my wife round to the idea (it wasn’t easier but I kept on at her until she submitted), with a little help family and friends who all (except 1) agreed with me! As someone suggested, I may well bookmark this thread and show this to him when he is old enough (assuming the messageboard is still around in 6 or 7 years time) 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boys-name-dilemma/552189.md?page=5)