# Baby names... such a big decision **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310 "2010-09-19T18:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/61 "2010-09-22T18:51:22Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > > [@Wilbo523](#): > > > > As parents, you set the nickname your kid goes by. > > Only until the kid’s first day in kindergarten. The mother of one of my classmates (6th-12th grades) got terribly angry whenever one of us called their house and forgot to ask for him by firstname, using his class-given nickname instead. It’s not our fault that she’d given him the name that’s been the most common one in our area for the last 3 centuries! Trust me a five year old knows what his name his and what his nickname is. He’s not going to let a teacher or other kids establish a new name for him. At least my kid didn’t. If the parents call him Will or Liam instead of Billy or Willy, I don’t care how many kids call him by another name, that kid will correct them and so, “no my name is Will, not Willy.” All bet’s are off if you as a parent haven’t instilled in your kid the importance of their name. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/62 "2010-09-24T13:45:14Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > > [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > > > Choose a name you like, and think twice before running it past people to see what they think beforehand. > > Word! I came in to say just that. Tell your names beforehand and everybody and their dog will have an opinion (probably bad). Afterwards? “Hi, this is our new daughter Eustacia Peanut.” “Oh! What a …(_gulp_)…lovely name…” As a direct result of this post, my husband has started calling our Little One Eustacia Peanut. And now I’ve started doing it! Hmph. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/63 "2010-09-24T14:11:00Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > As parents, you set the nickname your kid goes by. As an Elizabeth, I started introducing myself with a nickname of my own choosing on the first day of preschool. So my parents got about three years of mileage out of my name. My mother is still a little tweaked about it. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/64 "2010-09-24T14:22:23Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > > [@Wilbo523](#): > > > > As parents, you set the nickname your kid goes by. > > As an Elizabeth, I started introducing myself with a nickname of my own choosing on the first day of preschool. So my parents got about three years of mileage out of my name. My mother is still a little tweaked about it. … > [@Wilbo523](#): > > All bet’s are off if you as a parent haven’t instilled in your kid the importance of their name. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/65 "2010-09-24T14:25:59Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > All bet’s are off if you as a parent haven’t instilled in your kid the importance of their name. [/QUOTE] I honestly don’t understand how a parent would go about doing this. My parents called me by my full name, it wasn’t as if I was addressed around the house as “hey you kid.” Could you give some specific examples? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/66 "2010-09-24T15:12:47Z")
My kids are very glad I named them before I hit upon my current favorite names, or they’d be Hester and Vladimir. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/67 "2010-09-24T16:05:41Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > > [@Wilbo523](#): > > > > All bet’s are off if you as a parent haven’t instilled in your kid the importance of their name. I honestly don’t understand how a parent would go about doing this. My parents called me by my full name, it wasn’t as if I was addressed around the house as “hey you kid.” Could you give some specific examples? [/QUOTE] I suspect its the same sort of “here, kid, share my values” as the rest of parenting. And it isn’t always successful no matter how much you brainwash little Eustacia that her name is the prettiest in the world, that its an old family name awash in tradition, that she shares it with her wonderful Great Aunt Eustacia who was a wonderful person. Someday your child turns on you. They get a tattoo you don’t approve of. They date someone who you thing “oh, God.” The shout “I hate you!!! You are so unfair!!!” Or they decide that Elizabeth is such a burdensome and common name, and come home named Eustacia Peanut after a trip to the judge. Maybe they do it in Kindergarten - maybe they wait until they are 19 for the tattoo, nosering, and insisting their name is “Dyspair.” My son completely rejects his second middle name. Ask him, and his middle name is one single name - not the second there that was put there by his parents for VERY IMPORTANT REASONS (he was adopted from Korea - his second middle name is his birthmother’s family name - Park). I suspect that he’ll drop it from all the documents he can as he grows up, and maybe even legally change it at some time to get rid of it on his passport. Its his name… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/68 "2010-09-24T17:10:21Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I’m looking for a traditional name (no Jaydens or Keeleys or anything). Also, I don’t want it to be super-common (no John, Thomas, etc.) I like Edwardian/Victorian/Early American names. Maybe even something from our heritage (We’re both rather Polish and German) that doesn’t sound too oddly foreign. I’m trying to avoid names that are “making a comeback” because I don’t want my kid to be the fourth Theodore in his class (yes, I love that name, but it’s rising quick in popularity). The other consideration is that my son will have the middle name Raymond (family name on my husband’s side) and a lot of the traditional names I’m finding are heavy with the "R"s, which make the name sound clumsy. (Arthur Raymond, Edward Raymond, etc.) And because of that William is off the table… I’m not having a “Billy Ray.” German/Polish names: Frederick, George, Conrad, Max, Stanley, Thaddeus, Casimir. Zbigniew would be awesome, but people would probably call him “Ziggy.” Victorian/Edwardian names: You could try to “reclaim” an old-style boys’ name: Ashley, Leslie, Carroll, Quinn, Blake, Paris, Marion. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/69 "2010-09-25T05:20:31Z")
The name you are looking for is Jasper. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/70 "2010-09-25T16:13:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > > [@Serenata67](#): > > > > I’m trying to avoid names that are “making a comeback” because I don’t want my kid to be the fourth Theodore in his class (yes, I love that name, but it’s rising quick in popularity). The other consideration is that my son will have the middle name Raymond > > German/Polish names: Conrad > > . Conrad Raymond sounds good to me. Nice choices, **Tom Tildrum.** (I like \*that \*name, too!) The name game can be tricky. We thought we were _so original_ when we named our older son Ethan back in 1983, and there were very few other Ethans throughout his school years–it was quite a novelty. Now it is #3 on the list of most popular baby names. My only other advice is to be mindful of spelling. I have a fairly unusual first name, which I hated as a kid but am fine with now, but all my life (and this will likely continue with my obituary) the spelling of my name has been an issue. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/71 "2010-09-25T22:04:03Z")
My husband picked our daughter’s name, I don’t know where he got it from, but he just decided that would be our girl name. She is Maya Elizabeth Ruth Lastname- going by “Mymy” or “Bogey baby” at the moment. Just go for what feels right. A selection of names I think of as classic: Alfred Albert Algernon Barney Benedict Crispin Clifford Darwin Dorian Douglas Ernest Enoch Euell Eustace Francis Geoffrey George Harris Ignatius Jasper Jeremy Karol Lloyd Mitchell Norman Otis Percival Quentin Ralph Sebastian Sanders Titus Vernon Watt Wallace Xavier If you can find one namesake that means something to you (even a character in a book) it might be easier. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/72 "2010-09-27T17:14:16Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > > [@Serenata67](#): > > > > I love William. I’ve wanted to name my kid William for a while (after Shakespeare), but I really, really, _really_, hate the idea of Billy Ray. Hate it. And Raymond is non-negotiable. > > Why not call him Raymond William then? I think that sounds great, and you get both names you like. I love it! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/73 "2010-09-28T14:55:37Z")
[Marmalade Vestibule](http://f2.org/humour/language/oddnames.html) ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/74 "2010-10-23T17:19:18Z")
**Serenata67** , please let us know what you name your son. 🙂 I get really invested in these naming threads! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/75 "2010-10-23T17:36:59Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Gilgamesh It’s an epic name! Like Lester Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/76 "2010-10-23T17:40:01Z")
Sorry, forgot link; [Help me convince my wife to name our hypothetical son "Lester." - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579720)\*\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/77 "2010-10-23T17:43:27Z")
I’ve got no boys, but if I did, I would think they would be best served in later life with a macho sounding name like Butch, Randy, Rod or Lance. Phallic names are fine, but avoid Peter or Willie. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/78 "2010-10-27T20:55:53Z")
Kurt ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/79 "2010-10-27T22:32:25Z")
Gavin Raymond sounds freaking awesome. And Gavin can’t be nicknamed so you can use the full name all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310/80 "2010-10-27T22:46:12Z")
Gavin Raymond sounds freaking awesome. And Gavin can’t be nicknamed so you can use the full name all the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-names-such-a-big-decision/554310.md?page=5)