# Guys, what do you like in baby names? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458 "2006-04-13T00:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/61 "2006-04-13T21:07:28Z")
It’s interesting to see how diametrically opposed some of our notions are, which is a good thing really because otherwise everyone would have the same name. My first rule for naming boys is nothing too masculine. Names like Butch, Slade, Stone, Rocky, Ace, Hunter and Max create an expectation of hard guy-ness and would likely look ridiculous on kids with my genes. Poindexter and Smedly would be bad going in the other direction. No “Jr.” either. I dislike trendy or religious names (especially Joshua) and would not want to use alternative spellings. Our dilemma in naming kids was compunded by our diverse backgrounds. We went with American first names and Iranian middle names and use both names as if they were first names. In Farsi “an” means “shit” so Andrew, Andrea and so forth are out. Also, the "“th” sound cannot be pronounced by most Iranians so any name with that is out. Bill means “shovel” in Farsi. Likewise, Iranian names with “kh” or “gh” sounds were eliminated because there are no such sounds in English. My wife wanted Persian names and not Arabic names (though those are popular in Iran). And we wanted nothing Islamic like Mohammed or Reza. Nothing Jewish sounding either. Dave might raise no eyebrows here, but being named David (or Davoud) could label a person in a bad way there. So we had two boys. Ryan Cyrus (pronounced SEE-roos) and Calvin Aria. For Girls, I love Veronica and I think I like Charlotte second best. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/62 "2006-04-13T22:09:59Z")
> [@Moe Szyslak](#): > > When my wife was pregnant with our son in 1984 there was a defensive coordinator with the Houston Oilers named Chuck Studley. I wanted to name our son that because it was such a cool manly name. I probably don’t have to tell you what my wife thought of the idea. > > She ended up having a c-section and was still under the effects of the anethesia when the nurse came in to ask for the name for the birth certificate. I was tempted to use the opportunity to do it my way, but I new I would have to live with the scorn for many years and told the nurse Andrew Allen. > > But it didn’t stop me from telling my wife that Chuck Studley was the name I gave for the birth certificate. She knew I was bluffing though. **A little something for the gennlemen in the audience.** Before we found out the sex of #2, I somehow allowed my husband into the full name picking thing. ( The first time around was much easier. I knew the first name and knew my husband would agree to it if I presented it in a specific way.) Anywhooo, next to the computer there was a list of names. Excitedly I thought to myself, _Oooooooh, he is looking up names for the baaaaaaby!_. When I peered at the list, the name on it was **Napoleon Kaufman** Fantasy football picks always take precedence over the future name of your progeny. men. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/63 "2006-04-13T22:34:05Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > ( The first time around was much easier. I knew the first name and knew my husband would agree to it if I presented it in a specific way.) Scene opens. Camera opens, tight focus, on the face of **Mr. Ujest** **Mr. Ujest** is looking at something behind the camera, sweating slightly, and licking his lips nervously. There is the crack of a whip in _front_ of **Mr. Ujest** ’s nose, as the camera pulls back. Revealing **Mr. Ujest** ’s bound body on a St. Andrew’s cross. The whip is drawn back off camera. **Shirley Ujest** (from behind the camera): Now, what’s the name? **Mr. Ujest** : … **Shirley Ujest** : Say it! SAY IT! Fade to black ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/64 "2006-04-13T23:15:29Z")
Back in 2000, when it came to naming our child (sex was unknown, and we didn’t want to know), we each made a list of 10 names for each sex. Only rule: no former boyfriend/girlfriend names. Our girl lists matched 8 of 10. Our boy lists matched 0 of 10. Of course we had a boy. Poor kid went nameless for 3 days as we negotiated, and negotiated. His 14 year old sister also chimed in, shooting down various names (she was a big proponent of the schoolyard test). He wound up with “Dustin Jacob”, and it suits his personality just fine. Some of my boy name choices that got shot down: Alexander (disliked by wife) Alistair (failed schoolyard test) Morgan (didn’t know it had been co-opted as a girls name) Stephen (“ph” and not “v” because it was the name of my great-grandfather, but was deemed too common) Jacob (also too common, but wound up as middle name, sinceit wasmy grandfather’s name) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/65 "2006-04-13T23:26:31Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > When I peered at the list, the name on it was **Napoleon Kaufman** Damn, I hated that guy. He freakin tore up Denver every time they played him. TORE. UP. bastard Mixed emotions: having your irl rival team’s star on your fantasy team. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/66 "2006-04-14T01:11:49Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > 4 - A good name should not expose a child to ridicule from his or her peers as a kid. I am so very, very happy! Two pages into this thread, and nobody has said it yet, and I actually get to be the first! UPS Driver: I have a package for a Mister Asswipe! Mr. Asswipe: That’s ah-SWIP-ee! ah-SWIP-ee!!! Now I sit back and pray somebody recognizes that 😃 Anyhow, I’ve given quite a bit of thought to what I’ll name my children, in the increasingly unlikely event that I have any. At one point, I decided that I was going to name my first son Charles Walter after my paternal grandfather. I informed my father of my decision, and dear ol’ dad replied, “Well make sure you’re married to his mother, ‘cause I ain’t havin’ no bastard named after my father!” :rolleyes: Later, I was dating a girl who loved science fiction as much as I do, and I read L. Ron Hubbard’s _Mission: Earth_ series on her recommendation. We decided that our first son would be called Jettero, after the main character in that series. I agree with whoever said they didn’t want to give their kid a Biblical name, even though I’m a Christian. The common, traditional ones are okay, but when somebody tags their three sons with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it just reeks of “Won’t Jesus and the pastor be impressed?” For a daughter, I would campaign for a Japanese name (with proper research for meaning, of course). I think Japanese girls’ names are beautiful. Aiko (beloved daughter), Akane (brilliant red, because it’s my favorite color, and would be perfect if my Scottish genes gave her red hair), Emi (blessed with beauty), Hitomi (doubly beautiful), Kumiko (eternal beautiful child), Michiko (beautiful wise child). I like Natsumi (beautiful summer), but I think I would avoid a name with a nonexistent-in-English consonant-consonant-vowel syllable because my fellow Americans are going to mispronounce the name every time (Nat-sumi instead of Na-tsu-mi). My business law teacher in college was extremely impressed when I pronounced his Greek surname, Tsipras, correctly on the first try, so I have a knack for that sort of thing, but I don’t expect that most Americans would get it right. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/67 "2006-04-14T01:31:32Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > I like Natsumi (beautiful summer), but I think I would avoid a name with a nonexistent-in-English consonant-consonant-vowel syllable because my fellow Americans are going to mispronounce the name every time (Nat-sumi instead of Na-tsu-mi). I would not be too discouraged if you like the name enough. People love to mispronounce my name and I think it is very simple. Akil (Uh-keel). Not that hard in my opinion. When I was younger, I was always delighted when people would get it on the first try (usually Indian or middle-eastern) because most adults butchered it regularly. The middle name is the crucial backup. Normal first name, crazy middle name. Normal middle name, crazy first name. Time will sort it out. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/68 "2006-04-14T01:34:36Z")
Boys: I like Edward, Leonard, Caleb, Isaac, Jack, and Ishmael (though I don’t know why) Girls: Laura, Elizabeth, Isabel, Katharine. Indigo, if you want to get fancy. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/69 "2006-04-14T02:37:18Z")
I’m not a guy, but I want to contribute a slightly O/T vent … My husband’s family gives all of their pets PEOPLE names - Suzie, Charlie, Max, Lucie … it made me quite mental because I like all of those names, but for humans! When I was pregnant I was CONVINCED we were having a boy, and I really liked the name Charles … but didn’t want him to have the same name as Auntie G’s golden retriever. Then when I actually gave birth to a girl, I wanted to use Charlotte … but then her nickname would be Charlie … Luckily no-one in the family has named their pet Sophia … yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/70 "2006-04-14T03:21:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > My #1 favorite is a secret (per advice I’ve read on the Dope) Me too, I remember what happened to Susan when she let slip with Seven. I do hope I get to use it though. Keeping secrets can be tough. Of course being at square 1 means it will probably have to keep for another few years. I believe names should have between 3 and 6 syllables. It gives a name gravity. Too short and the name just seems so flippant. Too long and … well things just sound so ridiculous. I have an aunt with a name 17 syllables long. At least it’s a middle name. It should have an obvious shortening for a nickname. Names should blend together. Like in a recent thread a doper was asking about changing her last name. First name Annette. Good next names would start with N or T. T to N sounds nice. Whereas if the next name started with M it wouldn’t sound so good because the M sound doesn’t follow nicely from T. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/71 "2006-04-14T04:24:58Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > Would any of you say that you tend to like names have a positive association with someone you’ve met more than just liking the way it sounds? For girls, I’ve liked **Amy** for a long time, and it wasn’t originally based on anyone I knew, although I later became fond of a few holders of the name (one a person I actually knew, the others celebrities). If I were using your husband’s logic, I’d suggest naming a girl **Erica** or **Erika** , as I know an Erika who’s athletic, smart, pretty, and nice – four qualities I admire – and other Ericas/Erikas who each possess at least one of those traits. For boys, I like the sound of **Paul** even though two men on the fringes of my life don’t exactly do honor to the name. I also like _Matthew_, but for no real reason other than the sound. I don’t have any children, but if I did, I would veto the name **Jeffrey** for a boy – almost every Jeff I’ve ever known has been stupid, mean, or both – and **Helen** for a girl because I had a Great-Aunt Helen whom I couldn’t stand. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/72 "2006-04-14T13:34:41Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > More oddball: Boadicea, Thalia,… Heh. She’d probably make it until at least junior high before she became known forever as: Bodacious Tatas \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ . ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/73 "2006-04-14T15:18:40Z")
I think the playground issue aint what it used to be. Judging by my boy’s classmates’ names I’m tempted to say that almost anything goes. At least where I live. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/74 "2006-04-14T15:36:14Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > I think the playground issue aint what it used to be. Judging by my boy’s classmates’ names I’m tempted to say that almost anything goes. At least where I live. Lot’s of Arts, Jays, and Haggitys? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/75 "2006-04-14T15:45:22Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > For a boy, I prefer names that you can’t put a “y” on the end of. For exaple: > > Adam, Eric, Dale, Alan, Ryan. > > I guess I dislike the diminuitive sound of Davy, Markie, Stevie, Billy, etc. My mom loved to tell the tale of our neighbor who shared your feelings. When her sons were born, she named them Kieth and Kevin so that there would be no chance of being assaulted by the /y/ final phoneme. Within four years, she was driven up the wall as every little kid in the neighborhood would come to her back door and ask “Is Kiethie home?” “Can Kevvie come out?” Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/76 "2006-04-14T18:30:09Z")
**Carbon Unit Infestation** has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/77 "2006-04-14T19:48:01Z")
My naming pet peeve is common names with wacky spellings. Since I have a very common last name( Hint: 5 letter color surname, begins with B) , I prefer unusual names. My favorites are all old names that have fallen into serious disuse. I like Gertrude, Beatrix, Esther, Ruth and Winifred(actually the name of a great aunt of mine) for girls. I like Wolfgang, Jasper, Ptolemy, and Lazarus for boys. Only Pt name I’ve seen in baby name books is Ptah, which has to be less common historically than Ptolemy. I am sure that any potential baby mama of mine would probably nix all my names, but since I don’t have even a girlfriend currently, it’s probably moot. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/78 "2006-04-14T19:54:47Z")
Social Security Administration: [Popular Baby Names](http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/). 2004: **Girls** 1. Emily 2. Emma 3. Madison 4. Olivia 5. Hannah 6. Abigail 7. Isabella 8. Ashley 9. Samantha 10. Elizabeth **Boys** 1. Jacob 2. Michael 3. Joshua 4. Matthew 5. Ethan 6. Andrew 7. David 8. William 9. Joseph 10. Christopher ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/79 "2006-04-14T20:31:36Z")
Grrrr! Three of my favorite girls’ names are on the top 50 list (Anna, Ava, and Olivia). Darn it! Why couldn’t other people stick with Brittany and Jessica? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/80 "2006-04-14T21:07:44Z")
> [@burundi](#): > > Why couldn’t other people stick with Brittany and Jessica? Because those are now skank labels. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458.md?page=5)