# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/101 "2006-04-17T18:17:11Z")
> [@THespos](#): > > The Simplicity Test - A good name can be whittled down to a single-syllable, simple nickname (Tom for Thomas, Jon for Jonathan, etc.) Single-syllabing is bastardizing. My name is four syllables long and I won’t have it any other way. Try to shorten it and I’ll pretend like I’m not hearing. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/102 "2006-04-17T18:48:59Z")
A guy here. Two kids. Our first pregnancy, we decided not to find out the sex beforehand. (I wanted a little mystery to the process, the wife was cool with it if we could do it her way with the next one.) We were still arguing over girls’ names as we checked into the maternity ward. But the boy’s name was the first one I suggested, she liked it, and we went with it when our son was born a day later: **Ewan**. It goes with his Scottish last name. It’s easy to spell. If Ewan McGregor ever became an above-the-line movie star, the name would be a heck of a lot more popular here in the States. And it’s too confusing for kids to mock it. They can’t mock it if they can’t pronounce it. “Ee-wan?” True story: we’re used to having to spell it to strangers. The wife was on the phone with a pharmacist, she says: "the prescription is for Ewan, ‘E-W-A-N’. . . " The prescription comes back for “Unewan (last name)”. The second kid, we found out ahead of time it was a girl. Now there was an earlier post asking if guys associated potential baby names with people they knew. I would like to answer in the affirmative . . . and that there was NO WAY IN HELL I would allow my daughter to share her name with anyone from my past for whom I’d ever had, shall we say, lustful or impure thoughts. (To say nothing of those lucky ladies who knew the pleasure of my intimate company, before I met the wife.) And I didn’t want to explain this to my wife, so she never understood why I shot down so many of her suggestions. “But it’s a family name! It is a perfectly good name for my cousin!” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/103 "2006-04-17T19:03:18Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#): > > And it’s too confusing for kids to mock it. They can’t mock it if they can’t pronounce it. Ewan isn’t hard to pronounce. And surely the child himself or his teacher will be the first to pronounce it for the others. But it’s easy for kids to mock: hold nose and say, “Ewwww-an”, like something stinks. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/104 "2006-04-17T19:15:47Z")
Can we just agree on the fact that children are vicious monsters who \*will \*invent mocking names for whatever name you can come up with? Some names might be easier targets, but the point withstands. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/105 "2006-04-17T19:17:02Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Ewan isn’t hard to pronounce. And surely the child himself or his teacher will be the first to pronounce it for the others. But it’s easy for kids to mock: hold nose and say, “Ewwww-an”, like something stinks. AWW, CRAP! HONEY, GET ME THE BOY’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND ALL THE LIQUID PAPER IN THE HOUSE! NOW!!! ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/106 "2006-04-17T21:15:06Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > I actually knew a Thor. Now that you mention it, one of my redneck relatives named his baby boy “Gunner”. I think there’s a thread around here somewhere about those people! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/107 "2006-04-17T22:39:58Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > I actually knew a Thor. I knew a toddler (who is now about seven) named Odin. Oh, count me in with the folks who wouldn’t name a kid the same name as someone they disliked (though I name some of my characters after stupid people). I’ve heard other women say the same thing as well, so it’s not really a gender thing as someone suggested. ---
**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 18, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/108 "2006-04-18T04:08:15Z")
> [@rinni](#): > > And I know a girl whose middle name is Mercedes. She is not a “typical” Mercedes at all. (Intelligent, nice, talented musician, etc.) I guess having it as a middle name negates the Mercedes effect. The theory in _Freakanomics_ was naming a child something like Mersaydees doesn’t presuppose her to be a stripper but that being the type of parents who would choose that name means that you’re more likely to be that kind of parents who would raise a child that would turn out to be one. Also that names, especially girls names, are brought in by the wealthy where they attain an association with class. And then as time passes the name kinda moves down the economic ladder. That’s why a lot of those low-income names I remember as being high-income names from when I was a kid. That’s why I’m glad that my name (Osiris) and the name I most want will never appear on the list. No way we’ll get surprised by a rise in popularity. ---
**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 18, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/109 "2006-04-18T04:55:31Z")
> [@Fern Forest](#): > > The theory in _Freakanomics_ was naming a child something like Mersaydees doesn’t presuppose her to be a stripper but that being the type of parents who would choose that name means that you’re more likely to be that kind of parents who would raise a child that would turn out to be one. > > Also that names, especially girls names, are brought in by the wealthy where they attain an association with class. And then as time passes the name kinda moves down the economic ladder. That’s why a lot of those low-income names I remember as being high-income names from when I was a kid. Is this at all related to the study I read about recently that focused on the names African-American parents give their children? The study revealed the black children with strange names like, um, Shaquille, are put at a disadvantage because it creates an perception of low intelligence. It seems to be related to this Freakonomics theory. This can sort of be seen in the number of black athletes with these kinds of names. Low-income parents tag their kid with a name that, to them, sounds classy (but sounds ridiculous to everybody else) and then encourage the kid to pursue athletics as a way to get into college and get rich. (I’ve always found it interesting that you don’t see a lot of black baseball players with these names. The trend seems to be confined to football and basketball players. Then it occured to me that baseball players tend to come from a higher-income background than football and basketball players. There you go.) ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/110 "2006-04-18T11:07:05Z")
My husband had a dream we had a baby girl called Emilia…which I think is a pretty name and would have been a nice story to tell the kid, but he says since he doesn’t know why his subconscious came up with that name, we can’t use it. He wants to call a boy after his dad and grandfather, but I have no idea what name he would chose for a girl. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/111 "2006-04-18T22:48:55Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] A name in my family that I would like to see preserved, though I’ll probably never have a daughter and if I did I don’t know that I would use it, is _Sahola_. QUOTE] Not trying to be a jerk, but I believe that I would never give this name to an English speaking child that has to go through life with any other English speaking people. It’s too easy to add just one letter and ruin a child’s school years, 3rd grade through late college. Also, avoid Dido. That being said, for a male, I like Germanicus. I used to like Constantine, but Keanu Reeves and American Idol have repulsed me beyond repair. Any gothic names would be great, but may end up sounding like some Harry Potter dork. For females, I like Kathryn, Frieda, Anna. hh ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/112 "2006-04-18T23:08:42Z")
[QUOTE=handsomeharry] > [@Sampiro](#): > > A name in my family that I would like to see preserved, though I’ll probably never have a daughter and if I did I don’t know that I would use it, is _Sahola_. QUOTE] > Not trying to be a jerk, but I believe that I would never give this name to an English speaking child that has to go through life with any other English speaking people. It’s too easy to add just one letter and ruin a child’s school years, 3rd grade through late college. > Also, avoid Dido. > > hh Also, may I recommend avoiding the previously mentioned Cloris and Aurelia? ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/113 "2006-04-19T17:03:54Z")
Already in use by my kids: Zeke, Zara, Zaylor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/114 "2006-04-19T18:38:13Z")
I guess you wanted to make sure your kids sat in the back of the classroom, **RancidYakButterTeaParty**? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/115 "2006-04-19T18:53:32Z")
[QUOTE=handsomeharry] > [@Sampiro](#): > > A name in my family that I would like to see preserved, though I’ll probably never have a daughter and if I did I don’t know that I would use it, is _Sahola_. QUOTE] > Not trying to be a jerk, but I believe that I would never give this name to an English speaking child that has to go through life with any other English speaking people. It’s too easy to add just one letter and ruin a child’s school years, 3rd grade through late college. > Also, avoid Dido. > > That being said, for a male, I like Germanicus. I used to like Constantine, but Keanu Reeves and American Idol have repulsed me beyond repair. Any gothic names would be great, but may end up sounding like some Harry Potter dork. > For females, I like Kathryn, Frieda, Anna. > hh So **Sampiro** should avoid Sahola, Dido, Cloris, and Aurelia, but Germanicus and Constantine are okay? Talk about ruining a kid’s school years. 😉 I recently saw a name you guys are going to love. Some people named their kid “Espn.” I’m assuming you would pronounce it “Es-pin,” but it’s spelled like the TV station. Nice. I really ought to send that one in to the bad baby names site. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/116 "2006-04-20T14:59:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I guess you wanted to make sure your kids sat in the back of the classroom, **RancidYakButterTeaParty**? 😉 As a teacher, I knew that me evil plan would work! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458/117 "2006-04-28T23:19:02Z")
[QUOTE=Stainz] 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. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Oh, yeah, I less than thrilled when my mom named a dog Jessica. Later, she gave a cat _my middle name._ Still has the cat. I call the cat, “Boy.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-what-do-you-like-in-baby-names/352458.md?page=5)