Xander

[babynoname]

DS due next month. This is the only name DP and I can agree on. I'm not 100% on the fact that it begins with an 'X', would prefer a 'Z', but that's a fish so no go (would be fine if it was a bird, but a fish for a name? No).

Xander would be the full name on birth certificate as Alexander is a close relative and we don't want to name the baby "after" him, plus would actually want him to be called Xander rather than Alex, Lex, etc.

Opinions?

[woolymindy]

great choice

[cupcakesinthesnow]

Love it

[MrsAgonyBeetle]

It's a good name. Have you thought of Sander, if you don't like the X? I know a couple of Sanders - and yes, one of them has a father who is a carpenter, but it doesn't seem to matter!

[babynoname]

Did think of Sander but the 'X' actually goes better with chosen middle name and surname. DP doesn't like it anyway. He thinks having a name beginning with 'X' is "cool". (I must admit I do agree a bit!) Thanks for suggestion though. :)

[AnnOnimous]

Very classy variation on Alexander, I like it

[ShoppingDays]

Very nice :)

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Really like it - it is popular in DS's year ( he is 11, there are 4 ) and spelt Xander. Don't know of any younger ones though. I like it, it suits them!

[onimolap]

You may find that people misspell it with X/Z confusion(he'll be a fish then anyhow!).

Also, you may get mispronunciations: do you intend Xarnder (long "a" like the end of Alexander) or Xander (with a short "a"). The only child I know who has Xander as a full name, not nn has the short "a" (which I think is also the commoner way to say it in the US), and it took a bit of getting used to as I would normally say long "a".

Not that potential mispronunciation should put you off, as it's a lovely name.

[onimolap]

PS: the Xander I know is 3. I think there was a Buffy The Vampire Slayer outbreak of Xanders for boys about 10-12 yrs old.

[babynoname]

Wow, very positive so far, thanks! Just worried about it being perceived as pretentious because it is an 'X' name etc.

Onimolap, yes I suspect there will be misspellings but there's a degree of that with many names so trying not to let it put me off (he'd end up nameless if it did, it's taken a lot for us to agree on one we both like! ). And personally I would pronounce it Xander (short 'a') as opposed to 'Xarnder' with the long 'a' but I think because we're in the south it will often be pronounced 'Xarnder', which doesn't bother me too much as it is just down to dialect. My name is dialect-affected and it isn't something that has annoyed me too much. :) The Buffy thing rang through my mind too, I hated Buffy with a passion! His peers wouldn't make the association though, so that's ok.

[lilly13]

I prefer Xenia if you like an X

[Chynah]

You could always use a foreign variant of Alexander as name on BC and then use Xander as a nn?

[mugggletoeandwine]

I like it, but not as a birth cert name.

My nephew gets called it, but he's Alexander.
I'd go for that on the birth cert and give him the choice.
I do think Zander/Xander as a full name will date badly.

[darleneconnor]

Some people not me will think you are a Buffy nut.

[babynoname]

What kind of thing were you thinking, Chynah?

Muggle, Alexander is my brother's name (he is known as Alex) and we do not want to name him after my brother. It would be weird. Plus my brother isn't a great role model. Valid point about it possibly not dating well, although my (biased) feeling is that it sounds classic and the fact that it is not too far removed from Alexander sets it in good stead...

Darlene, point noted!

[jellybeans]

I am not keen, sorry. It seems abit trendy or try hard and reminds me of javier (have-ee-air). Some people will say ex-ay-vee-ar. Too confusing and abit too out there for me. Much prefer Alex/Alexander although can see why you don't want that. Do you like Z names such as Zachary or Zechariah?

[diddl]

I love it.

[Ephiny]

Who pronounces Alexander with a long 'a'? I've never heard that even in the South, unless it's the French name Alexandre which would be pronounced something like that.

I like Xander as a nickname, but personally wouldn't use a nn on the birth certificate - would either go with Alexander or choose a different name entirely if you don't want to do that.

What about Leander? Apart from the tragic Grrek myth connection...

[babynoname]

Jellybeans, yes this is what I'm worried about, it doesn't sound (to me) try-hard but the spelling puts it in that sort of league if you know what I mean. I do like Zachary etc but this is the only one we can agree on!

Ephiny, well my parents do (Alexander is my brother's name), but his full name is used so rarely I can't vouch for anyone else. I actually love Leander but think it sounds a little girly? Same with Lysander. Really do like the names but both just sound feminine to me whereas Xander sounds more masculine with the harder sound at the beginning. Maybe it's just me? I know it shouldn't be important but DP has a slightly feminine name and he didn't have much fun because of it at school so he wants to go for something unmistakeably male, which I do understand.

Thanks for all the input so far ladies, it's really good to get some views since we're not telling anyone the name until he's born (and will probably look like a Nigel and get called that anyway ).

[sparkle12mar08]

You wouldn't be naming him after your brother though, you'd be using it because it is a classy, classical name. Ds1 is Alexander, universally known as Xander too :) Though written down we always use the full version.

[AllieW]

Sorry, not keen.

[Chynah]

Babynoname,

Alessandro is the Italian
Alejandro the Spanish

My DD is Alessandra (Italian) I wanted an Alexandra but 'couldn't' for similar reasons to yours - this was a good compromise and her nn is one you would expect for an Alexandra.

[diddl]

Love Lysander.

[happycamel]

how about Xavier?

[LetThereBeRock]

Xander is lovely.