Theoden/Theodin for baby number 4!

[twogirls1more]

Hi! I'm pregnant with baby number 4 (a boy after 3 girls!) and have found the whole names thing a bit of a ntmare this time!
I want something quite different this time though have obvious concerns about saddling our Son with something a bit too out there! My oldest two girls are Sophie & Emily and whilst I still love the names as they're classic and v feminine, they're sooo popular.
Hubby and I love LOTR and old norse mythology so would love to choose a name inspired by these. I would love to be a bit daring and choose Theoden, what do you think? We would spell and pronounce it Theodin..(that way we figure he has 3 names in one!..Theodin, Theo or Odin!) We would shorten it to Theo alot of the time whilst he was young and choose something more "regular" for a middle name like George so he could go by his middle name as an adult if he really hated it!
Anyway, would be keen for any feedback you may have but pls be kind!! Thanks!

[poppydaisy]

Theodin is lovely but it would be a shame to shorten to Theo - that has become very widely used (overused?) recently due to footballer Theo Walcott I think. I love Odin though!

[GooseyLoosey]

A bit too LOTR for me (and I really love the book too). Theo is lovely though.

[rachel234]

Theodin is a nice alternative to Theodore - I like it. But I'm not keen on Theo either - it has become a little 'common' round here.

[twogirls1more]

Oooh, be interested to know where u girls are based? I'm in Sussex and haven't heard of any Theos recently. (Think it's hovered around the number 50 mark in popularity in the UK the last couple of years, which would make it fairly popular I guess, but not like you're Jack's or Alfie's!) As I have a Sophie & an Emily which have been in top five for donkey's years, think I could handle a number 50! Think Theo's more "grounded" and might allow our little boy to "blend" a bit more but I would be tempted to use the name in full when I could. Although it would remind alot of LOTR, the name is I believe, originally taken from an anglo saxon word meaning "king" or "leader of the people." (So not totally fictional!)

[rachel234]

I'm in Surrey.

[Trills]

If DCs number 1,2,3 are called Alice, Jane, and Emma then DC4 might be a bit put out to be the one saddled with a "weird" name.

[rachel234]

What's weird about Theodin ? Is it because it isn't used that widely?

[pozzled]

I really like it! But I would agree with using Theo and choosing a more common middle name.

(But I'm someone who would have loved 'Samwise' shortened to Sam for a boy. DH would never have allowed though, and we had girls anyway!)

[twogirls1more]

I agree Rachel! Don't think Theodin's "weird" though admittedly very different and rare in this country. Isn't it difficult! My oldest girls are 13 and 11 and my eldest craves standing out and being a bit different, therefore as she's getting older is becoming less pleased that we named her Sophie! (Though I'm sure alot of it's an age thing!) With my next Daughter Emily I regretted the name choice within mths cos as soon as she started nursery she was one of about 5 in her group! (AND one of two Emily A's!!) We seem to be getting a bit braver in recent years as the next Daughter we named Siena. (Though not in same unusual category as Theodin, wasn't hugely popular at the time!)

[ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs]

Bloody awful.

[spiderlight]

I really like it, and I only know one little Theo (am in S. Wales).

[Meteorite]

Theoden and Theodore are both nice. Not sure about the "din" ending on Theodin though (making a din etc!)

[Trills]

I'm imagining how a teenager might use having a more-unusual name against you.

"Why did you have to stick me with a weird name when everyone else got normal names?"

Later in that conversation he'll say "I didn't ask to be born" :o

[FairyArmadillo]

LOTR is the first thing that comes to mind. But I like the name Theodin and don't mind the connection. Arwen was on my list!

[dearheart]

If you are going to have an unusual name, you should spell it correctly imo.

[twogirls1more]

Well someone that comes back with two words "bloody awful" I wouldn't be looking for approval from or looking to impress anyway if I'm honest! :-)
We'll have to agree to disagree I think Trills as still don't think it's "weird." One of the reasons I like it is because it would inevitably get shortened to Theo (which is more grounded,) or he could choose to be known as Odin as an adult if he preferred, so there are options! (Plus would pick a traditional middle name.) Don't think you can necessarily win as a parent cos, as I said before, my Sophie wishes we'd chosen something more unusual for her and is a little gutted that we're considering something unusual for this baby! Is difficult too as when you name a child you have no idea what influences, (such as celebrities,) may crop up in the following years, affecting popularity...(All a bit of a gamble really!) Thanks for the input peeps!

[twogirls1more]

Not sure what is meant by "spelling it correctly?" If you're referring to Tolkien spelling, is that not fictional anyway? We are fans of LOTR but not obsessed! :-)

[ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs]

I don't disapprove, I just think it is bloody awful.

[ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs]

I forgot to add, however it is spelled.

[thistlemuncher]

Actually, I quite like it. But to me, the Theodin spelling looks more natural. Don't know why.

[twogirls1more]

Thanks thistlemuncher, I think that too. Would pronounce it "Thee o din" too. :)

[Meteorite]

You'd have two "wisdom" names as Sophie and Odin are both connected to wisdom.

[twogirls1more]

Thanks for pointing that out Meteorite, good point and hadn't realised that!