Emmanuel??

[sw11mumofone]

I have posted on here before but am still trying to find an alternative to Samuel or Oscar as am concerned about their popularity.
So what does everyone think about Emmanuel? I've toyed with Fabian and Xavier but have gone off them. I love Laurence but DH doesn't.
So should I just stick with Samuel or Oscar and resign myself to potential DS being one of five in his class??
I've been going round in circles for months but keep thinking about comments like "don't forget why you name a child - to identify them - so why would you give them a name that hundreds of others kids will have"
HELP!!!

[aftermay]

Emmanuel sounds quite feminine to me, as does Fabian.

[nooka]

I think that Emmanuel might be quite hard to carry off. Makes me think of the advent carol (Oh come oh come Emmanuel).

I like Laurence, know a few Fabians contemporary with my ds (13) and think Xavier verges on the poncy if you are not European Catholic.

But then I agree that Samuel/Oscar are a little bit overused. I think you need to keep on looking.

[sw11mumofone]

Ok thanks. I wanted honest opinions. But I honestly don't know what else to consider. Feel like I've trawled through every list out there. I've only got a couple of weeks left and this has been going on for months!!!!

[Littlecherublegs]

Not keen on Emmanuel,sorry.
Dont like Fabian either.
Xavier & Samuel are ok.
Oscar is my favourite from those you mention and I personally wouldnt worry about its popularity.

Other suggestions:
Xander
Issac
Sebastian
Benjamin
Jasper
Casper
Fraser
Spencer
Gabriel
Isaiah
Elijah
Caleb
Nathaniel
Joel
Micah
Nicholas
Cameron
Jacob
Zachary

[PPT]

How about Elliot, Caleb, or Callum as alternatives- Emmanuel isn't a winner in my opinion.

[CheeseStrawWars]

Emmanuel sounds very similar to Emmanuelle. And the soft-porn film series of the same name would put me off that.

[CheeseStrawWars]

Ishmael?

[nevermindthecrocodiles]

I know an Emmanuel - he is friends with the DC I look after. It tends to be shortened to Manu. I.e he is always called Manu! I think it's nice but a bit feminine?

[nooka]

Name choosing can be very hard. We spent months trying to find a second boys name, finally came up with one we liked (Ezra) a few weeks before dd arrived.

[nooka]

Manu is cute, but doesn't sound very adult. I wonder what he'll use when he's grown up.

[deleted203]

I'm not desperately keen. Emmanuel is a predominantly Jewish name (which is fine, if you are Jewish, obviously). I don't suppose you would think of calling your son Mohammed if you were white Anglo Saxon and this strikes me as the same kind of thing, TBH. Obviously a lot of the names we use (such as Ruth) were probably Jewish originally, but some names have remained more or less entirely with their original religion. Emmanuel strikes me as one of them.

[sw11mumofone]

Thanks for the suggestions. Have a Benjamin and Isaac in the family already. Really like Gabriel but was worried about it being a bit feminine as well actually. And my DH is concerned about the "gay boy" jibes. Is that a bit ridiculous?

[nooka]

I've a cousin Gabriel, mostly known as Gabe. Never had any teasing (he is super cool though which I am sure helps). dd also has a cool Gabe in her class.

[Cornwall73]

I think Emmanuel is a beautiful name but I must agree with the others that it could be difficult to carry off. I went to school with a Joseph Emmanuel and have always loved that name combination but I know DH would veto it! It also happens to be one of my favourite carols

[sw11mumofone]

Ok so looks like Emmanuel is off the list then. I'm not in any way religious so didn't realise the Jewish connection. Not that that would really bother me tbh.
Still slightly concerned that Gabriel is a bit "girly" as well but do really like it.
Still keep coming back to Samuel though. Wish it wasn't so popular!
Was just getting my head around going for it as a classic popular name and then one of the mums at DDs nursery had a DS a few weeks ago and named him Samuel so just reinforced even more that there are loads around!!!!

[thegreylady]

The only Emmanuel I have known was the son of a very very religious family. He was known as Manny.
Of the names you mention I love Gabriel and Oscar.I know one little Gabriel [aged3] and no Oscars.Gabriel nn Gabe is not at all 'girly'.

[MadameCastafiore]

I love Gabriel. DH and I are arguing as to whether a DS would be Gabriel or Reuben.

He likes Rue and I like Gabe.

[Tryharder]

I love Emmanuel so think you should definitely go for it!

[drjohnsonscat]

It was on my list. I wanted a Manny. I was thinking Immanuel to differentiate a bit more from Emmanuelle

[CheeseStrawWars]

What about Dominic?

[Umlauf]

I was at uni with a very sexy, half Italian Emmanuel, he was 'Ema' as a nn. It wasn't girl on him because he was, well... Phwoar! I really like it but IMO its on the same level of girliness as Gabriel. Manny is nice but reminds me of Black Books!

[sw11mumofone]

I like Domnic but really dislike Dom which i think there would be no getting away from.
Sounds like Emmanuel could be difficult to live up to. V cool, sexy and half Italian!! With a wing and a prayer he may be lucky enough to pull off the first two but think ive missed the boat on making him half Italian!!!

[highlystrung]

My son's middle name is Emmanuel. I love it (obviously)!

[alemci]

It is quite a nice name but I am playing the carol Emmanuel in my head.

rejoice rejoice Emmanuel
to come to thee oh israel

[Howgreenismyvalley]

What about Rafael? I knew a Raffi at college and taught a very cool Rafael once many years ago