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Original poster

Is it a bad idea to use a slightly obscure saint's name?

55 replies

Obamaniqua · 17/05/2011 21:05

OK, it's not the most trendy of names, but I'd love to call DS2 Swithun. I like the historical and personal connections of the name, but I feel that marking him out for life might be a negative thing. Having said that, it's not hard to spell or pronounce, and it's the only boy's name DH likes at the moment. What do you think?

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DancehallDaze · 22/09/2012 13:41

Bugger, I didn't notice either. Perhaps the OP will come along and tell us what they chose.

GoldandOrangeAnnunziata · 21/09/2012 22:58

Sorry, this thread is really old!

GoldandOrangeAnnunziata · 21/09/2012 22:54

I don't think it's obscure at all (but then, I was actually christened Annunziata!). Plus it's fairly easy to spell. I love your DC's names. For some reason I think Gregory would go too?

jenbird · 21/09/2012 22:25

I love Ambrose but my dh has vetoed it. Not sure I could use a name with such a strong association.

bigbluebump · 21/09/2012 22:10

"Love it. But would it pass the playground/ beach test? We rejected Ignatius and Aloysius on those grounds."

Yes, it would pass the playground and beach test because imo children are much more open minded than we think!

Fuchzia · 21/09/2012 20:43

For DS2 may I offer Petroc for your consideration? I really wanted that for one of my boys. My all time favourite girls name is Arilda, she's a very obscure saint indeed, but local to where I grew up.

DancehallDaze · 21/09/2012 20:34

What about Birinus aka Berin? Birinus is probably a bit much, but Berin is quire cool.

ThreePly · 21/09/2012 20:25

This reply has been deleted

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Thirstysomething · 21/09/2012 20:02

Love Ignatius - Iggy!

ZZZenAgain · 22/05/2011 10:26

it's fine to use a less well-known saint's name. Not sure I like Swithun that much though personally

Trinaluce · 22/05/2011 10:24

Just sticking my pen'orth in: I know a Swithin. He HATES it. He calls himself by his middle name, and tells VERY few people his first name. He's dreading ever getting married and having to have his name announced to a room of people he knows.

I think it's ok, but because of my friend I'd never use it myself.

mathanxiety · 22/05/2011 01:40

Lovely names there. Any Urbans?

nooka · 19/05/2011 05:26

The nickname is not really for you as parents though, I'm sure you will develop all sorts of family names for your ds as do most of us, it's more that if your son does find his name hard to carry he hasn't any options for something easier, more 'normal'. But you could do that with a middle name too.

Original poster
Obamaniqua · 18/05/2011 18:49

Thirtysomething - Haha, Perpetua is quite...something. I do have a book of saints, yes, but my family have used most of them. We've got an Ignatius, Aloysius, Bartholomew, Ambrose, Dunstan, Cuthbert, Alban, Constantine...the list is endless.

mathanxiety - I see what you mean. As long as they're sort of similar I think it'll be OK.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 18/05/2011 18:41

Maybe sounds a little Anglo Saxon among the Latin syllables? But it fits in from the pov of 'feel' and general cultural background.

Thirstysomething · 18/05/2011 18:39

PS before the whole Peppa Pig thing I really wanted to have a daughter called Perpetua, shortened to Peppa (big Catholic family too...). If you like Swithun, I think go for it! Have you got that big book of Saints that seems to be on every Catholic families bookshelf... ? Should be a few in there!
Various uncles/cousins were called Dunstan, Ambrose, Augustus, Fabian, Sebastian, Laurence, Wilfrid, Barney, Damian... heck.

Thirstysomething · 18/05/2011 18:28

have v Catholic friend called Blaise...

Lonnie · 18/05/2011 18:15

Am I the only one whom sees this and sees years of taunts about " is he switched on then ha???"

Original poster
Obamaniqua · 18/05/2011 18:12

Hello all...well, it seems mostly we're agreed that the name itself is fine. I've decided I'm not bothered about the rain thing, or the "Swivvun" pronunciation. I was talking to DH about nicknames, and he's suggested we just have a pet name for him that's not actually derived from Swithun instead. It is also only two syllables, so maybe we don't need a nickname at all (?)

I hate to make children sound like accessories, but I wanted to ask whether you think Swithun goes with my other DC's names; DS1 is Clement Augustine (Clem), and we also have two DDs called Cordelia Rosamund (Della) and Perdita Lenore (Perdy/Dita).

Bue/mathanxiety - Thanks! As to your suggestions; unfortunately, my uncle's called Bede, and my brother's middle name is Anselm. We've pretty much used up most saint's names, hence why we've had to delve into the realms of Swithun Grin. I am not joking when I say I have the most Catholic family in England (ironically, I'm Agnostic, I just like to pinch their lovely names).

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 18/05/2011 17:42

I love your DS1's name, and your suggestion for DS2 is fab imo.

Would you consider Anselm or Bede?

I know a Stamatia, but she has Greek Orthodox roots.

Ihavewelliesbuttheyrenotgreen · 18/05/2011 12:33

When I read the OP I thought that its a bit unusual and would be better to use as a middle name. But given the good reception its recieved on here maybe it wouldn't be recieved so badly in the real world

Bue · 18/05/2011 12:19

I like it. I know a little Bede.

ThursdayNext · 18/05/2011 12:12

There is a Billy Bragg song called St Swithin's Day (spelt that way)
I like the song, whenever I heard the name I would end up singing it for hours. Am singing it now...

nooka · 18/05/2011 05:06

Norks, one of my sisters' middle names is Scholastica. When my parents registered her for school apparently the nuns said they didn't think they'd write it in the register! She doesn't use it now...

I'm not sure about Swithun/Swithin. It's a bit different sounding and doesn't have any obviously more 'normal' nns. My ds has an Anglo-Saxon name and in general I think they are rather cool, but St Swithin is quite obscure really (except for the miracles/rain).

lljkk · 18/05/2011 04:59

I like it, but I would definnitely end up mispronouncing it Swivun (slight apd). And if there's a difference between how you say Swithun & Swithin I'd probably get that wrong, too.

My kids have very boring names with bog-standard spellings :).