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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Joe/Spike - your votes are needed please!

157 replies

luth · 29/03/2012 20:43

20 months ago I called on the good people of mumsnet to choose my dd's name. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1005168-Primrose-Rosie-your-votes-are-needed/AllOnOnePage

We were having a dilemma between the popular Rosie and the more unusual Primrose and asked you to cast your votes. Although reaction was mixed, Primrose won and we couldn't be more delighted with it now - people who don't like it are mercifully silent and those who do gush with excitement when they hear it. I'm rather addicted to the "oh what a beautiful name" comments I still get regularly and my daughter is well known around our small town ie "oh that's Primrose" because it stands out and she is therefore easily remembered.

So I'm now due in 3 weeks with no 2 - this time with a boy! My partner and I find choosing names a nightmare (but don't want to discuss names with our friends or family as we're keeping the sex secret from everyone). We're down to 2 names: Joe (not Joseph) and Spike and it's kind of the same dilemma as before. Do we stick to the safe Joe and have Spike as a middle name or go for the more 'out there' Spike for a first name given that we have had such a positive reaction to our unusual girls name.

DH thinks that boys can't carry off unusual names like girls and that he'll get bullied and pre-judged if he's called Spike. However I've just read another thread which says that Joe is really popular and although this shouldn't bother me, I would mind if he was say one of three Joe's in his class.

So we've decided to go with you lot again! Please cast your vote for either:
Option 1 - Joe Spike Palmer
Option 2 - Spike Joe Palmer

Thank you in advance for helping us out and taking the time to respond!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
gabid · 29/03/2012 21:57

With Spike won't people always ask, yes, and what is your real name? Sounds more like a nickname to me.

carrotsandcelery · 29/03/2012 21:55

Fwiw, boys can carry unusual names. Our ds has an unusual name and he wears it well. It is a name though and has no unfortunate connotations. Spike sounds a little aggressive and unfriendly. I agree it is the sort of name you give someone you already know who exhibits those attributes, not a name you give a small child who could turn out to be very, very different to the implication given by his name.

Maryz · 29/03/2012 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fhdl34 · 29/03/2012 21:52

Joe was my boy name (and will be if I get pregnant again) so will vote for that but don't think it goes with Spike at all, in either order I just don't think it flows IMHO

severnofnine · 29/03/2012 21:49

Joe.
Don't like Spike sorry. sounds a bit daft.

ipanicked · 29/03/2012 21:44

Spike is cute. We uses Spike as a nn for DS for a while (his name is Isaac, it was a nn for Ike) but he stopped being spikey so we used something else. Not sure I'd use it as a BC name (can't get over buffy either) but that's just me. Go for it if you love it though. You can always revert to Joe in the future.

poppydaisy · 29/03/2012 21:36

I like Spike. Joe is indeed a little 'boring' in comparison.

IAmYourSingingTelegram · 29/03/2012 21:34

Joe.Definitely Joe. Spike is bloody awful.

CaveMum · 29/03/2012 21:32

Correction laambkins: Spike is the sexy vampire in Buffy Grin

Another vote for Option 1 here. Spike is not a good first name, even Buffy-Spike had a "real" name Wink

peskimo · 29/03/2012 21:32

i love joe but agree its not got that unusual feel. However, you'll have 2 kids called Joe and Primrose and that sounds absolutely adorable.

I disagree that boys can't carry off unusual names though. my 3 all have unusual names. The only problem is that invariably someone else is going to think unusual names are good too, pretty soon, they aren't unusual anymore!

rachel1970 · 29/03/2012 21:29

Spike is much cooler! Spike and Primrose are lovely together.

Joe is so dull (think Joe Bloggs).

MummysLittleSunbeams · 29/03/2012 21:26

I think joe is soooo boring! Spike is better (if totally off the wall!) but as one of the previous posters said, it doesn't really go with primrose.

Roscoe
Gill
Seth
Ash
Penn
Vern
Nate

???

EightiesChick · 29/03/2012 21:25

I vote Joe. I think there are better 'unusual' names out there than Spike so would also look for a different middle name. I'd go for something a bit bohemian to complement Primrose. Spike seems a bit 80s (in a bad way, and from me that's saying something Wink)

Laambkins · 29/03/2012 21:21

Spike is the creepy vamp from Buffy. Sorry Grin

SoozyWoozy · 29/03/2012 21:21

My vote goes to Joe, but not to Spike even as a mn, sorry! Spike is also the dog in Tom & Jerry to me too.

I agree that Joe is a bit plain with the beautiful Primrose... do you have any others on your shortlist?

MinnieBar · 29/03/2012 21:20

Option 3: something else?!

I'm torn [unhelpful] - Joe is a bit average, but does 'go' better with Primrose than Spike, but then I like slightly unusual names although I can't help but think of Buffy immediately

GirlWithALlamaTattoo · 29/03/2012 21:16

Spike's fine as a nickname, but not as a proper name. Not only will he get picked on, but he'll be in instant conflict with any authority figures from teachers to the police who will think he's taking the piss.

JasperJohns · 29/03/2012 21:03

Spike would be cruel and a bit silly.

Chubfuddler · 29/03/2012 20:59

Spike is a vampire. No no no.

DoubleGlazing · 29/03/2012 20:58

Joe is a great name but I'd only use it as short for Joseph. So for this reason I vote Spike.

LaDiDaDi · 29/03/2012 20:57

Option one but only because I think the names sound better in that order so if you want to use them both then that would be my preference.

I like Spike James Palmer best Smile.

littlemissjudgmentaliknow · 29/03/2012 20:55

i love Spike, very cool! and he can always revert to Joe when older if he prefers/gets too much stick! However, will depend what he looks like i think...i can't imagine a cute little blonde curly top called Spike, he needs to be 'spiky' iyswim!!

GreenDragonfly · 29/03/2012 20:54

Option 2. I love the more unusual names.

pinkhebe · 29/03/2012 20:53

I like Spike ( I know a 12 yr old Spike and he's fab)

StarterForTen · 29/03/2012 20:53

ted

Sidney

Freddie

All work for me

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