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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rueben or Meyer? Or something else!

33 replies

LotusPalm · 04/04/2012 10:35

that's it really. DS2 due in the next couple of days, but not likely to name him until he's been around for a bit.

DS1 is Hector.
Double barrelled surname, starts with L and 5 syllables in total.

Meyer is pronounced may-er and is an old school Jewish name. DF is Jewish, but we are non-practising.

Which do you like? Do you like either of them? Other possible name suggestions?

Thanking you kindly in advance Grin

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ValeriaS · 04/04/2012 10:42

Rueben for me! Meyer sounds too much like a surname. I'm not very keen on this American trend of using surnames as first names. What's up with all these Taylors and Jacksons?

DoubleGlazing · 04/04/2012 10:44

I like both, but prefer Meyer. It's more unusual, and Reuben reminds me of "rueful".

Original poster
LotusPalm · 04/04/2012 10:53

Thanks both.

Valerias - it's a german surname, but very much a first name as well. I agree with the whole surname thing though. Interestingly, my great grandfather came over here, customs thought his firstname was his surname, so registered him as such. So, my surname (L part of double barrel) is actually a first name anyway!

Not sure that adds anything, but there you go!

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NaughtyBusterAndTheBumFactory · 04/04/2012 10:58

I like Meyer even though i also dislike surnamey names

Love Hector BTW!!

OriginalJamie · 04/04/2012 10:59

I prefer Meyer

I also like Asher

and Asa

Original poster
LotusPalm · 04/04/2012 12:20

We love Hector too!

Really like Meyer, but get wobbly that it's too unusual and Boone will be able to say / spell it. We already have to spell our surname!

Guess Reuben is no different either is it?

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happybigbump · 04/04/2012 12:27

Meyer is nice - unusual but not weird. Hector and Meyer go well together too.

EllenParsons · 05/04/2012 00:57

Reuben! Love it. Meyer to me is basically like calling your kid Smith as it is such a common and "standard" surname.

Original poster
LotusPalm · 05/04/2012 11:28

Thanks again folks.

Ellen - are you based in the uk? Is Meyer a common surname here?

OP posts:
thereistheball · 05/04/2012 12:47

I like Reuben, but spelled that way, not yours.

margoandjerry · 05/04/2012 12:51

I like both those. I wanted a jewish sort of name for my DS but I'm not Jewish so it just would have been a bit of a statement! I wanted Manny (Immanuel) but I couldn't quite get away with it.

happybigbump · 05/04/2012 13:13

Meyer is not popular as a surname in the UK, although it is in Germany. So he should be fine in the UK.

Actually Rueben is the plural of Ruebe (Rübe), parsnip in German.

mumbaisapphire · 05/04/2012 16:52

Reuben is a nice name. I'm not keen on your spelling though. It feels like a mistake whereas Reuben seems the more correct way and is the classic spelling. IMO;)

Original poster
LotusPalm · 05/04/2012 16:54

Please can we blame my pregnancy rain for the fact that I speke Reuben wrong!

I wasn't intending it should have a 'novel' spelling, just being a bit dumb.

Would go well with Hector though. As in the verb form...!! Hmm

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Original poster
LotusPalm · 05/04/2012 16:55

Brain! Not rain obviously

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pixiestix · 05/04/2012 16:57

Reuben is quite common around here (North London) so I would go with Meyer as having the same kind of unusual feel as Hector.

mumbaisapphire · 05/04/2012 17:39

oh good - I was trying to say it nicely! Glad it's just attack of the hormones.

Original poster
LotusPalm · 05/04/2012 17:47

You said it very nicely, I'm just a fool and can't spell it appears!

With you completely on alternative spellings!

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Original poster
LotusPalm · 07/04/2012 08:44

Shameless bump Grin

2 days overdue and bored!

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racingheart · 07/04/2012 19:50

Love Reuben. It's a name in our family and it is just the right degree of unusual without trying too hard.

welliesandpyjamas · 07/04/2012 19:52

Reuben. I know a fun Reuben at DS1's school.

sparkle12mar08 · 07/04/2012 21:23

I love both and but would automatically assume that Meyer stemmed from some sort of Jewish heritage rather than a surname preference of the parent, if that's any help! But I'd also tend toward pronouncing it with an 'eye' sound rather than an 'ay'. I think I prefer it over Reuben tbh, which is increasingly popular.

Original poster
LotusPalm · 07/04/2012 21:39

sparkle - I think it can be pronounced both ways, but is traditional may-er for the male version. Difficulty with pronouncing it M-eye-r is it then gets confused with the girls name Maya!

Which is a whole other problem isn't it...

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Original poster
LotusPalm · 10/04/2012 15:44

Anyone else have any thoughts?

DS2 born last night and still strugglIng with names. Have a couple of others on the short lost, bit they lack the 'special' meaning of these two:
Ezra
Jonah
Arthur

Thanks!

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sparkle12mar08 · 10/04/2012 19:20

Well I still love Meyer!