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Baby names

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Original poster

Samuel...is it too "safe"?

37 replies

Wannabuyawatch · 23/09/2013 17:27

I love the name Samuel but is it a bit of a safe option? His surname is Spinola so I thought the name Samuel Spinola was quite a cool combo...thoughts?

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EugenesAxe · 28/09/2013 23:04

I have a Sam(uel) and also dislike Sammy... but I'm so shit with casualness when it comes to names that I fall back on it lots. He gets called Sam, Sammy, Samuel, Sam Sam, and Samwise.

I think it might be a regional thing though, as it's mainly DH that puts it in my head and he is James but is always called Jamie by his DPs.

NorbertDentressangle · 28/09/2013 22:40

Great surname!

Samuel is a nice name but very over-used around here (in a school of 170 there are about 10 Sams and we know others from out of school too). I think I would go for something a little less common and not necessarily an 'S' name either.

Thesebootsweremadeforwalking · 28/09/2013 22:35

Sam/ Samuel is lovely IMHO.

ZenNudist · 28/09/2013 22:33

I love Samuel. My friend insists on using the long version of her sons name which I think is nice. If you dont mind there being waaaay too many sams out there use it.

BikeRunSki · 28/09/2013 22:31

"Solid" is what my step father says about Samuel as my DS's name too breathless.

BikeRunSki · 28/09/2013 22:29

My Samuel is usually known as Sam or Sammy and has a very unremarkable English occupation surname - similar to Baker. He is just 5, started Reception last month and we have never met another one his age.

Not "safe", nice name, well known for a reason!

lestagal78 · 28/09/2013 22:23

A lovely name. And goes great with your surname.

Like most names it is popular but not overly so. Mine is the only one in his year 2 class and I don't know any more than any other boys name.

miffybun73 · 27/09/2013 18:05

Love it.

Samuel Spinola sounds very cool to me :)

tammytoby · 27/09/2013 12:54

If Sam is too boring/overused, how about these S names
Sidney
Stanley
Stephen
Spencer

toobreathless · 27/09/2013 11:06

Good, solid name. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, I just find it a bit boring.

Sounds great with your surname.

austenozzy · 27/09/2013 11:01

Sam Spinola sounds great. I'd be waiting for him to make me an offer I couldn't refuse! :-)

DropYourSword · 27/09/2013 02:47

He sounds like a cool PI ! I really like it, especially connected with your surname. I don't think it's playing it safe. I don't like the current trend for really out there names and think something like Ulysses Spinola or Jupiter Spinola would sound insane IMHO!!

argylesocks · 27/09/2013 02:38

An S name sounds nice but I just know so many baby Samuels it's getting a little overdone to me. I only know two baby boys born last year that weren't a Samuel! So that's four baby Sams and another due this month. It's a nice name but getting too popular for me.

clary · 27/09/2013 01:24

Your surname is great!

I think with an unusual surname it's not a bad idea to choose a fairly familiar name that is easy to spell. Abernathy Spinola (for example) is probably too much to swallow.

Sam is very popular tho - I teach secondary and there is one or two in most of my classes. It's right up there with Josh and Joe. Popular names because they are nice tho Smile

Retroformica · 26/09/2013 22:33

I love that name and Sam . If he has a brother call him Joseph - perfect match

tammytoby · 26/09/2013 13:03

Sam is fine but yes, it is very widely used and he may well need a modifier to differentiate him from other Sams. Two Sams in our Cub group even share the same surname initial - can get a little confusing at times.

MrsBungle · 26/09/2013 11:37

I think it is very safe but it is a nice name .

Original poster
Wannabuyawatch · 26/09/2013 11:32

Thank you for all the replies! I am pretty convinced but maybe another cool S name instead??

OP posts:
duchessandscruffy · 25/09/2013 22:19

Btw Sam spinola is a great name! But I think you have potential for loads of great names with that surname. One of my friends has the surname Lopez and I think whatever first name she had it would just sound cool!

duchessandscruffy · 25/09/2013 22:14

I really like Samuel but it is just so common - as a teacher i have taught millions of then! it is very safe (but lovely if that doesn't bother you!)

MrsDibble · 25/09/2013 10:52

Why safe? I think it's nice. Hadn't thought it was that popular but may vary depending on where you live.

My husband doesn't like Sam (because of Sams he has known) but I think it is a solid, trustworthy sort of name.

BettyBi0 · 25/09/2013 09:19

Love Sam Spinola! Really memorable and I wouldn't worry too much about having a "safe" first name with such a gorgeous unusual surname.

WaspInTheHouse · 24/09/2013 10:02

I have one, there's absolutely loads of them about, but don't care because it's lovely. Also, with that surname, it does sound fab.

My other child has a very very very unusual name. But if you love a name you love it whether it's incredibly popular or not.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/09/2013 08:42

Sam Spinola sounds quite dangerous actually, but in a good way! Grin

rachel234 · 24/09/2013 08:35

In ds's class of 13 there are 2 Sams and we know loads outside school.

So yes, perfectly nice name but perhaps a little too common.