Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Raven and Zakk??

42 replies

KawaiiUnicorn · 28/09/2018 20:18

Its early on but we’ve managed to come to a decision on baby names already.

My other half is a guitarist and we both share a love of contemporary Metal, so we’ve decided to let this influence our choice of names.

For a girl we’ve chosen Raven Elizabeth.

She will be named after a band called The Raven age and Lizzy Hail the lead singer of the band Hailstorm.

For a boy we’ve chosen Zakk Andrew James.

Named after two amazing guitarist Zakk Wylde and Andy James.

I’m just wondering what’s your opinion on the spelling Zakk instead of Zach or Zac? I’ve never seen it spelt this way before. Is it completely weird or just unusual?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
KingLooieCatz · 02/10/2018 15:21

I hope Zakk doesn't aspire to be taken seriously a financial advisor. It's not the worst but this is a real person you're naming, who'll be an adult one day, not an avatar, alternate personality for steampunk day or a model your other half just finished painting. Why not have an actual name on his birth certificate, call him Zakk day to day and if he likes it and carries it off - great! He can stick with it.

Original poster
KawaiiUnicorn · 01/10/2018 21:38

Elizabeth with an I is safe then lol. Ahh I think I might given in and go for Zakk with a double kk anyway. It weirded me out a bit at first but it’s growing on me.

OP posts:
Cassie124 · 01/10/2018 21:07

Lzzy Hale does spell her name without the I, her full name is Elizabeth though, if that helps.

Original poster
KawaiiUnicorn · 01/10/2018 20:34

Was not aware that lizzy spelt her name without an I. (Is that really true or are you just pulling my leg?) If so I’m pretty sure OH wouldn’t want an Elizabeth without an I so maybe I can negotiate the extra k out of Zakk lol. After all as another poster pointed out Zakk Wyldes’ real name is Jefferey. And as for using Wylde after Zakk do I really want a future young man using “Wylde is my middle name” as some sort of chat up line? The poor girls.... don’t think I can do it haha lol

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 29/09/2018 22:15

Zakk looks really odd. Zac, Zack, Zach all fine.

TatianaLarina · 29/09/2018 18:45

Yes I rather like Zach Wylde as a name, I wouldn’t bother with the Andrew.

PassportBridgetPants · 29/09/2018 18:41

Just putting it out there - Raven and Wylde sounds great. I mean, if it was an organic cafe I'd go there.

But seriously, if someone called their kids that I'd be jealous. I could never pull it off.

Aquamarine1029 · 29/09/2018 17:59

I love Raven for a girl or boy.

papayya · 29/09/2018 13:46

I have a Zachary (Zach) but really liked the spelling Zack (wasn't keen on Zackary though). To be honest I've thought he might like to change the spelling of Zach himself when he's older anyway. When he gets cards etc through he gets 'Zach / Zac / Zack / Zak' anyway as there are so many spellings!

Zak might be a good compromise for you, rather than the extra K? But if you like Zakk then stick with it but be prepared for unwanted opinions and constant misspelling!

MikeUniformMike · 29/09/2018 13:44

Sod it, add another k to make it unique. Zachary/Zac/Zack is quite popular so the extra Ks will make yours stand out.
Raven is ok but makes me think of omens of doom and the word Raving. How about something a bit more mainstream?

BevBrook · 29/09/2018 13:36

I’m not sure what the extra k adds, it just seems weird.

VimFuego101 · 29/09/2018 13:32

Doesn't the singer from hailstorm spell her name Lzzy? So really you should call your daughter Elzabeth I guess.

3TresTrois · 29/09/2018 08:54

Zakk is an odd spelling. I see your dilemma, though, as a more traditional spelling wouldn’t be an homage to the guy you’re naming after.

Raven is lovely.

Original poster
KawaiiUnicorn · 29/09/2018 08:45

Yes we do. I imagine it’s spelt so unusual because it’s his stage name. I think I would prefer a more traditional spelling personally but other half is insistent that he wants it spelt the same as him.

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 29/09/2018 02:26

I agree 100% with Maisypops.

moredoll · 29/09/2018 02:21

Call him what you want at home but on his birth certificate call him Zachary, he will thank you for it later. .As will Elizabeth Raven.

I agree. Keith Richards called his daughter Dandelion. She changed it to Angela when she was in primary school.

Toffeebanoffee · 29/09/2018 02:09

I know a girl named Raven, with the surname 'White' and she has blonde hair.
Just what were the parents thinking? Confused

OlennasWimple · 29/09/2018 01:57

Raven is my favourite Teen Titan

Picknickers · 29/09/2018 01:44

Funnily enough there was a woman shouting Raven to a cherubic blonde haired child at Paignton zoo last week. I thought it was strange at the time but it's not a horrible name. Zakk does look odd though. Sorry.

Sungura · 29/09/2018 00:54

Zakk is really a way to cause confusion, but, then, if you don't use it, who's the child named after? Can't you put Andrew first? Aren't there other artists you admire as much?

Ihuntmonsters · 28/09/2018 22:54

I don't personally like Raven as a first name but it's OK, will be spelled and pronounced correctly and most likely not cause any issues for your potential dd. I like Zach as a short form of Zachary or Zachariah and it's OK on it's own too (I prefer longer, more formal names with diminutive options). To me Zakk is a bit silly. The sort of name a teenager might adopt to be 'edgy'. I suspect it would be irritating to have to correct it all the time.

BackforGood · 28/09/2018 22:37

Exactly what Maisypops said.

ShowOfHands · 28/09/2018 21:49

Reminds me of the names my DD chose for her imaginary future DC aged 10. She's a huge Halestorm fan. She likes the name Zoltan too after the chap from Five Finger Death Punch. I assume she'll grow out of it but I do quite like Raven.

MaisyPops · 28/09/2018 21:07

I agree with PP.
'Its zakk yes it has 2 ks... yes it's unusual but my parents decided my name for life was based on some musician they liked when mum was pregnant'.

Both seem a little to 'giving our kids names that show how unconventional we are' to me.

Zach is lovely. Raven (to me) is a bit like forest, river, bear and other nature names where parents try to signal their uniqueness via their children.

Atalune · 28/09/2018 21:01

Zakk is fine. It’s definately youneeeque but that’s not the end of the world.

Raven is a gorgeous name, but the bird and bad omen thing is so unpleasant it does put me off.

My dd has an unusual first name and two very middle England classic names after. So if she becomes a barrister she can revert to either one of those.