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Original poster

Greek boy's names - help!

80 replies

whattodo235 · 18/06/2020 11:47

Hi all - desperate for some help/advice!
Our DS2 is due in a week and we need a name that works in English as well as Greek.

Our front runners currently are:

Xander (I don't much like Alexander)
Marcus
Hector

Others that have come up:

Ajax
Lysander
Leander

I love Rafael, but my partner doesn't!

Help! Any thoughts on the above/other suggestions?

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Buffyanne · 05/07/2020 02:11

Xander is nice and goes well with Leo! Others are too similar. I dont like other options and Xander as a nickname- might as well just go with Xander

TimeWastingButFun · 05/07/2020 01:27

Ajax used to be a cleaning product when I was small...

TenShortStories · 05/07/2020 00:59

I think Lysander to Luca is a stretch I'm afraid Sad

Haridimos nn Harry?

andpeggy1 · 05/07/2020 00:49

Nicolas, Nico for short

Topseyt · 03/07/2020 15:35

Spiros.

I quite like Stelios, though would probably always think of Stelios Hajioannou (if that is the right spelling) who founded Easyjet.

I can't really see Luca as an any way a diminutive of Lysandros I'm afraid, though I quite like both names.

Original poster
whattodo235 · 03/07/2020 00:00

Just bumping this to ask if Lysandros nn Luca is too much of a stretch?! Suspect it might be... my partner doesn't like the normal longer versions of Luca like Loukas sadly (or Luca on its own!)

OP posts:
Original poster
whattodo235 · 21/06/2020 13:47

I love Leonidas too - which is making this harder as I want to totally love one of these!!

OP posts:
Original poster
whattodo235 · 21/06/2020 13:46

He would accept Xander or Marcus or Lysander but doesn't like Luca or Raphael.

If I could find a longer Greek name that shortened to Luca he would prob accept that...

Is Lysander nn Luca too much of a stretch?!

OP posts:
princesspenny · 21/06/2020 13:10

From your list I love Hector! Not keen on Xander or Lysander.

I love the name Leonidas it's my dad's name ❤️

NeedToKnow101 · 21/06/2020 12:46

What does your partner think?

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 20/06/2020 17:02

Lysander is lovely.

My friend is Greek, her sons are Christos and Stelios.

lowlandLucky · 20/06/2020 16:40

Hector is often shortened to Tito

Immigrantsong · 20/06/2020 15:37

@whattodo235

I didn't know that about baptism - that's interesting! We won't be baptising him though so not necessarily an issue for us

Now leaning towards Xander, Alexandros in Greek (but not Alexander in English). But still not sure!! Maybe Lysander nn Xander is more interesting?

Interesting that Hector doesn't seem more popular - I like it, but can't think of a good nn for it and it seems a bit formal as it is?

Don't know why I'm finding this so hard Confused

Remember if you don't baptise him, he then won't have a name day. If this is something you celebrate think about what the implications would be on him missing out the date his saint is venerated. If name days are not a big deal for you and you don't live in Greece or Cyprus then you will be fine.
Babyroobs · 20/06/2020 15:34

My neighbours new baby has a Greek dad and they have called their new born ds Elias.

Original poster
whattodo235 · 20/06/2020 15:31

Wow seems I use the word 'interesting' a lot...

OP posts:
Original poster
whattodo235 · 20/06/2020 15:30

I didn't know that about baptism - that's interesting! We won't be baptising him though so not necessarily an issue for us

Now leaning towards Xander, Alexandros in Greek (but not Alexander in English). But still not sure!! Maybe Lysander nn Xander is more interesting?

Interesting that Hector doesn't seem more popular - I like it, but can't think of a good nn for it and it seems a bit formal as it is?

Don't know why I'm finding this so hard Confused

OP posts:
Immigrantsong · 20/06/2020 13:43

If you intend to baptise him, the priest cannot do so with a derivation of the saints name. For example, if you like Xander, he will still have to be baptised as Alexander so that's important to know.

Thisismytimetoshine · 20/06/2020 13:43

Dimitris.

QueenJulian · 20/06/2020 13:41

James is equivalent to Dimitris in Greek and is lovely.
Alexandros is typically shortened to Alecos (Alekos?) and sometimes Alexis.
George would work in England or Greece.
I love Stelios!
Stephanos/Stephen?
Constantine is lovely too!

NeedToKnow101 · 20/06/2020 13:38

@northernbelle84 - sorry I just don't like the name.
Love the name Stelios though.

Booboostwo · 20/06/2020 12:08

@Sportsnight

Artemis can be Male in Greece but the pronunciation is different (Are-TEM-iss rather than ARE-te-MISS)
True but that is a nickname for Artemisios, short At TE mis, rather than AR te MISS which is the long version of a female name.

A lot of Greek names have a proper, formal version and a common usage, so Georgios, Dimitrios, Ioannis are called Giorgios, Dimitris and Giannis.

OneFootintheRave · 20/06/2020 11:57

Oh dear @Booboostwo I knew a guy in SA called Artemis! He went by Ari though.

What about Petrit?

Bumpsadaisie · 20/06/2020 07:50

I lived in Greece for a bit and taught an Anastasios, nn Tassos, which I always thought lovely.

Dimitris
Stelios
Petros
Stratis

Can't go wrong with any disciple names or Georgios, Michalis, Ioannis, Loukas

Thomas Philippos Andreas

Xiaoxiong · 20/06/2020 07:48

Oh I like Elias too!

northernbelle84 · 20/06/2020 07:36

@NeedToKnow101 what's up with Stavros? I actually like it!

Also Stelios!

OP what a lovely pool of names you have to choose from. I do like Leander but agree it's very similar to your older DS. Xander would be my fave.

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