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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby boy name question - Please advise

66 replies

Hopitihop · 03/01/2022 19:35

Hello,

I am currently expecting a baby boy and I and DH have decided that the name "Asterio" is the one we will go for.

The name is spelled as As-terr-ih-o and not As-teer-ih-o.

It's a Greek name and I appreciate it sounds weird in most British ears.

Firstly, can you please tell me how you would pronounce the name Asterios if you saw it somewhere written?

Secondly, we are thinking of using a short name that is Stergio. Do you like Stergio better? Would you keep the "Asterio" or "Stergio"?

Finally, an honest opinion on both names would be much appreciated!

Thank you all xx

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Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 15:29

@chesirecat99 That's really interesting!

I would pronounce Aster and Astaire the same way (like Astaire) as I am not British but obviously it's not the same for Brits! [shocked]

OP posts:
averythinline · 04/01/2022 15:27

I think Asterios sounds good as it is....prefer it to stergio and with a Greek surname would make complete sense..

I wouldn't worry to much about nickname now....that'll develop over time

chesirecat99 · 04/01/2022 15:11

Aster will be fine as a nickname for family and friends. You will be pronouncing it differently from the girl's name and people who know him will think of his nickname when they see it written down rather than the girl's name IYSWIM? I just wouldn't use it as a written shortening in new situations where people might assume he is a girl and pronounce it like the girl's name, I would use his full name instead. Not that it really matters but it would be annoying for him.

Or you could spell his nickname phonetically for English pronounciation in the same way as the surname Astaire? It's not quite perfect but I think that is how most English speakers will pronounce it in a UK English accent and it is closer to the correct pronounciation than Aster and has the emphasis on the second syllable (which Aster doesn't). It also has the advantage of not being a girl's name.

RunningFromInsanity · 04/01/2022 15:02

Aster is fine. In this day and age, people will accept whatever name/nn you tell them to.
If you say his nn is Aster, people will call him Aster without a second thought.

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 14:44

@chesirecat99 & @RunningFromInsanity Thank you both for your answers, it's really helpful.

Rio & Asti sound both nice but I can't see me calling him Rio or Asti. However, he can choose them as a kid or adult if he wants.

I like Aster though as it's a proper shortening of Asterios.

However, based on your replies, I can see that some people say that it is a boy's name and other say that it's a girl's name and other say that it is a unisex name...

So, I am totally confused with Aster and if it's a nice choice or not. Confused

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 04/01/2022 14:13

I would probably pronounce as
As-tier-rio
As-tier-rios

But if corrected once it’s then easy to remember to pronounce ‘As-ter-rio’

Aster would be a fine nn, especially as the Greek heritage will be obvious.

chesirecat99 · 04/01/2022 14:10

@Hopitihop

Thank you for your replies!

@Skeumorph The full name is Asterios and not Asterio.
In Greece it goes like:

  • What's your name? Asterios
but
  • Asterio please bring me a glass of water.

@OnceuponaRainbow18 & @PlainJane1000 thank you both! Can you also please tell me which one of the two "Asterio(s)" or "Stergio(s)" would you prefer as a sound?

We don't have cases in English so people will struggle with the idea that his name is different when you are talking about your son from when you are talking to your son. People will probably just use Asterio all the time when they are speaking but write the name as Asterios and assume that the "s" is silent.

If you aren't bothered by that (and I am guessing you don't really have a choice if you are sticking to the tradition of using family names), Asterios is much nicer than Stergio.

Rio is probably the best and easiest nickname. Asti is ok. Aster is a girl's name and pronounced Astuh so doesn't work very well as a nickname for Asterios. Terry is ok but it is very dated. Terry is a second hand car dealer circa 1970.

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 14:06

@PlainJane1000 Thank you for your reply and advice!

No, there will be no middle name. It's not something Greeks normally do unless both first names are heard together, which I don't find nice.

I know middle names are very common in the UK though.

OP posts:
PlainJane1000 · 04/01/2022 14:04

I agree with the other replies to stick with Asterios and not worry so much! Asti or Aster are great nns and at high school kids will pick whatever random nn they feel like for a peer anyway! Will he have a middle name?

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 13:43

@KiloWhat Thanks for the reassurance. I was not expecting Asterios to receive any positive comments but I was clearly wrong!

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Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 13:42

@DuneFan If Asterios and Stergios are that much related as it's Anne and Lucy, then we should better stick with Asterios and not introduce a nn that doesn't sound like a nn.

That was funny :)

OP posts:
MollieLarksabout · 04/01/2022 13:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KiloWhat · 04/01/2022 12:31

Go for Asterios, people will get used to it if they are unfamiliar.

DuneFan · 04/01/2022 12:27

I see nothing wrong with Asterios and Stergio (have I spelt it right?) As a nickname . . . If Daisy can be used for Margaret then why not. I was at school with an Anne always known as Lucy. We just got used to it.

Just introduce him as Stergio and nobody will quiz you!

Asterios is a fab name , sounds really strong.

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 12:16

@Laquila I completely agree :) And I am glad to know that Asterios sounds an ok name for Brits!

OP posts:
Laquila · 04/01/2022 12:13

@Hopitihop No I'm not Italian but I do know L'Aquila - lovely city and region!

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 12:08

@Laquila thank you!

Are you Italian as L'Aquila in Italy?

Maybe Asterios sounds easier in Italian ears rather than British!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 12:06

@CrispAndFrosty Thank you for the advice.

Asterios is spelled as As-terr-ios.

How is Aster pronounced? I would thought of As-terr? Is it not the case?

The issue with the "s" at the end is for every single male greek name... it's insane but I can't change the Grammar!

It has to be Asterios at the birth certificate and as you say it's probably easier to introduce him as Asterios.

He can always pick his NN (if he wants one) as a kid. That's an option too, right?

OP posts:
Laquila · 04/01/2022 11:57

Asterios is lovely! Asterio too. Aster is great - a really unusual nickname, and very cool I think. I agree that Stergio would be a confusing nickname for Brits!

CrispAndFrosty · 04/01/2022 11:55

Rio seems like the best nickname for this name. Like Rio Ferdinand - it's familiar. I'd avoid any nicknames that use the "Ass" sound.

I've never, ever heard of Aster as a name, and if Asterios is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, Aster wouldn't even be an intuitive nickname. So I wouldn't say that was the most likely nickname, unless you introduce him as Aster.

My main thoughts are:

  1. People will get confused about the s at the end - if it will have an s on the birth certificate, it's probably easier to introduce him as Asterios. Or I guess you could say the s is silent, as an easy explanation. It will need to be one way or the other, outside the family.
  1. I guess it's no easier or more difficult than many foreign names. People won't be familiar with it, but once they meet him they will learn. People will get it wrong, but that happens with English names too.
MerryChristmas21 · 04/01/2022 11:53

You have a Greek surname & a strong family reason to call your Son Asterios, so I definitely think you'd should go for it. You might find very young children calling him Yos or eeeeos. But it'll all sort itself out!

Best wishes for his birthday!!

EdgeOfACoin · 04/01/2022 11:05

Asterios is a great name! I slightly prefer it to Asterio, which sounds like 'a stereo'.

I've known a couple of Greek men named Apostolos who seem manage perfectly well in the UK. To me, that's a slightly more complicated name than Asterio(s).

Finally, in the worst case scenario, if people really can't get their heads round Asterio or Asterios, then Terry is a very English nickname.

Original poster
Hopitihop · 04/01/2022 08:47

@Eloraa & @MerryChristmas21 Thank you!

We live in England and our surname is Greek too. Asterios Smith is not great, I agree! :-D

Asti sounds a good option too, thanks for the suggestion.

We have strong family reasons and we chose this name because of that, although I would love a more universal one.

Most people in the thread made me feel comfortable with the name and its use in the UK, so thank you all!

OP posts:
MerryChristmas21 · 04/01/2022 08:41

Where aboutsbin the U.K. are you/do you intend to live?

Is your surname obviously Greek? If you obviously have Greek heritage Asterios would be ok, but with regional accents will vary in how it's pronounced.

Stergio would not be a natural NN in the U.K.

I imagine Asti would be a common shortening here.

I don't live either name but prefer asterios & only if there's a clear family reason. Asterios smith, both parents from Hull, definitely not.

Best wishes for his birth x

Eloraa · 04/01/2022 08:29

Asterois is a great name! I’ve not heard it before, but I like it and wouldn’t have any issues pronouncing it.

It sounds very cool, and has plenary of workable shortenings in English.

If your little one is growing up in most parts of England, there will be lots of kids with non-English names so no one will be bothered that it is unusual.