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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on Arvo?

114 replies

GinnyBee · 03/04/2022 16:37

I'm due to have a baby boy in May, first baby for both of us. I'm originally Finnish and my husband is English and when we started listing names we liked, we were trying to find one that would hint at his Nordic heritage but wouldn't be too out of place or impossible to spell or pronounce in England since that's where we live.

We couldn't find many options that we both liked and settled on Arlo - nice name, but there's really nothing Finnish about it. Its origins are Anglo-Saxon or Old English.

I've just been out for a walk with my dog and remembered the name Arvo, which is completely Finnish, and thought maybe that could work? But before I suggest it to hubby I wanted some opinions as I don't always hear it if it sounds odd in English, since to me it's just a normal name, but native English speakers may find it sounds like another word that would be confusing.

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midsomermurderess · 03/04/2022 21:00

What about Alvar, like the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto?

Original poster
GinnyBee · 03/04/2022 20:56

I mentioned it to husband and he said he prefers Arlo and thinks Arvo will be more difficult for others and he may end up having to spell it out, but that ultimately it's up to me how important it is to have a Finnish connection with the name.

His middle name will be my dad's (he passed in 2016) childhood nickname which is also a fully English name (for reasons I don't even actually know). His real name is way too foreign to be possible.

OP posts:
Original poster
GinnyBee · 03/04/2022 20:50

@FolornLawn

I like Arvo! How is Aaro pronounced? Like Aero?
Ah-ro. But I can see that would probably cause confusion here with people unsure how to pronounce it.
OP posts:
Calandor · 03/04/2022 19:19

Love Aaro

Calandor · 03/04/2022 19:14

At the end of the day if it's Finnish he can just say that if anyone ever asks about it. I don't think Arvo has any negative connotations. The afternoon slang thing isn't really a massive deal.

People are called dot, dick and rob which are all nicknames with other meanings - some much worse than 'afternoon' lol.

DameCelia · 03/04/2022 19:11

There's a massive class divide between people who know the composer Arvo Part but have never heard of arvo as a shortening of afternoon, and the other way around.
Grin

Skelligsfeathers · 03/04/2022 19:11

How about Lars? Or Nikko?

MoiraNotRuby · 03/04/2022 19:11

I think its a great name. Seems really apt with the date coincidence.

Your son is going to grow up in a world where we respect each others backgrounds, I hope - anyone judging on a name can frankly eff off.

demoness · 03/04/2022 19:06

I've literally never heard anyone use "arvo" to mean "afternoon" in my entire life, so I guess it must depend on what part of the UK you live in!

I would have no problem accepting Arvo as a name, especially on person who has a different heritage.

DogsAndGin · 03/04/2022 19:02

No. It means afternoon

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 03/04/2022 18:51

Please do not choose this name...

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Arvo

Scorchedterf · 03/04/2022 18:49

I’m in the UK and Arvo is definitely this afternoon

celestebellman · 03/04/2022 18:43

@TheAbbotOfUnreason
True, unfortunately, but I like to promote the traditional pronunciation (also like the composer)

Grawlix · 03/04/2022 18:19

Obviously it is a name and I too immediately thought of Arvo Pärt.

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 03/04/2022 18:17

Biblical pronunciation of Aaron is air-on but all the Aarons I know pronounce it ar-ron.

deadlanguage · 03/04/2022 18:16

Makes me think of the composer Arvo Pärt. I’ve never heard anyone shorten afternoon to arvo.

NativityDreaming · 03/04/2022 18:13

I worked with a Hannu, & I thought it was a cool name. Or what about Markus?

celestebellman · 03/04/2022 18:08

Well, Aaron is (or should be) pronounced Ae-ron, so I would say lots of people struggle with it.
Not sure how Aaro, would be pronounced.

FolornLawn · 03/04/2022 18:07

I like Arvo! How is Aaro pronounced? Like Aero?

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 03/04/2022 18:05

I wouldn’t be at all hesitant on pronouncing Aaro.

Do people struggle with pronouncing Aaron?

D0lphine · 03/04/2022 18:04

[quote GinnyBee]@Snoken Matti is one of those incredibly common safe names that everyone knows at least 15 people with it.

@TheAbbotOfUnreason Aro could work! If I spelled it Aaro would it be too difficult?[/quote]
It's a bit like Aero, which are delicious!

It's better than Arvo!

Kite22 · 03/04/2022 17:46

Everyone I know (in UK) uses it as slang for afternoon. It isn’t just an Australian thing and your child would get mocked if you chose it.

Not where I live.

I would be much more hesitant wondering how to say 'Aaro' than I would Arvo.

Original poster
GinnyBee · 03/04/2022 17:42

@Snoken Matti is one of those incredibly common safe names that everyone knows at least 15 people with it.

@TheAbbotOfUnreason Aro could work! If I spelled it Aaro would it be too difficult?

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 03/04/2022 17:41

Sorry but I would be asking which letter it began with A or E if I just heard it. Or use both AERVO.

Neverreturntoathread · 03/04/2022 17:39

Everyone I know (in UK) uses it as slang for afternoon. It isn’t just an Australian thing and your child would get mocked if you chose it.

Arlo is a much better choice!!