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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help me with my boys names!

32 replies

Jonia · 30/08/2023 21:32

Ok so here’s the dilemma!

Name we love most: Gentian - connected to my DHs heritage, pronounced with a hard ‘g’: Ghen-tee-an. I’ve posted about this before…problem is that I don’t think it will ever be pronounced that way in the UK and the most common pronounciation here ‘Jen-shun’ sounds like an entirely different name.
Is there any way around this by changing the spelling to Ghentian or Gantian? We’re both not native English speakers, would these two spellings achieve a Ghen-tee-an pronunciation? (Or would it be really silly to change the spelling? We’d strongly prefer going with the original spelling Gentian obviously, but just can’t see how this would work in an English speaking country).

Two other names we both like a lot:
Fabian (but can’t use because it’s my sisters DH name)
Julian - actually we both really like it and it’s a serious alternative to Gentian.

Names I like but not first choice/some issues:
Florentin, Valentin, Valerian - maybe too out there
Laurence - but really don’t like Larry NN.
Lionel - DH vetoed
(At a push) Finn - DH likes it, I think it’s ok but a bit too many Finns around.

Opinions on these options please, and alternative suggestions that I may like, now that you know my taste, are also welcomed 😊

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CurlewKate · 02/09/2023 17:44

I'm a little surprised that so few English speakers don't know Gentian as a flower. Pronounced Gen-shn. Or something like that. I wonder why I do-definitely not a gardener!!

I'd go for Laurence, personally.

cordelia16 · 02/09/2023 17:38

I really like Julian and Laurence (nn Laurie).

Valerian is an herb that is used to aid with sleep and stress-related symptoms, so I would avoid that one.

user1492757084 · 01/09/2023 12:33

How about ..
Gideon
Willoughby
Peter
Griffin

MissedItByThisMuch · 01/09/2023 03:08

I love Julian. Also really like Valerian and Florian. Sebastian is another “ian” ending name.

There are several Laurence/Lawrences in my kids’ classes. None get Larry. Occasionally Laurie, mostly full name. Larry feels very middle aged American to me.

Banned4life · 01/09/2023 02:58

i love Gideon

Rockmehardplace · 01/09/2023 02:01

Jentian? I would automatically say Gen-tee-an from your original spelling tho.

I love love love Laurence nn Laurie and dont know why I didn’t use it for DS!

BrokenMantra · 01/09/2023 01:31

I would pronounce Gentian jen-shun like gentian violet (the dye) but if you told me not to - I would only do it once. I think to spell it differently Ghentean would be the most likely to be pronounced correctly but it does look quite different.

I really like Laurence (Laurie), Valentin & Florentin

hdbs17 · 31/08/2023 12:00

I've never heard Gentian pronounced before so would assume it's Gen-tee-an.

Just some perspective.

Caledoniadreaming · 31/08/2023 11:57

My son's middle name is Lawrence, and it really suits him I think.

Would go for Laurie as a NN if he didn't already have a shortened version of his first name.

dressedforcomfort · 31/08/2023 08:13

Laurence /Lawrence is such a lovely name and Laurie is a solid NN

Julian is not my personal taste but is a solid name and very unlikely to be mispronounced

I think Gentian will be genuinely confusing to an English speaker and you'll be setting up your kid for a lifetime of having to explain how to pronounce his name to everyone....

BoleynMemories13 · 31/08/2023 07:44

If you both love Julian that sounds like it could be the name for you.

I did even realise Larry could be a nickname for Laurence? Never heard that one before, only Laurie.

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 31/08/2023 06:47

Laurence is the only name I quite like from your list .

continentallentil · 31/08/2023 06:42

Julian is nice and very underused. I also like Julius.

Laurence is usually shortened to Laurie these days, if shortened at all, so I wouldn’t worry about Larry

I’d go for one of these

cherryassam · 30/08/2023 22:57

I love Cassian but it would be awful with our last name so it’s a no go for me. It’s got a lovely rhythm though.

I completely get the Caspian thing! It makes me think of Prince Caspian from the Narnia books who was one of my favourite characters in them as a child. But yes, I think ‘Caspian Sea’ is quite a strong collocation.

LastNightAPandaSavedMyLife · 30/08/2023 22:52

Noah is really popular so I really don’t think the religious connection is an issue or even thought about. I know a Jonah too. Parents not religious at all. They’re just nice names.

Original poster
Jonia · 30/08/2023 22:50

I never heard Ossian, interesting name.

Would love Caspian if my mind didn’t try to add a ‘Sea’ at the end. Cassian is good too.

OP posts:
cherryassam · 30/08/2023 22:46

Yes it’s something like O-Sheen or Uh-Sheen. I wasn’t sure if OP liked the spelling or the sound so thought I’d add it in as it’s one of my favourite names. I do think it would sound nice if it was oss - ee - uhn though

BigBoysDontCry · 30/08/2023 22:32

Some nice suggestions there, I particularly like Caspian and Cassian.

I think Ossian is pronounced O-sheen though?

Original poster
Jonia · 30/08/2023 22:32

Thank you @cherryassam 😊

OP posts:
cherryassam · 30/08/2023 22:19

If you like the -ian ending, you might like:

Caspian
Cassian
Hadrian
Ossian
Octavian
Tavian
Cillian / Killian
Bastian
Cyprian
Finian / Finnian
Ninian
Damian
Emilian
Lucian
Maximilian

Original poster
Jonia · 30/08/2023 22:13

Oh I like Dorian…the -ian/in ending is a common feature in my list 🙂

OP posts:
Original poster
Jonia · 30/08/2023 22:09

Laurie is actually a nice nn for Laurence

OP posts:
BigBoysDontCry · 30/08/2023 22:08

I like Laurence/Laurie the best from your list.

How about Jonas instead of Jonah?

Other names with a similar vibe to your list:

Crispin
Sylvester
Dorian
Barnaby/Barney

Birch101 · 30/08/2023 22:01

I'm not an English language expert so I have no idea what spelling would get the pronunciation you are hoping for however I've never seen or heard that name so from my perspective people would still just take a guess at how to say it.
I have to phone people up regularly with no idea how to pronounce their names as they are from different country/cultures - not english - Its not something I enjoy doing and as someone who gets their british name spelt wrong all the time (as throughout the years people have just changed how they want to spell it) it can be infuriating having to spell your name out all the time or correct.

Personally I'd go for Julian with Gentian as middle name

And Laurence is typically shortened to Laurie (little women book)

Noah is very popular. Very.

Whatsthepoint1234 · 30/08/2023 22:01

@Jonia Ah fair enough, the names I vetoed due to people! Yes it does autocorrect on my phone to Adrian. What about Noel or Joel, both well known and used but not overused or really popular.