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Baby names

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

Original poster

Finally agreed on a name! Help please...

88 replies

Rhubarbx1 · 10/09/2023 15:47

So we've chosen Rhodes for our little boy.

We both really love the meaning and can't decide if it's a middle name or first name at this point.

My husband has suggested the following....
Rhodes Benjamin our surname is Eaton.

I think I prefer it as a middle name but I don't know if that's because I was hankering after something hebrew / biblical to match my little boy Elias Grey.

Do Elias and Rhodes go together or is it too much of a mish-mash?

I'm desperate for the boys names to sound nice together.

Just want some opinions before I get my heart to set on it.

Thanks all xxxx

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CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 21:05

If you don't know how to say Elias, you do mr know how English works!

DramaAlpaca · 10/09/2023 20:57

I think it would be a great, unusual middle name. It's not so good as a first name.

How about Rhys instead? It goes much better with Ella's.

letstrythatagain · 10/09/2023 20:54

Love it as a middle name if it's a significant place for you both 😀

MargotBamborough · 10/09/2023 20:52

ClaraThePigeon · 10/09/2023 15:56

I'd use it as a middle name. I love a lot of surname type names but this one I don't and it makes me think of Cecil Rhodes which is not a good association.

This!

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 20:50

Is it eel like the fish? Or Ell

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 20:50

I have no idea how are you even pronounce Elias . I’m a teacher I’ve never seen in a school yet

Hazelnut9 · 10/09/2023 20:45

I think Elias and Rhodes is a mish-mash. Elias is a nice classic name, but Rhodes is an island. It works well as a middle name but I think you should find something else Hebrew or similar for the first name.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 10/09/2023 20:33

Awww that’s a lovely name, and great with Elias.
it scans better as Benjamin Rhodes so could use that and call him by the middle name?
otherwise, maybe Rhodes then a two syllable middle name?
eg Rhodes Jacob sounds better to me

MariaVT65 · 10/09/2023 20:13

My honest opinion is that how well it goes with his brother’s name is much less important than how that child will grow up with a name like Rhodes. I personally don’t mind the name but I only know it as the island and he will forever be telling people how to spell it.

SayingwhatIreallythink · 10/09/2023 20:12

Sounds like « roads eaten ». I would keep it as a middle name if you really want it.

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 20:07

Agree with the poster below, I think it was 10 years after I had my children that I realised that all of them had names that could be surnames and all ended in s . Otherwise not very weird names at all.

boscabosco · 10/09/2023 20:06

Why on earth would it have 'to go' with Elias? Why do they need to sound nice together which is very subjective anyway. If you let this point go, maybe other names that have not been considered yet may become options?

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 20:03

I do think it does sound a bit of Victorian imperialist, and if we feel that now imagine how it will be in 20 years time

BowiesJumper · 10/09/2023 19:29

middle name yes. First name no, for reasons already stated above!

RainbowUtensils · 10/09/2023 19:02

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 16:42

I do think it's a bad idea to call anyone a name which means they will spend the ready of their lives saying "Rhodes- no, with an h. Rh..yes, that's right. It is unusual isn't it-I think I'm the only one. I don't know- I'll have to ask sometime."

Exactly this - I have one of those names and it's truly a pain in the arse. Name him Benjamin Rhodes, and you can always call him Rhodes at home

Sushione · 10/09/2023 18:18

Was he conceived there?

MariePaperRoses · 10/09/2023 18:18

Awful for a first name.

He will grow up hating it and change it to Rodney as soon as he can.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 10/09/2023 18:07

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 17:52

Agree.

Show quote history

Totally agree. And jokes too.

ZolaBudd · 10/09/2023 17:52

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 16:42

I do think it's a bad idea to call anyone a name which means they will spend the ready of their lives saying "Rhodes- no, with an h. Rh..yes, that's right. It is unusual isn't it-I think I'm the only one. I don't know- I'll have to ask sometime."

Agree.

mumtotwox · 10/09/2023 17:21

Don't think it works together, although it is possibly a grower of a name (like most)

weeRagamuffin · 10/09/2023 16:43

I don't get it. Rhodes? I know that place names were trendy about 20 years ago (Oslo, Paris et cetera) but is that trend not over? Do you have a connection to Rhodes?

I don't think it goes wih Elias at all. Elias is fairly mainstream. Rhodes is a bit, what have I heard? It's not obvious. I'd have to say 'what' if somebody said their child's name was Rhodes. If the other child's name was Athens it would make sense but it jus tseems completely random with Elias.

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 16:42

I do think it's a bad idea to call anyone a name which means they will spend the ready of their lives saying "Rhodes- no, with an h. Rh..yes, that's right. It is unusual isn't it-I think I'm the only one. I don't know- I'll have to ask sometime."

Original poster
Rhubarbx1 · 10/09/2023 16:38

Maybe I did 😉

OP posts:
DinnaeFashYersel · 10/09/2023 16:29

People will think you conceived on the Greek island.

Middle name would be best.

Benjamin and Elias go well together

LauderSyme · 10/09/2023 16:12

Elias and Rhodes sound good together, quite classy.

I like Elijah, Ezekiel and Joshua with Rhodes but maybe they roll better with Rhodes in the middle?

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