To call our baby Huckleberry?

[queenmools]

We are really struggling to think of boys' names for our second baby (due in 3 weeks.) We have no idea if it will be a girl or boy. The girl's name is all sorted but we already have one boy and have kind of peaked with naming him. My husband came up with Huckleberry and says he is not joking. I really like it but don't know if I'm brave enough. We are not American and feel it is a very American sounding name so maybe would be out of place. Also would it work for an adult? Would an adult named Huck sound like a complete tosser? I should point out that we live in a very alternative area with lots of unusual names around.

But Pauling and Torvalds pronounce it Leenus. It has Greek origins but is very popular in Scandi countries.

Linus Roache

Shame his dad is a weirdo....

squoosh, you're not wrong re the 4 syllables.
All my boys have one syllable names to facilitate shouting calling them, the wee darlings.

I think Linus Roache himself is a weirdo, or at least a member of a weirdo cult.

How about Tyrion?

Shame, Squoosh Hes nice looking, loved him in Law and Order.

I know a woman called Ariel. Before the mermaid cartoon it was a man's name. She was named after Ariel Sharon, the quite robust Israeli politician.

Her parents were hoping for a boy but really admired Sharon so gave it to her anyway as a political statement. Maybe they just should have called her Sharon which was very popular in the '60s.

It's not normally contentious. Except in certain countries.

Yes pacific a much more impressive wave of rage and fury can be channelled into the bellowing of a short name. By the time you'd got to the end of 'Huckleberry get down here now', all the good rage would be gone.

I get sick of bellowing Phoebe (DD) when shes annoyed me, If I called my kid Huckleberry or any name that long, the kid would be called "Boy" in no time.

limitedperiodonly Ariel is a Shakespearian name - as so many are (including my daughters).

Ariel was a sprite in the Tempest, way before Ariel Sharon was born.

Cooper?

whatthe

Ariel is Hebrew, features in the Old Testament significantly before Shakespeare was about.

Huckleberry is a very appealing name, it has great connotations. Realistically, it would almost always be shortened to Huck, which is rather cool for a teen or man, perhaps not so great for a child.

I'm sure there would be some playground ribbing and Fuckleberry did make me snigger, I'm so childish! but teasing on the basis of a name alone will have no effect, provided the child is confident.

Re: job opportunities etc, I've been in a recruiter position for professional roles, and if I saw the name Huckleberry on a CV I'd be merely slightly intrigued rather than put off. It would be memorable, and in a competitive job market, that's a good thing.

Use it if you like it OP. Pick a more mainstream middle name so he has a fall-back position should he require one.

Most people seem to loathe Humphrey, but I like it. Last time I bothered to react noticed a thread about this, I was dumbfounded by the tide of hatred and contempt for Nigel, though. That's a name I rather like.

I do think Ariel is a pretty name but no way would my DP go for it. He's far more sensible than I.

when I told people what I had called DS1 I was told in no uncertain terms that I was setting him up for a lifetime of bullying. He is 14yo and never been bullied in his life. His name is considered by all his friends to be cool and anyone who questions it just get the face from him. He has only once asked why I called him such an unusual name and then it just a genuine why do I have my name question not a oh my god I hate my name question.

I like Huckleberry, its a great name.

You do realise he would instantly be nicknamed Dingleberry?

Ariel is a beautiful name but it's a masculine one.

It's also not of my heritage so I wouldn't choose it.

Even if it was, I'd avoid it, just like I imagine people who like Osama choose something else, unless they want to make a point.

I think people get hung up on naming a baby & forget they are naming a person. A name that is 'cute' for a baby may not work so well for an adult.

It is impossible to predict our children's personalities, so in my view it is best to play it safe. If your child does grow up to be cool, quirky and confident, a standard name won't detract from their coolness - and they can easily adopt a cool nickname.

But if your child is more introverted and prefers to blend in, a way out name could be torture.

I do not believe it is inherently better to be cool and confident rather than quiet & introspective - all types of people make up the world.

A neutral name allows your child's own personality to flourish, without labouring under an obvious parental desire that they be quirky and different - why should they have to be?

It's better than Baylor

I know a child named Bear.

No reason, just Bear.

Poor Bear, it doesn't seem fair.

NO to Huckleberry.

Did someone say Baylor?!

I do like Linus. We have Isambard on the list too, husband is an engineer so loves it.

Having just read our 3 year old a bed time story I might stick with the literary theme and go for kipper.