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Baby names

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

Unusual name, but...

35 replies

LotusPalm · 01/12/2011 20:05

we are having out second boy at Easter this year, and my husband really likes names that mean something to us and give the boys something / someone to look up to. I'm all for a little bit of meaning! It took us quite a while to name our first son, so our thoughts have turned to names quite early.

My husband is really keen to name this one after my Dad - or rather, name him for my Dads Jewish (non-practising) name, which is Meyer. (pronounced May-or)

What do you think? We've got a relatively unusual surname that we have to spell all the time already.

I like the name, and like the thought behind it, but I'm not sure if it's too unusual!

There are a few Meyers around, but it's pretty exclusively Jewish or from the 50s. Meyer Lansky or Meyer Rothschild are ones that we know of.

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CrotchFlakes · 01/12/2011 20:07

Depends what DC1 is called - does Meyer go with it?

cookielove · 01/12/2011 20:18

I like the name, i like names that are different, i also don't think it matters if your childrens names go together.

LotusPalm · 01/12/2011 20:24

First son is Hector - so named after the hero not the verb! I have Classics background, so does have meaning for me and husband liked the brave man and good father thingy.

I think they sound ok together, bit not l

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LotusPalm · 01/12/2011 20:25

Looking for a matching pair! Obviously their names are from very different backgrounds / traditions.

We have a slightly biblical surname too, if that helps!

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cookielove · 01/12/2011 20:36

Ooooh i look after a very sweet adorable Hector, so i sweetened to the name, i still like Meyer though.

LotusPalm · 01/12/2011 22:37

Or rather, IRS pronounced May-er not like Mayor!

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LotusPalm · 01/12/2011 22:37

It's! Damn predictive text

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loler · 01/12/2011 22:47

I have a name I've had to spell my whole life, not to much of a problem. Tried to chose easy to spell names for my dc, they still get spelt wrongly so don't use the spelling thing to rule out a name.

I love the name, agree that it might sound more unusual if his brother was a top ten name, but he's not. The meaning behind it makes it even special.

MelinaM · 02/12/2011 00:19

Meyer is lovelySmile

hulabula · 02/12/2011 09:15

Meyer, or one of the many variations incl Maier, Meier, Mayer, is a VERY common surname in Germany. So if there is a chance of your ds studying or working there, it might be a little odd. This might not bother you, I just thought I'd point it out Smile.

LotusPalm · 02/12/2011 12:21

Hulabula - interesting point, and i'm not sure whether he will or not! It's unlikely we'll move to Germany though, so thats the next 20 odd years sorted. Interestingly the first part of our surname was my great grandfather first name when they moved over here during the 1WW, but officials got confused and it became our family surname. So maybe having a surname as a first name is more fitting?

Alternatively, we will ust be giving him 3 surnames, which i'm not sure about!

Any comments welcome. I just want to get a feel for what people think of the name.

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zenoushka · 02/12/2011 14:40

Hector and Meyer go really well together. I like the name Meyer.

expatcat · 02/12/2011 16:30

I really like it, unusual but lovely sounding.

AlmaWalkingInAWinterWonderland · 02/12/2011 16:38

I really like it, unusual but sounds nice.

planetpotty · 02/12/2011 16:55

Lovely Wink

kerala · 02/12/2011 20:31

Ooh I like it and love Hector fab name.

hester · 02/12/2011 20:41

I like Meyer.

LotusPalm · 03/12/2011 12:43

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

Any dissenters? I have minor concerns that it'll set him apart from his peers too much... Common names around here are Freddie, Oliver, Rafferty, Hugh/Hugo. So they're all fairly traditional...

Girls names tend towards the different though as know a Seren, 2 x Evie, Willow etc

We have an eye on a move to Oz in a few years as well

And though name is Jewish, I am only by heredity (dad) not by religion

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HoldTouchEngage · 03/12/2011 15:19

Personally i think Meyer 'fits in' amongst the likes of Hugo, Rafferty, Oliver Freddie - if you were to of said, Jack, Alfie, Zach (the more common type in different circles) etc etc then it may be slightly different.

LotusPalm · 03/12/2011 20:17

Just in case anyone doesn't want to be negative so as not to cause offence, I should probably point out that my dad is actually called Malcolm and has never been known as Meyer - it came out in conversation that this is what his Jewish (Hebrew) name would've been...

!

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charitygirl · 03/12/2011 20:24

Love it! Have just named DS2 'Ira' - I love 'old Jewish man' names, and Meyer is great. We have a very Jewish surname so it goes well though DH is the same as you - has a non practicing Jewish father.

LotusPalm · 03/12/2011 20:26

Just in case anyone doesn't want to cause offence by being negative, I should probably point out that my dad is actually called Malcolm and has never been known as Meyer - it came out in conversation that this is what his Jewish (Hebrew) name would've been...

!

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browneyesblue · 03/12/2011 20:32

I like it. It reminds me of Detective Meyer Meyer in the Ed McBain novels, but that's not a bad thing as he was one of the good guys.

BeerTricksPotter · 03/12/2011 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frutilla · 04/12/2011 01:07

I really like Mayer, in fact was thinking of Mayerley for a girl.