Joe/Spike - your votes are needed please!

[luth]

20 months ago I called on the good people of mumsnet to choose my dd's name. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1005168-Primrose-Rosie-your-votes-are-needed/AllOnOnePage

We were having a dilemma between the popular Rosie and the more unusual Primrose and asked you to cast your votes. Although reaction was mixed, Primrose won and we couldn't be more delighted with it now - people who don't like it are mercifully silent and those who do gush with excitement when they hear it. I'm rather addicted to the "oh what a beautiful name" comments I still get regularly and my daughter is well known around our small town ie "oh that's Primrose" because it stands out and she is therefore easily remembered.

So I'm now due in 3 weeks with no 2 - this time with a boy! My partner and I find choosing names a nightmare (but don't want to discuss names with our friends or family as we're keeping the sex secret from everyone). We're down to 2 names: Joe (not Joseph) and Spike and it's kind of the same dilemma as before. Do we stick to the safe Joe and have Spike as a middle name or go for the more 'out there' Spike for a first name given that we have had such a positive reaction to our unusual girls name.

DH thinks that boys can't carry off unusual names like girls and that he'll get bullied and pre-judged if he's called Spike. However I've just read another thread which says that Joe is really popular and although this shouldn't bother me, I would mind if he was say one of three Joe's in his class.

So we've decided to go with you lot again! Please cast your vote for either:
Option 1 - Joe Spike Palmer
Option 2 - Spike Joe Palmer

Thank you in advance for helping us out and taking the time to respond!!!

Option 1. Option 2 is just too weird, sorry. I like Primrose though :)

Option 1. Joe is lovely.

Option 1. I love the name Joe. I think it could make life a bit tricky in a professional capacity if you were called Spike as well. Cute on a kid but less so on an adult.

Option 1. Joe is lovely

Definitely option 1, I really like Joe.

Neither (sorry). Spike reminds me of the dog in Tom and Jerry.

Spoke doesn't go with Primrose, but Joe is a bit normal in comparison.

primrose and Caleb, or something equally old, but not fuddy duddy, would work best

ted

Sidney

Freddie

All work for me

I like Spike ( I know a 12 yr old Spike and he's fab)

Option 2. I love the more unusual names.

i love Spike, very cool! and he can always revert to Joe when older if he prefers/gets too much stick! However, will depend what he looks like i think...i can't imagine a cute little blonde curly top called Spike, he needs to be 'spiky' iyswim!!

Option one but only because I think the names sound better in that order so if you want to use them both then that would be my preference.

I like Spike James Palmer best .

Joe is a great name but I'd only use it as short for Joseph. So for this reason I vote Spike.

Spike is a vampire. No no no.

Spike would be cruel and a bit silly.

Spike's fine as a nickname, but not as a proper name. Not only will he get picked on, but he'll be in instant conflict with any authority figures from teachers to the police who will think he's taking the piss.

Option 3: something else?!

I'm torn [unhelpful] - Joe is a bit average, but does 'go' better with Primrose than Spike, but then I like slightly unusual names although I can't help but think of Buffy immediately

My vote goes to Joe, but not to Spike even as a mn, sorry! Spike is also the dog in Tom & Jerry to me too.

I agree that Joe is a bit plain with the beautiful Primrose... do you have any others on your shortlist?

Spike is the creepy vamp from Buffy. Sorry

I vote Joe. I think there are better 'unusual' names out there than Spike so would also look for a different middle name. I'd go for something a bit bohemian to complement Primrose. Spike seems a bit 80s (in a bad way, and from me that's saying something )

I think joe is soooo boring! Spike is better (if totally off the wall!) but as one of the previous posters said, it doesn't really go with primrose.

Roscoe
Gill
Seth
Ash
Penn
Vern
Nate

???

Spike is much cooler! Spike and Primrose are lovely together.

Joe is so dull (think Joe Bloggs).

i love joe but agree its not got that unusual feel. However, you'll have 2 kids called Joe and Primrose and that sounds absolutely adorable.

I disagree that boys can't carry off unusual names though. my 3 all have unusual names. The only problem is that invariably someone else is going to think unusual names are good too, pretty soon, they aren't unusual anymore!

Correction laambkins: Spike is the sexy vampire in Buffy

Another vote for Option 1 here. Spike is not a good first name, even Buffy-Spike had a "real" name

Joe.Definitely Joe. Spike is bloody awful.