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!!!

I'd definately be very interested to meet a Spike if he was amongst my applicants - I'e also remember his name better than a Joe.

I like Spike and think it is more interesting/memorable than Joe (which I find quite dull, I'm afraid).

How about Spike Jonathan?

Honestly, I would presume Spike was a nickname, or someone had changed their name to it to appear 'cool'. Which is fine, but that's the impression I would have.

Spike is great - cool and masculine. I think Joe is as much (or more!) of a nickname than Spike. And Joe is indeed a little bland (sorry).

Definately Joe rather than Spike for me.

I wouldn't use Spike at all, it's not really a name. Joe is ok or joseph is better.

Spike! Spike! Spikety Spike!

Ours will be Spike if it's a boy. I love it, and think its important to choose the name you like the best.

Spike. I'm not even a big fan of the name but it's better than yet another Joe.

The Spike I knew was a successful illustrator and cartoonist. Hth

Whoopee! Can't believe I'm getting so caught up in this.

OP, if you pick Joe now I'll be GUTTED.

Spike.

And if he finds it tough to get a job in 18 years time, I'll employ him.

Spike's a nickname, not the one that goes down on your birth certificate. Have known some lovely Spikes but none of them were Christened that way.

I'd employ someone called Spike quite happily, btw. But I'd assume it was a nickname, not their actual legal name.

But Joe is even more of a nickname (for Joseph).

Hope you pick Spike!

Imo Spike is a bit like a character name (wasn't there a Spike in Buffy?) but Joe is too safe. Are there any in between options?

Ooh but then there's Spike Milligan and he's cool

I have an autograph from Spike Milligan.

I'm now waiting for someone to tell you his REAL name was Terence....

Jano, I guess you already knew his real name, then...

Joe Joe Joe - or something more unusual but NOT Spike, PLEASE!

I love unusual names, and deliberately chose one for my first DS ... but I think Spike is awful. It is a common English word meaning 'A sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence' or 'A long, thick, sharp-pointed piece of wood or metal.'
It is sharp, aggressive, butch, sounds like a nickname and will be an impediment to him at school and in many ways in the future. Call him a name beginning with S and then use Spike as a nickname. As a nickname - go ahead it's your choice, but not as his 'real' name.
Just IMHO of course. Congratulations anyway, no matter what he is called!

Spike is the name of the talking cactus in Aberdeen's Winter Gardens.

Go for Joe on the BC. He can always have Spike as a nickname. Most people hearing the name Spike would assume it was a nickname, anyway, so why not have it as a nickname? Then, when he's older and people say "What's your real name, Spike?" he can say "Joe" instead of "Ummm...Spike is my real name."

Joe is also a nickname!

And what is wrong with confidently saying "My real name is Spike"!

And, compared to all the Alfies, Archies, Joes and Finns, Spike actually sounds more like a proper name imo.

And some dogs have human names - ours are Woody and Olive.

Yep, Edam. Kinda knew his real names :-)

Spike but I would spell is Spyke.