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Baby names

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

Original poster

Silas vs Drake vs Ryder

42 replies

matthe1 · 29/05/2012 19:04

Narrowing my list down further. Seeking a name that sounds uncommon and strong, heres my current favs. Feedback greatly appreciated.

Ryder Matthews
Silas Matthews
Drake Matthews

We?re looking for a strong and unique name for our little boy. We like Silas because it sounds very unique and has a charming elegance to it. We like Drake since it sounds strong and ties into his half-Chinese side since it?s "Year of the Dragon" (Drake means dragon in a few languages). We like Ryder because it also sounds fairly unique and like how it looks with the last name.

Love to hear some opinions!

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DottieRose · 29/05/2012 19:30

I think Silas is beautiful

MoonHare · 29/05/2012 19:31

I like Silas but not Ryder or Drake.

Ryder doesn't really sound like a name to me, more like a description.

Drake is also a male duck, not quite such 'strong' connotations. I would worry he would be teased along 'quack quack' 'daffy' 'donald' lines.

Seth, Fraser, Jonas??

Psammead · 29/05/2012 19:31

Not so keen on Ryder.

Silas - how are you pronouncing it? SEE-las? SIGH-las? I quite like it.

Drake is very cool too.

Drake is my fave. Have you considered Griffin? Smile

hugebluebump · 29/05/2012 19:31

I like Silas and Drake in particular.

mumofjust1 · 29/05/2012 19:32

Love Silas, don't like Ryder, like Drake even leas

Lastofthepodpeople · 29/05/2012 19:34

I love Silas. Not so keen on the other two.

besmirchedandbewildered · 29/05/2012 19:36

Stick with Silas

peggyblackett · 29/05/2012 19:41

Silas is lovely. I'm not a fan of the other two names though.

scentednappyhag · 29/05/2012 19:42

Silas is a great name, very classic.
I don't like Ryder or Drake at all.

Sarcalogos · 29/05/2012 19:44

Silas is the best IMO.

Only Rhyder I've ever met was a plonker, and I would have to forcibly restrain myself from quacking at/around a drake. (but maybe I'm just a terrible person).

Silas drake Mathews could work as not so obviously ducky and still gives a not to dragons if you want to do that.

jkklpu · 29/05/2012 19:45

Silas
the others are awful
NB things can't be unique to different degrees - it's either unique or it's not. And, judging from this MN topic, there are other Silases around. But unique can be cringeworthy for the child saddled with something too outlandish.

RickGhastley · 29/05/2012 19:46

Silas is the best.

Really don't like Ryder and Drake

melliebobs · 29/05/2012 19:50

LOVE silas. One of the few boy names me & dh agreed on

Teapot13 · 29/05/2012 19:52

Silas is a great name.

I really dislike both the others.

FashionEaster · 29/05/2012 19:57

Silas, as in Silas Marner, is quite literary so is going to get the most positive response on MN as it's unusual enough without being outlandish. I also think it's the one that sounds most sonorous with your surname.

Ryder is a very American, and therefore won't get the vote of the MN jury. And my Google reveals it to be in the top 10 Mills and Boon favourite names for the hero Grin I actually do like it but I have a soft spot for all those cowboy names that I'd never use on my own child.

Drake is an arch-villain name.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/05/2012 21:39

Oh dear. Don't like any of them, sorry. Silas is horrible sounding and the other two are surnames.

'Strong and unique' eh? Erm...

How about Remus? :)

freerangeeggs · 29/05/2012 22:09

Silas is gorgeous, I love it.

Drake makes me think of Drake Remoray from Friends. They chose that name for a reason - it sounds like a character from a soap opera, and does remind me of ducks very strongly.

Ryder is okay but nowhere near as nice as Silas. It also sounds a bit dirty to me...? Ride 'er cowboy... just me? Okay then. Blush

Original poster
matthe1 · 29/05/2012 23:08

Surprised how many people instantly go to the "male duck" reference as i personally never even knew that's what a male duck was called let alone instantly pull it up. Don't know if I'd expect the average child peer to go there either, but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks for all the great feedback, keep it coming!!

If it sways anything, the middle names most like are going to be "David Rui" (Rui is Chinese and pronounced "Ray").

OP posts:
mamalovesmojitos · 29/05/2012 23:16

Silas is best. Drake is a very famous singer. Ryder just isn't my thing. Isn't it some sleb's child's name?

Booette · 29/05/2012 23:18

Love Silas. Not keen on the other two.

MissKeithLemon · 29/05/2012 23:21

Silas & Drake are both names of characters on Nick jnr shows.

Not sure if this matters at all to you OP, but its what sprang to my mind when I saw the title in active convo's sorry. Blush

Ryder - meh- theres a few of them around here, one hasd a sister called Neveah [boak]

Original poster
matthe1 · 29/05/2012 23:26

I think i'm ok with the singer's association. I don't think he's so famous that the connection would be around for all that long, and besides I actually don't mind him that much so not a huge negative. Not sure if Ryder is a some sleb's child's name.

Seth is nice. Not sure any of the other suggestions jump out at me.

OP posts:
CheerfulYank · 30/05/2012 00:16

I actually like Ryder, but then again I have been reading a series of romance novels about three brothers named Owen, Beckett, and Ryder. :o

Drake is okay. I actually don't like Silas.

CheerfulYank · 30/05/2012 00:25

Come to think of it, Beckett Matthews has a nice ring... :)

FashionEaster · 30/05/2012 00:29

See, I said it was a Mills and Boon favourite!