Go for the bold unusual name or the safe boring one? (both are beautiful)

[schroedingersdodo]

I'm in a dillemma and really need the help of strangers in the internet to make up my mind!

DS2 was born on Friday and I was almost set that I would name him Linus (as was DH). We just wanted to look at him to see if the name suited.

Then he was born and then looking at him lots of names came up. Then we settled for one contender: Lucas.

Background: when DS1 was born, we were half-heartedly set on Joachim, but then looking at him we decided on Jonas. I feel it is HIS name, and not any name that was decided before we met him.

So, now we have a name that was decided before we met the baby, which I think is cool, unusual and everything. I know it's not to everyone's taste, and it is unheard of in Brazil, where we come from (but it is very easy to write and pronounce in Portuguese, so not a massive problem).

And we have a name that is incredibly popular here, in Brazil and in a lot of countries, but which is safer, works everywhere and fits him. (Linus fits him as well).

On one hand I feel choosing Lucas means I got cold feet, going for a boring(ish) name instead of the cool unpopular first option. A coward's choice (that I may regret later). He will have lots of namesakes and it is not as "distinguished" as Linus (in my mind, of course not everyone will agree).

On the other hand, going for Lucas means choosing his very own name, that he chose, just like his brother, instead of going for a more difficult option (for him, as lots of people will find the name strange) just out of stubbornness. And Lucas is a pretty serious and decent name anyway, fit for anything he wants to be. And since he will have two unusual family names, even with a more popular name, he will be still quite unique and easy to find on Google for example.

Another points: we are both atheists so 2 biblical names sound silly, and Linus has cool meanings (the Greek god of music, for example) and geeky associations.

I think both names sound too matchy-matchy with Jonas: Jonas and Lucas, Jonas and Linus. So, nowhere to run here :)

Your thoughts, please!

Lucas for me as Linus will always be associated with the
Peanuts character ( the baby with the comfort blanket).

Oh my god OP are you me? Before DS was born (3 years ago) we had Linus set as his name. No question, Linus he was definitely going to be. Then he was born, and in a fit of instinctive maternal protection I suddenly named him... Luke.

I am so happy that's what we called him. Linus is a fab name, but he would forever have been the wet kid from Peanuts, and that's just not fair. Luke suits him perfectly. He's a really great kid, happy and very funny - he himself is a unique person, he didn't need a "unique" name to make him stand out from the crowd. In fact, I think the fact that he's got such a plain name will help offset some of his out-there character, in a good way.

I'm now pregnant with DC 2 and if he's a boy, Jonus is already a frontline contender. Just shows what excellent taste we both have!

I'm going to go against the grain and plump for Linus.

I like Linus, it's unusual but not made up. Lucas is also very nice but as you say, there are many more of them about.

If I were you I'd definitely go with Linus.

I like Linus much more than Lucas,and I've never heard of the one from peanuts,I've vaguely heard of Peanuts,but I don't know any of the characters...
so I completely disagree about him always being known as that kid

I think you should pick the name you love.

Well, firstly I think you are really, really over thinking this! Which name do you prefer? That's what it boils down to.

For what it's worth I prefer Linus.

congrats on ds2! i personally would go for linus, far nicer than lucas which sounds like a surname to me and don't you think lucas and jonas are too "samey" with both being 5letter names and both ending in "as"

Lucas much nicer than Linus but agree that neither sound great with Jonas. Luke would be better.

Congratulations btw! :)

Definitely Linus!

Just call him the name that suits him best - simple!

Lucas!

I love Linus! Lucas seems more popular at the moment. Not sure the Peanuts character is popular anymore anyway, and if you name him Linus it will just be his name iyswim. Good luck though whatever you decide!

Linus is a fantastic name. No kid reads Peanuts anymore... In Germany Linus is in the top 10 most common names so very much a normal name.

Lucas is a little dull in comparison imo.

Linus - definitely.

Bold, unusual, I think you should go for Linus.

My DC's have 'bold' names, I have a wallflower name and was forever forgotten about at school.

i prefer Linus, but do think that maybe Luke would sound better with Jonas.

i think if i were you i would stick with Linus.

thank you very much for your comments! This whole naming thing is bloody hard!

Knickers, i remembered an earlier post from you before I posted this, and was wondering about the relation of linus and lucas/luke, but I had no idea you were planning a jonas! :) great minds, blah blah

Linus is looovely and unusual, Lucas is nice too though. As is Luca, not that that's any help. They're both nice names but I'd probably go for Linus x

Oh and Congratulations!

Linus all the way. It is one my son's middle names. I wanted it for the first name but had to compromise because of DH (pah!).

Linus all the way too. Lucas is a bit meh.

Linus sounds like a Harry Potter character to me, and Lucas like a surname. If I was a small boy I think I'd go for the Harry Potter one!

Linus is a lovely name but personally I prefer Lucas.

There are also two Linus's in Greek Mythology. One is the musical one. The other one is the son of Apollo who got killed by sheepdogs and prompted a mass kidnap of other children.

I'd be put off by that (I would have had a Cassandra or Jocasta but I couldn't get over the connotations) but I know that I am very much in the minority with the Greek myths stuff.

Once you've named him then all this stuff will cease to matter anyway.

Safe boring everytime! I hated being the child with the stupid name :(

I hated being the child with the safe,boring name
I still hate it as an adult.
DP has a very unusual name,and he's always liked it...

I think they're both fine - to me they're quite similar names tbh, neither is particularly either safe/boring or unusual/weird. Both are a little similar to Jonas though...

Linus makes me think of Linus Torvalds/Linux