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!

I loved being the only one in my class/school/work with my name. But then it isn't a stupid name .

I let DP talk me into a compromise on ve always regretted it. The name I picked fitted her perfectly. The name she has is close but I never felt it was really her.

on DDs name and Ive always regretted it...

IMO (which is what you asked for)

Linus is awful.

Lucas is really quite nice.

If he looks like a Lucas, name him Lucas.

I vote for Linus

Linus is great.

I didn't know there was a Linus in Peanuts but am another who thought of Linus Torvalds.

What about Luca? Bit more unusual than Lucas, but you've still come up with it when you met him. I'm not too keen on Linus (sorry) but if you LOVE it, then go for it! It's not that unusual.

Linus, but I am married to the geekiest of geeks and an atheist.

I absolutely love Linus. Bit meh about Lucas as it is very common where I lived

I prefer Linus.

I think they are both lovely, and I don't consider Lucas to be safe or boring, but then I've never met one, it may be hugely popular where you are.

I wouldn't worry about biblical names as an atheist either I have 2 with biblical names and 1 with an anglicised version of a biblical name and we're atheist.

So really I've been no help! Go with your instincts!

Linus. Love it! Love unusual names and love that mine aren't one of three or four or even more by that name in the school or nursery.

Let us know what you decide.

P.S love Joachim too

I would go for Luke as I think both Lucas and Linus are a bit too similar (in the ending) as Jonas and therefore too matchy.

I'd go with Luke too, much more classic and less pretentious (..oh, and I have one!)

I haven't read the thread but wanted to day that Jonas is a really good, solid name. Luke and Lucas are also nice. I personally think that Linus is a wet name but not too bad in other respects. Congrats on your new son - enjoy it as it flys by.

Linus for me

We have a Linus and nobody teases him or associates him with peanuts (except me - I like Linus from peanuts - he is sensitive which is a good attribute in a man!)

Nobody has mentioned Linus torvalds or Linux or Linus Roache or even Linus Pauling. Do people really worry about this stuff? It's just a name - if you like it, go for it.

i love linus!!

also like lucas, its my ds2's middle name :)

Normally I'd say bold and unusual, but as you say you feel he chose the other one 'himself' then I'd say definitely go with that one.

I'm back here to let you know what we have decided. I'm afraid I'll disappoint lots of people here but the baby is now... Lucas.

We have no way of knowing if he will thank us for the sensible name, that everyone knows around the world and doesn't demand an explanation all the time he meets someone new - or if he will have preferred to have a name that lots of people never heard of and that needs to be spelled, but that is much more rare.

We can't know today what kind of personality he has / will develop. We have a 50% chance of getting it right.

(we mentioned the name Linus to quite a few people and to almost all of them we had to either spell it or use some reference - Linus Pauling, Peanuts, Linus Larabee from Sabrina, Linus Torvalds... We decided it was too much of a hassle to impose on him, specially because we will have to spell his very unusual family names all the time)

And anyway, I still think he looks like a Lucas (more than a Linus).

Thanks a lot for all your comments, they made me think a lot!