Ikaros

[GiannaK]

...and other names for a boy.

Thanks for lots of helpful feedback on girl names in my other post. Now I need your wisdom in case dc is a boy!

Blah blah partly Greek background etc. Here are a few I like best. Would like to hear how they sound to other English speakers as I've lost all objectivity.

Ikaros - I've never met one in either country but I like it (pregnancy brain?)

Alexandros/Alexander - probably top of my 'sensible' list. Useable in both cultures. But is it boring? Over popular? Would be always be called Alex?

Giorgos/George - Would be mainly out of familial obligation if we use this. Please help me love this name! I know how much it would mean to DH's family if we use it but I just don't love it.

Orfeas - think this has popped up on here before. I've always liked it and DH is really keen. But again - does it sound strange if you have no previous knowledge of Greek names?

That's it so far. Any other suggestions would be great!

[SamSmalaidh]

Eirik is only close to Eric written down though - it is said quite differently. If you always call him AY-rik and introduce him as that then it will stick, and he will correct people as he gets older.

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

I think I am going to, it will cause family arguments.

Always thought about complaining about the MW who laughed at me. She was saying all sorts about me and put me off his name when he had been born for only 30 minutes.

[GiannaK]

That's awful for you Schro! Can't believe a midwife would do that! Scared now!

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

I'm sure yours will be fine. :) I was out of it and couldn't stick up for myself. :) Most I met were fine.

[Lebkuchenlover]

I love Ikaros and actually know a little boy called Ikarus.

[GiannaK]

Where is he from Lebkuchenlover?

[GiannaK]

Nahh Pavlos just doesn't do it for me at all. Sorry! :)

[Teapot13]

Ikaros - the myth would put me off, but I don't know the name in any other context. If it's a normal name in Greece, that would be different.

Alexandros/Alexander - very sensible - not exciting - but if you pick such a classic there are bound to be other people with the name

Giorgos/George - I do love these -- I would love to use George but DH refuses.

Orfeas - I don't know why, but this myth would not put me off as much as Icarus Maybe because I like the name itself better.

[alexpolismum]

Some suggestions from my children's classmates:

Paschalis, Stelios, Periklis (nice ancient name in keeping with your Ikaros, Orfeas), Leonidas

[AThingInYourLife]

Love ikaros and Orfeas.

[nooka]

For me I would immediately think of the Greek myths and in this case the sad ends of both characters because they are the only reference points I have, and are stories I know well so to me they would be slightly odd names until I knew the child instead. I'm not sure that this would be an issue for most people though (I had a fairly classical education). I suspect whether the names are thought strange or not depends on where you live, and how much of a demographic mix you have locally.

[GiannaK]

Thank you for the continuous feedback everyone :)

Ikaros is still my fav at the moment!

Nooka - we are in London. Am confident that an Ikaros would probably be the only one in his class, but it doesn't matter to us, really. As someone said, names from all corners of the world pop up here.
That said, the only thing about picking a name with no English equivalent when our surname is so undeniably Greek is that DC will never be able to pick and choose between his or her identities, if you see what I mean. If he's a boy called Alexandros but doesn't want to make reference to his background, he can just be Alex/Alexis and get on with it. If he his Ikaros or Orfeas, he'll never be able to get away from being asked where (part of) his family are from.

Alexpolismum - the website is great! Haven't found any names I hadn't come across and would want to use, yet, but am tempted to start a thread with some of those beauties! Some are v unusual and interesting!

[alexpolismum]

Glad you like it. A Greek friend gave me the link some time ago because I'm useless at remembering the dates of all the namedays. It hasn't really helped, because now I just forget to check, but it's been nice seeing all those names!

[cogitosum]

please could someone post the link (sorry if it's been posted on this thread i can't find it!)

[alexpolismum]

here you are cogitosum!

It's in Greek, but it says English somewhere near the top (I can't seem to see it at the moment, sorry! It's porbably staring me in the face!)

[alexpolismum]

wow, I've just seen Kondylia on that list. I cannot believe that is an actual name! (Kondylia means "funds" in Greek)

[cogitosum]

Thank you Alexpolismum that's really interesting... I found the English link thank goodness - didn't fancy getting DH to translate!

[SplendidTopHat]

My DS Alessandro is an Ally by nickname, long name when i'm calling him to dinner.