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Original poster

Thoughts on Xander - not Alexander.

78 replies

WishYouWereMine · 12/02/2014 15:00

DP and I both love Xander for our imaginary son.

We have a Persephone who is never ever called by her full name, but I like to see a proper name on birth certificate for some reason.

I wouldn't want to use Alexander as really dislike the nn Alex.

Thoughts please ;) Would you think 'yuck'?

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lljkk · 13/02/2014 16:12

Sorry to owners of same, but I think Yuck. Not pretentious, It just sounds so incomplete. And I like Alex a lot, anyway.

squoosh · 13/02/2014 16:13

Alex is so much nicer. There's something slippery and oily about Xander.

TaurielTest · 13/02/2014 16:24

The "incomplete" thing got me thinking - seems to me that Xander is no more incomplete than Beth, or Tilda, or Bert, once you get used to it. There are a few long trad names which have a common short version usually from the start of the name (Alex, Tom, Cath, Rob, Ben...) syllables, and other shortenings based on the later syllables which are becoming more popular. I'm thinking Xander, Topher, Tori, that sort of thing. And lots more that I don't think anyone uses - any Jamins or Mothys out there?

NaffOrf · 13/02/2014 16:29

If you want an initial X you'd be better off going for Xavier. Or Xerxes.

Zander with a Z is perfectly OK - it's a species of freshwater fish. Tasty.

NaffOrf · 13/02/2014 16:30

Closely related to the pike.

TheSurgeonsMate · 13/02/2014 19:01

I understand the point about not knowing the social circles in which other posters move, but surely Xerxes is overdoing it virtually anywhere?

Showy · 13/02/2014 19:10

I don't really like Xander but then I think Buffy is a load of teen crap so what do I know? Grin Not sure why I don't like it. For me, Xander is to names as Jo Whiley is to presenting. Trying to be cool, sort of pulling it off but only superficially. I also love Sacha as a nn for Alexander so that doesn't help.

Alexander Armstrong, however, is a Xander and I'd be happy to whimper say it in his presence.

Adore Sephy though. DS would have been Sephy (Josephine) if he'd come out minus the appendage. Fab choice.

Original poster
WishYouWereMine · 13/02/2014 19:51

Thank you Showy. We love it too!

I don't like it it for the Buffy reference - I was never into Buffy and I didn't know about it until it was mentioned on here even though I'm probably the right age for it.

Sorry NaffOff but I'm peeing myself at Xerxes. Not sure the poor boy would survive his first day at school.

OP posts:
honeybeeridiculous · 13/02/2014 19:55

I only know 1 Xander,the baby of a friend, he's gorgeous Grin
I like the name and she has Xander on the birth certificate

NinjaCow · 14/02/2014 02:10

I love Xander. Never knew it was pretentious, I know five baby Xanders, all of whom are/were born into working class families for e.g. Here it is seen as 'chavvy' Hmm so kinda the opposite! I really, really like it, I think it sounds cool and strong.

I like Alexander as a full name though. Alexei?

BeetlebumShesAGun · 14/02/2014 02:27

Another Buffy fan here who loves Xander! Grin go for it.

Agree with Alexander on birth cert but introduce him as Xander and he won't get Alex.

yolothankgod · 14/02/2014 02:37

My 5yo Ds is Xandur I never thought it quite looked right as Xander don't even get me started on Alexander

My Ds has Xandur on his birth certificate as well .

Can I ask how on earth it is a pretentious name ??
It certainly beats the likes of Kayden etc

I don't know of any others with the same spelling as my Ds & he has no problems at school with at and has never been mistaken for an 'Alexander' .

Their is an Alexander in his class who's mum makes a right show of shouting Xander at the top of her voice when I'm in the vacinity Hmm

Oh and nick names , never have we used 'Xandy' and it never crossed my mind to either its either Xandur,Xannii or Panda completely outs self

MoominIsGoingToBeAMumEEEEK · 14/02/2014 15:09

Out of interest yolo, how do you pronounce the double i in "xannii"? Hmm

Minionionionion · 14/02/2014 15:17

When we discussed names pre dd Xander was up there but we ended up deciding it was too popular in our area .. We are massive Buffy/Angel fans and I'm still a bit cross that I wasn't able to Willow, Winnifred or. Tarah

OvO · 14/02/2014 15:21

I have an Alexander.

He's mainly called Xander by his big brother, though I occasionally use it too.

But if anyone calls him Alex he is very firm that's he's not an Alex but an Alexander. He's only 6 so that might change but I don't think they all get automatically shortened to Alex.

He's going to take over the world one day so I'm trying to get him to answer to Lex. Wink

OvO · 14/02/2014 15:22

Yolo, mine answers to Panda too. Grin

Stars66 · 14/02/2014 15:22

No no no no no. Just no. In my opinion!

lynniep · 14/02/2014 15:23

I like Xander. Have a friend whose son is Xander (he's about 11 now)

captainbarnacle · 14/02/2014 19:20

I had no idea at all that Xander was a name which people had an opinion on :D

yolothankgod · 15/02/2014 02:03

Moomin Hmm its just how I wrote it !!

0v0 Grin

TheseAreTheJokesFolks · 15/02/2014 02:59

love Alexander
like Lysander

nn Alexander - Al Ally Alex Xan Xander Xanadu Grin

What am i missing re Alex except for that twat Alex Reid - many are absolutely hating it as a nn, can I ask why? Confused

ODFO · 15/02/2014 08:55

Pretentious. Not keen

umbrellahead · 15/02/2014 09:33

I know a lovely Xander - by the time he turned 16 he had never been called Alexander (the name on his birth certificate) so changed his name by deed poll and has now been officially Xander for years now.

I've never really understood the reason for using a long name to give your child options of a nickname in the future. I have a name with two possibly nicknames that could both go as stand alone names, one I've always been called and one I've never been called. I would never use the other nickname even if I didn't like my name - it just wouldn't be me!

Because of that I would just go for Xander on the birth certificate - so much easier and there's little chance he would choose a differed nickname after years, even if he didn't like Xander

Amiasmummy · 15/02/2014 17:18

I like the name Xander. Would possibly be on my list of boys names if I didn't have an aunt called Zanda Grin

Bonsoir · 15/02/2014 17:26

I'm afraid it's "yuck" for me.

However, I like Xav as a shortened version of Xavier.