Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Joseph, Adam or Dominic? Which would you choose?

49 replies

SizzlesSit · 17/03/2014 09:06

Context: we live in France (DH is French). We want a name that is spelt the same in both languages. None of the names are top 50 in France. This is DS2.

Joseph - my dream name since I was a little girl. But I'm afraid it might be because I was heavily influenced by my parents, who would have chosen this name if they had had a boy (it's my Grandad's name). DH really likes it but worries that it's a bit serious (from a French point of view).

Adam - love the name, but really don't like how it's pronounced in French ('Ah-Dom') which makes me hesitate as I'll always hear it in French except when it's me saying it!

Dominic - nice strong name and goes really well with our surname. My only hesitation is that I don't like 'Dom' or 'Nick' as a diminuitive. DS1 also has a 3 syllable name and I always call him by the diminuitive, I can't see myself using the full name all the time.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
EyelinerQueen · 17/03/2014 09:09

Joseph is my favourite. The family connections makes it even better - I'm a big one for names with meaning.

I don't think of it as a serious name at all - just solid and equally great on a little boy, a teenager and a grown man.

Dominic is nice but I don't like the nn's either.

Not keen on Adam.

StrawberryGashes · 17/03/2014 09:12

Adam.

Poughle · 17/03/2014 09:15

I picked Joseph before reading your whole post. With the context, I like it even more.

Not too serious, he can be Joey or Joe

MummaKay · 17/03/2014 09:30

Adam or Joseph are my faves can be shortened to Ads and Joe for its not so harsh sounding.

slartybartfast · 17/03/2014 09:32

go for joseph.

UriGeller · 17/03/2014 09:34

Joseph is my all time favourite boys name. Joe is just such a good all rounder. Classic but not common, strong but not sharp. Love it.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 17/03/2014 09:35

DS is Dominic, he is 7yrs old. Until fairly recently he was insistent that he was Dominic rather than a diminutive, but I have noticed him being Dom at school more recently. I don't have strong feelings about nn tho...

picnicbasketcase · 17/03/2014 09:37

Joseph is a lovely name

Bowlersarm · 17/03/2014 09:37

Joseph because I love joe.

Adam is fine.

Not keen on Dominic.

ItsSoooFluffy · 17/03/2014 09:40

Joseph- I'm a bit biased though as ds1 is called Joseph :)

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 17/03/2014 09:43

Another vote for Joseph.

I like Adam too, but my views on Dominic are clouded by the fact that the two doms I know are arses.

Footle · 17/03/2014 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pregnantberry · 17/03/2014 09:50

In order:

Joseph
Adam
...
...
Dominic

MrsMarigold · 17/03/2014 09:51

I dislike Joseph but prefer Adam and Dominic.

RiverTam · 17/03/2014 09:52

Adam
Dominic
Joseph

but I hate Dom and Joe.

PunkAssMoFo · 17/03/2014 09:54

Really like Joseph & Dominic.

Adam does nothing for me.

Original poster
SizzlesSit · 17/03/2014 09:59

Lol I know a Dom who was an arse too!

I do really really like Joseph (well he'd be Joe to me) but was afraid it was family influence. Fortunately DH was in the park yesterday with DS1 and met a little Joseph so he's coming round to the idea.

My other fear is that all through my first pregnancy I really wanted one name, but at the last minute (just before giving birth!) chose DH's fave name instead...and have never regretted it. In fact We don't like the name at all anymore and it didnt even get onto the short list this time!

OP posts:
MoominsYonisAreScary · 17/03/2014 10:00

Joseph is ds5s name so id say go with that Grin hes 13 months and although noone shortens his name yet dn cant say it and calls him jovis, as do two of his older brothers now !

Ham69 · 17/03/2014 10:02

I really like Dominic. Really underused IMO and was sound good in a French accent! I quite like Dom but if you don't then maybe not a good idea.

Joseph is so popular. I know loads between the ages of 4 and 10.

Not keen on Adam.

MoominsYonisAreScary · 17/03/2014 10:02

Oh and he has the same name as dps uncle, not intentionally! Although ds3 is name after his paternal grandad who died just before he was born.

kilmuir · 17/03/2014 10:04

Dominic is great. not keen on Joseph

ToffeeJungle · 17/03/2014 10:52

Joseph and Dominic were both on our short list. However, we ruled them out because we decided we didn't like Joe / Joey or Dom enough.
Adam is nice too though if the pronunciation is going to bother you then I'd rule it out.

Maybe Joseph is the one for you.

bluebelle2662 · 17/03/2014 11:19

Joseph. And it is beautiful in French.

stinkingbishop · 17/03/2014 11:23

ExH was half French so we needed a name, like you, that was bilingual, and plumped for Joseph (other runner was Benjamin, but that has connotations of 'Mummy's boy' apparently in French!!)

No one ever seemed to think it was too serious. We had some French/Italian relatives who called him Beppo for short which was cute! I think it's Guiseppe in Italian.

The other thing that was hyper sweet was he couldn't say his own name for ages, so called himself 'Zofess' Grin.

stinkingbishop · 17/03/2014 11:24

PS I still call him Zofess at the age of 20 and it is Excellent how much it winds him up Wink.