Boy names that work well in English, French and Greek

[Booboostoo]

DP is Greek/German, I am Greek, we live in France, but had previously spent two decades in the UK. I have an unpronounceable ancient Greek name that I have to spell 10 times a day, so DD is called Lily - couldn't be simpler, couldn't be better for us!

DC2 is a boy and we need a similarly easy to pronounce and spell name. Christopher, Nicholas and Alexander are all out as we have close family members with these names. Max is the top contender at the moment, but can you think of any other options in case the baby doesn't feel like a Max when he is born?

George?

Raphael?

or Alex(andros)

We have gone for English/German first name and Greek middle name.

Nicholas

Nicholas is my uncle, Alexis my BIL, Christos my DP, so any of those would bring about WW III (by the other half of the family would die of shame at the naming honour done to one half of the family)!!!!

Peter and Stefan suffer from the slight variation in Greek of Petros and Stefanos but are possibilities. Never heard of Cassius or Dorian in Greek not sure how they would translate.

Dorian is Greek (or Gaelic depending on which origin you go for) apparently.

I thought Cassius was Greek too, but after a bit of a google, seems it's Roman.

Hi Boo,

Some great ideas here. Yes we'll get a uk passport but this thread is making me think more about the pronunciation issue and the different versions of the same name. As we are both English we'd try and stick with the English version I think. I know an Anglo cypriot who had a baby last year. To the locals he is Vassilis and to the ex-pats he is Matthew and she uses both! I think that could be confusing.

Some people use the English versions to everyone though. I know a yirgos mihalis.Even the Greeks call him George Michael!

My first name is the french version of a name with greek origin used in all English speaking countries and pronounced the same everywhere. I like it for that reason and can't think of many others.(female form of one you can't use)

We dont have greek heritage at all but I have distant french heritage and dh a little bit austrian. But dc will go to a greek school and will be integrated with local children very early on.

I like Max by the way and think it goes very well as a brother for Lilly.I also like Darius and Raphael from the suggestions too.

I had forgotten about ch names!

Our French-English son is called Samuel. Don't know if that could work?

I think I am carrying the scars of 'Nafsika' around - clearly Greek but so tough to deal with in any other language and even some Greeks have problems pronouncing it. I often get called "Athena' and 'Natalia' by Greeks as well! So it just has to be simple, common and very easy across languages!

DD calls me 'Nikika' which I actually really like!

Sam is another good option thanks!

nafsika is a nice name but Id prefer nikika too!

It's funny about greek people changing names and re your suggestion of Jason, it's similar to my dh's name which is rare here but he gets called Jason all the time. It makes me laugh as he just doesn't look like a Jason at all!

I like Sam as well and again I think it would be great with Lilly.

And on another note I'm pleased Gregory works in France too! Just need to convince dh now and figure out a middle name we can agree on.

It's a Greek family - everyone will be called Alex. Just go with it.

Vincent

Hermione everyone's Alex if the GF is Alex then all the cousins MUST be called Alex or Alexandra! If I name my DS after my BIL my mum will have a stroke.

Elvira I have to say I am surprised at the suggestion of Vincent! I think there is a Greek version, Vincentios, but it is very uncommon.

That made me laugh about your mum Boo!

Have your family made any suggestions? We haven't even discussed names and today my mil was giving me lists of names I can't use.I think she's becoming greek by osmosis!

Vincent is a funny one I can see it fits the brief but I can't decide if I like it.

Is the surname of any influence here? I really like Max and Sam for example but we have a very common boring English surname so in my situation they are a bit too simple.

Theo? I know a French, a Greek and a British Theo!

mrsnec you have to become devious; this is how I avoided naming DD after my mum without WW III breaking out. DM has a typically Greek relationship with DFil, i.e. they love each other to their faces, but bitch about each other behind their backs. So we told DM that DFil wanted DD named after the female version of his name (complete lie, sorry DFil!), and to avoid that disaster we would be avoiding all family names!

He he he, what is your DMil doing becoming Greek?!

Surname is unpronounceable, even in Greek oddly enough!

Thanks Zhx3 and everyone else, some great suggestions from everyone.

Theodore, Simon, Michael, christoph, Ben. Max is a great name.

Constantine
Basil ( ok the Greek is slightly diff, but near enough)
Luke, ditto
Tim
Simeon
Petros

Hercules - go for something amazing!

That does sound devious Boo!

With my mil it's just the level of interference that's giving me that impression. She also hates the other ex-pats we're the only ones she mixes with! I don't like the fact that she thinks she has a say in this.

With a surname like that I think you can get away with anything you like even Hercules which I like too.

We have agreed to avoid family names now too as it makes family politics easier I was a bit upset at first as if it's a girl I really wanted to use my grandmother's name but it will avoid arguments if we go for something different. Still don't know what we're having I just find boys names much more difficult.

DP is a very tall, large person, I am a very short, small person. DD has clearly taken DP's physical characteristic and I can see any poor little boy name Hercules taking after my height and weight creating a life long cosmic joke for him!

Eli,
Elias

Philip