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Original poster

Is this too much of a girls name?

27 replies

PurplePunkPrincess · 02/07/2014 13:48

I named my baby Alexander. I have kind of regretted it since he was born, (I think he looks like he should be called jake)

I like the name Alexander, but not Alex and it's my cousins name and friend's 4 yo. Since he's been born I also feel it's not a very comforting sounding name when I'm talking to him and saying his name, unlike my other 2 dc's names.

Dp loves the name and it is the only one we could agree on.

I heard myself saying his name a couple of times while we was walking back from the school run, and he was screaming his head off, colic bless him. Anyway I thought I sounded a bit pretentious, and instantly thought knob!

I really don't want to shorten it to Alex, although many people already are! Hmm I don't want to be 'that' mum (though this may just be in my head) and correct everybody who calls him Alex!

I'm ok with lex, but it doesn't sound comforting. I would end up calling him lexy, which could end up 'sticking' but that's a girls name really! I really think the person can make a name. (I hate dp's name, it's just a fat name, the type of name I could imagine the dad from the royal family being called, but my dp is hot!)

I don't want to call him by a girl's name!

I don't want to explain his name 'his name is Alexander, but we call him lex, except I call him lexy' or 'HIS name is lexy' the latter, could maybe be acceptable? The former is madness.

I would have loved to have called him Andrew, after my uncle, who I never met because he died when he was 19. I couldn't name the baby after my nan as we had a boy, so this was the closest way I could think of doing that!

But, dp's closest friend, who we visit regularly, with his dp and their kids, is called Andy. Which, I MUCH prefer over Andrew. Obviously!

I've clearly spent too much time thinking about this in the last 4 weeks! Hmm

OP posts:
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Enb76 · 02/07/2014 13:49

How about Xander?

MaloryArcher · 02/07/2014 13:50

Lexy is awful for a girl never mind a boy.

Lex is Luthor to me.

Xander would solve your problem? I really like that.

You could also change his name to Jake if you genuinely think you've got it wrong?

Enb76 · 02/07/2014 13:51

A couple of Alexanders I went to school with were shortened to Sandy as well.

Mustangspirit · 02/07/2014 13:55

I too like Xander (Zander, obviously). I really don't like Alex so can see where you are coming from.

Kikaninchen · 02/07/2014 13:55

You could also call him Al, Alec, Ally, Sandy, Xandy, Xander...

There are loads of options with Alexander.

Or just call him Jake, as a nickname if need be.
A nickname doesn't need to be related to your name (my brother's nickname (Bill) bears no relation to his name at all (Andrew), most people call him Andy, but family all use Bill. Lots of people assume it's his middle name, which it isn't, but it has never been an issue, he's just always had two names)

Mustangspirit · 02/07/2014 13:57

Andy could also be short for Alexander or Zandy if you want something different to dh's friend.

looki · 02/07/2014 15:08

Ah how old is he? I think it's an awful lot nicer than Alex. What about Ali? (maybe the same problem as Lexy but it is more masculine).

Fwiw I don't think its a pretentious name at all, it's just a long name. It's a very normal name IMO.

Sandy could become Andy very easily if you want it to?

Guin1 · 02/07/2014 15:52

As other pps have said, Xander is a well known nn for Alexander. I think it's great - much better than Alex or Lexy. I've also seen it spelt Zander, if you prefer.

Sasha is another (Russian) nn for Alexander, but that may sound too girly for you?

sonlypuppyfat · 02/07/2014 15:56

The thing is it won't matter how many times you say his name is Alexander it WILL be shortened you can't stop the bastards! Xander is pretty cool though.

WaffleWiffle · 02/07/2014 16:09

I used to go to school with a girl who's name on the register was Juliette. Everyone called her Polly.

I also knew a Samuel who was known as Owen.

No reason why the nn needs to be related to the birth name.

Why can't your Alexander be Andy? (I think the names actually directly link anyway)

BBQsAreSooooOverrated · 02/07/2014 16:28

Xander is good, or Sandy.

Thurlow · 02/07/2014 16:32

Xander is a good shortening for boys, or equally Al or Ally?

Fwiw, I have an Alexandra and it is one of those names that just does get shortened a lot, I think particularly as there are so many possibilities for shortening it. I think you have to get in there early with the shortened version. I really, really don't like Lexy/Lexie (sorry!) so we've gone with Alex right from the start, and she introduces herself as Alex which puts a stop to most of the other shortenings. I imagine similar would happen if you went with Al or Xander.

Nereida · 02/07/2014 17:29

How about Alec? I think that's quite handsome.

CharlesRyder · 02/07/2014 17:37

Sandy is cute!

GreenShadow · 02/07/2014 17:38

I'm the same as you OP.
We also have an Alexander which was my DH's choice but I'm not keen.

Ours is known as Alex at school (was always going to happen) but within the family/close friends as DaaDaa (from a toddler who couldn't manage the word Alexander - sort of evolved from Alexdaadaa)

deepbluetr · 02/07/2014 17:46

How about Sasha? THe Russian dimuitive for Alexander.

I have an Alexander who is called alex at school ( inevitable) , but we often call him AaaDaa at home ( again his toddler sister's made up name).

florascotia · 02/07/2014 17:46

Sandy very common in Scotland as a short name for Alexander. And, as others have said, from Sandy to Andy is a very short step.

Alternatively, 'Alla' is another Scottish short name for Alexander or its Scottish equivalent, Alasdair. And Ali is very well-known.

Am not that keen on Zander/Xander as a nickname, but it certainly exists and I know a really nice young man with the name.

No offence intended, but realy don't like Lex or Lexie.

burgatroyd · 02/07/2014 19:22

Alexander will prob get shortened it sounds like you have a little baby name regret.

Have a rest. Give it a few weeks. You can change his name up till he reaches a year old.

I did!

Its still taking me time to get used to her new name tho!

Original poster
PurplePunkPrincess · 02/07/2014 19:44

I dont think Alexander is pretentious exactly, it's just sounds a bit like I'm trying to be pretentious when I say it. Someone I knew year ago named their son Alexander, and I just loved how it sounded

OP posts:
looki · 02/07/2014 19:55

Why? Do you put on a pretentious sounding accent when you say it?

I'm baffled as I don't quite understand why you would think you are trying to be pretentious?

(I actually have a little baby name regret myself with my own baby's name and find I'm slightly embarrassed when people ask her name although in my case I can't figure out if her name sounds posh or chavvy!)

BonaDea · 02/07/2014 19:59

I love the name and would shorten to Xander (Zander) or Sandy.

Original poster
PurplePunkPrincess · 02/07/2014 20:31

Looki, I worry that it's a posher name and maybe I sound a bit too chavvy to pronounce it without sounding like a bit of a knob! But I'm really not a chav at all.

It's odd that names can be seen as chavvy or posh

OP posts:
burgatroyd · 02/07/2014 20:40

Looki, do u mind me asking what the name is? I really think sometimes we are not use to the name and then find other reasons not to like it.

For instance dd 1 has a strong sounding name and dd 2 a frillier one and it really seems odd. It can take years for a kid to grow into a name too.

Baby names are hard. I try to imagine the personality of a name too, if that makes sense. I don't know any Saskias, for instance, but in my minds eye I would picture an icy beautiful blond with a cute little pistol. So not my kid at all. Completely nuts I know and someone will have a different image.

Rambling now...

Oriunda · 03/07/2014 06:47

I love Alexander and if I'd had a second boy he'd have been called that. I like Alex as a nn.

Firsttimemum2012 · 03/07/2014 06:52

How about using Rex on a day to day basis? Similar to Lex but more masculine.