What to call our boy...

[TheFillyjonk]

We thought we were settled on a name, but now it's getting closer to the due date I'm wavering...

We had the name Francis, which I do like. It's not used too much, it's pretty classic and it's pretty versatile. It's DP's grandfather's name. In terms of nicknames, we were leaning towards Franco.

However:

1. It doesn't feel very creative using a family name. DP never knew his grandfather.
2. Franco may make people think we're closet fascists with its Spanish connections.
3. MIL is making noises about using Franco when we're "not Italian" and favours Frankie, which I don't like.
4. Francis has a very boring meaning: Frenchman.

We DO have a middle name - Jackson (any guesses what DP's name is? ) It started off as a joke name but it's well and truly stuck. The surname is two syllables.

The name I really like is Felix. I like the meaning, the sound, its Latinness and I love cats.

So we could have:
Francis/Franco Jackson
Felix Jackson

Other suggestions are more than welcome! For the record, I don't like the old man chic names going around like Algernon or Bertie. I'm also not a fan of very traditional ten-a-penny boy's names. I am half Greek but I don't think I want to inflict Stavros or the like on my kid (though I do like ancient greek names).

Thank you!

Austin? Quentin? Lachlan?

I love Felix Jackson, it's a wonderful name, and I really like the story behind Jackson.

However, I would avoid using Francis if you don't like the nickname Frankie, as I think it's a much more likely nickname from friends and family than Franco.

Francis Jackson is fine name, Use it!

Baby Frankie, teen Frank or Fran or Franco if you must but I reckon this needs just to be a nick name. Grandad Frank , High court judge Francis. Yell it in the park and it doesn't sound daft but you wont get 10 kids coming running.

Yep, passes all the name tests !

Felix... meh.... it's Ok but Meh and the butt of rude jokes as in Felix my...

Nice names but it'd be too many -n sounds I think, as the surname ends -yn.

I have the same thinking about Francis and wouldn't dictate over nicknames too much. Frank is okay but a bit stuffy.

Haha, I hadn't thought of that with the Felix connection...

I prefer Felix, if only because I don't like the NN "Franco". Francis Jackson sounds fine though.

IceRebel, I feel Felix Jackson has a bit more edge. That's why Im drawn to it. Also, I guess it's more of an original choice than Francis (which I still like too).

I love Francis - it was on my list.

I'm not sure I'd want to use Franco because of the fascist dictator connection though.
It's short enough that it doesn't need a nickname.

My vote is for Francis/Franco.

I have a Frank (just Frank, here's hoping he doesn't become a high court judge ) and we call him Franco all the time. In the 8 months he's been alive no-one has called us fascists yet if that's any consolation .

Felix is very drippy. I like Jackson (Johnny Cash fan) but I'm guessing your DH is Jack which takes it out of the running as a first name?

I much prefer Felix.

I don't like Francis or Frank, and I think Franco might be too difficult to make stick possibly.

Yes Bunny, DP is Jack!

I'm glad you haven't been called fascists. I guess Franco is a little different than calling your kid Adolf as it's such a popular name.

I hadn't thought of Felix as drippy, I must say.

I wouldn't use Francis (or any name), if you don't like the nickname. Having said that, I think it's a great name!

We have a Patrick, which I think has a similar feel. We have loads of nicknames for him, but mainly Patchy at the moment.

Fraser Jackson sounds nice

Hmm, Fraser is nice but with Jackson is it too surnamey?

The thing about Frank is our surname begins with a hard C so the names would really jar. Although, thinking about it, without the Jackson bit, Franco would too as the surname begins Cor-. Francis goes fine though.

Franklin

I don't like Franco due to dictator assosiciation

Greek vibes-
Theodore
Alix
Cyrus
Leander
Milo
Otis

Yeah, I've really gone off Franco. I don't like Franklin though, I feel Francis has a nicer sound.

I like the Greek vibes of those names, particularly Otis. Alix and Theodore are a bit too widely used for me but perfectly nice.

Thinking about it, I seem to like names ending in -x or -s...

Thaddeus

Orestis?

I teach a lovely Greek boy called this!

Orestis is gorgeous. Not sure I could convince DP though...

I really like Felix Jackson!

Freddie too plain?

Max, Rex, Austin.

I actually know a Francis who occasionally goes by Franco, and it suits him down to his boots. Wouldn't have liked the name before meeting him, but I would never associate the name with the dictator now and I actually quite like it! Good example of how, even if people give a slight raised eyebrow at the birth announcement, the boy will eventually become the major thing that comes to mind with the name; other associations won't be so strong.

Having said that, Felix is on our boys list, so I really love that name!

I like Felix Jackson, it's cool and sharp.

The trouble with NNs is that you really don't control them other than in the family, and Francis is as likely to get Frank Franny Franno etc etc as the NN you prefer.