Opinions please- 6 left on the list!

[Lilydreams]

Having a boy in August! DH and I both like the more unique/ unusual names which is good because we both work in a profession where the majority of boys names remind us of some unsavoury 'client', shall we say. So since we found out it was a boy any unusual/ unique names we came across we kept a list of- got it down from around 14 to 6 the other day and now a bit stuck again! I love all the names on our list now but do have a favourite- I'm very aware there is a fine line between 'unusual and nice' and 'unusual and celeb wtf' so opinions please! Also opinions/ experiences on popularity welcome!

Reid
Luca
Hendrix
Spencer
Ridley

Argh totally forgot the 6th- list is on DH phone and he's at work! Will add it later- talk about baby brain!!

I only like Luca from your list; sorry – but I really REALLY like it.

My favourite is Spencer.

You've made my day you are one of the only people to ever mention the name my DH wants to use if our DC is a boy. It's one you ruled out but this makes me feel like it's less of a weird name. Sorry totally of topic just anyone I've mentioned it to has been suprised!

I know a lot of Luca's so not sure it'll be all that unique.
I think I prefer spencer but I'm of the minority that thinks Hendrix is quite cute. Not so keen on Ridley or Reid

Reid - Like this one.
Luca - Quite common now, know a few born in the last couple of years.
Hendrix - Very musical but not sure about it.
Spencer - Like this.
Ridley - Bit too much like Riley which I dislike.

Pandora that's a good point and I had wondered about the Italian thing which a few have mentioned now, hmm.

Those who don't like Hendrix- what is the reasoning- is it a general not liking, personal preference of not liking unusual names or is there a specific association for you that's not good?

Bouncing- Arlo and Gregor I don't like- Seth was on the original lost but DH wasn't too keen so was removed and Ramsay I immediately associate with the chef or Aussie soap! But thank you!

Reid -- a bit limp if you encounter it out of the context mentioned by PPs. Not everyone will be familiar with that and you are left with the image of a reed.
Luca --I think Luca is a bit 'trying to be different'. Lucas isn't bad though.
Hendrix -- are you rockers? Do you have that sort of lifestyle? It is a lot for a small boy, in glasses for example, or who likes reading/chess/playing the oboe to live up to.
Spencer -- solid and sort of safe, maybe even a little dated.
Ridley OK. Go through what it rhymes with though. Start with A and work your way to Z fiddley, diddley, tiddley-wiiddley, piddley...

Suggestion:

Marley?

LakeofDreams- like I say those I mentioned we only ruled out because there was too much 'n' alliteration with our surname- I really loved them all!

I don't like Hendrix because it sounds very try hard. It's a bit 'look how quirky and musical we are' if that makes sense

Mathanxiety- points taken- esp regarding Ridley, think that was my least fave anyway and aside from your opinion hasn't caused great waves for or against so I think might be removed as a bit 'meh' in my eyes!

Marley- no chance- has come up at work too much and I associate with the lovely golden Labrador in the book!

Felix- I totally get that but if we aren't remotely musical/ rocky as people who know us know, then would it still appear try hard in that way do you think? It is from the Dutch 'Hendrick' meaning home and king/ruler although I obviously get the musical/ rocker association!

I think I'm more stuck than I was before! Goes to show people's preferences/ associations vary wildly! I appreciate the opinions though keep them coming! I think ultimately as long as no specific ridiculous associations come up I will let DH decide the finalists- as in he vetoed 'Nate' because he said he couldn't get 'Nate dogg and Warren G' out of his head and 'Rowan' because he said it reminded him of Mr. Bean!! Isiah also went as he said his Scouse relatives would pronounce 'eyes higher' and 'Kobe' would be beef forever!! Lol

Springtime- that's really interesting as we have picked them based on the very opposite! If we associate with 'work clients' it means they are very very naughty indeed so these are ones we've never come across through work! How funny! Again- personal associations I suppose!

Hendrix will always be 'Jimi Hendrix', and lots of his peers may ask 'Are you experienced?' in a nudge nudge wink wink way when he is a teen. It doesn't matter if you yourselves are not into rock. Everyone and his aunt knows Jimi Hendrix is a rock n roll god and that is what Hendrix signifies.

Im not against unusual names at all but I think the problem with Hendrix is that it doesn't age well and it would only suit a certain person.

If you think about in 70 years or so grandad Hendrix it just sounds weird. It's cute for a baby but after 10 it sounds silly. Might be a bit faddy too, I'm not sure.

Some of your other suggestions are lovely though.

Mathanxiety- what is this 'are you experienced?' reference I have no idea (I obviously understand the Q but not how it relates!) just a thought but if I don't then I can't see the generation my son will grow up in all knowing either- surely as time passes although the musician will still be heard of it isn't going to be as well known all the ins and outs of his life etc?

I was named after Ella Fitzgerald- but certainly not a lot of my peers particularly in school had any idea she was the Queen of jazz etc

Again this isn't meant to come across defensive etc! Just trying to explain how I see it! And the other names are certainly still up there!

If you are only looking at names that don't come up at work (am I the only one here who is speculating madly as to what you do? ) be careful. You may end up seeing names in the future that could ruin your choice, and if you come upon a specimen who is particularly famous (infamous) and your child has that unusual name then he will stick out like a sore thumb.

If you want to avoid negative connotations, maybe look at names in the top ten. I know this may sound like the opposite of your logic here, and it is -- but what I am suggesting is that in the general population you are going to find many more examples of names like 'William' or 'Oliver' who are fine, decent people, and maybe that would outweigh your negative associations? I can see how your work is influencing you though.

Or go in another direction and choose names that are fairly obscure in Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Wales, Scotland -- any region you are not living in.
Irish names:
Donal
Ronan
Killian (also popular in Germany)
Fintan

German names:
Otto
Leon
Fabian
Clemens/Clement
Conrad

Netherlands:
Timo (also popular in Germany)
Boaz
Niels
Bram
Elias

Welsh:
Osian
Aled
Aneurin
Huw

Scottish:
Euan
Fergus
Fraser
Struan

'Are You Experienced?' was the name of Jimi Hendrix's great debut album, featuring Jimi Hendrix and his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Just because you are not particularly a fan doesn't mean nobody else will be and won't be familiar with all things Jimi H.

Ella Fitzgerald isn't really a good analogy because there are no double entendres associated with her name that I can think of, and also because jazz is very obscure compared to rock, and in particular to Jimi Hendrix's version of it.

Haha mathanxiety I wondered if anyone would be madly curious! I get what you mean but straight away the 2 you used as e.gs made me shudder! Haha! So will stick with the unusual track- I know I may come across one at work in future but by then I will obviously associate the name we choose with our son so it will be ok!

Love Ronan and Killian but again the 'n' thing it won't work!

Just remembered the 6th........ Heath!!!!

Opinions on the name please- I don't need the obvious 'Heath ledger took an overdose' reference! Already thought of that! Can't believe I forgot it- I like it much more than a couple of the others on the list!!

Luca and spencer, dont like the others sorry x

I love Heath.
I prefer Lucas to Luca
Don't like the others but could tolerate Spencer.

Ahh thank you for explanation mathanxiety! Wondering if whilst I'm not a fan/ it's not after him etc changing the spelling to Hendrick or Hendricks would be better- although this does make me think of gin!!

Thanks Augusta- can't do Lucas but glad you like Heath- now I've remembered it!!

That is true -- one of my DDs bears the name of a famous disappeared child and it isn't an issue for me. She was named many years before the disappearance.

I like Heath.

I wouldn't use Hendricks because it would look as if you didn't know how to spell Hendrix. Hendrick I am on the fence about. I feel it would look a little as if you were going in the general direction of Hendrix but trying to be a bit different. I think all names of the Hendrix/k/s variety inevitably lead back to Jimi Hendrix one way or the other.

How about Henrik?

I think it is different enough from Hendrix that it wouldn't have a connection, but it is a real (Scandinavian) name.