Lysander

[toobreathless]

Thoughts please.

This is the only name we have both agreed on so far!

DH likes: Atticus, Horatio

I like: Solomon, Gideon, Percival.

Middle name will be John for family reasons.

What do you think?

I'm quite posh and think it's very OTT. Like our pretend child Tarquin

Could become Sandy, not Xander because there is a 'san' sound but not a 'zhan' sound.

Percival is slightly ridiculous too. Not sure about Horatio, although a very cool namesake. Gideon is too George Osbourne. Sol/Solomon is OK, although if Sol becomes his nn then you have the very short first and surname issue.

Love Solomon with nn Solly
How about Christopher with nn Kester or Kit
Met a baby Magnus the other day
Alban
Thaddeus nn Teddy
Cassian comes up regular on here
Victor or Vincent are secret faves of mine

I'm also put in mind of Toesland nn Tolly as DD is reading my old favourite 'Greene Knowe ' books (also love Linnet)

How about Marcus, if you like Mark but it's too short?

Are your girls' names Shakespearean? I quite like sib sets.

The Lysander I know has an older sister called Tatiana and a brother called Hector.

I like Lysander and Horatio. Not so fond of Gideon (just think of the Bibles) and I really don't like Solomon.

If you're going for the posh end - how about St John?

I like Lysander. I think babies/children just 'become' their name - and any 'ponciness' in the standalone name disappears.

I met someone called Lysander at University.

My friend and I were in stitches at how poncy it was, even though we had both been privately educated, and so had plenty of acquaintances with pretentious names .

Maybe times have moved on a bit - I think people might still snigger to themselves.

Personally I think if you want to bestow a name like that, it's perfect for a dog or cat. Actually, they are all quite good cat names.

Not too keen on most of your names but LOVE Lysander and absolutely love Leander! (my DT2 was almost a Leander)

Quite like it, i also like Gideon.

Our little boy will be Xander :) (As his full name)

What about Samson then ;) but actually I quite like it!
Leandro
Lorcan
lauchlan
I also love Thadeus/teddy and considered it but family objected...
I secretly like the idea of Oberon

Lysander is gaining popularity it seems so if you both love it....

I knew a Leander at university. He'd be in his early thirties now. I like it.

It would be lies, not lice if shortened, surely!!

I know a five year old Oberon, known as Obi. When I first met him I rolled my eyes a bit at his name, but now I don't think twice about it. He's just one of dd's bunch of friends.

It's rather illogical that the name of one foreign ancient Greek-region hero - Alexander - should be totally acceptable, while another one - Lysander- raises eyebrows. Plenty of other names in popular use are also ancient Greek - Chloe, Helen, Jason, Paris...

I rather like Lysander, and it sort of 'fits' with your DH's armed forces career. I also associate 'Lysander' with the famous 'secret missions' WWII aircraft, which is an exciting story for any child to link their name to.

'Won't somebody think of the children' sprang unchecked to my mind in first instance

The names sound stereotypically upper class, even 'comedy' upper class. You're 'normal' you say, then I wouldn't do it' Why would you! Atticus is super trendy. Solomon is the best of them.

Not illogical. Alexander has been mainstream for ever so long, not so Lysander.

OP if Lysander is the one you both love I agree that you should just go ahead and use it. It's unusual yes but not unheard of.

The other thing is flora, maybe there is a reason some names remained popular and mainstream and others not! I would bet the lice thing is the reason Lysander lost popularity, having said that the more I say 'Lysander' the more I like it, its quite strong but with a pretty quality.

I like them all apart from Solomon (I've only ever met one Solomon though which is a plus point) I do know a very nice Gideon!
Atticus and Lysander are definitely my favorites.

Nice name. Go for it

I think it's also the "lie" sound that would put people off, not a good start.

I like Sandor, which I believe is the Hungarian form of Alexander, not just a shortening. There used to be an actor called Sandor Eles, which is where I first heard the name.

I meant that it's illogical that some ancient Greek names have become popular while others have not. In western Europe, Alexander was mostly used for popes, rulers and intellectuals until relatively modern times, but it became very popular in the 19th century. Victorian imperial confidence, maybe? I don't know.

Am not certain about pronounciation putting people off; 'Lionel' has been used for centuries without anyone linking it to the word 'lie'.

A friend of mine named her son Lysander, he's now 12/13 and although it not a name I would choose I think there are a lot worse out there x