Help me convince DH of my name choice please!

[TerrysNo3]

DS2 was born on Tuesday evening, we already have DS1 and DD who have short (4 letter) names which are quite unusual.

The name I like is Xavier (pronounced with a Z) as my dad's family are Portuguese so I'd like a link to that. I think it sounds nice in its full form but also shortened to Zave when he's older.

DH thinks it's too out there and that no one will pronounce it right. Oh and he thinks everyone will think he's an X Man

What do you think?

I would love to help you but I couldn't get this or Xander past DH either. I hope you get to use it!

Congratulations. Love love love it. Once you tell people how you want to pronounce it that's how they will - most people pronounce it 'Z' anyway ime. It's not particularly out there at all (i know the same number of Xavier/Xavs as i do Jacks). The Xman thing is a bit reaching imo.

Also, there does not exist a name that some eejit won't spell or pronounce wrong.

Thanks both

showgirl I've never met one before so i assumed it was still unusual, do you think its not then?

You will get told on here that it's terribly popular. That may be so in certain areas (possibly London or SE) but I have never met one.

It's not to my taste but if you like it and it has family connections and you can twist your DH's arm then go for it.

I like it but don't understand the pronunciation. I would pronounce Xavier as Xa-vee-er and Zavier as Za-vee-er, so why don't you spell it with the Z if that is how you want to pronounce it?

I like it, and would pronounce it as Za-vee-er - some people might still use the Z sound but say Zay-vee-er.

But xa and za sound identical - x at the start of a word in English is usually a z sound, often from words nicked from Greek, like in xylophone, xylitol, xenophobia, Xanthe etc.

Not in X-Men they don't! And I presume that what the OP is worried about - for some reason they pronounce it as Ex-zay-vee-we in the films.

I know a Xavier whose name is pronounced with the X sound, maybe it's the French version?

Not EX-avier but just X-avier.

Nice name. I don't think it's "out there" at all, go for it.

What name choices has your DH come up with then?

It's a shame he doesn't like it, Xavier is a lovely name.

What are his suggestions?

But the thing is, your child really has to have a name loved by both his parents. I know I would hate to feel like I had to have my child named something I didn't love. If he doesn't like it - how can he be persuaded to like it?

I know I'm going to get it in the neck for saying that.

Not at all, I think everyone will agree. I certainly wouldn't agree to a name I disliked.

Nope, won't help you. If he doesn't like it he doesn't like it and has every right not to - find another name you both like.

Personally Xavier isn't to my taste, but I'd say the same if it was any of my favourite names up here!

I figure once we choose it he will learn to love it because once a child has a name that name becomes them! His choices are all American ones which I don't like and have no link.. Jaxon, Coben, Harley and the like and I just don't like that style of name.

If I sulk enough and play the childbirth card I'm hoping to win him round

scobberlotcher thanks for making me laugh, I actually think Jason made a better point too! .

I think I might be wearing him down, the kids are on board and he just asked the magic 8 ball if it was a good name, which said "absolutely". Now it's all about maintaining the momentum

People may struggle to pronounce Xavier at first, but everyone will definitely misspell Jaxon!

Honestly I prefer his choices...but if you don't then don't pick them obviously! Though surely "he will grow to love it" applies equally to you

Go back to the beginning with the name hunt is my advice.

I know 2 Xaviers in rural Devon. I like it though. Hope your DH comes round. I would never have made my DH agree to a name he didn't like but did discover that he was terribly fickle with baby names. Both our DCs have names that he wrote off the first time before really loving them when I mentioned them a few weeks later Occasionally now he'll say 'oh, that's a lovely name' about something that he vetoed when I was pregnant. We both loved the names we chose when DCs were born though.

I think using persuasion is all above board. If he comes round he comes round. If he doesn't it's back to the drawing board.

But bloody hell, Xavier is eleventy million times nicer than Jaxon, Coben or Harley!

I think you should keep looking for a name you both quite like. I think your DH's concerns are valid.

It's a nice name, I'd forget about shortenings for now, cross that bridge when you come to it. I'd say you get to name this one because you grew him and carried him around for 9 months and pushed him out of your vagina. But if dh can do that for the next one, then he can choose the name next time. x-men is not that great a film, especially by the time your ds is a bit bigger, your dh needs to get over x-men. On the other hand, if he just really hates the name, are there any names you both like? If not tell him to shove it.