Ray as middle name?

[FifiRebel]

I am expecting my first baby (a boy) in July. I will be calling him Luca, which complements my Italian surname nicely.

I would like to include an abbreviation of my grandad's name in Luca's name. His name is Ramon but I prefer Ray (think Ramon would sound a bit pretentious with Luca).

What are your thoughts on Luca Ray? I think it's cute but I'm worried people might think I'm trying to have an abbreviated first name (definitely a big no for me). Not sure if Ray has same connotations as abbreviated names with Jay/May etc?

Thanks in advance!

I love Luca. Luca Ray sounds like a weapon!

People rarely use middle names anyway (unless your child is doing something naughty in the supermarket and gets the full name callout).

Love Luca though...

Luca Ramon is lovely! Love the name Luca btw. I don't like Ray and don't think it sounds great with Luca but it's a middle name that he will probably never use so it really doesn't matter IMO. I have an awful middle name picked by my late grandmother but I never use it so I don't care about it.

I just think of Voodoo Ray.

Sorry, that's probably not helpful.

My first thought was that it's rather an old man's name (as in abbreviation of Raymond). You get lots of villains and cops in seventies shows called Ray. Of course, I'm showing my age and most younger people would probably think of it as light ray(?)

I think the traditional southern states name (Billy Ray, Stevie Ray) is also a very valid point.

Luca Ramon is awesome. Not pretentious at all.

I prefer Luca Ramon and don't think it's pretentious

I actually love the name Ray as a stand alone name but in this case I'd just go with Luca Ramon.

Thanks for comments so far! Quite surprised at the love for Luca Ramon so definitely having a rethink

My grandad hates being called Ramon so he would definitely prefer it if I went for full version...

I like Ray bit then it was my dad's name and is my DB and DN name (well, they are all Raymond) ! We may use it as a middle name but we have no first name decided yet so not helpful!

As it happens Lucas is a first name we might use so Lucas Ray for us maybe

I'm surprised at the negative opinions so far, I think it sounds out really well, and Ray is a cool but beautiful middle name I've considered (but for a girl). I don't think of a weapon I think of the sun. I do think Luca Ramon works too though.

Do you mean it might be mistaken for a hyphenated first name? As in Lily-May?

I think those are more common for girls, prepared to be corrected on that. Boys more likely to be called by initials, like AJ or TJ (not LR though). I have heard of Rae as the second part of hyphenated girls' names and do wonder if that's becoming fashionable.

Ray is an old man name to me, like Roy, Vince, Victor but probably not to your son's generation. It has cool connotations too, like Man Ray (an even older reference!) and rays of light.

Ah right, Billy Ray etc. I don't think Luca Ray has the same vibe as that.

Do you mean hyphenated when you say "abbreviated"? Like John-Paul, Ellie - Mae etc?

I don't think people will think that unless you habitually call him by both names.

Out of interest, how does your Gd pronounce Ramon? Is he on the Italian side of the family? I always thought Ramon was a Spanish name, pron Rah- MOAN?

Hi Jessie - yes he pronounces it like that. He isn't on the Italian side, not sure why his mum went for that as his siblings have traditional British names

You're up early Fifi! Or not in UK? I am pregnant and have insomnia .

I suppose that if he pronounced it Rah- mon rather than Raymon, Ray is a less obvious derivative? But then maybe less obvious is a good thing.

I quite like the slightly American twist it gives to the name. Luca Ray would definitely be a good name for a musician.

My Ds has Ray as his middle name after my grandad, prefer Ray to Raymond

Up early from the baby kicking...find it hard to doze back off!

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. I think I'm now settled on Luca Ramon, much to my grandad's pleasure.

Ray is cool. If your grandad prefers Ray, then that is a better tribute.

Oh good, it's really lovely. Even if it wasn't a family name it would be a cracking name.

Both are lovely but I think Luca Ramon is better.

Luca Ray sounds like Bukaroo to my ears.
Luca Ramon is gorgeous, though.