Is this a bit brave?

[newroundhere]

DS1 was born 3 days ago and we still need to agree a first name. Most of the names we like are quite traditional / conservative (James, Alexander, Benjamin, Adam, Thomas) and the middle name is definitely going to be Robert.

However, DH and I both randomly like the name Torben, which is of Danish origin - no family links, we just like it. We're worried that it's a bit unusual - will people know how to spell / pronounce it, does it sound a bit trendy, are we brave enough to go for something out of the ordinary...??

So, any thoughts on Torben? With Ben as the nickname? Thanks!

I think it's cute!

Actually really like it!
I'm a teacher and it was a nightmare naming our kids with something I didn't associate with a kid I know, Torben sounds pretty great!

I'm not keen, but then my list of 'lovely names' is very, very short! 😁

If you go with it & call him Ben, don't be pissy when people assume his full/proper/non shortened name is Benjamin.

Personally I'd go with James, Alexander or Thomas. I tried to imagine my dc introducing themselves as adults to people or in an interview. This helped with name choosing

I hate original names but even I love it! Congrats!

I like it and can say it fine.

I like it. And if he gets Tor for short I like that too!

I like it!

Don't like Ben as a nickname though :S

I wouldn't call him that but use Ben. If you are going to go for torben then call him torben. Shortening it to Ben seems a bit pointless to me, cal him Ben if that's what you want to cal him!

No I prefer your first options.

I love it, smart, unusual, but not outlandish in any way, and he will have a choice of two cool nicknames, Tor, or Ben

Thanks for the feedback so far!

Lucy I agree, that's why pretty much all of our choices were traditional. Torben is a bit left field but it somehow sounds quite traditional somehow

In terms of the nn we thought Ben might give him an option if he hated having an unusual name.

If you like it then go for it, I don't think it's that out there. I have friends that I have been unsure of their choice of name at first but now I can't imagine them as anything else and have come round to the names myself! We named our little boy Hugo and I nearly didn't do it as was worried what people would think but now I don't care and glad we stuck with it and didn't get put off by others!

I like it too.

Love it! And Tor would be a very cool NN.

Torben is a lovely name! And really not that outlandish; as you say, it does somehow have a solid traditional feel, which prevents it from being weird or trendy.
I've just googled it's meaning and it's great!
Thor's bear... The bear of the Thunder God... Imagine all the wonderful pet names you could spin out of it for him!

Lovely name, go for it!

Love it!

I think you've hit the name jackpot. It's not popular but sounds solid, almost traditional yet cool.

I really like it and I'm not usually a fan of out there names. It sounds traditional and having the option of Ben is a good compromise. Plus I like Tor too.

I like it too. As I read your post I thought James Alexander was lovely yet reading the thread, Torben was growing on me. The meaning makes little bear, or Mama's little bear seem adorable.

I like it - like pp said it sounds both traditional yet cool.

It's OK, but you and your son will spend your lives having people ask if you're Danish or Scandinavian.

It's a fab name. The only thing that jumped out at me is Torben is one letter off being an anagram of Robert so Torben Robert is maybe an odd combination. But if you don't mind (or even like) that fact you should totally go for it!
We strongly considered Torin which has a similar feel and means chief which may work better with Robert?

I really doubt your son will spend his life telling people where he's from. I know of an adult torrent and nobody questions his name, it's just his name