Jakub or Kacper? Maybe Olaf?

[Josie1988]

I know a few Olafs (in Poland) and it's my favourite, but it won't work in the UK, will it? Frozen...

If not, it's between Jakub and Kacper.

Which do you like more? Thanks.

I am genuinely at some of the comments on here OP. All your names are lovely and I'm sure that as long as they are not an arsehole people will be able to pronounce them perfectly well.

Personally I prefer Jakub, I've never heard the nickname Kuba before but think it's lovely.

OP - just a word to say that although you wouldn't anglicise the pronunciation, your DS may well, so it might be better to choose a name of which you don't mind the anglicised version!

I know quite a few Jakubs and a couple of Kacpers - two of the Jakubs are known as "Jake", at least two are pronounced "Jacob" and both Kacpers are pronounced "Casper" (one set of parents writes the name as Kasper for school so that's how he spells his name, even though birth certificate has Polish spelling).

I suppose it's no different to avoiding a long name when you hate the related nickname - if you can't stand "Ben", don't choose "Benjamin" because odds are it's going to get shortened, even if you don't shorten it yourself.

Other than that - choose the name you like best!!

Olaf is the best for me by far.

Kacper = Kac = Cack... we can see where that one goes.

Jakub could become Jack. If your'e happy with that.

Happyhearts
Thomas is an excellent name! Good choice. He'll come around.

I like jakub or olaf.

Yes around here kak/kack/cack all means shit, poo, crap. Not a good sound in a name here!

Jakub and Kuba are nice, tho I assume people may say it like Jacob rather than Yakub until they hear it properly.

Frozen 2 due out in Spring 2018 and there will be a third if it does as well as the first ...

I like Jakub.

If you're living in a reasonably ethnically mixed area of London I really don't think you should worry about foreign names being difficult to pronounce/spell or weird or whatever. Yes, their classmates parents might have difficulty with a name but the classmates themselves will be fine with it. And the teachers will have to cope as it is their job!

To all of you who think nobody will be able to grasp the concept of a "foreign" name:

This thread reminds me of this...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=YpiAhxaE_oI

Even of it not pronounced cack per, kids will day that from the way it's written, and he could get teased. Which might be ok, depending on what kind of kid he is, or it might be hell.

Ime kids won't say it the way it's written.

Very few will be able to read in reception. He'll introduce himself as kachper, and that's what he'll be called. When they do learn to read they'll learn that kacper is pronounced kachper, like they'll learn would is pronounced wood.

My dc go to school with a wide variety of cultures. Some of the names, from a white british pov are very odd, but the kids don't bat an eyelid. It's their friends name.

I love the polish names Marek and Jerzy (Jurek) so would pick one of the, or maybe Stefan.

Not now babulya he's in his late teens!

To be honest we always preferred the shortened version and he was supposed to be named the short version but - first baby, in labour for days, everyone comes to see him when he's a few hours old, I'm shattered and SMIL kicks up an almighty fuss about his shortened name and I just gave in Biggest mistake I ever made!!

She's tried it ever since with our other DC too and other things but unfortunately for her I've learned not to listen to her

Op pick a Polish name spelt the right way and everyone will figure it out. I have an unusual name and spelling as it's not 'english' because I'm not. I get positive comments everyday. If you live in London even less if an issue.

Fwiw I work in an ara with quite a big polish community and the names are no issue. I know a boy who is 10 called Olaf and I love it he's really cool and his name suits him. I prefer Kacper over jakub as it's a bit more unusual.

I would go for Olaf. I don't think the Frozen thing will really matter in 5 years when your child starts school it will just be another Disney film by then.I think it is also the easiest in terms of spelling and pronunciation. I have also taught quite a few Polish children whose names have a polish spelling but they go by the English pronunciation at school by their own instigation. I suppose because they get a little fed up of explaining the pronunciation to peers and teachers. I'm not saying that they should do this but some children obviously find it easier.

Olaf is just so strong and so cool. I kind of wish I could have another DS now, and be Polish, so that I could use this name!!

Marmite

I like Olaf and jakub, I think they're nice names, but I haven't seen frozen so I don't know if that would change my mind!

I like Olaf and Jakub. Kacper will probably end up being pronounced Casper.

We live in a small, not very multicultural town and even our little school manages with children with Polish names without anyone spontaneously combusting. Names that aren't Jack and Ella really aren't a problem for today's children or teachers and don't result in bullying.

From the time I was a child, I loved the name Phebe from the books by Louisa May Alcott.

But I had my first DD not long after Friends finished being made. So, I was worried people would think I had got my inspiration from the character on the show. (I think she may have had the Phoebe spelling?) So, I didn't use it, and I have always regretted that.

If I told you my 17yo DD was called Phebe, would you think Friends? Probably wouldn't even think about it.

So, I would say, if you like Olaf, go for it.

(My DC have friends of all different backgrounds. They don't really question their names. They're just names.)

Jakub is lovely and has the added bonus of a cool Polish nickname (Kuba). I'd choose it for that alone, although the others are great too.

What sounds best with the surname?

I do have to say though that a foreign name will cause comment and queries 'how long have you lived here then?', which is a monumental pain in the backside, and I'm not convinced it's not a barrier when applying for jobs (assuming the surname isn't Smith of Windsor).

And come off it you lot who say you've not heard of Olaf the snowman - I've never seen Frozen, wanted to see Frozen or listened to the well known caterwauling song all the way through bit even I'm aware of is a snowman (as does anti cutesy-disney DS)!

I really don't like Olaf.

However I don't see any issue with Jakub or Kacper.

Op threads can get like this when Welsh/Gaelic names are mentioned too. Blows some people's little heads that people use names from their own cultures.

I would go for Olaf if you like it best, I think it sounds lovely and the frozen thing is not really a negative. The other 2 are nice too but I prefer Olaf. I don't think the polish spellings would be confusing in school, surprised by some of the comments! We're in London too and names from all cultures are normal to all the kids, some replies here are very narrow minded

Yes you want to keep your son's heritage alive by giving him a polish name. HOWEVER you have chosen to live in another country and to bring him up here so you need to consider how he will fit in with his name. Calling him something that no one will ever know how to spell or pronounce straight off is not going to win you any brownie points from him. As someone who has a name that is easily misspelt, I have missed many vital emails from people who spell it how they think it should be and not how it is when it comes to typing my email address.