Bastian

[17caterpillars1mouse]

Thoughts on Bastian for a boy? Not short for Sebastian just Bastian

I really like Bastian much more than Sebastian it just sounds like a 'stronger' name and the only association I make to the name is the footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, I say go for it.

*I don't like it.
It makes me think of Camp Bastion - the former British military base in Helmand province in Afghanistan
^^ This

Why are you focussing on German?

Because Bastian is a popular name in Germany and most Bastians mentioned on this thread are German.

And the reason it works there is that the name has no association with the English word bastard!