What do you think of this name for baby due imminently?

[catlike1979]

39 weeks and not sure if boy or girl, have a girls name but for boy.....
Rafe Michael James Head.

I've posted on here recently asking for help with names - we both really like Rafe, but I'm not sure Rafe Head works (too short having both names one syllable?), but there are so many names that DON'T work with our surname. Michael and James have family connections but we don't want to use them as first names for various reasons but we love them as middle names.

Any comments? Or alternatives? Want to avoid the very overpopular names, please be honest and HELP because we're getting really stressed about it! Took us 6 weeks to name DS whilst in sleep deprived haze and really want to avoid that this time

Why not use Rafael Head, but call him Rafe for short?

I don't think Rafe Head works OP.

Head is an unusual and tricky name. I do like Rafe but not with Head as a surname.

If you like Rafe, you might also like

Louis,
Vinnie,
Tommy,

Yes I agree with PP that Rafael works better. Rafe for short.

I think Head is an unfortunate surname.

I think you need something longer and more classic. Rafe Head sounds at best like a mills & boon character and at worst like a porn star.

What’s your surname OP ?
Could you use it instead?

Rafe somehow sounds like an adjective describing Head. Doesn't make sense, I know, but that's what I first thought.

Reece Head
Devin Head

I agree with Ittoshall, Rafael (or Ranulph) as fullname rather than Rafe- I like Rafe but think with your short surname it would be good for your DS to have choice of longer version.

Rufus Head
Rowan Head

I think names like Jacob and
Lucas work.

You could use Michael James and call him MJ

I think you need a long first name to work with the short surname

Montgomery Head
Christopher Head
Frederick Head
William Head

I would choose a longer name which takes the emphasis away from Head eg Nathaniel, Gabriel, Sebastian.

Please don’t use Rafe. It sounds and looks like another word you would never want associated with your lovely baby. In combination with your surname it is horrible.

It doesn't sound the best.

I don’t like Rafe anyway. What about Raphael?

I like Raphael but think sounds too Spanish!

Oh dear god! Is Head an actual name? Please no, he will be teased mercilessly with major sexual innuendo being to the fore.

Rafe is nice though

I like Frederick but then Fred Head awful
William Head nice but Willy Head will be jokes in the playground (synyonomous with D*ck head!)

Head does seem a lot trickier than other one syllable surnames for some reason.

I don’t think it goes well. If you are set on Rafe, which I quite like, I’d go for the longer Raphael too.

I think Head would work better with a longer name and a diminutive short name.

Did not read post . I thought Head was a first name. I agree a 2 syllable first name to go with his surname.

@Whoops75 I would love to use my name. I really love my maiden name. The problem is that DH isn't keen at all, and our 3 year old DS now has the surname Head. It all feels a bit too stressful and rushed to
talk now at the last minute about changing our name - DH is adamant that we all have the same surname so if we used my maiden name for this baby, we would all have to change our names. Argh. I'm so stressed about it :-(

Why is your DH so keen to hang onto this awful name? Lots of surnames over time have been changed, anglicised etc, I know a few families who took the mums surname.

@Bookworm4 he's quite traditional about it (surprisingly as he's very modern and forward thinking about pretty much everything else!) and was really, really unimpressed when I brought up the subject of changing my name, never mind the whole family's!

Totally agree with @Bookworm4 and was actually going to say that I would change everyone to my maiden name. I'm curious why you gave it up if you like it so much? Quite frankly, Head is a rubbish surname and if were your DH I would have been glad for an excuse to change it. Or did he insist that you change your surname too?

I don't think Rafe is that bad tbh but Rafael is lovely too.

Don't stress poor OP out further by going on about the surname being bad and why the patriarchy should be taken down 😂 I couldn't agree more but basically clearly the baby is going to have the last name Head and that's what's been decided for the best in their family. Fair enough.

Ranulph Head nn Rafe could work? Or Ralph? I agree Raphael is a bit Spanish if you have no connections to it.

Are there no other contenders OP?

FWIW I still like Austin and think it goes well with the middle names you've chosen. I think ruling it out just because of the initial is unnecessary.