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

True true @diddlediddle OP & I posted at the same time, it wasn't meant to be a pile on. I really don't think Rafe Head is bad at all time, I imagine calling it out in the pharmacy and seems fine to me. Not particularly elegant or cool but strong and not embarrassing.

Wait, what - did he insist you changed your surname to Head as well, OP?

What’s wrong with him?

Rueben would work better.

Isaac Michael James Head
Alexander Michael James Head
Leon Michael James Head
Daniel Michael James Head.
All sound lovely and go well with the unfortunate surname.
Rafe seems to draw attention to it.

Woah, woah, woah! I see NOTHING wrong with the name you've chosen. Don't let it stress you out. If you love the name Rafe, go with it. It sounds absolutely normal to me.
I think there's too much overthinking going on. I remember your other thread and a lot of the suggestions from others genuinely sounded awful with Head. The best ideas are going to come from you and your partner because you've considered it the most and Rafe goes fine with Head. You don't want to choose a name that other people like or you're going to regret it. Go with what YOU both like.
Mumsnet is good for steering people from naming their kids things like 'Annette Curtain' but Rafe Head is inoffensive/normal/fine.

Aw thanks @Spintops! I do need to stop stressing but so hard as it took us ages to name DS after he was born and I just didn't need it alongside the new baby sleep deprivation!!

DH didn't make me change my name, he expected that I would as he just figured that's what you did, and I was so caught up in the romance of being a newlywed and at the time all my friends changed their names too that stupidly I just thought that's what you did. It's only in retrospect I've thought about it and realised that I detest my surname and wished I hadn't done it! I'm pretty sure that whatever comes of this, I will be changing my name back to maiden name and have told DH this and he has accepted it. He's also said that he doesn't like the idea of the family not having one surname, so if push comes to shove then he'd change his name to my maiden name along with the children. So that's good.

We just had a chat about it and he said I should stop stressing and if we end up changing our surname then we can do that as and when, but see now I'm stressing about choosing a first name because IF we end up changing our surname, it has a bearing on which first name we go with and this baby is due any day now!

OP your surname compared to others I've heard is perfectly fine. Everyone knows surnames can be tricky and/or plain weird.

When I was at primary school there was a Jennifer Blackhead and a Jennifer Whitehead. Same school. Not related.

Anyway nothing wrong with Rafael and Rafe is sweet. However in terms of sound yes a 3 syllable first name would be better overall although you'll likely shorten it for a NN anyway

My youngest son was called Raif for the first month. I wanted it spelt like Ralph (as in the actor Ralph Fiennes) but ex said no to that. I wouldn't have spelt it like Rafe. I back what a PP said, it sounds like something it shouldn't have could easily look like something it shouldn't if spelt like Rafe. (People's handwriting types aren't always great)

I eventually backed out and changed it completely before registration.

Case in point, you've had a suggestion for Frederick and William. 🤦‍♀️ Fred Head and Dick Head?

Please, please, please don't change your decision because of this thread. You and your partner have thought of it more than anyone and names are a matter of taste. Lots of perfectly normal names suggested but that doesn't mean you like them enough to choose them for your own child. I'm firmly in Team Rafe! 😂

Sorry that was meant to say "and could easily look"*

What about rafferty?

Ranulph Head is a horrible name imo but it does work. Raphael doesnt go with Head.

It's a grim surname OP.

Can you make a new new name from yours and his combined?
So if your surname was Barker you could be the Barhead family?

I'd hate to be Mrs Head, Mrs Balls, Mrs Pratt, etc

Wow, OP, I really hope you don’t take to heart some of the stuff on this thread about your surname. It’s really not a big deal.

It’s true that some names seem to work better with it (as some names work better with all surnames) - my preferences so far are Leon and Rufus, I think.

But please try not to worry too much - remember that it’s absolutely fine to wait a few days or even weeks before naming him definitively.

I also like Benjamin Head, Liam Head and Joseph Head.

I agree with Sue that a much longer first name will sound infinitely better with 'Head'

Lawrence Head
Montgomery Head
Charles Head
Christopher Head

Great with a three syllable name.

Head isn't great but there are much worse names to have! I knew someone who was "Blackbottom"...can you imagine!

Ooh yes Benjamin Head is good. Sound like an actor.

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

Montgomery Head
Christopher Head
Frederick Head*

But he'll end up as Fred Head

Aaron Head
George Head
Alex(ander) Head
Charles/Charlie Head
Ethan Head
Elijah Head

The difficulty with 3 syllable names is that it will almost certainly be shortened to a one syllable nickname. I know Clarke and George are one syllable but they have a longer sound. I especially like Elijah Head.

Yes, Rafe Head does sound like an attachment you’d fit to a steam cleaner.

Raphael Head is fine.

I agree that a 2 syllable name works best

Quentin Head
Reuben Head
Marcus Head

But definitely not William or Richard or he'll end up as Dick Head

Ooh yes Benjamin Head is good

Really? Ben Head?!

Ben Head isn't great. I don't think Rafe Head works, (as a matter of interest it auto-corrected to Rage).

LOL at Ben Head!

Isaac Head also really doesn’t work where I live. Along the same lines as Isaac Hunt...