Sullivan Xavier Anderson- Too much??

[EmmaRay]

Me and my DH can’t seem to agree on names with us both wanting what seems like the opposite of each other but we have finally agreed on a name!
Sullivan - can be shortened to Sully if I can convince my DH
Xaver - My DH’s favourite name
Anderson - My DH’s Surname
Is it a bit too much though??

Bearing in mind that most people will never use his middle name, I think Sullivan Anderson is a bit clunky to say

Also, Xavier pronounced the original way, ie hav-ee-ay?

When he gives his name as Sullivan Anderson he will likely then be asked for his first name. It sounds like a double barrelled surname.

It does sound like 2 surnames, they are quite similar sounding names. Not keen on Sully.

Too much for me, sorry OP.
I also see Sullivan as a surname.

Love it but I'm biased because my 6 year old is Sullivan and he prefers Sully or Van.

He has 2 middle names (after his grandfathers), but our surname is a 2 syllable Scottish surname. Nobody ever confuses it with a double barreled surname though.

If you introduce him as Sullivan then everyone will know that's his first name.

Sullivan Anderson is not a mouthful!

I like it! I love the name Xavier (was vetoed by my dh) and Sullivan is a great name.

Xavier is nice. You'd need to decide on a pronunciation as different cultures pronounce it very differently.

Sullivan Anderson isn't my cup of tea and I do agree with others that they sound very similar and slightly like two surnames (or maybe a legal firm).

I’d assume you were an X-files fan - Sully Anderson makes me think of Scully (Gillian Anderson). But that could be because I watched it recently!

Too many 'n's in Sullivan Anderson for me, it does make it sound clunky. I really dislike Sully, reminds me of sulky. All being said its your child so name him what you like 😉

That's a lot of syllables...

Sullivan Anderson doesn't really flow imo....

Not keen on sullivan with your surname and sully means to dirty or despoil. So not the best connotations

Sullivan is an Irish surname. It’s not a first name and I personally can’t stand the trend of English people (I’m assuming you’re English or at least not Irish as no Irish person would do this) picking random Irish surnames for their kids.

I’ve seen so many threads with people suggesting Quinn, Murphy, Kennedy etc as first names. I think it’s a weird trend that’s leaked over from America.

Also don’t think it goes with your surname as both end in “un”.

I think 3 syllables - 3 syllables - 3 syllables is a bit too much to be honest.

Either name would be OK but they would sound so much better with a shorter middle name.

I think middle name is irrelevant day to day. But SullivAN ANderson doesn’t work imo.

Solomon, maybe, instead of Sullivan?

Sullvan And*son is too much. Sullivan is OK as a surname but will be Sully as a fn. Don't like it.

Xavier is pronounced Zayvier in the UK.

@HarrietM87 Your post is a little ridiculous. It is not only English people that use surames as first names, in fact the OP referred to her partner liking Aussie names in her other post. The use of surnames as first names has gone on for a long time, especially the use of surnames from the mother's line. Has it not occurred to you there are plenty of people with the surnames of Sullivan, Kennedy, Murphy and Quinn who aren't Irish? There are many other non Irish surnames that are used as given names as well. I don't think there is an English conspiracy to steal Irish surnames.

As I said in my post Floored, I think this “trend” has come from the US, so I didnt suggest it was only English people who do this.

Given that mumsnet is primarily used by people from the UK though I’d assume the OP was English. I also don’t think it’s a “conspiracy”, I think it’s a bizarre trend that originated where people of Irish descent adopted family names as first names as a way of honouring them, and now people with no Irish connections whatsoever have started using them while being completely blind to their origins.

I find it interesting that it’s always Irish surnames. You don’t get people popping up on the name boards suggesting that they call their child Patel or Rostropovich or Del Cueto for example.

@HarrietM87 It's definitely not always Irish surnames! For example, Cameron, Cooper, Logan, Tate, Taylor, Brodie, Blair to name just a few of many other non-Irish origin examples.
It also isn't a bizarre trend that only came from the US. As I said this has happened for a long time. In my own family tree we have examples of surnames used as given names going back about 400 years. Thomas isn't particularly unusual.

This isn't particularly unusual. No idea about Thomas.

Yes that's too much. Even if people don't use the middle name it's a bit of a mouthful. Especially for the child.

It’s quite a mouthful! But then how often do people use their middle names?

Sullivan is a surname. It sounds bloody awful as a first name