Remus for a boy's name

[MimiDaisy11]

I've been finding it hard to get excited about any boy's names but recently came across this in baby book and I quite like it. I just wanted to hear opinions as I know it's not a popular name so don't know how it'd be perceived. I'm aware of the Rome connection and when looking up further see there's a Harry Potter character. I find it hard to imagine these being issues as HP and Rome are pretty inoffensive. What do you think about this as a boy's name?

I don't think Harry Potter is going anywhere, it's very unlikely to fade into obscurity like poplar tv shows people often pilfer names from, like game of thrones for instance. So bear in mind people saying "oh, like as in Harry Potter?" every time you introduce your child (or your kid introducing himself when he's 30)

Remus in Harry potter is a fab character. He is a man who was bitten by a werewolf as a child so transitions every month unless he takes a special potion. He is very brave and fights against voldemort, ending up dying in defence of truth and goodness.

Hmm, reminds me of Uncle Remus from song of the South disney film which has really not aged well to say the least. There has been recent stories in the news about the film because Disney have refused to stream it on Disney+ and the ride is being redone in a different theme.

My first thought was Harry Potter (weirdly didn’t clock the Rome connection until you mentioned it but would have done if you were asking about Romulus)

That said I have heard of little boys called Lupin, which is a) that characters surname and b) for me is slightly more weird given lupine literally means wolf-like. So while I wouldn’t use it myself I don’t think it’s madly out there if you love it!

Remus is a great HP character. I think it will automatically be linked with the books/films for most people but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

I thought of Romulus and Remus immediately, but I am a Classicist and I haven’t read the HP books. I presume the HP character is called after that Remus, with the wolf connection, and since JK Rowling is a Classicist. It’s a bit Cain and Abel, isn’t it? I also don’t think it’s an especially nice name!

Would definitely think you were a huge Potter fan, but its not a bad name at all I quite like it.

My teenager has just enthusiastically recounted the classic legend. Makes a change from Roman. Are you saying that as Ree-mus or Ray-mus

I suggested it to my husband for our 2nd DS and he instantly rhymed it with ‘Pe-nus’, I’m sorry☹️

I haven’t read Harry Potter so I thought of Uncle Remus. Not a great association.

Romulus is better.

It’s nice, I had it on my list for a while.

Thanks for the responses.

On the Uncle Remus connection. I hadn't heard of this before but did see when searching for the name. I feel that might make more of an impression on me if I was American or living there. Maybe I'm wrong but I didn't think many British people, especially younger people would know about that. Though 2 people have mentioned it here. I think though unlike the Harry Potter and Rome connection I feel like that connection is something that will fade even more - like was said they're removing the film and character.

I'm not bothered if people think I'm a Harry Potter fan but I'm just trying to think about what it would be like for the child. I've lived abroad where my name would be associated with a famous person with that name and it didn't bother me- granted it's obviously different to growing up like that. I found it was sometimes a good conversation starter.

I thought Romulus and Remus straight away, then Uncle Remus. I’m British. HP wouldn’t occur to me.

@Merrythought

I suggested it to my husband for our 2nd DS and he instantly rhymed it with ‘Pe-nus’, I’m sorry☹️

LOL thanks, it's good to know about those things. I'll have to think about that. It's not such a clear rhyme but I guess depends how you pronounce it.

I don’t think any of the 3 associations named would be used to tease your son. Though, of course, Remus was a loser and it was Romulus who is regarded as the founder of Rome.
If you like the sound how about Rufus?
Or just go for Remus — not common and not OTT
Good luck

@SumAndSubstance

I thought of Romulus and Remus immediately, but I am a Classicist and I haven’t read the HP books. I presume the HP character is called after that Remus, with the wolf connection, and since JK Rowling is a Classicist. It’s a bit Cain and Abel, isn’t it? I also don’t think it’s an especially nice name!

Ditto lol

First thought was Romulus & Remus...
Then I thought how you just don't hear the name Remus, I don't know of one anywhere ...
Then I decided it's probably because it's not a great name (Sorry). Kind of sounds medical somehow, like a body part! (Apologies, realise that's probably just me!!)

I always think of Remus and Romulus!
Then the lovely Remus Lupin character in HP.

I know an adult Remus, his name makes me smile (happily) every time I hear it.

I immediately thought of Harry Potter because I’m a fan, but I don’t think that’s an issue. It’s not dampened the use of Harry! I think it’s fine to use, certainly won’t be many about

Remus Lupin.....and it definitely rhymes with penis. How else would you pronounce it?

Oh and it’s a nice name 😁

I like it.

My first association was Uncle Remus too.

@FelicityPike

Remus Lupin.....and it definitely rhymes with penis. How else would you pronounce it?

I just meant that if you say pe-nis instead of pe-nus it's not as clear a rhyme (-nis /-mus) but accept lots of people pronounce it the latter way. Though it hasn't really put me off it as thinking about it my name rhymes with "smells" and no one ever used that with me. Maybe my school bullies weren't that creative but I don't remember any rhyming used by them but still something to think about.