Esben/Espen

[househuntingFTM]

Hi!
We really wanted to name our boy Esben as my partner is Danish.
But my parents say that Esben reminds them of S-bend! Like, the component part of a toilet!
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Is he going to get bullied?
Should we go for Espen instead? (Even though that's the Norwegian spelling, and a bit more girly sounding!)
Anyone got any opinions? Do you hate both? Do you have any suggestions for similar names/alternatives?
We like Scandinavian names, but open to others which have a similar feel.
Not long to go till he's here now!
Eek!

Hello, my sister has shared this thread with me because our son is called Esben and we live in the UK! My partner and I had the same debate over spelling. We think it’s a brilliant name! People often comment that it’s unusual but I think it’s easy to say and it’s easy it’s spell so it’s a winner! Go with what you and your partner like! Grandparents are reaching with the plumbing comment! : )

I read it as Sbend and Epson ( like the printers)

Sorry OP

A brilliant actor is called Esben Jensen, I like it.

Maybe Espen is alright. Avoids the s-bend thing, but alas, gets rid of the possibility of Ben for a nickname!
Anyone able to think of a shortening/nickname for Espen?!
What a palava.
Also considering Soren if anyone has any thoughts on that - be as brutal as you like! Kids certainly are!

@SmeleanorSmellstrop

Are you based in the UK or Denmark?

UK

@Munible

Hello, my sister has shared this thread with me because our son is called Esben and we live in the UK! My partner and I had the same debate over spelling. We think it’s a brilliant name! People often comment that it’s unusual but I think it’s easy to say and it’s easy it’s spell so it’s a winner! Go with what you and your partner like! Grandparents are reaching with the plumbing comment! : )

Ah great! Does he like his name? Has he had any issues with anyone being unable to understand it/or bullying him in any way? Thanks!

Soren should be Søren and I'd definitely avoid anything with æ, å or ø in the UK

@pinfloy

Soren should be Søren and I'd definitely avoid anything with æ, å or ø in the UK

If we chose that we'd avoid the special o and just go for Soren for ease.

You go with what you like.
I had a problem with my mother when thinking of baby names.
Every name i said she said 'everyone will say..........'
In the end I asked her who are all these people and why would u care about them!!!
S bend my arse!!!

I'm so glad you mentioned Soren because I was just thinking "Soren's such a lovely name, so much nicer.".

So Team Soren here

@StCharlotte

I'm so glad you mentioned Soren because I was just thinking "Soren's such a lovely name, so much nicer.".

So Team Soren here

Thanks!

I really like Søren but my OH would never let me butcher the spelling. To him it's basically swapping the vowel sound so would be like using Tam instead of Tom, a totally different name.

I really like Esben! Unusual without being weird! I think it’s a great choice.

@Cbeebiesrehab

I really like Esben! Unusual without being weird! I think it’s a great choice.

Thanks! Would you worry about him being mocked due to S-bend? :-S Should we go for Espen instead?

I only know the name Espen (which I associate with Norway due to the musician Espen Lind). I love it. Had we had a boy, one of the combos we were considering was Charles Espen.

Esben is lovely OP and my first thought on seeing it was that it would be a name from another culture. I certainly didn't think 'S-bend'.

Espen is nice too but I like that Esben is the most relevant version to your family and has Ben as a potential nickname.

Do your parents just dislike Esben or do you think they are hoping you won't choose a Danish name?

I say this because I am half Welsh and my english grandmother was unhappy when I was given a Welsh name. My inlaws have told me they hope I don't give my children Welsh names. Conversely I know my mother would hate any name I gave a child if it wasn't Welsh!

I think it's lovely and agree with PP, Ben as a nickname is useful if he wanted to use that in the future. Soren is also nice but I associate it with Charlie and Lola (kids tv show a while back)

Of the 2 I prefer Esben, it’s stronger and Espen sounds too feminine too me. I’d ignore the s-bend comment I don’t think it’s an association anyone else will make. I prefer Eben to both but think that’s biblical rather than Scandi.

I really dont think the 'S bend' thing is a problem? Ive never even heard of an S bend and even now I have I STILL don't think it sounds much like Esben??

He is too young to make a decision about whether he likes it or not. There are lots of variants that family use such as ebbi and ezzy b. No one uses Ben yet. I won’t be precious about his name as long as he is happy! : )

@Munible

He is too young to make a decision about whether he likes it or not. There are lots of variants that family use such as ebbi and ezzy b. No one uses Ben yet. I won’t be precious about his name as long as he is happy! : )

That's great :-) How do you pronounce it? Ezben or ESpen or other?

I don't think Esben sounds like anything s-bend, incidentally I've never heard is called an s-bend, it's a U bend.

Espen- sounds like EpiPen to me and more likely to be miss heard. How often to people talk about u/sbends or traps?

I had an Espen in my class a few years ago. Lovely boy, no-one ever said anything negative about his name.

Love it - go for it

I really like Esben.