I cannot warm to DH's favourite name

[BertieBotts]

Expecting DS3 in the summer. It took us months and months to come up with DS2's name (Leo) and in the end it was the only one we both liked. DS1 is from a previous relationship and apparently it's easier to name a baby when you're only 19. I do not remember having such strong opinions...

Anyway, since we still can't find a name DH reckons we should just take a list into hospital and see what he looks like when he gets here. I'm OK with that plan. But DH has absolutely and totally fallen in love with Niko/Nikolas.

I don't like it! I want to like it because he loves it so much, but I don't. The K is too spiky. I don't like the way it rhymes with Leo. I have tried to imagine a baby Niko (Nico is better but I don't even really like that, and anyway DH particularly likes the K) and it doesn't feel like my child.

I on the other hand am getting more and more attached to Alex/Alexander. DH doesn't hate Alex, but he doesn't love it and is hesitant because we know people called Alex, and I keep reading about how choosing a name you feel differently about each is a really bad idea.

But the thing is, Alex was never my favourite name to begin with! I just suggested it half jokingly as the only one we'll be able to agree on. My favourite names are Lars or Idris. DH is not keen on either of them. So I leant back towards Alex, and the more I think about it the more I like it. It's a cute name for a baby/child, but a sensible/nice name for a grown up. Every Alex I've ever met has been a nice, quiet, kind, clever boy/man.

The other names I like are:

Max (DH says it feels like a dog's name to him)
Rory (Might be tricky with locals - we live in Germany)
Jupiter (I think we both feel this is a bit too much)
Alfred (Alfie/Freddie) - DH says too old man and doesn't like Fred, although Alfie is OK.
Owen - both feel a bit meh.

DH's list:
Lucas (It's OK, but boring/bland to me)
Miles (Don't like)
Chase (Kind of like, but feels v American and not comfortable)
Hal (Just no)
Oliver (Too stuffy)
Peter (Too old)

What happens if we go in with a list and we still feel the same about all the names and we can't agree?? :o

I really like Oliver, but maybe that's because it starts with an O which Leo ends with so feels right together... Unplanned I did this with my kids, all of them, didn't realise til the youngest was about 3 😂

Like pp above I was going to suggest Rex.

Chase just makes me think of paw patrol

Aleksander so he gets his 'k' name?

Agree that Niko is spiky. Nico is better but Nicholas best
I like Alex though.
Also Lucas/Luca.
I went round in circles with my dh. We were arguing all the way up to the registrar at a month old but agreed in the end. On names not particularly high on either of ours lists unfortunately but several years on they were (both) the right choice.

Yeah I'm not really keen on the Aleksander spelling. It's ok.

The thing was Alex was on the list that both of us were OK with rather than loved. It's just that it's now really grown on me so I don't know if that is right.

Maybe I just need to start emphasising Idris and Lars and he'll start warming to Alex as well!

I have an uncle Peter so I can't see it as anything other than his name. OK he isn't old but he's my parents generation.

Rex makes me think of a dog :o

I think Nikolai is my favourite Nikolas variant but I still can't feel it as my child. Yes maybe a middle name. We have no middle names either as ended up using both of the ones we wanted for DS2.

I love James but it's my ex's name so would be a bit weird (DS1's dad). It's his middle name so I did get to use it in some form.

Yes jupiter is a bit silly... This is when I was getting desperate and came across it on a MN thread :o

Did not think about German pronunciation of Owen! Oh dear! I did come across Oren which I quite like but may have similar issues. And Remy, but we're not French and I don't like any of the long forms.

I don't really like Alec either. I think it's the x I like! That's why I like max as well. But not Rex :o I'm too fussy!

Forgot that I also like Tobias/Toby but DH rejected as "too German" which is why it wasn't on the list.

@ladygindiva

What about Luca? It's a more interesting version of Lucas, and a bit like Nico in feel. Fwiw I LOVE Nico, but I see you don't!

Luca was my first thought too. We also watched the new film of the same name tonight…it’s excellent!

I know a lovely little boy called Hector...unique name

Nichol

We have a Max really suits him. He is certainly not a dog.He is an adorable strong boy. Plus it can not be shortened.

What about Domenico/Dominic with Nico for short (tell your husband) but Dom might be the nn that stuck, or Dominic

My 6yr old gs is Rupert. Also have in the family Teddy, Elias, Reuben. Sorry bet that doesn't help 🤣 I also think Peter is a lovely name. Definitely due a revival 🥰

I was coming on to say Domenico too! Also Sasha, suggested by a pp for Alexander. How about Thys, or Thomas? Frederick? Jan?

I was also going to say that I love Nico but Xander would seem to work with both your lists.

Not keen on Dominic/Domenico.

Sasha is funny because it's the name of DS2' s favourite nursery worker :o

It does seem like there are lots of good nicknames for Alexander.

Everyone has beaten me to it. But Xander is such a good name and I wish I had used it.

I think Xander would be a stand up guy!

Alec / Sandy as an alternative for Alex?

I love Merlin but I doubt many others do.

Our dog is called Nico so I don't think that might help your argument against it. Our son is Rory and we almost moved to Germany and knew it would be quite difficult for locals to say.

How about Kristin if Dh likes the K sound in names?

Kristian sorry.

Oscar/Oskar?

How about:
Alexi
Jovian (Means Jupiter)
Sal (I like this but not Hal )
Jakobi
Kristoph
Erik
Henry nn Hank

DS is at nursery with an Aleksei which has really grown on me.

Tobias is lovely, I don't see that as too German.

Sasha is on our girls list

Hal is a murderous computer to me!

Are you going to stay in Germany? Culturally is it usual or quite unusual to not have a German name?

I'd look at that tbh.

The norms and tastes may be different.

Just looked at their top ten it's pretty varied!

Maximilian is cool if you go Max. I know one, it's a real talking point.

I used to know a Jorg (can't do accent) and he was lovely and it's a satisfying name to say somehow!

I’m not an Alexander fan but love Alexei, I think because I knew an insanely hot guy with that name

Tobias is fab and doesn't strike me as German at all.