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 think Nikolai is fab.

Oscar?
Alexei?

DH has a friend called Johannes but they just call him Hannes which I think is cool.

Axel!

Nice one shamoo!

Axel is great.

Don’t go into hospital with a name you dislike still sitting on dhs list. ‘Honestly, I do not like it and I do not want to name our child that. I also really hate the idea you would watch me give birth and then suggest a name you know I don’t like for the baby I just pushed out, so take it off the list now please.’

I really like Nikolai as well (nicer still with a C).

Axel is major 'late-middle-aged man' territory in Germany - equivalent to Dave or Clive. Plus it sounds the same as the word for armpit and has therefore become the subject of one of the relatively few name-based jokes in German culture (Axel Schweiss).

Has anyone suggested Felix?

Start again. Get the baby name book and two highlighters. Go through it and highlight ones you’d be ok with, get DH to do the same. Then work on a joint list and narrow that down.

Well, we have redone the list.

Alex / Alexander
Max
Oliver / Ollie
Robin
Niko / Nikolas
Rory
Miles
Idris
Rowan

He wouldn't let me take Niko off the list :o So I have refused to take Idris off the list. Apparently Idris is "too unique" - it was in position 163 in England and Wales last year! Nico / Niko is about position 250.

Miles is "waiting to see if it grows on me"
Oliver I doubt we would go for but have kept as neither of us feel strongly for/against.

I think this is our real list/most likely contenders:

Alex / Alexander
Max
Robin
Rowan

And that's probably enough to wait and see which he looks like.

Have you considered Niles? I like that but not Miles.

I don't really like Niles/Nils or Miles.

I’ve got girls but my fav boys names are Pip and Kitt a la Charles Dickens 🙂

Instead of Max, what about Dax? Solid name, one spelling, and not like a dogs name

He says it's not a dog's name any more or that it's grown on him or something.

Lee-o
Neek-o

Those two words don’t rhyme. They just both end with the letter “o”.

A name that rhymes with Leo is Theo.

Leo and Niko do rhyme.

They do, and sound quite similar.

Nicolas is move but not with a K.

Yes it's not really a rhyme but it has assonance.

Oscar?

@lemonsyellow

Leo and Niko do rhyme.

You can keep saying it, but it doesn’t make out true.

I’ve only said they rhyme once. I haven’t “kept saying it”.

@ivykaty44

Instead of Max, what about Dax? Solid name, one spelling, and not like a dogs name

Dachshund?

Can’t Nikolas be shortened to Nick instead? Also it can be spelt Nicolas which would remove the spiky aspect for you. His friends can still call him Niko

Tbh I do agree with his assessment of your names! And yours of his.

I’ve only said they rhyme once. I haven’t “kept saying it”.

That’s why I said “you can” and not “you have”.