Baby boy name question - Please advise

[Hopitihop]

Hello,

I am currently expecting a baby boy and I and DH have decided that the name "Asterio" is the one we will go for.

The name is spelled as As-terr-ih-o and not As-teer-ih-o.

It's a Greek name and I appreciate it sounds weird in most British ears.

Firstly, can you please tell me how you would pronounce the name Asterios if you saw it somewhere written?

Secondly, we are thinking of using a short name that is Stergio. Do you like Stergio better? Would you keep the "Asterio" or "Stergio"?

Finally, an honest opinion on both names would be much appreciated!

Thank you all xx

They sound like totally different names to me not a nickname.

I would say: Ass tear rio

I would say as-ter-rio. They do seem like two different names to me. I think Stergio would have fewer pronunciation issues.

Is the full name actually Asterio or Asterios?

I much prefer Asterios which I think would automatically get pronounced the way you want it - terr, not teer.

Whereas Asterio could go either way.

Not keen on Stergio really.

However, there is a good chance he might end up as Ass, Astie, Terry or Tez in the UK!

Thank you for your replies!

@Skeumorph The full name is Asterios and not Asterio.
In Greece it goes like:

• What's your name? Asterios

but

• Asterio please bring me a glass of water.

@OnceuponaRainbow18 & @PlainJane1000 thank you both! Can you also please tell me which one of the two "Asterio(s)" or "Stergio(s)" would you prefer as a sound?

Also, would Aster work as a nn for a boy or it's not a nice name?

AH-ste-ri-oh
STER-gee-oh

The first does sound a lot like Sterio, so the second is better. You need to decide if you are using the s on the end or not, as obviously that won’t happen here.

Aster is a flower and an occasional girls name, both are rare though so I think that might be an option.

It has to be with the S in the end at the birth certificate and it will be Asterios because of family/heritage reasons.

So, most of you said that Stergios can not be a nn to Asterios and is a completely different name.

So, the real question is how will be best to call him? I don't want to make my poor kid's life miserable with a difficult name because of our heritage.

Is Asterios too complicated for the UK or to shorten it? And if yes, then what is the best nn that Asterios could have?

Both names are fine. There's a great cartoon book series called "Asterix the Gaul" and an Asterio might get Asterix, but it's cool, he is a hero.

@Skeumorph Are the names Ass, Astie, Terry or Tez good ones or not?

I am asking as I am not British and I don't know the reputation/history behind these names.

Please be honest!

@SeanChailleach We he not be bullied as an Asterix at school...?!

Aster and Astie are lovely. Aster is a flower. You cannot use Ass as it means bottom/arse/donkey and Tez/Terry is a 55yr old caretaker at the local comprehensive.

Ass bad means arse, bum but rudely. Aster or Rio are nice nn. Much prefer Asterios.

@ShowOfHands Thank you, that's very useful!!!

Is Aster a girl's name? I just googled it and I read that is used predominately by girls... Do you think that he might get bullied as an Aster?

I liked it though, thank you!

Asterios is fine and would be pronounced as you wish.

Don’t shorten / change if you don’t want and S soon as he says “ my name asterios not xxxx “ at nursery it’ll be fine. Primary it’ll be up to him what his mates call him ( one of my girls has a name often shortened to an ie format. She hates it and just tells people not to ).

Teenagers are mean and will tease. But he can develop various f* off replies. Son has a mate called fateh after all. No one laughed at fateh beyond week one ….

Aster is unisex historically but very rarely used nowadays. Short for Asterios, it would be absolutely fine for a boy. And the Aster flower is lovely.

@Helenluvsrob & @ShowOfHands Thank you both!

You made me feel that Asterios is an ok name and it's not necessary to shorten it, at least from the beginning. Also, I am glad that Aster could be used as a nn as it sounds lovely to me and can be used by boys!

Stergios sound to you all as a separate name and not a nn for Asterios.

If anyone else can please share their opinion on the name Asterios for a boy (most probably shortened to Aster as a kid at school) please do let me know as I would love more views on the name.

Thank you all :)

Asterois is a great name! I’ve not heard it before, but I like it and wouldn’t have any issues pronouncing it.

It sounds very cool, and has plenary of workable shortenings in English.

If your little one is growing up in most parts of England, there will be lots of kids with non-English names so no one will be bothered that it is unusual.

Where aboutsbin the U.K. are you/do you intend to live?

Is your surname obviously Greek? If you obviously have Greek heritage Asterios would be ok, but with regional accents will vary in how it's pronounced.

Stergio would not be a natural NN in the U.K.

I imagine Asti would be a common shortening here.

I don't live either name but prefer asterios & only if there's a clear family reason. Asterios smith, both parents from Hull, definitely not.

Best wishes for his birth x

@Eloraa & @MerryChristmas21 Thank you!

We live in England and our surname is Greek too. Asterios Smith is not great, I agree! :-D

Asti sounds a good option too, thanks for the suggestion.

We have strong family reasons and we chose this name because of that, although I would love a more universal one.

Most people in the thread made me feel comfortable with the name and its use in the UK, so thank you all!

Asterios is a great name! I slightly prefer it to Asterio, which sounds like 'a stereo'.

I've known a couple of Greek men named Apostolos who seem manage perfectly well in the UK. To me, that's a slightly more complicated name than Asterio(s).

Finally, in the worst case scenario, if people really can't get their heads round Asterio or Asterios, then Terry is a very English nickname.

You have a Greek surname & a strong family reason to call your Son Asterios, so I definitely think you'd should go for it. You might find very young children calling him Yos or eeeeos. But it'll all sort itself out!

Best wishes for his birthday!!

Rio seems like the best nickname for this name. Like Rio Ferdinand - it's familiar. I'd avoid any nicknames that use the "Ass" sound.

I've never, ever heard of Aster as a name, and if Asterios is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, Aster wouldn't even be an intuitive nickname. So I wouldn't say that was the most likely nickname, unless you introduce him as Aster.

My main thoughts are:

1. People will get confused about the s at the end - if it will have an s on the birth certificate, it's probably easier to introduce him as Asterios. Or I guess you could say the s is silent, as an easy explanation. It will need to be one way or the other, outside the family.

1. I guess it's no easier or more difficult than many foreign names. People won't be familiar with it, but once they meet him they will learn. People will get it wrong, but that happens with English names too.

Asterios is lovely! Asterio too. Aster is great - a really unusual nickname, and very cool I think. I agree that Stergio would be a confusing nickname for Brits!

@CrispAndFrosty Thank you for the advice.

Asterios is spelled as As-terr-ios.

How is Aster pronounced? I would thought of As-terr? Is it not the case?

The issue with the "s" at the end is for every single male greek name... it's insane but I can't change the Grammar!

It has to be Asterios at the birth certificate and as you say it's probably easier to introduce him as Asterios.

He can always pick his NN (if he wants one) as a kid. That's an option too, right?

@Laquila thank you!

Are you Italian as L'Aquila in Italy?

Maybe Asterios sounds easier in Italian ears rather than British!