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Original poster

Rory, Otto or Xavier

43 replies

TerrazzoChips · 15/08/2022 14:39

What are your thoughts on Otto, Rory or Xavier (zav-ee-ah) as boys names? Struggling to pick my favourite!

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pinklavenders · 15/08/2022 14:47

Xavier is great.

Otto is awful and Rory impossible to pronounce for many people who have trouble with Rs.

Twizbe · 15/08/2022 14:47

I like Otto best.

KirstenBlest · 15/08/2022 16:24

Xavier if you pronounce it as Zay-vee-er
Otto is awful
Rory is ok but not good if you can't say R

toastofthetown · 15/08/2022 16:33

Otto or Xavier. Xavier, though a nice name, has so many different pronunciations that I’d avoid if for that reason. I only like the French pronunciation. I remember a thread a while ago where the OP’s son was called Xavier and he wanted to switch to a different pronunciation as he preferred that, and that’s what he was being called anyway.

Fivebeanchilli · 15/08/2022 17:35

I love Xavier but prefer the ZAV - ee - uh or ZAV -ee-ay pronunciations. I'm not keen on ZAY- vee - uh (and definitely not ex - at - vee - uh).
Otto is lovely but I feel as though that's maybe getting a bit more popular or maybe it's just that other increasingly popular names feel similar (eg Arlo or Otis).
I like Rory.
I don't think you can go wrong but I'd probably pick Xavier.

CoolBananas21 · 15/08/2022 17:35

They're all nice - least fave is Rory xx

frenchie4002 · 15/08/2022 17:48

Love the name Rory!

Luxa · 15/08/2022 18:27

I like Xavier.

Not a fan of the other two, sorry.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/08/2022 18:29

I like Rory but then I am Irish and have no problems saying R. I don't love Otto and I'm a bit over Xavier.

BotterMon · 15/08/2022 18:29

Know two lovely dogs called Rory and Otto (RIP) so definitely Xavier - never known a bad one.

Borisisafecklesstoad · 15/08/2022 18:30

Two of these are my sons names so safe to say i love them

wheredidIleavemystyle · 15/08/2022 18:35

I always thought it was said "havier", kinda, but apparently that's Spanish.

Surely the "Xavier" version is using an X not a Z?

Like on this clip

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 15/08/2022 18:43

Excellent pronunciation clip.

despite speaking fluent French I find Xavier awkward to say when speaking English.

Otto is very on trend now in cool London (I know a few, though I’m not cool. Actually they’re mostly a little older).

So I’d pick Rory. The R issue is unusual in adulthood, just have a good middle name.

lastminutedotcom22 · 15/08/2022 19:35

I hate Xavier it's so pretentious
I'd got for Otto I think over Rory but both nice

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 15/08/2022 19:37

Otto, is the nicest. Xavier is a bit try hard. Rory is ok.

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/08/2022 22:48

Rory but it’s very popular so Xavier

Otto just makes me think Nazi

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/08/2022 22:49

… I think PPs are right that xavier can feel a bit try hard, but Zav is a very relaxed nn so I think it’s fine

Andrea77245 · 15/08/2022 22:49

Xavier definitely!
As a alternative to that I've always loved xander!

Smellywellyhoo · 15/08/2022 23:51

Rory is surely easy to pronounce for native English speakers? What an odd comment.

boysmuminherts · 15/08/2022 23:57

Love love all 3 of them and they were all on our list for our boys. In fact our youngest was called "zav ee ay" for about 1 minute until the midwife put us off it!!!!

Mumofgirls2017 · 16/08/2022 00:26

Otto

LizzieBet14 · 16/08/2022 00:37

Xavier

BloodyCamping · 16/08/2022 00:51

Rory is great

DramaAlpaca · 16/08/2022 00:56

Rory is gorgeous. Otto is hideous. Xavier just doesn't work in English.

BloodyCamping · 16/08/2022 01:05

Tobias with the nickname Toby is also good