Boys' names opinions please - Luca, Otto or Sam?

[bluebubbles12]

Luca, Otto and Sam are the three names we've narrowed our list down to and I wanted to get people's general thoughts on the names please? Like, what do you think of when you hear them?

I'd say Luca is my favourite because it is slightly unusual without being too unusual.

Which leads me onto Otto... is it too unusual?! Whilst I appreciate it won't be everyone's cup of tea, is it acceptable enough not to be weird?

I'm less keen on Samuel than Sam, but feel like we should stick with the full name rather than a shortened name. Especially because our surname is only one syllable, so it could sound quite blunt/abrupt.

Thanks 😊

Luca is my favourite as well.

I'm less keen on Otto, but I don't think it's 'out there'.

I prefer Sam to Samuel but agree Samuel would be better on the bc.

Luca is my favourite too.

Luca

Sam(uel) / Otto

Luca

...is the order I'd place them.

Luca

Sam is dull and generic
Otto sounds like a dogs name

I have two boys and their first names come from your list! I always get compliments on them. The other on your list is a middle name!

I know 2 children named Luca both have Italian connections.

Luca is my favourite.

Otto would be next, most people will of heard it so not too out there. Easy to say and spell.

Sam is a bit dull in comparison. Nothing wrong with it, just find it a bit bland.

Thank you for your thoughts!

I agree that Sam does sound a bit plain in comparison to the other two, but I feel like it's a 'safer' name - no-one is ever going to say "Sam? Urgh what an awful name" which I feel is a risk with the others, especially Otto.

I know it's entirely our choice though and people will just get used to him being whatever we call him. We've really struggled with boys names!

My DS has one of those names and knows people with the other 2 names. I don't think Otto is too out there.

Otto is not out there.

DS is 14. He is called Sam*. He was the only Sam at his nursery for the whole 4 years he was there; it's only now in Year 9 that he has come across another Sam. On the other hand there were two boys called Luca and 2 Ottos at nursery.

• we wanted a dull and genetic bBe for various reasons. Delighted that this is how it's perceived.

Honestly, I'd find Luca an odd choice for someone with no Italian heritage. Not that I'd mention that in real life!

Otto is nice.

Samuel, known as Sam? Great name. Classic but not overused.

I've known and taught a few Sams, and they've all been somewhere on the scale from likeable to fantastic, so that probably makes me biased 😁

My son is a Sam. Agree it’s blander than the other two (he was named after a relative of exH ) but they have become extremely common in the last year or two. We only encountered one or two Sams at school. Son was christened Samuel (which I prefer) but insists on Sam , so once DS has a choice , you may no longer have control over this. Now he’s Samuel!!! When in trouble lol

I prefer Luke to Luca.

Otto is my favourite. Great name.
Really like Luca. Sam is a bit boring for my taste.

One of those names is my DS’s name, another is the name of one of my cats! Neither are called Luca, which I do really like but I think is becoming much more popular, I know two.

Luca would be my preference.

Otto isn't out there, but whenever I hear it, I just think 'Herr Otto Flick'. However my parents LOVED 'Allo 'Allo when I was a kid, so I don't think that's a widespread association!

Luca is best

Otto is ridiculous and reminds me of Otto Von Bismarck. Old fashioned German name

Sam is often short for Samantha

In my small organisation of less than 100 people I have two colleagues with sons called Otto, it’s definitely not too out there. Names ending with o are everywhere at the moment (my own son has a different o ending name so not knocking them!)

I can never quite get with Luca. I think Sam is actually quite nice and under used at the moment. I don’t know any Sam’s under 28. It’s classic rather than boring.

I know loads of Lucas who are not Italian. But honestly I thought the same thing about Otto for someone with no German heritage

Love Sam. Think it’s just a lovely name.

My DH wanted Luca. I’m sure there was a godfather connection. Is Luca a character in The Godfather.

Not so keen on Otto. I know one and he’s awful but I’m sure there are lovely Otto’s too.

Luca is 28th most popular name in England and Wales so isn’t unusual at all, if that’s your reason for liking the name. Otto is also skyrocketing in popularity, so if your concern is Otto is too unusual, I wouldn’t worry. The Dark Greener site is a great resource is popularity is a concern of yours:
names.darkgreener.com/#otto

Personally my favourite is Otto, though the trendiness of it gives me pause. Luca is too popular, and Sam while less popular than Luca now has been very heavily used. I’ve had a Sam in every class and workplace I’ve been in.

Otto is at least as 'German' as Luca is 'Italian'.

But in Germany Otto is considered very old fashioned and comical. It's also the name of a huge discounter www.otto.de

Sam

Thanks all! We have neither Italian nor German heritage, so either Luca or Otto might require some explaining!

It's been reassuring to gather opinions, as we've been quite secretive in real life to avoid people's negative opinions and them influencing us.

Otto's range of opinions on here doesn't surprise me!

We've got a couple of months left until he's due so it will be interesting to see which way we sway!