Julius or Julian?

[SharpGoldWriter]

Sort of a follow-up to my post yesterday…My husband always loved Julian and I preferred Julius. I’m due in a couple of weeks so revisiting our short list and now I like both, though they feel quite different to me. Do they paint very different images? Which is better? So hard to decide!

Both disastrous tbh

Not my cup of tea at all. Pompous and a bit wet

Julian is a lovely name. Not too popular but still well known. Nicknames Jules or Jude (like the song). Really lovely OP

Neither. We have a Jude - still my favourite name

I knew brothers Julian and Claudius. Both tradespersons. Claudius had Roman column illustrations on his van

I think Kathy Lette and Geoffrey Robertson have a Julius, iirc.

Jules might be good.

There is a Jude kicking around my way, he’s about 22 now.

There is a Jobe playing football in Brisbane.

I imagine you have had your beautiful baby boy. My son is a Julian, he’s 21 now and an amazing young man. His name is neither wet or dated it’s only in this country people would comment like that. Enjoy every minute, whatever name you decide upon will be right for you and your son.

I prefer Julius. It is rarer so it feels more timeless. Also I know a very intelligent and considerate Julius so I automatically think of him, then I think of Julius Caesar so it feels a little more noble than Julian. It has more of an intellectual classicist feel too. I would assume the parents of a Julius were intellectual and interested in ancient history or that it was an old family name. Julian is more conventional and broadly used and therefore does not have any strong associations for me. Also, the Julius I know doesn't shorten his name at all.

Neither

What did you choose in the end or a totally different third name?

Julian is on our list. I like that's it's not overused but equally isn't wild. I like Jules and Jude as nicknames but prefer having Julian as a full length option. Better to be able to switch out of a nickname than be stuck as the 3rd Jude in the class if you don't like it.

Julian also works internationally. It's a bit 'little England' to think of it just as a posh name. Small horizons and all that