We love [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] for a boy, however our last name also begins with R. Is that too much? The last name is 3 syllables and ends with an “ey” sound. We like the western vibe of [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] however the alliteration issue worries me…is it not a big deal or should we keep searching?? Please share your thoughts!
I would say alliteration is usually fine, but maybe not in your case. I know I’d be bothered that [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] ends with R and sort of blends in with your surname—eg, [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] [name_m]Rodriguez[/name_m] becomes Ryderodriguez and it’s hard to tell where one name stops and the other starts. If I were you, I’d keep looking, and maybe use [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] in the middle spot. I wouldn’t cross names that start with R off the list, but I definitely would cross off everything that ends with R.
But that’s me! You may feel differently. If you love [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] enough that the alliteration and slurred-together R’s don’t bother you, then follow your heart.
When naming an actual child, it does not matter. What matters is if you feel a connection to the name that you do not feel with other names. Does [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] feel like The One? People on baby name forums are name lovers. We love creating lists, putting names together we feel make good sibling sets, etc. Naming an actual child is far different. My husband and I didn’t even pay attention to sound and flow. We had a couple names (that we both agreed on, another challenge with naming an actual child) that we just adored and felt that extra special feeling toward. People out in the world won’t even notice. Besides all that, I do not have an issue with alliterations.
While I don’t mind alliteration, sometimes the names take on a sing-song affect that I don’t like-- for instance, [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] [name_m]Rodriguez[/name_m] would be fine, but [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] Rilkey is too much rhyme for me.
It depends a lot on the surname, I think. [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] souds incredibly silly, but [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] sounds incredibly handsome. My only hold back is, like they’ve mentioned, that [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] also ends in r, so the names end up running into each other a bit. That said, I don’t think it’s too much trouble- I know several people whose first and surname run into each other and it doesn’t sound bad at all.
Like they’ve said, we are a community of name-obsessed people. So long as it doesn’t sound so ridiculous it would lead to years of bullying, or so hard that it makes it impossible to live normally, I think it will be fine.