[name]Jake[/name] and I are having troubles naming this baby. It’s my second, and his first. We don’t know the gender, which, in some ways, makes it harder. We really have different opinions on some names, and with some…we just can’t make up our minds what we really think.
I would help us loads if anyone wants to offer their opinion on these names. Be as brutally honest as you want. Brother is [name]Drake[/name], and surname will be Wilde.
[name]Axel[/name] - pretty much just curious to hear how this name is perceived. We have very different opinions…
[name]Bellamy[/name] - this is also on our girl’s list…better for a girl or boy? [name]Bella[/name]- feels very feminine to me
[name]Dexter[/name] - serial killer? or could it work?
[name]Gideon[/name]
[name]Jace[/name]
[name]Knox[/name]
[name]Killian[/name] - kill ian ??
[name]Leon[/name] - again, very different opinions
[name]Maddox[/name] - brangelina?
[name]Macaulay[/name]
Skandar
[name]Tatum[/name]
And which spelling do you prefer; Mordekai, [name]Mordecai[/name] or [name]Mordechai[/name]? Nickname would be [name]Kai[/name].
[name]Axel[/name] - I admittedly have less “hip” tastes, but [name]Axel[/name] to me will always be Guns and Roses and big hair power ballad bands. I think it wouldn’t age well. I could imagine meeting a preschool named [name]Axel[/name], but not a grown man. I just don’ think it has legs.
[name]Bellamy[/name] - I’m not a fan of the name at all, but I do think it works better on a girl.
[name]Dexter[/name] - I think people may reference the show for a bit, but considering it’s likely in its last or second to last season, I don’t think people will reference it for long. I think it’s a strong boy name that sounds cute with [name]Drake[/name].
[name]Gideon[/name] - I love this. I find it classic and adorable.
[name]Jace[/name] - I’ve heard it before, but to me it sounds made up.
[name]Knox[/name] - I feel the same way about this as I do [name]Axel[/name], minus the 80s references.
[name]Leon[/name] - I really like this. It’s different and fun. I love the name [name]Leo[/name] but hate [name]Leonard[/name], so I’m really drawn to this.
[name]Maddox[/name] - brangelina? Completely Brangelina.
[name]Macaulay[/name] - Caulkin. That’s all I can think about.
Skandar - Sounds made up. Is it? All I see is “scandal”.
[name]Tatum[/name] - Not a fan, but have heard it on several girls. I realize it’s used for boys, but it’s one of those unisex names I think is drifting to the girl’s team.
And which spelling do you prefer; Mordekai, [name]Mordecai[/name] or [name]Mordechai[/name]? Nickname would be [name]Kai[/name].
Skandar is a short form of Iskandar, which is the arabic and indonesian form of [name]Alexander[/name]. [name]Ever[/name] watched the [name]Narnia[/name] movies? The guy who plays [name]Edmund[/name]'s name is Skandar Keynes.
[name]Axel[/name] - This one’s very Scandinavian to my ears. I don’t think [name]Axl[/name] [name]Rose[/name] so much as I think of gears and axles. I like it, especially with a brother whose name is [name]Drake[/name] [name]Zephyr[/name] (cool!)
[name]Bellamy[/name] - feminine, yes.
[name]Dexter[/name] - Strong, great with [name]Drake[/name]… I’ve never seen the show, but I imagine the association will fade.
[name]Gideon[/name] - Graceful, Biblical, and nicely folksy.
[name]Jace[/name] - A modern invention. I dislike it.
[name]Knox[/name] - I think of [name]Fort[/name] [name]Knox[/name]. This name feels kind of [name]Yosemite[/name] [name]Sam[/name] to me.
[name]Killian[/name] - The sounds roll along so quickly that your ear doesn’t dwell on “kill.” I think it’s lovely, very Irish.
[name]Leon[/name] - I like [name]Leon[/name] a lot. So jazzy. [name]One[/name] of my favorite [name]Leo[/name]-names.
[name]Maddox[/name] - Yes Brangelina.
[name]Macaulay[/name] - Caulkin.
Skandar - Scandal? I think the original form of the name, Iskandar, is wonderful.
[name]Tatum[/name] - I have been hearing it used for girls… Nickname [name]Tate[/name] is a little rhymey with [name]Drake[/name].
I think [name]Jake[/name] and I have different associations to [name]Axel[/name] since I’m half Swedish and grew up there, until I moved to my father in [name]CA[/name] a few years ago. We like it, but get different vibe from the name. As for [name]Tatum[/name], I like it partly because my surname is [name]Tate[/name], so it would be a way of honoring my family. Not that it’s very important to me, but still…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My son’s name is [name]Maddux[/name] (spelled differently). [name]Trust[/name] me, I [name]LOVE[/name] my son and I think he’s an adorable [name]Maddux[/name], but I wish I had foreseen the troubles with the name. First of all, you’ll get the Brangelina thing a lot. Secondly, the more mature among us either don’t understand what you’re saying and you have to spell it out, or they’ll straight up turn their noses up at it. Some think it’s a girl name. My father-in-law still calls him “Madman” because I don’t think he can bring himself to even say “[name]Maddux[/name].” (Horrible, I know). I think it’s a incredibly strong and masculine name, but I should have thought a little more about how the rest of the world receives it.
[name]Axel[/name] - I think this is cute. I don’t know how well it ages, but I could definitely see a cool little boy or teenager with this name.
[name]Bellamy[/name] - Not my style for girl or boy
[name]Dexter[/name] - I think it could work. There are other things associated with that name (like [name]Dexter[/name]'s lab for instance). [name]Dex[/name] is a cute nn.
[name]Gideon[/name] - Cute.
[name]Jace[/name] - seems very trendy to me.
[name]Knox[/name] - also seems trendy. A lot of celebrities are now using this name.
[name]Killian[/name] - prefer the [name]Cillian[/name] spelling.
[name]Leon[/name] - It’s All right.
[name]Maddox[/name] - It’s fine.
[name]Macaulay[/name] - My first association is the Culkin kid.
Skandar - It’s all right.
[name]Tatum[/name] - Not my style.
[name]Axel[/name] - I’m half Norwegian so I know lots of [name]Axel[/name]'s and [name]Aksel[/name]'s. I like the name, but prefer the ks-spelling (but that’s b/c I’m from Norway)
[name]Bellamy[/name] - I like it for a boy. It’s emphasis on bell, not bella.
[name]Dexter[/name] - I think of the serial killer series, yes. I think it’s very harsh.
[name]Gideon[/name] - oooh, [name]Gideon[/name]. So handsome and strong.
[name]Jace[/name] - No, I do not like this. You have so many great names on the list, this one falls short.
[name]Knox[/name] - So cute. I like this too.
[name]Killian[/name] - It’s lovely, but I like the C version better. It’s so sweet and lush and green.
[name]Leon[/name] - I like [name]Leon[/name]! [name]Drake[/name] and [name]Leon[/name] would be good brothers…
[name]Maddox[/name] - Yeah, but they rock so who cares?
[name]Macaulay[/name] - A fine name. I don’t remember who that Culkin boy is, never saw him in anything.
Skandar - Oh, yes, this is good! [name]Love[/name] it!
[name]Tatum[/name] - Sounds stupid. Sorry!
And I prefer [name]Mordecai[/name].
Favourites with [name]Drake[/name]: Skandar, [name]Cillian[/name], [name]Leon[/name] and [name]Gideon[/name].
I think [name]Axel[/name], [name]Bellamy[/name], [name]Gideon[/name], [name]Knox[/name], [name]Killian[/name], [name]Maddox[/name] and [name]Macauley[/name] are great! [name]How[/name] about [name]Cillian[/name]? I prefer it with a C rather than a K.
[name]Bellamy[/name] works for a boy because it is a last name, you just wouldn’t call him [name]Belle[/name]/a. [name]Ami[/name] is a cool nickname, sounds like [name]Ah[/name]-me.
I love [name]Drake[/name] & [name]Axel[/name], [name]Drake[/name] & [name]Knox[/name], [name]Drake[/name] & [name]Killian[/name] the most.
[name]Mordecai[/name] is the best spelling by far.
[name]Axel[/name] - I think of three things: [name]Axl[/name] [name]Rose[/name], someone I knew who named their dog [name]Axel[/name], and a wheel axle
[name]Bellamy[/name] - I see it as being pretty feminine
[name]Dexter[/name] - I love the name [name]Dexter[/name], I watch the TV Show and still love the name, as long as you don’t give him [name]Morgan[/name] as a middle I’m sure it would be fine, and [name]Dex[/name] is such a cute mn
[name]Gideon[/name] - Definitely my favourite
[name]Jace[/name] - I just think of [name]Janelle[/name] off of 16 and Pregnant. I don’t like it.
[name]Knox[/name] - Isn’t that a Brangelina name, regardless, it’s cute!
[name]Killian[/name] - I prefer the [name]Cillian[/name], then the Kill bit is less there
[name]Leon[/name] - I really like [name]Leon[/name], I think it’s really lovely and a great [name]Leo[/name]- name
[name]Maddox[/name] - I think the Brangelina-ness would only become an issue if you used both [name]Knox[/name] and [name]Maddox[/name]. [name]One[/name] would be just fine
[name]Macaulay[/name] - Culkin.
Skandar - This probably seems strange, but I think of what you might call a cross between a scanner and a radar.
[name]Tatum[/name] - [name]Channing[/name]. Not saying that’s a bad connotation.
My favourites: [name]Gideon[/name], [name]Dexter[/name], [name]Leon[/name] & [name]Knox[/name]
[name]Axel[/name] - I do think of gears and cars, “axel grease”.
[name]Bellamy[/name] - “Beautiful friend” in French, definitely see this for a girl more than a boy.
[name]Dexter[/name] - Great, CK [name]Dexter[/name] [name]Haven[/name] from “[name]Philadelphia[/name] [name]Story[/name]” ([name]Cary[/name] [name]Grant[/name]) will outlive the TV show.
[name]Gideon[/name] - [name]Love[/name] this name; I know some people think of the Gideons that distribute bibles to hotels, not anything that would bother me.
[name]Jace[/name] - Not a fan. Also, [name]Jake[/name] and [name]Jace[/name]?
[name]Knox[/name] - Like the x, but it reminds me of [name]Fort[/name] [name]Knox[/name] and [name]Knox[/name] gelatin, besides Brangelina.
[name]Killian[/name] - Beer, and not crazy about “kill”.
[name]Leon[/name] - Prefer [name]Leo[/name]
[name]Maddox[/name] - Like the x, but Mad dog and Brangelina.
[name]Macaulay[/name] - I like this, I don’t [name]Macaulay[/name] Culkin taints this name. Also another name of a character in “[name]Philadelphia[/name] [name]Story[/name]”.
Skandar - [name]Don[/name]‘t care for it, makes me think of scanner. Is [name]Stellan[/name] an option?
[name]Tatum[/name] - [name]Tatum[/name] O’[name]Neal[/name] comes to mind. [name]Tate[/name] good name, but Tater is a tease to consider.
try to pick a name that has symbolic meaning for both of you. it can be anything. Think of you someone that was special for you/both, trip you and your spouse took together, a favorite food you share. This is drive creative process to find a common ground. Worked for my husband and I. It really can have the tiniest meaning TO YOU [name]BOTH[/name] for it to work. best
My favourite from your list is [name]Gideon[/name], however I don’t think it really goes well with [name]Drake[/name]. I would recomend [name]Leon[/name], Skandar and [name]Killian[/name] (though I must say the [name]Cillian[/name] spelling is better as it no longer has the word ‘Kill’ in it.)
[name]Maddox[/name] and [name]Tatum[/name] are both usable but I think [name]Jace[/name] is too similar to [name]Jake[/name], [name]Axel[/name] doesn’t age well and the [name]Bella[/name] part in [name]Bellamy[/name] make it to girly. Nothing really wrong with the others just nms.
I like [name]Axel[/name] because it has cultural meaning to you. Other than that, I like [name]Gideon[/name] best, but with the caveat that it seems to be mushrooming in popularity.