In a few months we’ll habe our second child - and naming the first one was hard enough
We’re looking for a boy name - and I feel that I like not one that’s viable.
Since I was 16 I loved “[name_m]Ben[/name_m]” - a name that’s been the most commonly given one in our country, Germany, for YEARS. And it rhymes with my only nephew’s name, which both really puts me off it.
My #2 of recent years has been “[name_m]Matthis[/name_m]” - but my best friend will have a son named thus 4 months before my due-date… Another no-go.
This puts me in a tough spot, I feel like I don’t lke other names enough. I’d like a name that’s not too much out there, one that works for Germany. And, if possible, one that’s not too popular.
Our daughter’s name, for example is below the top 120 names, which we really like.
Does anyone of you creative and lovely nameberries have an idea?
I love [name_m]Ben[/name_m]! But I suppose, since it rhyming puts you off, [name_m]Ben[/name_m] and any longer names for it ([name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Bennett[/name_m], [name_m]Benson[/name_m]) are off the table?
My knowledge of [name_m]German[/name_m] names is very limited apart from the very few [name_m]German[/name_m]-Austrian folks I know, who either have common ([name_m]Lukas[/name_m], [name_m]Lorenz[/name_m], [name_m]Fabian[/name_m]) or very uncommon names ([name_m]Aeneas[/name_m], [name_m]Timotheus[/name_m]).
But here go some suggestions anyway, also apologize in advance if these are awkward in [name_m]German[/name_m]:
[name_m]Johann[/name_m] - I know, I know, but this one is a favorite of mine. Except it might be less interesting to you?
[name_m]Beckett[/name_m] - popped into my mind after [name_m]Bennett[/name_m]
[name_m]Fabian[/name_m] - similar-ish ending to [name_m]Ben[/name_m]?
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Matteo[/name_m] - following the lead of [name_m]Matthis[/name_m]…
Matheus/[name_m]Math[/name_m]äus
Matan
[name_m]Madden[/name_m]
[name_m]Maxen[/name_m]
[name_m]Stefan[/name_m]
[name_m]Ulrich[/name_m]
[name_m]Yannick[/name_m]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_m]Leon[/name_m]
[name_m]Leonardo[/name_m]
[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m]
Is anything your style? (or [name_m]German[/name_m]-friendly?)
Hmm. [name_m]Ben[/name_m] and [name_m]Matthis[/name_m] don’t seem very similar to me, except, perhaps, that they are shorter and very straightforward (i.e. they are simple to pronounce and not frilly). What about [name_m]Adam[/name_m], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], [name_m]Lukas[/name_m], [name_m]Rafael[/name_m], [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], or [name_m]Wendel[/name_m]?
I love the suggestion of [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] as a replacement for [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. [name_u]Beck[/name_u] is great.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] in place of [name_m]Matthis[/name_m]? You could use [name_u]Gus[/name_u] as a NN for [name_m]Magnus[/name_m].
There is a botanical garden near where I used to live called “Matthaei” - I know Germany has rules about not using last names as first names, but I think the exception is obvious with this one as it’s essentially the name [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]. Are you open to variations of [name_m]Matthis[/name_m] (eg [name_m]Matteo[/name_m], [name_m]Matteus[/name_m], etc.) or similar in sound (eg [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m], [name_m]Atlas[/name_m], etc.)? Would love to know more so we can be of more help.
Could [name_m]Benedikt[/name_m] as a whole work? Then you still get the [name_m]Ben[/name_m], but you still have a couple more syllables to differentiate it from your nephew’s. Some other ideas are [name_m]Malte[/name_m], [name_m]Marvin[/name_m], [name_m]Bastian[/name_m], [name_m]Colin[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_m]Leon[/name_m], [name_m]Marcel[/name_m], [name_m]Timo[/name_m], or [name_m]Tobias[/name_m].
I couldn’t find any name rankings in Germany that went past the top 100 names. I tried to use ones towards the bottom of those lists. The rest I got from [name_m]German[/name_m] hockey players
Maybe you could try looking at the names between, e.g. 80-250 on this list Hitliste der beliebtesten Vornamen 2016 [Top 500] if you haven’t already done so.
That way you could find a name about as common as your daughter’s.
I like some of the names already suggested - [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] especially.
I like [name_m]Arne[/name_m] and [name_m]Viggo[/name_m], too. And [name_m]Lief[/name_m]. I really like those old Germanic names, but it looks like they might not be popular at the moment.
[name_m]Ben[/name_m] and [name_m]Matthis[/name_m] are a bit softer - both forms of Biblical names that are also common in English-speaking countries. Is [name_u]Theo[/name_u]/[name_m]Theodor[/name_m] too common? [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] (about as popular as [name_m]Matthis[/name_m])? [name_m]Thomas[/name_m]? [name_m]Markus[/name_m]/[name_m]Marcus[/name_m], Marten? [name_m]Christopher[/name_m]/[name_m]Christoph[/name_m] (Maybe with the nickname [name_u]Kit[/name_u] or [name_m]Kip[/name_m])?
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and [name_u]Robin[/name_u] are cute, maybe as nicknames for [name_m]Hugh[/name_m] (if it’s practical in Germany) and [name_m]Robert[/name_m].
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m] is the #1 boy’s name in Australia, but I don’t know if it’s old-fashioned in Germany ( I also have a 40 -year-old Swiss cousin with the name).
Thank you for your suggestions! It’s funny, the ones I like best are already used by my friends
There, we have a [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and a [name_m]Laurenz[/name_m]
I actually know a little [name_m]Johann[/name_m] with a lot of spunk, great name!
[name_m]Bennet[/name_m] I like!
I’m always a sucker for names that aren’t promiment in my circles, ones I don’t hear that often - that’s why most of your other suggestions fall through, which is too bad ”
Thanks for the help!
[name_u]True[/name_u], they’re not very similar - except dir the lenght. I love that [name_m]Matthis[/name_m] is the father of [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] Lindgren’s “[name_f]Ronja[/name_f]” . Maybe I should do some more Research in that Universe, she uses lovely names! I’m named after one of her characters as well
”