Baby Name Diatribe

Boy Names
1

So I am due with my first baby, a boy, [name]November[/name] 29th. My husband and I have gone through so many names already- I printed off the whole social security list and we went through everything we liked and didn’t like. We have totally different heritages so we’re having a hard time finding a name we both like. My husband is Irish, [name]German[/name], and Native American. I’m French, Spanish, and Ukrainian. His family isn’t very close and he doesn’t know the names of a lot of his relatives. My family is huge, and while there are some gems in there ([name]Alexander[/name], [name]Leon[/name]…) - I don’t feel comfortable naming my son “after” the relative with that name for one reason or another. The ones that are more distant are total duds to me (ie - [name]Claude[/name], [name]Eugene[/name], [name]Octave[/name]…). My dad was going to name my sister and I [name]Peter[/name] Wassyl and [name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Alexander[/name] respectively if we were boys. I like both of those, but my husband does not. Our last name was also assumed by his Native American great grandfather when he escaped off a reservation so my husband definitely wants equal footing on the naming part.
For a while we loved the name [name]Salinger[/name] - then it grew old. Then we loved [name]Finn[/name], and now it’s stale to us as well. I find our favorite names are going further and further up the popularity list. [name]Elijah[/name] being our top, followed by [name]Gabriel[/name]. (I should also stupidly add that I detest the nickname [name]Eli[/name] but [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Elijah[/name]).

Berries, I’m at a loss. At this point, I’m not sure whether to throw up my hands and say, “well, who cares if there’s 25 other Elijahs” or keep at it. I’m totally afraid I’ll be looking at my little bundle of love and say, “[name]Hi[/name], I don’t know your name.” I know eventually I have to pick something, but I just feel daunted! Please give me any advice or words of wisdom. Haha - anything but “don’t stress out over it”. That feels impossible with only three months to go. :slight_smile:
Thank you!

2

I have a Brother in law is named [name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Alexander[/name]! Why don’t you use [name]Elijah[/name] as a mn so you can then call him that if you want? I know you said [name]Finn[/name] is stale to you but what about [name]Finn[/name] [name]Elijah[/name]? Some names you might like based on the ones you mentioned [name]Elias[/name], [name]Quinn[/name], [name]Sebastien[/name] ([name]Salinger[/name] and [name]Finn[/name] sound), [name]Salvador/name, [name]Gael[/name], [name]Galen[/name] (sort of reaching).

I say go in there with a list and when you see him choose one of your names.

3

I think “well, who cares if there’s 25 other Elijahs” might be a reasonable starting point. I know this stuff varies area by area but iI worked in a kindergarten of 100 students last year and the ONLY name that was repeated was [name]Jaylen[/name] - there were 2 - and those boys weren’t in the same class. Kids with perfectly popular/trendy names were still the only ones with those names. I just think in general a name being high on the popularity charts doesn’t necessarily mean tons of kids are going to be in your kids classes with the name. I was a [name]Jessica[/name] in the 1980s and 1990s and NEVER had a classmate with my name. But I always liked that other girls in the school had the name - it can be nice to fit in and have everyone understand your name quickly and easily.

Now, liking [name]Elijah[/name] but not liking [name]Eli[/name], I’m less sure how to advise you. I mean the likelihood is you can call him [name]Elijah[/name] and get it to stick, but can there be a 100% guarantee no one will ever call him [name]Eli[/name]? No. You might have to decide if you can live with that or not. Like, I adore the name [name]Vera[/name], but I like it to rhyme with [name]Sarah[/name], not [name]Veera[/name]. BUT can I deal with people saying it [name]Veera[/name]? Yes, it doesn’t rise to a horrible level of hate/disgust. (I don’t think I’ll get to use it since my husband doesn’t like it, but, hypothetically). [name]Elijah[/name], somehow, makes me think of [name]Julian[/name] (used in [name]German[/name], French, and Spanish).

[name]Gabriel[/name] is nice! For something rarer what about [name]Raphael[/name]/[name]Rafael[/name]? With the two spellings, it’s used in both [name]German[/name] and Spanish.

[name]Salinger[/name]: The nn [name]Sal[/name] reminds me of [name]Solomon[/name] a little? That probably has use (if rare) in [name]German[/name] and Spanish (maybe Ukrainian?). Also: [name]Saul[/name] - pretty sure it has wide cross-linguistic use if infrequent.

Did you like [name]Salinger[/name] because of the author? [name]Jerome[/name] [name]David[/name]. [name]David[/name] is a classic in any language. [name]Jerome[/name] works in French. [name]Holden[/name] from the novel is a name with some appeal.

[name]Finn[/name]: [name]Finnegan[/name]? [name]Finnian[/name]? [name]Jude[/name]?

What are some names he likes? [name]How[/name] would he like (if he would like) to integrate the Native American heritage into the name?

[name]Peter[/name]: [name]Paul[/name]

[name]Nicholas[/name]: [name]Nico[/name], [name]Colin[/name], [name]Cole[/name], [name]Thaddeus[/name], [name]Matthias[/name], [name]Tobias[/name] (also have the long I sound from [name]Elijah[/name], the last two).

We’re here to help - it’s normal to stress but a name will be found!

4

[name]Elijah[/name] reminds me of [name]Josiah[/name], [name]Ephraim[/name] and [name]Ezra[/name]- which are all a little less popular. I also remember an [name]Elijah[/name] from school that we called Lijah or Lije.

5

If you love it, use it! I actually like [name]Elijah[/name] [name]Salinger[/name] – handsome with a touch of quirk.

A few more names that might fit your style while avoiding [name]Elijah[/name]'s popularity problem:

[name]Simon[/name] or [name]Simeon[/name]
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Jethro[/name]
[name]Gideon[/name]
[name]Micah[/name]
[name]Phineas[/name]
[name]Jabez[/name]
[name]Abel[/name]
[name]Josiah[/name]
[name]Malachi[/name]
[name]August[/name]
[name]Theodore[/name]
[name]Edmund[/name]
[name]Dashiell[/name]
[name]Calvin[/name]
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]Thaddeus[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name]
[name]Otto[/name]
[name]Nicolai[/name]
[name]Judah[/name]

6

I still think it’s odd to nickname an [name]Elijah[/name] “[name]Eli[/name]” since the emphasis is on different syllables. BF notes that he did know an [name]Elijah[/name] who went by [name]Eli[/name], though–weird–but the Elijahs I know go by Lije (as a pet name, not an official written nickname) or [name]Elijah[/name]. If you both like it, go for it. It’s a classic, not trendy.

[name]Lotta[/name] good suggestions above. If I think of more, I’ll post them.

7

You guys are so awesome, I don’t know where to begin! :slight_smile:

We live in [name]Tennessee[/name] if that helps. Our last name is two syllables and rhymes with sevens.

My sister’s name is [name]Sally[/name]. [name]Salinger[/name] was after the author, yes. We thought [name]Sal[/name] was a great nickname, but my relatives didn’t respond well to it (Other than my sister. Haha.) saying everyone would think his name was [name]Salvador[/name]. [name]Jerome[/name] is generally associated with African Americans in my city so I think it would be a little odd. [name]David[/name] was the name of a friend I had a falling out with so that one is out as well.

[name]Nico[/name], [name]Sebastian[/name], and [name]Julian[/name] were also on my list, but not my husband’s. Though I think [name]Nico[/name] is better suited for a girl. For [name]Finn[/name], My husband and his mother both liked [name]Finnegan[/name]… for me, I think [name]Finn[/name] is a little more approachable. Especially considering his mixed heritage.

As far as [name]Eli[/name] goes, I think it would just make me cringe when I hear it. I wouldn’t go ballistic or start crying or something. Haha.

With [name]Elijah[/name], I like [name]Elijah[/name] [name]Weston[/name] or [name]Elijah[/name] Wassyl. Wassyl is my dad’s middle name and my grandfather’s first name. I was thinking of that as a middle name to honor them, but I’m not 100% set on that either. It’s definitely a very different name.
My husband’s short list is:
[name]Elijah[/name]
[name]Alexander[/name]
[name]Bruce[/name]
[name]Elliot[/name]
[name]Johnathan[/name]
[name]Finnegan[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name]
[name]Keaton[/name]
[name]Scott[/name]

[name]Bruce[/name] is a little too [name]Bruce[/name] [name]Wayne[/name]/[name]Bruce[/name] [name]Willis[/name]- overtly masculine. [name]Arthur[/name] is too cartoon nerdy to me. [name]Keaton[/name] reminds me of [name]Michael[/name] [name]Keaton[/name] which is very “meh” to me. [name]Scott[/name] is the name of my old boss.

I love “Lije” as a nickname. That’s cute. :slight_smile:

8

IMHO, [name]Elliot[/name] is a perfect name. Seriously. It’s timeless, yet modern.

If it helps, I’ve never met an [name]Elijah[/name].

9

I’m not sure how much I have to add to the conversation, but I had to let you know how relieved I was to discover that this was not a thread about someone considering naming their child “Diatribe.” I should have known better, but there are some pretty far-out names around here, and looking at your title I just wasn’t sure! :wink:

I’ve been teaching in various capacities for the better part of a decade and have met, maybe, one [name]Elijah[/name]. I wouldn’t let popularity be too big a deterrent if you love it, which you really seem to! [name]Finnegan[/name], whether you use the nn [name]Finn[/name] or not, is excellent as well. Either pairs well with Wassyl or [name]Weston[/name]. Or [name]Alexander[/name], for that matter.

From where I’m sitting, you can’t go wrong with the choices you’re zeroing in on!

10

[name]Reading[/name] your post made me think of [name]Elisha[/name] and [name]Gable[/name]. Similar to your top two choices, but more rare. You’ve got some great name option though, so if you love them, you should use them!