What image does [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] give you? What kind of person do you think this name suits?
As many of you know, we’ve struggled with our newest little guy’s name, and are still working out what suits him for his “everday name” (he’s got a big name: [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] Hugo!). We’d planned to call him [name_u]Blaise[/name_u], but I’ve had second thoughts in fear that people will just hear “Blaze” and get the wrong image of him/us (we’re just not the edgy, cool type of family , instead we’re quieter, definitely homebodies, more academic and love history and good stories). On the other hand, I do love [name_u]Blaise[/name_u]! To me it’s one of the prettiest names, especially written out. And I love his history, of course. We’re considering [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] too, but I keep getting hung up on nicknames So far, he’s just [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u], but that’s a mouthful!
Definitely overthinking this all, but it is what it is
[name_u]Blaise[/name_u] does give me cool vibes - it is fiery and warm, but charming - but I can see it being kind of cosy too, somehow literary, but also like campfires and laughter.
A random thought - [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] → Albie/Alby? That gives me gentler, quieter vibes
A friend of ours has a son named [name_u]Blaze[/name_u] (~1yrs), and he’s a very happy, cheerful kid. He’s a little hippie in the making, with a little bun of dark blond hair on top his head.
[name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is gorgeous ~ your sons name is stunning
The imagery I get from [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is gentle and romantic with an outdoorsy spirit. I picture autumnal scenes forests covered with gold and brown leaves, fishing, cosy jumpers and carved pumpkins. [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is gorgeous.
Albie/Alby for [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] is brilliant! That’s seriously growing on me. Creates the best of both worlds - a grand full name, with a sweet, warm nickname.
Aw, thank you!! Your kind words really help boost my confidence with his name
I love that imagery! Very much what I see in it too, so I’m glad that it has that image and not only the firey image that comes with the soundalike “blaze.” That really helps.
[name_u]Blaise[/name_u] definitely has academic vibes for me, as it makes me think of writer/mathematician [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] [name_u]Pascal[/name_u]. So I tend to imagine it with a [name_u]French[/name_u] pronunciation, rather than “blaze”. However, I do think that many people (especially other kids) might assume the name is “Blaze” when hearing it aloud rather than seeing it written, given the relative rarity & unfamiliarity of the name [name_u]Blaise[/name_u].
I really like previous commenters’ suggestions of [name_u]Albie[/name_u] and [name_m]Ander[/name_m] - both great ideas! [name_u]Sander[/name_u] would be nice too.
I was really smitten early on, but then the “blaze”-ness of it sort of took the joy out for me (not that [name_u]Blaze[/name_u] is bad, it’s just not really our family). So I’m trying to get my original love for [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] back on track
Thanks! I’m glad that it seems to give several people academic vibes. [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] [name_u]Pascal[/name_u] and St. [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] are why we originally fell in love with it in the first place
I’ve thought of just leaning into the [name_u]French[/name_u] pronunciation more, which might help. But my Americanness has some difficulty with it.
Out of curiosity, would you consider the [name_u]French[/name_u] pronunciation to be more like the word “bless” or “blay-zuh”? I’ve heard both… or something differnet entirely?
Good point on kids and hearing the word “blaze” when spoken, though I wonder how familiar the word would even be to them at a pre-writing age. Something to consider!
In English, the closest equivalent sound to the French “ai” would the short “e” sound in bet, bed etc. So Blaise more or less rhymes with the “prez” sound at the beginning of “president”, or the “Lez” sound at the beginning of Leslie… I hope that helps! (Southern French people might add a schwa sound to the end of Blaise but I don’t think all French speakers would do this.)
But I wouldn’t particularly recommend using the French pronunciation because of an unfortunate rhyme in French. From what I’ve heard from French acquaintances, the name Blaise isn’t really used anymore in France because of this.
I think Blaise is fine with the English pronunciation. It’s a cool name and sounds contemporary while having history.
Thank you! I’m guessing I know your reasons as I’ve heard some from other people as well, which also throws me a bit as that’s definitely not the connection/image we want
We’ve conidered [name_u]Alek[/name_u] as well. I wish I could love [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] enough for the everyday name. It ticks all the right boxes and I should love it, but I just don’t … so middle name it is
Thank you!! That’s really helpful to know - both the pronunciation and the rhyming association. I spent so much time thinking of how names would work in [name_f]English[/name_f] or Slavic languages, that I neglected to fully look into its language of orgin (not terribly smart of me ). But I suppose its well-used enough in [name_f]English[/name_f] that it’s fine.
I would hear the [name_u]French[/name_u] pronunciation more as “blehz”, with a shorter vowel than the “ay” sound in [name_f]English[/name_f] “blaze”.
Yes, you’re right that kids might be unfamiliar with either name/word early on… plus I think kids are much more likely just to accept and “roll with” any name that they learn by ear!
Having read more of the other comments, I think that overall, I’d probably cast my vote with [name_u]Albie[/name_u], [name_u]Alek[/name_u], or Ander(s), for what it’s worth. But all the names you’ve chosen are lovely & unique, and would work great!
I just thought about this- what about [name_u]Hayes[/name_u] instead of [name_u]Blaise[/name_u]? Very similar sound, completely different meaning-and a cute nickname.
That’s an interesting idea! At this point, he’s already named, so it would be a pain to change it (we’re in a European country where bureacracy reigns supreme ), but otherwise [name_u]Hayes[/name_u] is a fun name
, instead we’re quieter, definitely homebodies, more academic and love history and good stories). On the other hand, I do love [name_u]Blaise[/name_u]! To me it’s one of the prettiest names, especially written out. And I love his history, of course. We’re considering [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m] too, but I keep getting hung up on nicknames 
