So I am almost out of the first trimester and DH and I have already started talking names. Last time it was so hard, this time it has been relatively easy. Awhile ago I told him about the name [name_m]Bram[/name_m], and he loves it, and I do too. It is our current #1 for a boy. But, i keep going back to it and I am worried that it is not “enough” if that makes sense. We have to use a B name (so [name_m]Abram[/name_m] nn: [name_m]Bram[/name_m] will not work).
I guess my worry is that people are going to hear it and say “huh” or “what is it short for” (though I get that for my name a lot). Also, I love Biblical names and I love that it is a diminutive of [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] and that it means “father of many” since he will be named after my father who passed. Clearly I am having troubles committing to the name. What are your thoughts? Is [name_m]Bram[/name_m] enough? It is a stretch with the whole Biblical name meaning? Does it go well with my DS?
To answer a few of your questions honestly, I really really like [name_m]Bram[/name_m]. But I chose to eliminate in from my list because it didn’t feel like enough to me, although I would love to meet a little [name_m]Bram[/name_m]. [name_f]My[/name_f] best friend’s father is named [name_m]Braham[/name_m], spelled like that, and that looks like enough, when I look at it. (Maybe because [name_m]Graham[/name_m] can stand alone as a name, so why not that spelling?) The name does go very well with your son’s name. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_m]Bram[/name_m]. It’s adorable!
You’ll just have to decide for yourself if it’s enough. Yes, some people might say “What’s it short for?” but if you really love it, that won’t matter. Best wishes!
I like [name_m]Bram[/name_m] a lot. I agree with previous poster about how [name_m]Graham[/name_m] stands alone so nicely, so why not [name_m]Bram[/name_m]? Or even [name_m]Braham[/name_m] if you like how that looks. I’m assuming [name_m]Bram[/name_m] would keep the meaning even as a nick name to the name. And I think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_m]Bram[/name_m] are cute together!
There probably would be people asking what its short for, but I don’t personally find it a big deal Good luck!
Are you using a B name in honor of your father? Is that why it has to begin with B?
I do really like [name_m]Bram[/name_m], and its meaning and origin. I think whether it is enough depends on your surname… if the surname is more than one syllable, [name_m]Bram[/name_m] is likely enough. If the surname is only one syllable, it may come across as too abrupt to be pleasing.
What about [name_m]Bramwell[/name_m]? It has a lovely literary connection, as the name of the beloved brother of the [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] sisters.
thanks for the suggestion of [name_m]Braham[/name_m]. I will see if DH likes that spelling. I am not sure, just by look, I think I like the more simple spelling. And, thank you for mentioning [name_m]Graham[/name_m]. I never really put two and two together, but you are right, they are quite similar, you just don’t spell [name_m]Graham[/name_m] like [name_m]Gram[/name_m].
@muime944 - my last name is a two syllable name, and it actually flows quiet well with [name_m]Bram[/name_m] (I am obsessed with the flow of names so it is something I have thought of).
I really like [name_m]Bram[/name_m] and I think that with the current world wide popularity of GoT [name_m]Bram[/name_m] as a stand alone works better now than ever. (If you are unfamiliar with the show there is a little boy named [name_u]Bran[/name_u] - it’s technically short for [name_m]Brandon[/name_m] but I doubt most people know that).
Hereare a few other options to elongate [name_m]Bram[/name_m] (with the meanings found on NB). I underlined my favorites for you.
[name_m]Bahram[/name_m] = Iranian, meaning good-natured, nice.
[name_m]Bramwell[/name_m] = English, meaning well where the gorse grows
[name_m]Byram[/name_m] = English version of [name_m]Byron[/name_m], meaning barn for cows
[name_m]Bartram[/name_m] = Scandinavian, meaning glorious raven
[name_m]Bertram[/name_m] = [name_m]German[/name_m], bright raven
[name_m]Bairam[/name_m] = Turkish, meaning festival
[name_m]Baram[/name_m] = Israeli, son of nation
Note: On the [name_m]Braham[/name_m] vs [name_m]Bram[/name_m]/ [name_m]Graham[/name_m] vs [name_m]Gram[/name_m] thing. I pronounce [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]GRAY[/name_u]-əm and would pronounce [name_m]Braham[/name_m] in the same fashion.
I think [name_m]Bram[/name_m] stands very nicely on its own. I can’t say I love the idea of altering the spelling of a perfectly nice name.
I was also going to suggest a variation like [name_m]Bramwell[/name_m], Bramley, Bramtin.
[name_m]Bram[/name_m] is absolutely fine on its own! Great name.
I like [name_m]Bram[/name_m]! I probably would use a fuller name, but I’ve never been an [name_m]Abram[/name_m]/[name_m]Abraham[/name_m] fan, so I probably wouldn’t go that route. I’d probably do [name_m]Bertram[/name_m], personally (which I feel like isn’t as popular, but I like it a lot!), or even better, the [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_m]Bertrand[/name_m]! Although I feel like [name_m]Bertrand[/name_m] “[name_m]Bram[/name_m]” doesn’t make much sense to most… I think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_m]Bram[/name_m] are really cute together, though.
I think [name_m]Bram[/name_m] is cute
I think [name_m]Bram[/name_m]/[name_m]Braham[/name_m] can stand alone as a name. I prefer the spelling [name_m]Bram[/name_m]. Maybe you have to see your son before you can make final decision? That could explain why you have name commitment problems.
Lexiem: I also didn’t know some people pronounced [name_m]Graham[/name_m] as *[name_u]GRAY[/name_u]-əm. Is it a cultural thing?
I do like [name_m]Bram[/name_m] as a name. The one downside I could see is if people around him keep hearing “[name_u]Bran[/name_u]” or “[name_m]Brian[/name_m]” or “[name_f]Bren[/name_f].”
Personally, I think he will have to get very comfortable insisting that adults say his name correctly. In my experience, young kids actually adapt very well to unusual names. Other kids will simply remember his name is [name_m]Bram[/name_m].
But adults suck at remembering stuff like that. Substitute teachers, new school, other parents, afterschool program staff - pretty much every adult who deals with lots of kids will have to be trained to remember his name is “[name_m]Bram[/name_m]” like [name_m]Bram[/name_m] Stoker and not “[name_u]Bran[/name_u]” like [name_m]Brandon[/name_m]. It can be done, it just takes work on his part.
[name_m]Both[/name_m] my sister and I have had to correct people all our lives because we both have unusual names that sound very close to common names. We both have careers where we meet new people all the time. I find it wearisome so sometimes I just let people call me by the wrong name. [name_f]My[/name_f] assertive, outgoing sister finally started using her middle name because even she got tired of it. On the other hand, my friend M’pho delights in correcting people till they get her name right. It depends on the personality, I guess.
Sorry to be a [name_f]Debbie[/name_f]-downer! Maybe [name_m]Bram[/name_m]'s experience will be totally different from ours and totally positive. I [name_f]DO[/name_f] like the name, I think the honoring the family with his unusual name is great, and if it simply feels right then it will be all right.
The name [name_m]Bram[/name_m] is really sweet as is; if you like it, go for it! I would caution against spelling the name [name_m]Braham[/name_m], as many a [name_m]Graham[/name_m] pronounces his name [name_u]GRAY[/name_u]-um, and you might run into some unnecessary pronunciation issues. Maybe this is a country of origin thing, though? I’m Canadian, and the few [name_m]Graham[/name_m]'s I know from [name_f]England[/name_f] and Commonwealth nations (including my Canadian cousin) pronounce it [name_u]GRAY[/name_u]-um, while the two American [name_m]Graham[/name_m]'s I know pronounce it [name_m]Gram[/name_m], like the metric unit.
I must add [name_m]Bramwell[/name_m] to my list! I love the name [name_m]Bram[/name_m] (I worked with a man named [name_m]Bram[/name_m] a few years ago, a francophone from [name_m]Quebec[/name_m]; he was very sweet and charming and really sold me on the name), and the [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] connection is icing on the cake!
thank you everyone for the opinions, it is much appreciated. I am sure it is something that I am going to struggle with until the baby is here or I find another name. I do prefer [name_m]Bram[/name_m] to [name_m]Braham[/name_m], so I think we would just leave it as is.
I looked up the [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] inters @mulme944 and @lowslash and it actually says in wikipedia that his name was [name_m]Branwell[/name_m] not [name_m]Bramwell[/name_m], just FYI (unless they are wrong).
DH and I are not huge nickname people, one thing we agree on is if you are going to call them the name, name them that name. So, I think it would be either [name_m]Bram[/name_m] or nothing.
I’m not a fan of [name_m]Bram[/name_m] and prefer [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] by a mile. [name_m]Bram[/name_m] just makes me think of a pram. You’re right the Bontë brother was called ([name_m]Patrick[/name_m]) [name_m]Branwell[/name_m] and not [name_m]Bramwell[/name_m].
Also I had never heard of Graham being pronounce Gram until I started on here. Graeme is the traditional Scottish spelling of the name but Graham is also used just as often. They are both pronounce like Gray-um.
Thanks for the clarification! [name_m]Branwell[/name_m] is cute, too