I came across the name [name_u]Galen[/name_u], and I find it quite interesting.
What do you think about it?
At first sight, does it strike you as feminine, masculine or unisex?
[name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it? (At first sight, I pronounced it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-len/[name_u]Gay[/name_u]-lun, but I don’t know if it’s accurate)
What middle name(s) would you pair with [name_u]Galen[/name_u]?
I do not plan on nicknaming the name [name_u]Galen[/name_u], but how big do you foresee the chance other will nn [name_u]Galen[/name_u] [name_u]Gay[/name_u]?
[name_u]Galen[/name_u] to me comes across as a whimsical name that you would see in a fantasy novel. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it is Greek, it seems more like an Irish name, but maybe that’s because of the word Gaelic.
It strikes me as more masculine but at the same time it could be a very cute name for a girl.
I would pronounce it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-[name_m]Len[/name_m].
As for middle names, it would probably go better with a slightly longer one.
Unfortunately, I think there is a chance that kids will make fun of a child by emphasizing “[name_u]Gay[/name_u]”.
I pronounce it like gallon, as in gallon of water. There’s an actor, [name_u]Galen[/name_u] Gering, and I’m pretty sure he pronounces it like this, but I’d have to double check. I find it masculine more than anything else
I know a little boy named [name_u]Galen[/name_u], around four years old. He pronounces it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-lin. Yes, I do think it is incredibly likely that someone will nickname him [name_u]Gay[/name_u] in the future. Other little kids already call him [name_u]Gay[/name_u], though by other little kids, I mean other four year olds, so I don’t think they mean anything by it. It’s just the first syllable and kind of inevitably gets yelled out on the playground.
I’ve known a [name_u]Galen[/name_u] (prn gay-lun / gay-lan), and he was male. Unfortunately, he did get the ‘gay’ teasing, which was quite cruel, and something that shouldn’t be tease worthy, but kids are cruel. I would avoid it for that reason. I think Gale would certainly work though.
I had a friend growing up with a big brother named [name_u]Galen[/name_u] and pronounced it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-lin. I always thought it was kind of weird, but now I think it’s a really neat name and he never had to worry about someone else having it!
What do you think about it? I really like Galen. I used to work with one and I felt that the name suited him well. It feels strong but tender - I like that in a guys name.
At first sight, does it strike you as feminine, masculine or unisex? MASCULINE all the way.
How would you pronounce it? The correct prn is GAY-lən. However, we have a cocktail named after the aforementioned guy at our restaurant and well the # of people who say GAL-en is pretty stunning. (I want to say about 75%).
What middle name(s) would you pair with Galen? Galen Theodore Atlas, Galen Jeremy James, Galen Xavier Hugo.
I do not plan on nicknaming the name Galen, but how big do you foresee the chance other will nn Galen Gay? I think that if you don’t want you child nn’d then let people know in advanced that it’s not welcomed. Otherwise come up with an alternative you can live with. G-man. Lenny. Glen. etc. Though I think most people would probably avoid an unfortunate nn unless they are trying to bully your kid.
I am however one of those people who believe that if you foresee a problem like this to give you kid a good come back or two… like “yep…I’m a one man Pride Parade!” or “you got a problem with homosexuals? I got a problem with bigots!” or “better gay than ignorant!” or something… really it depends on the kid. Most people don’t expect you to have a good come back and when you do it really shuts them up or flusters them - it can be quite amusing.
I know a [name_u]Galen[/name_u], pronounce ‘gale-in’. He was named after his mother, [name_u]Gale[/name_u]. He doesn’t get teased from what I’ve heard (he’s 10) but I can see the potential. It’s masculine because I think of [name_u]Galen[/name_u], the father of modern medicine.
There was a boy named this at my high school. Despite the fact that he was not small or weak, he still got teased. I think a guy would prefer Halen over [name_u]Galen[/name_u].
When I was about 14 or 15, my first novel was a fantasy novel and I named one of my main male characters Geilan, pronounced gay-lən. I thought I made it up until I discovered years later [name_u]Galen[/name_u] was an actual name.
I like the name a lot. It has a pleasant sound. It’s masculine to me. I think a [name_u]Galen[/name_u] would probably get some silly teasing growing up, which is unfortunate, but he wouldn’t be called [name_u]Gay[/name_u] (as a name) unless he liked it.
[name_u]Galen[/name_u] Tyrol is a fictional character from the science fiction show BSG. There’s also the famous wilderness photographer, [name_u]Galen[/name_u] Rowell. If you don’t know his name, you’ve probably at least seen some of his photos. [name_m]Just[/name_m] thought I’d show you some ‘famous’ [name_u]Galen[/name_u]'s.
I love [name_u]Galen[/name_u]! It just sounds so Ancient [name_m]Rome[/name_m]-scholarly to me, although I couldn’t say why. I have met several guys with [name_u]Galen[/name_u] somewhere in their name (one as a FN, the other with it as his surname), and I always thought it was incredibly cool. The [name_u]Gale[/name_u]- beginning always reminds me of strong winds (gale-force winds), so it just eludes masculine and natural strength to me. He seems sensitive but strong and unaffected by superficial and unnecessary and flighty things. He’s strong. He’s got a strong moral compass and is wise. I would love to use it or see it used. I’ve considered it several times.
I named a character [name_u]Galen[/name_u] (so of course I like it), I pronounce it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-len. I personally wouldn’t use it [name_m]IRL[/name_m] because of the possibility of the nn [name_u]Gay[/name_u].
I had a class with a guy named [name_u]Galen[/name_u] a few years ago. He wore it well, and I don’t recall him getting any teasing or trouble over his name. I like it a lot. It’s a name that I would consider using.
At first sight, does it strike you as feminine, masculine or unisex?
Masculine, definitely - wouldn’t think of it for a girl, though I like [name_u]Gale[/name_u] for either.
[name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it? (At first sight, I pronounced it [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-len/[name_u]Gay[/name_u]-lun, but I don’t know if it’s accurate)
“[name_u]GAY[/name_u]-len”
What middle name(s) would you pair with [name_u]Galen[/name_u]?
I’ve been thinking about [name_u]Galen[/name_u] combos and finding it hard to pair - I like [name_u]Galen[/name_u] [name_u]Rhys[/name_u] or [name_u]Galen[/name_u] [name_m]Hart[/name_m].
I do not plan on nicknaming the name [name_u]Galen[/name_u], but how big do you foresee the chance other will nn [name_u]Galen[/name_u] [name_u]Gay[/name_u]?
I wouldn’t think so, it’s not really a nickname-able name to me.
Hopefully it’s not too late to reply to this thread. I went to elementary school with a boy named [name_u]Galen[/name_u] (pronounced [name_u]Gay[/name_u]-lin) and his twin brother, Korwin (pronounced Core-[name_u]Win[/name_u]). In all the time I knew him, no one ever teased him about his name or anything. A lot of us actually thought it was really cool!
[name_u]Galen[/name_u] also strikes me as whimsical and Irish, despite its Greek origins. I actually find it quite handsome too, but that may be because I know a 23 year old [name_u]Galen[/name_u] who is rather good-looking. I pronounce the name like gay-lehn.
[name_u]Galen[/name_u] probably [name_u]Gale[/name_u]-en