Help!!! Narrowed down to 2, are initials important?!?!

Boy Names
1

Hello!
I am due in 5 weeks and am having a gender surprise!! If it was a boy it was going to be [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] nick name [name_u]Cal[/name_u]. For some reason I keep looking for other names and think I have fallen in love with the name [name_m]Bowen[/name_m]. Thoughts on [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] or [name_m]Bowen[/name_m]? My first sons name is [name_m]Crew[/name_m].

Also I really wanted the middle name to be [name_u]James[/name_u]. If it’s [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] are the initials BJ really an issue? He would never be called by his initials, but would he get made fun of in school because of it?

Help me please! Thank you.

2

Most of the time in school, there isn’t a lot of first/middle initial usage. He wouldn’t be BJ, he would be [name_m]Bowen[/name_m], or [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] Lastname, [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] L, or maybe on a rare occasion [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] J. Lastname or [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] Lastname. By the time he’s old enough to go by BJ Lastname if he so chooses, they’ll likely be out of the inappropriate humor stage. Anyway, kids aren’t as cruel about names as you might think because of all the name diversity these days. [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] would be just fine in a class with Ellawiese and [name_m]Vincenzo[/name_m] and [name_m]Gordon[/name_m] and [name_f]Reverie[/name_f].

3

I don’t think it will be a problem. I do know a little boy named BJ and while he will get the occasional tease (it got old very very fast), he doesn’t have any problems.

4

My husband is a B J Lastname, the connection had never occurred to him until I pointed it out a while back.

Apparently I was the first to mention it when he was 24! So I consider it a non issue.

5

I don’t think BJ would be an issue. When I was at intermediate I had a [name_u]Billy[/name_u] [name_m]Joel[/name_m] in my class. Everyone called him BJ and not once did I hear anyone make fun of him.
Personally, I prefer [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] over [name_m]Bowen[/name_m]. When I see it I think of [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] Hospital.

6

I do not think BJ is an issue. I have actually known a couple BJs, it was never an issue with them…and they went by BJ. I like both [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] and [name_m]Bowen[/name_m]. I think I slightly prefer [name_m]Crew[/name_m] and [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] for siblings but I think either go well with [name_m]Crew[/name_m].

7

Thank you all for your input. Makes me feel better about the initials. I just need to commit to a name! I can’t decide!

8

Normally I am a stickler on initials but for whatever reason this one isn’t bothering me. What generally stands out to me in a negative way is when the initials spell a word that isn’t so great.

I think [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] and [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] are both great names and sound nice with [name_u]James[/name_u] and [name_m]Crew[/name_m].

9

I don’t think it’s too bad.

10

As others have said, I think the initials BJ will be totally fine. There’s [name_u]Billy[/name_u] [name_m]Joel[/name_m], BJ [name_m]Novak[/name_m] of the Office, and plenty more average guys going by BJ, you’ll be fine. Having said that, personally I think [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] has a stronger sound than [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] but it’s all up to you! Both would go very nicely with [name_u]James[/name_u] and [name_m]Crew[/name_m].

11

Well that makes me feel better. Thank you so much!

12

Thank you so much! I was originally all for [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] with nn [name_u]Cal[/name_u] and thought [name_u]Cal[/name_u] and [name_m]Crew[/name_m] sound so cute, but I do love [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] too. Thank you for your help!

13

My favourite is definitely [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]. I don’t think the ‘BJ’ initials will matter.

14

I don’t think the BJ initials matter, so I would use [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] if you love it best. However, I prefer [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] ([name_u]Cal[/name_u] and [name_m]Crew[/name_m] are adorable!), and [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] seems much more trendy while [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] feels more classic.

15

[name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] for sure! Such a great combo.

I don’t think the initials matter at all. One of my good friends is Brend@n J@mes, and he prefers to go by BJ so exclusively that it’s strange to call him [name_m]Brand[/name_m]@n haha.

16

Thank you everyone for your responses! I’m glad the initials don’t seem to be a problem and I wouldn’t ever call him by them anyway. Now to pick [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] or [name_m]Bowen[/name_m]. I love them both. You have all been so helpful!

18

I prefer [name_m]Callahan[/name_m].

Usually initials don’t bother me, but BJ would be a no go for me personally.

19

I love [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]! I think the initials are important in this case. I like [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] much more anyway.

20

I really like the name [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]. The only time I can see him being teased by this is in high school when kids find that sort of thing funny. And most won’t even know his middle name. I’d say go for it.

21

My brother’s name is BJ. He has a B-first name and J-last name, but hes the “the Fourth” of this name, so he’s gone exclusively by BJ his entire life (he’s 30). He’s never had a problem. I’m sure his friends have maybe made a joke or two about it, but all in good fun, and he was certainly never bullied or bothered over it. Go for it!