How to spell

Our son is due in 6 weeks. We’ve decided on the name [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] - I know, boring, unoriginal, trendy, blah blah blah…

[name_u]Brayden[/name_u] or [name_m]Braden[/name_m]?
I hate the nn [name_m]Brad[/name_m] so [name_m]Braden[/name_m] worries me for that reason, despite being pronounced differently. [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] just grinds my gears a bit when I look at it.

Thoughts?

I prefer [name_m]Braden[/name_m].

I prefer [name_m]Braden[/name_m].

Also prefer [name_m]Braden[/name_m] :slight_smile: I don’t think people will change the sound of the name for a nickname - [name_u]Brady[/name_u] is the most known nickname.

I also prefer [name_m]Braden[/name_m].

[name_m]Braden[/name_m] is way better than [name_u]Brayden[/name_u].

I much prefer the look of [name_m]Braden[/name_m]! I think it’s still reasonable to get to nn [name_u]Bray[/name_u] or [name_u]Brady[/name_u] from that spelling.

I actually like [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] better! I think that it has more flair than [name_m]Braden[/name_m] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] {not that the name [name_m]Braden[/name_m] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] is terrible, I just think that [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] stands out a little bit more for me}
Good luck!!:smiley:

Another vote for [name_m]Braden[/name_m]. It’s more likely he’d be nicknamed [name_u]Brady[/name_u] over [name_m]Brad[/name_m]. Not many people see the name written down, nicknames are more off sound.

Why not just spell it [name_u]Braiden[/name_u] and avoid both problems?

[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_u]Braeden[/name_u] or [name_u]Braedan[/name_u]?

I prefer [name_u]Brayden[/name_u]. If it bothers you though, perhaps [name_u]Braeden[/name_u] would be good? I feel as though [name_m]Braden[/name_m] may be pronounced incorrectly as [name_m]Brad[/name_m]-en.

I prefer [name_u]Brayden[/name_u]. It looks more complete to me, for whatever reason, and also more intuitive. It’ll lead people directly to the nicknames [name_u]Bray[/name_u] or [name_u]Brady[/name_u] based on sound and spelling, not just sound. I would not automatically think [name_m]Braden[/name_m] was pronounced [name_m]Brad[/name_m]-en because it doesn’t have two d’s in the middle, but like @lawsonhaley said, it’s a possibility. You honestly never know how people are going to pronounce a name or spelling or a name they aren’t familiar with. I know that from experience.

I probably prefer [name_u]Brayden[/name_u], but [name_m]Braden[/name_m]'s good too! [name_u]Brayden[/name_u]/[name_m]Braden[/name_m] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] is such a handsome name :slight_smile: I don’t usually like trendy -en names, but I do like this one!

Thanks, all. It seems [name_m]Braden[/name_m] is favored in this crowd. I have a thing against nicknames and I really don’t want any nickname for him. [name_m]Braden[/name_m] is just the smallest jump away from [name_m]Brad[/name_m], while [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] could potentially become [name_u]Brady[/name_u], but that’s sort of like being named [name_f]Emily[/name_f] but going by [name_f]Emma[/name_f]…two different names. THIS is why I’m stuck, lol. I go back and forth in my head knowing [name_m]Braden[/name_m] is nicer but the pros of [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] outweigh it.

I also have a guilty love of [name_m]Braedon[/name_m], but that will never happen.

My SO thinks I’m absolutely insane of thinking about this so much, and thinks I should just use [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] and call it a day.

I know a Braden, he is almost 13. He has only gone by Braden.

I left out my opinion about the Brayden spelling earlier. I honestly feel it would be a spelling used by someone trying to feminize Braden to give to their daughter.

I prefer [name_m]Braden[/name_m] as well. As to nn, you just have to be strict about it. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let folks shorten it. It works.

I’d go with [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] to avoid any [name_m]Brad[/name_m]- confusion. But my favorite is [name_u]Braeden[/name_u] or [name_m]Braedon[/name_m]. Why not an option?

[name_u]Brayden[/name_u] [name_m]Eli[/name_m] is cute! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t apologize! Congrats!!

If you don’t like nicknames and don’t plan to use one, spell it [name_m]Braden[/name_m], which is clearly the one you favor, and don’t worry about it. If you tell people you don’t want it shortened and you don’t shorten it yourself, most people he sees on a regular basis will follow your example. You have no control over his friends shortening it as he gets older or his personal preferences as he gets older, though. That will be what it will be.