My fiancé and I are having a little boy due [name_f]October[/name_f] 3rd! We have chosen the name [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] for him, but I’m a little skeptical of what other people will think. We want to give him two middle names following after my parents’ choice of giving me two ([name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] [name_f]Elaine[/name_f]). Neither of us are big Guns & Roses fans, we just thought the name sounded extremely unique and pretty bad@$%, lol. I’ve gotten strange looks after sharing the name with some, and others have loved it. I kind of just wanted some opinions on whether or not you think it’s a little too out there. Thanks!
Hm. [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is much too associated with the musician for me, and he’s not really a fabulous namesake, in my opinion. However, you and your fiance seem to love the name. You’re the parents, so it’s your opinion that matters. People will absolutely make judgments about [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], but it’s up to you if you want to put up with that or not.
I suspect that because the baby’s first name will be [name_u]River[/name_u] (I assume you wouldn’t call him [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] very often) not many people would know about the [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] connection as he grows up. It would kind of be up to him if he wants to reveal that, and I think that works in the name’s favor.
I mean it’s not too strange, the names are all fairly known, but it will get some odd looks.
Here’s my honest opinion and I hope this doesn’t come across as too harsh: it doesn’t make much sense to me to name a kid after [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] (who is pretty much synonymous with Guns n’ Roses) and not be big fans of the band. It does come across as a bit pretentious and try-hard, sort of like wearing band merch from bands you never listen to. I think [name_u]River[/name_u] is a fine name for any gender but the [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] thing just does strike me as odd.
[name_u]River[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is really pretty for a girl, in fact I think a [name_u]Berry[/name_u] already used it.
I see Nameberry shows it in orange type which means it’s unisex.
But if you give a unisex name as a first name then I think you should go strongly male on the middle name.
The name [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] on paper gives the recipient little clue as to what to expect to walk through the door.
Should he be assigned to the boys gym class or the girls?
When girls named [name_f]Rhona[/name_f] (nn [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u]) and Allynn end up in Boys Phys [name_m]Ed[/name_m] (true!)… little [name_u]River[/name_u] A [name_f]Rose[/name_f] better be prepared for a lifetime of confusion.
It’s not strange, but it might not be the most flattering name/namesake to give to a child and future adult.
- [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is way too associated with the band
- The stage name [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] was chosen because it’s an anagram for [name_m]Oral[/name_m] Sex. So yeah, not the greatest namesake…
[name_u]River[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] Clarkson’s daughter’s name. I think I recall her saying when she was pregnant that [name_u]River[/name_u] would be the first name whether she had a boy or a girl, and I guess [name_f]Rose[/name_f] was to make it more gender-specific.
That’s not strange at all!
I think it would be kind of out there to include “[name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]” in your kids name and not be a fan of [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
I also think [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is just too feminine with the unisex first name. I think all three names ([name_u]River[/name_u], [name_m]Axel[/name_m] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f]) are fine on their own but too much together. All three are word names which to me is a little much. My feel is that if you are going to give a kid three names it would be nice for at least one of them to be something to fall back on if they don’t like their name or at least a more “normal” nickname which none of these really have.
Some names that could be used instead of one/both of the middles for a similar feel…
[name_u]Beau[/name_u]
[name_u]Blaze[/name_u]
[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m]
[name_m]Bowie[/name_m]
[name_m]Cole[/name_m]
[name_m]Dax[/name_m]
[name_m]Fox[/name_m]
[name_u]James[/name_u]
[name_m]Jax[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_m]Knox[/name_m]
[name_u]Lennox[/name_u]
[name_m]Otis[/name_m]
[name_u]Ray[/name_u]
[name_u]Rhys[/name_u]
[name_u]Roan[/name_u]
[name_m]Rogue[/name_m]
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
[name_m]Wild[/name_m]
[name_m]Zane[/name_m]
I think something like [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_u]Rhys[/name_u] could give a very similar feel but the small change to [name_u]Rhys[/name_u], fixes the [name_m]Axl[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] issue and gives a better fall back option. Or play with some of the other options!
I think [name_u]River[/name_u] is fine, and [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] is fine. But as other’s have said [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] pretty much is the singer, and people will assume that whether you intended it or not. I think you should use [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] but find another middle instead of [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
Not so strange, maybe more a bit inappropriate for the child himself. By adding [name_f]Rose[/name_f] after [name_m]Axel[/name_m] you are forever imparting a stigma upon him. [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_m]Axel[/name_m] are great names, surely you can come up with something more individual for him than [name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
[name_m]Axel[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] makes me think of Guns and Roses and I don’t know anything about them other then their name and that [name_m]Axel[/name_m] was apart of them…I’d say change the [name_f]Rose[/name_f] part. [name_u]River[/name_u] is a very gender neutral name and adding [name_f]Rose[/name_f] (a super feminine name) made me think its a girls name. I actually had to double check your post to make sure you were having a boy and not a girl. I love you’re full name and think the idea of passing that tradition on to your son is a great idea. [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Axel[/name_m] is a really great start but I’d change [name_f]Rose[/name_f] to something a little more masculine like [name_m]Ross[/name_m], or [name_u]Roy[/name_u]. If you don’t have any real connection to guns and roses it doesn’t make much sense to use the name. Any way good luck!