[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone, I’m new to Nameberry and hoping you can help me out!
I have a son named [name_m]Vincent[/name_m] and a daughter named [name_f]Alma[/name_f], and am currently expecting my third. We really love the name [name_m]Silas[/name_m] for a boy (a girl will likely be [name_u]Louise[/name_u]/Louisa nicknamed [name_u]Lou[/name_u]).
The only problem is our last name. Our last name is two syllables, starts with an “sh” sound, and has a long “i” in the middle. It’s kind of similar in sound to the last name Schneider.
Does this make [name_m]Silas[/name_m] unusable for us? I go through phases of thinking maybe it could work and then later I think there’s no way. We do have one other boy name we like ([name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nicknamed [name_u]Theo[/name_u]), but it doesn’t have the same feel for me. If you don’t think [name_m]Silas[/name_m] would work, I’d welcome any suggestions
What are your thoughts? Could we use [name_m]Silas[/name_m] or should we start looking for a different name?
I don’t think [name_m]Silas[/name_m] is unusable with your surname. That being said, I do have a hard time saying the last S in [name_m]Silas[/name_m] into the first Sh- sound of Schneider. However, I don’t think that makes it completely unusable.
I think if you are going to have trouble saying [name_m]Silas[/name_m] (Actual last name), I would not use [name_m]Silas[/name_m]. Maybe you could use it in the middle name spot, so that it isn’t said out loud as often?
I’m not a huge fan of first names that are very similar to last names. But I think [name_m]Silas[/name_m] is a great name!
It’s a tough call… I think saying the full name out loud a few times, every couple days, will tell you whether you dislike the flow or not. Perhaps write it on your fridge or bathroom mirror to remind yourself?
Its a bit of a tongue twister and also seems stylistically different from your other children’s names. I do think [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] would work better honestly. But I understand that frustration of loving a name that doesn’t work and trying to make it work! I dont think its completely unusable necessarily but I do think you have to say the names out loud and really take inventory on how they sound. Unfortunately middle names aren’t really said a ton so I think how a first name and last name sound together is important!
This is tricky. [name_m]Silas[/name_m] is beautiful w/Vincent & [name_f]Alma[/name_f]. Totally perfect. But if I am understanding your ln, it does seem a bit off. But if it’s absolutely the only name that you love & you’ll completely regret not using it, I say go for it. [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nn [name_u]Theo[/name_u] is cute, but kind of over done, honestly.
It is a bit of a tricky one, and if you were equally in love with [name_m]Silas[/name_m] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], it would be an excellent tiebreaker. But you’re not, so I’d say go with the name you love! It’s not a terrible sound, I don’t think, just slightly difficult at first. [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], and [name_m]Silas[/name_m] is a wonderful sibset!
I don’t think it works with your last name, but I do think it sounds great with the older kids names. Maybe as the middle if you really love it? What other names are you thinking of?
I don’t think we would use [name_m]Silas[/name_m] as a middle name simply because we would like to use the middle spot to honor a family member. Otherwise, I would be onboard with the idea!
@Summs Besides [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]/Theo, we’ve considered [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_u]August[/name_u], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Linus[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], and [name_m]Johan[/name_m]. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband is from Denmark, so it’s important to us to have a name that works well in Danish and [name_f]English[/name_f].
I immediately think of [name_m]Silas[/name_m] Marner when I hear [name_m]Silas[/name_m]. I love the literary reference. But as a name, I don’t really like the sound as I say it. It is usable, just not a favorite.
I find [name_m]Silas[/name_m] Schneider extremely difficult to pronounce, so if your last name is similar I would not use [name_m]Silas[/name_m]. It is a beautiful name though [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_u]Elias[/name_u] or [name_m]Matthias[/name_m]? I love [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], and [name_u]Louise[/name_u] by the way, you have wonderful taste.
I’ve tried to like both [name_u]Elias[/name_u] and [name_m]Mathias[/name_m], but I just can’t seem to come around to them. I think they’re a bit too long for me and I’m not too fond of the nicknames [name_u]Eli[/name_u] or [name_m]Matt[/name_m]. But thank you for the suggestions! And thank you for the complement on our other names – we always had an easy time coming up with our other children’s names, so this time round is a very different experience
I like the suggestion of trying the name outloud everyday and see if it works. Would [name_m]Soren[/name_m] work better with your last name? It has a similar feel.
@Natawa I always seem to forget about [name_m]Soren[/name_m]! We’ve mentioned [name_m]Soren[/name_m] before and it does work better with our last name, but I just wonder if it feels too modern and different when compared with our other names? I’m going to keep it in mind now, though!
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_u]Elias[/name_u] or [name_m]Matthias[/name_m]? I love [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], and [name_u]Louise[/name_u] by the way, you have wonderful taste.