We basically love the middle name [name_m]Apollos[/name_m]. He was a learned, mighty man of God in the [name_m]New[/name_m] Testament, and we love his legacy and the sound of his name. Plus, it matches our other son’s middle name, [name_m]Marcellus[/name_m] (named after a grandfather who has passed).
What I’m stumped on is the first name.
[name_m]Boaz[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] (we’d call him [name_u]Bo[/name_u])
or
[name_m]Caius[/name_m] [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] (we’d call him [name_u]Cai[/name_u])
Big brother is [name_m]Job[/name_m] [name_m]Marcellus[/name_m] (we use NN [name_u]Joby[/name_u]), and big sisters Amaré and [name_f]Selah[/name_f].
I also loved [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] ([name_m]Zeke[/name_m]), but DH vetoed.
[name_m]Caius[/name_m] is my favourite - so handsome! I think it [name_m]Amare[/name_m], [name_m]Job[/name_m], [name_f]Selah[/name_f], and [name_m]Caius[/name_m] go perfectly as well.
I vote for [name_m]Caius[/name_m]. My son had a [name_m]Caius[/name_m] in his class (only one I have ever met) and it made me really love the name. [name_u]Cai[/name_u] is such a fab nn too.
So, would you recommend [name_m]Caius[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m]?
I had thought it was too much “S” in the ending… but I hate shortening [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] to [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], since we really want to name him after the NT figure, not the greek god…
While I typically prefer the name [name_m]Caius[/name_m] to [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], for you specifically I think you should go with [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m].
First, I agree that the name [name_m]Caius[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] feels like it has too many s’s. It would work if you were going for a classic [name_m]Roman[/name_m] feel, but that doesn’t fit with the rest of your children very well. Using [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] allows you to use the full [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] name you want without having to shorten it to [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] (and you’re right, if you did that, people would think about the Greek God instead).
Second, I can see the importance you are placing on Biblical figures. [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] is a great match for [name_m]Job[/name_m] in that regard. Both are names that are known, but not extremely common, yet are men worthy of honor. When I realized your older son was named [name_m]Job[/name_m], I tried to remember if there were any [name_m]Caius[/name_m]'s from the Bible and the person that first came to mind was Caiaphas…not exactly my first choice of people to honor. I realize that the names are separate and distinct, but they are similar enough that I might not be the only one trying to find Biblical connection and ending up there. The name [name_m]Caius[/name_m] itself isn’t mentioned anywhere that I know of.
I love the names of all of your children, by the way! They all have beautiful, meaningful names that you don’t hear every day. I think [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] would be a perfect addition.
First of all, THANK YOU for your thorough and thoughtful response! Secondly, over the past couple weeks, we have definitely decided on [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m], for pretty much all the reasons you just outlined above! (sorry I haven’t been on the site for a bit so I just now saw what you wrote). It is definitely confirmation to see all your points echo what’s been swirling around in my/our heads…and I just can’t seem to think of a better brother sib set than [name_u]Joby[/name_u] and [name_u]Bo[/name_u] (for nicknames) for the faithful legacies of [name_m]Job[/name_m] and [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], in the Bible. Then the MN [name_m]Apollos[/name_m] is such a perfect legacy name for a mighty man of Scripture, and the MN [name_m]Marcellus[/name_m] (of our son [name_m]Job[/name_m]) was after my husband’s father, who was also known for being that, although he died young.
Thanks for the response and help, and if anyone is still reading this, thanks for commenting too!
We have decided on [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m]. It goes so well with the unexpectedness of all our kids’ names–and the nicknames [name_u]Bo[/name_u] and [name_u]Joby[/name_u] sound cutesy but boyish, just as Amaré and Sélah are equally whimsical. Thanks again!
[name_m]Caius[/name_m]! I love the nickname [name_u]Cai[/name_u]/ [name_u]Kai[/name_u] (I tried to love [name_u]Bo[/name_u]/ [name_u]Beau[/name_u] before, but it seems so incomplete to me); I also have 2 relatives named [name_m]Caio[/name_m], so I’m familiar with the name. Btw, your children’s names are beautiful.
Well, thanks! We did choose [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], and it was a hard choice as both names ([name_m]Boaz[/name_m] and [name_m]Caius[/name_m]) are so fun, strong, and appealing!
