Janus

[otri]

[name_m]Janus[/name_m] [JAYN-us / JAN-us] is the two-faced [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god of beginnings, passages, gateways, changes in time, and endings. It has been briefly suggested that he was the most important god in the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] pantheon. The month of [name_u]January[/name_u] is named for him.

What do you think of [name_m]Janus[/name_m]? Is it usable? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any first or middle name suggestions for it?

Thanks!

[grackym]

I can only see ‘anus’, sorry.

[charlottechar]

I have to agree, it was my first thought and I can’t not see/hear it.

[otri]

And now I feel sort of silly for not seeing it. I was just thinking it might sound a bit too much like ‘genus’ and [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. Oops.

[katinka]

I love [name_m]Janus[/name_m], but yes - I’d use it only as a middle. Unless the first name is [name_m]Hugh[/name_m], of course.

[vc2013]

@otri

[name_m]Janus[/name_m] [JAYN-us] is the two-faced [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god of beginnings, passages, gateways, changes in time, and endings. It has been briefly suggested that he was the most important god in the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] pantheon. The month of [name_u]January[/name_u] is named for him.

What do you think of [name_m]Janus[/name_m]? Is it usable? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any first or middle name suggestions for it?

Thanks!

I love [name_m]Janus[/name_m], but was never able to get over the “two-faced” thing. I know it’s not meant in the way we understand it today, of being false, but I still stayed away from it as a baby name for this reason.

I’m annoyed at how some people always see something stupid in a beautiful name – I didn’t think anus at all and still don’t after reading the above comments.
To me, it sounds more like [name_f]Janis[/name_f].

[vestigesofsummer]

The [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-nus pronunciation isn’t standard. At peril of sounding persnickety, in Latin it’s pronounced more like Yah-noos. I think the logical anglicized reading of the name is closer to [name_u]Jan[/name_u]-us, or [name_f]Janis[/name_f], as a previous poster mentioned. It’s not my style, but my mind wouldn’t immediately jump to anus, in part because the pronunciation of the name I would think to use differs from the one you’re using.

[otri]

@vestigesofsummer

The [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-nus pronunciation isn’t standard. At peril of sounding persnickety, in Latin it’s pronounced more like Yah-noos. I think the logical anglicized reading of the name is closer to [name_u]Jan[/name_u]-us, or [name_f]Janis[/name_f], as a previous poster mentioned. It’s not my style, but my mind wouldn’t immediately jump to anus, in part because the pronunciation of the name I would think to use differs from the one you’re using.

Yeah, I’m aware of the Latin pronunciation and contemplated going with it but figured JAYN-us or [name_u]JAN[/name_u]-us was more intuitive in my part of the world. I ended up choosing JAYN-us spur of the moment because I didn’t like listing more than one pronunciation after the name. Being not sleep deprived at the moment, I’d have probably chosen differently (and may change it).

[otri]

@katinka

I love [name_m]Janus[/name_m], but yes - I’d use it only as a middle. Unless the first name is [name_m]Hugh[/name_m], of course.

Yikes! That would be quite the unfortunate name. I’m thinking [name_m]Janus[/name_m] will stay in the middle.

Thanks!

[boyandgirl]

Sounds like [name_f]Janice[/name_f], so not useable for a boy.

[gjkp2010]

I’d automatically pronounce it with the YAH-noos pronunciation, but [name_m]German[/name_m] is my first language. I do love it pronounced that way, but not a fan of it with the [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-nus pronunciation. I do not; however, see “anus.”

[otri]

@gjkp2010

I’d automatically pronounce it with the YAH-noos pronunciation, but [name_m]German[/name_m] is my first language. I do love it pronounced that way, but not a fan of it with the [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-nus pronunciation. I do not; however, see “anus.”

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who just didn’t see “anus”.

[lcmommy]

I agree I totally see/hear “anus” sorry