Lucas or Elias?

Boy Names
1

[name]Hi[/name] Berries,

I’m a long-time reader, first time poster in need of some baby naming advice.

My baby boy is scheduled to arrive in just less than 2 months, and my husband and I have yet to decide on a name. We think we have narrowed down our short list to two names – [name]Lucas[/name] and [name]Elias[/name] (other names on our list included [name]Cyrus[/name], [name]Julian[/name], [name]Nathan[/name], [name]Nathaniel[/name], [name]Owen[/name], [name]Ronin[/name], [name]Silas[/name]). These two seem to fit our criteria: relatively easy to pronounce and spell, are used across various cultures/countries, recognizable names but are not super popular in the US (i.e., not in the top 25).

Although my husband has a slight preference for [name]Lucas[/name], and my friends and family also seem to prefer that name, I’m leaning towards [name]Elias[/name] for the following reasons: (1) it’s less popular than [name]Lucas[/name], while [name]Lucas[/name] seems to be rising steadily in popularity; (2) it’s an alternative to [name]Elijah[/name] that is used both in Latin [name]America[/name] and Arab countries in the Middle [name]East[/name] (the two regions where my ancestry is from; my husband’s ancestry is English/French, Swedish, and Russian Jewish); (3) [name]Elias[/name] is also used in other countries, including the Scandinavian countries (4) [name]Elias[/name] is an anagram for my late father’s first and middle names; (5) I like the sound of it; and (6) my son can use the cute nickname [name]Eli[/name] if he chooses. I suppose my main hesitation about [name]Elias[/name] is that the few people I’ve polled seem to react positively to [name]Lucas[/name], making me think that they dislike [name]Elias[/name].

As for [name]Lucas[/name], the name is very international (it’s in the Top 10 of lots of countries in Europe and Latin [name]America[/name]) and I’ve liked the name for a long time. My main concern with that name is its fast-rising popularity.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about both names, as well as suggestions for middle names for both (my husband’s late father’s name was [name]Daniel[/name], so one option for [name]Elias[/name] would be [name]Elias[/name] [name]Daniel[/name] to honor both our dads). Our last name is one syllable and rhymes with “Racks.”

Thanks in advance for your input!

2

I love [name]Elias[/name] [name]Daniel[/name]! I actually vastly prefer [name]Elias[/name] to [name]Lucas[/name]–which is nice, but just eh for me. [name]Elias[/name] has so much more charm, imo. Then again, [name]Elias[/name] is a MN for my favorite boys’ name. :slight_smile:

I once met the cutest little old man whose name was [name]Elias[/name]–he was like some debonair, white-haired little old [name]James[/name] [name]Bond[/name]. He was just the cutest, funniest little old man I have ever met in my life. He just seems to give spunk to the name, I really love it. And [name]Eli[/name] is really cute. :slight_smile:

3

I like [name]Lucas[/name] but your reasons for [name]Elias[/name] make me like it more than [name]Lucas[/name]. I don’t think people’s preferences for [name]Lucas[/name] means that they dislike [name]Elias[/name].

[name]Elias[/name] [name]Daniel[/name] is nice. But having both the first names and last name end with a “s” sound bothers me.

4

[name]Elias[/name] [name]Daniel[/name], definitely! [name]Lucas[/name] certainly has the international appeal, but like you said, [name]Lucas[/name] seems to be popular everywhere. [name]Elias[/name] feels more laid back and friendly to me.

5

[name]Elias[/name] [name]Daniel[/name]!