My husband and I are tossing around names for our first child and we both like the name [name_m]Lucian[/name_m]/[name_m]Lucien[/name_m] for a boy. I asked my husband which spelling he liked better and he gave me a bit of a blank look as though he either didn’t know that there are two spellings or he didn’t care which way it is spelled. My question to you is which spelling do you like better AND which seems more natural or intuitive?
The favor: One of my requirements for a name is that when people look at it that they know how to pronounce it. Could you show the name to a few people and let me know how they pronounce it/if they can pronounce it? I know that where I live may differ in demographics from your area, but I think it would be helpful to get a variety of feedback.
I think [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] is much more common and therefore more instinctive? The good news, though, is that the name itself is probably obscure enough to where most people won’t have a set spelling or pronunciation in mind (though it would depend on where you live, obviously). I think [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] looks heaps better, myself, but it might just be because I’m so tired of all the [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] soundalikes and I associate -an names with those. The name brain is an irrational thing, but it wants what it wants
The verdict on assumed pronunciation: three votes for [name_u]LUCE[/name_u]-e-an, one for LOO-shen. I tweeted about it, though, so if people keep telling me how they say it I’ll keep you updated. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] things work out like you want!
I prefer the [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] spelling but if unsure I would look at the popularity of both spellings where you are and how with the more popular. I pronounce it loo-shun but I know some who say luce-e-an too. I think it is a name that people would become comfortable with your preferred pronunciation but you may have to correct some people.
Thanks for the feedback! I never would have thought to pronounce it [name_u]LUCE[/name_u]-e-an, so it’s really helpful to hear this.
As for the spelling feedback, I like what you both said and about looking at the more common spelling. I love the name [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] for a girl, so the AN spelling may be a way to get this girl’s name snuck into a boy’s name of it is a boy…
[name_m]Lucien[/name_m] is the [name_m]French[/name_m] version, so if your style tends to lean towards [name_m]French[/name_m] names it may fit in better with your other favorites. If not then [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] would be my pick, but either way the name is one of my favorites!
Namefan: It’s funny you say that because my husband has a very common [name_m]French[/name_m] Canadian last name and if we give the baby his last name (I kept my maiden name and we still don’t know what we’re going to do about a last name) I worry about [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] Lastname being overly [name_m]French[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] Lastname being a clash between not [name_m]French[/name_m] and very [name_m]French[/name_m]. We currently have no ties to [name_f]France[/name_f] or [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_f]Canada[/name_f] (besides liking to visit [name_m]Quebec[/name_m]), so I don’t know how heavily I should weigh this…
It sounds like mort of you are leaning towards AN anyway.
I prefer [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] myself! one of my favorite names.
I think this name is one with multiple “correct” pronounciations, but I think it’s one of those names that could be mispronounced the first time but after corrected one time, people will remember it
I would pronounce [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] as looshan. I probably prefer this option because it seems the most straightforward with less room for confusion
I would pronounce [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] as [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]-en. I do like this but it is really quite [name_m]French[/name_m] so depends on your general naming style/location etc. Also I presume some people would still use the Looshan pronunciation (this may be correct, I don’t know) which could lead to confusion.
I wrote down both and showed my name phobic husband and he said “err I don’t know both [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]-en or [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]-an”. I think he was more concerned I was suggesting it for us when we already have a [name_m]Lucas[/name_m].
We live in [name_u]London[/name_u], [name_f]England[/name_f] by the way
I, too, prefer [name_m]Lucian[/name_m]. Fwiw, in a majorly popular video game (on the order of millions play), they have a character that is named [name_m]Lucian[/name_m]. I have never heard anyone get confused about how to say it, and most pronounce it Loo-shen.
Since you said you do not really identify as [name_m]French[/name_m] or [name_m]French[/name_m] Canadian, I would not worry that the first name (should you pick Dad’s) is not “[name_m]French[/name_m]” enough.
My natural instinct would be to write [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], but looking at it I think I prefer the [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] spelling (I like -en endings). I would say it Loo-shee-en.
