One More Name for Baby's Name List

Boy Names
1

[name]Endymion[/name] is off, again, and I know it’s insane, I just would like a neat top five for reasons I’m not gonna bore you with. I really want [name]Oliver[/name], [name]Orion[/name], [name]Orpheus[/name], [name]Orlando[/name] or Faramond in the last spot.

My pros and cons ([name]Hayley[/name] style!):
[name]Oliver[/name]: + [name]One[/name] of my all time favourite boy names, I know I’ll always love it. Main character in my favourite novel. The name of one of the paladins of Charlemagne, [name]Roland[/name]'s trusted advisor and best friend.

  • Popularity. It doesn’t really bug me, but [name]Oliver[/name] is number 2 (7007 babies) in E&W, and the highest ranked of my other names is [name]Thalia[/name] at 776 (48 babies).
    [name]Orion[/name]: + Beautiful, love the myth, constellation, easy to say and spell, everyone knows it.
  • Seems like a go to middle for people who want to be different.
    [name]Orpheus[/name]: + I love the [name]Orpheus[/name] myth. Rilke’s sonnets to [name]Orpheus[/name]. It’s beautiful and sounds different to my other names.
  • Lots of people say one man name.
    [name]Orlando[/name]: + Italian version of [name]Roland[/name], Charlemagne’s chief military leader. Also [name]Orlando[/name] Innamorato and [name]Orlando[/name] Furioso (epic poems), and [name]Orlando[/name] in As You Like It.
  • [name]Orlando[/name] Bloom. Not him really, he seems very nice and is pretty and all, but he’s not my favourite actor and I don’t want people to think he’s named after mr Bloom.
    Faramond: + The legendary [name]King[/name] of the Franks. His name means journey protection which is gorgeous.
  • Not sure this one has any bad things, except too much? [name]Will[/name] people get it? Confuse it with Faramir?

The rest of my list is [name]Altair[/name], [name]Evander[/name], [name]Hadrian[/name] and [name]Rainier[/name].
Girl list is Gwenllian, Hespera, Illyria, [name]Morgana[/name] and [name]Thalia[/name].

2

I would choose Faramond for the last spot. I agree, it doesn’t really have any bad points. [name]Love[/name] it! My second choice would be [name]Oliver[/name], since I love it, but I just don’t love it for you. It’s too popular and it just has a different feel than your other, more unique names. I also like [name]Orion[/name] and [name]Orpheus[/name] (I slightly prefer [name]Orpheus[/name]), and the only one I don’t really care for is [name]Orlando[/name] - for me, it’s totally associated with [name]Orlando[/name] Bloom.

3

Noooo, not [name]Endymion[/name]! I will light a candle in his honor tonight… lol. And now that I’ve been overly dramatic I will give this a go:

[name]Oliver[/name]- It is simply a fact of life that this is a great name. So don’t get me wrong, I do really like it, and I definitely prefer it 1000 times more than [name]Constance[/name] (sorry!). It’s cute, it’s relatable, it’s so [name]Charles[/name] Dickins… But yes, it is extremely popular. If I truely think about all the names I’ve watched you consider over these past few months, I have a feeling that you will eventually come to regret using this. I think it would be Perfect as a mn (for let’s say, [name]Hadrian[/name], hint hint) but as a first I just fear that he will get lost in a sea of little [name]Ollie[/name]'s and you’ll wish instead that you had the only little [name]Altair[/name] in the preschool… I also feel like it would severely limit the naming potential of any future Hespera’s ;_; To be geographically fair, I just asked a friend of mine who lives in [name]London[/name] if he knew any, and he easily listed 5 [name]Oliver[/name]'s only a moment ago so if you ask me, [name]Thalia[/name] should perhaps draw the line for you guys, as far as popularity goes. =(

[name]Orion[/name]- [name]Do[/name] you need me to climb back up onto my soapbox, or can we just reference my posts from the early deliberations, pretend I said it all again, and call it good? (I still completely love it, and I can’t think of a better way for a young boy to fall in love with stargazing, or an easier constellation to track. Previously, my biggest and pretty much only hang-up was that it had the same ending as [name]Endymion[/name], but if it’s becomming too common-place you do have many other lovely options, and it could still a great mn possibility.)

[name]Orpheus[/name]- He has such an amazing role in the myth, a melodious sound, and he is recognizable while still remaining unique. I sort of understand when people call it a one-man name, but I think it’s about time it became a one-man-plus-one-baby name don’t ya think?

[name]Orlando[/name]- I do love [name]Roland[/name] a great deal and [name]Orlando[/name] Furioso is amazing. To be honest I also like [name]Orlando[/name] Bloom (I tend to conveniently forget that whole [name]Paris[/name] thing… shudder) although, when was the last time he made a movie? He seems to be quite caught up in domestic life for now at least, and even though he had a previous string of popular films years ago, I don’t really see him as THE only [name]Orlando[/name] people have ever heard of. Our generation was around for the premiers of the LOTR and POTC movies, but by the time a 2013 child is even old enough to watch those, I feel as though it will be like reading the credits of a Brat Pack movie today… good actors, but no longer the most popular ones. I very much remember hearing this as people’s names before and since, and though it does give me a slight chuckle every time (because I happen to live in [name]Orlando[/name], FL) I still am very aware that it is a real name and has been around for years and years. Anyway, my long rambling point is it’s a splendid name and I sincerely don’t think people, especially not his peers, will automatically assume that little [name]Orlando[/name] [name]Sean[/name] Eddard (haha!) was named after “that guy who played the blonde elf.” =]

Faramond- It has a great meaning, but I can’t comment on this without bias… I always seem to confuse it with Faramir and I think we all know which one I prefer. =( Also, can I just say that trying to negatively narrow down lists of amazing names is much harder!!

4

[name]Oliver[/name]: great name, it would be my choice off your list, but it seems so tame next to every other name I’ve ever seen you gush over.
[name]Orion[/name]: beautiful. different but accessible. I’ve never heard it used. I wouldn’t let other people’s reasons for choosing it put you off if it feels right to you.
[name]Orpheus[/name]: honestly, my first thoughts with this name are [name]Morpheus[/name] from Matrix and Orphan. It doesn’t have as pleasant of a sound as your other choices.
[name]Orlando[/name]: first thoughts are [name]Florida[/name] and Mr. Bloom and then [name]Virginia[/name] [name]Wolfe[/name]'s character…
Faramond: I think the only negative to this is it’s rarity, which doesn’t seem like a problem for you. I think the sound and flow are beautiful

So my picks are [name]Orion[/name] and Faramond

5

Thanks, you three!

lily: Thanks, Faramond is great!

[name]Amy[/name], awwww you’re rereading Lady Chatterley’s Lover! I’m reading it now too, for the 1000th time I believe. I’ve got five different copies of it, all worn out except for my beautiful leather bound one :wink:
I know about [name]Endymion[/name], we just feels it’s too much maybe (will put it in the middle).I like [name]Orlando[/name] Bloom too (I actually thought he was perfect as [name]Paris[/name], annoying and idiot-ish). [name]Orlando[/name] [name]Sean[/name] Eddard, ah you make me smile. I know of about 50 [name]Oliver[/name]'s as well, they’re everywhere. I’ll definitely use it as a middle though. Have to! [name]Orion[/name], I know your feelings on this one. [name]Just[/name] read through them actually, you and Sessh were always championing this one. I sort of prefer Faramir too, but if I should name after a LOTR character… there are others I love more. [name]Orpheus[/name] seems to be your favourite. It’s mine, so I’m happy to see think it’s room for a little [name]Orpheus[/name] in the world.

Kalaway: Thanks, I’ve seen Matrix once so I don’t really connect it to that! [name]Orlando[/name] by VW is a great book, I forgot about that one. Another great plus.

6

I actually know an [name]Orlando[/name] and an [name]Orion[/name]. My friend [name]Orlando[/name] has mixed feelings about his name. He likes that it’s one of a kind, but people always have to ask him for his name twice and then immediately associate it with either Bloom or [name]Florida[/name]. My family keeps asking me how my friend [name]Oswaldo[/name] is doing. It doesn’t seem to stick in their minds as anything other than “a weird O name.” I think I would vote against this one.

The [name]Orion[/name] I know likes his name a lot. It’s great. We were in the same circle as a [name]Ryan[/name] though and essentially their names were the same. People don’t stress the O very much so it sounds a lot like [name]Ryan[/name]. But this [name]Orion[/name] loved his connection to Astronomy.

I was surprised to see [name]Oliver[/name] on your list as it’s so common for you! But it’s a great name too. You really can’t go wrong with it. I think I prefer [name]Orion[/name] for you though because it’s truer to your flair for the unusual and mythological. At the same time, just one top 10 on your list could be a good thing. :slight_smile: I prefer both of them to [name]Orpheus[/name]. It makes me think of the theatre in LA.

I also love Faramond. I have never heard it, but it’s a great combo of Faramir and [name]Edmond[/name] in my head, even though I know that’s not where it’s from. A lot of the names on your list begin with vowels, indeed [name]Ranier[/name] is the only one that is decidedly consonantal, so it might be nice to have a consonant.

edit: How will you be pronouncing Gwenllian? The Welsh way or the Anglicized way.

7

I really like your names. Most of them are quite daring, but that’s a good thing [name]IMO[/name]. My favorites are Gwenllian and Faramond.

8

[name]Oliver[/name]: 3/4 of the names currently on the short list end with -R. I think it would be just too much given its popularity. It is a lovely name, no doubt about it, and the fact that it’s popular shows how people have excellent taste. But as [name]Amy[/name] said I can’t imagine a family of Illyria, [name]Altair[/name] and [name]Oliver[/name].

[name]Orion[/name]: definitely deserves serious consideration. While the reservations around [name]Orpheus[/name] center around it being “out there,” [name]Orion[/name] is just cool. An [name]Orion[/name] can hang. It’s pretty, evocative, mythological and accessible.

[name]Orpheus[/name]: not exactly a one-man name in my book, but it is unfamiliar and might be misheard.

[name]Orlando[/name]: I think [name]Florida[/name] more than Mr Bloom, and various boxers by the (sur)name [name]Orlando[/name]. I love how lush it is, and again it’s extremely accessible.

Faramond: to my ear, by far the loveliest and most evocative name on the list. Its only con is that it genuinely is very unfamiliar, and might be confused with the other -mond names. But I love the namesake and the nice mix of otherworldly, regal, and everyday elements.

My rank list:

1 & 2 (tied): [name]Orion[/name] + Faramond
3) [name]Orlando[/name]
4) [name]Orpheus[/name]
5) [name]Oliver[/name]

9

I absolutely love [name]Orion[/name]. I feel like a boy/man with this name would have some deep inner desire to create or express himself whether its writing, acting, or singing. He has a real appreciation for all things beautiful.
Aside from the image I get from it, I love the idea of naming a child after a constellation. Especially if stars have a special meaning to you, it would be a great namesake. Great choice.

10

Short and sweet opinion…
YES- [name]Orion[/name] (different as a name but still easily recognized and heard of)
NO- [name]Orpheus[/name] (I don’t want to say it’s “not pretty” because its for a boy, but I just dislike how the name sounds)

11

I suspect your heart may be with [name]Orpheus[/name], so I’m giving him my vote! Sure he’s a one-man-name, and I’ve been skeptical of his wearability. But I have a friend named [name]Virgil[/name] who is pretty excellent, not at all crippled by his name. I know a [name]Thor[/name] who is just the sweetest, gentlest old man.
[name]Orion[/name] or [name]Orlando[/name] would be my next favorites. I think Faramond is divine, but similar in feeling to [name]Evander[/name], [name]Altair[/name], [name]Hadrian[/name] and [name]Rainier[/name].
It has a dreamy, meandering quality. [name]Orpheus[/name], [name]Orion[/name], [name]Orlando[/name] are more… eyes straight ahead. (Edit: It’s odd that I see Orpheus as more “eyes-straight-ahead” given the myth. I just mean, these names feel a little more grounded than Faramond, to me.) [name]Oliver[/name] is beautiful… Not sure how it ranks on your side of the pond, but over here it’s mega-popular. You’ll have five names to choose from once the baby’s born - for now, why not go with the one that’s tugging at your heartstrings?

12

You already know which one is my favorite :wink: especially if we’re losing [name]Endymion[/name], I think [name]Orion[/name] deserves a shot in the spotlight. He and [name]Orpheus[/name] have been around since day one, but between the two [name]Orion[/name] is the more accessible and “name-y”. And even if other people are using it as a middle name, how many of them are daring enough to make it a first! He could go by [name]Ryan[/name] if he goes through that “I want a normal name” phase, and the mythological and astronomical connections are to die for… okay climbing off the soapbox now.

[name]Oliver[/name] is darling, but I think he’ll fit better as a middle. As PP’s have said, a sibset of Gwenllian, [name]Altair[/name] and [name]Oliver[/name] could be hard on poor [name]Ollie[/name]. I love him in the mn slot, especially paired with [name]Robin[/name]!

[name]Orpheus[/name] would be my second choice after [name]Orion[/name], mainly because of the mythological connections. I actually like his similarity to [name]Morpheus[/name], the shaper of dreams.

Veto points go to [name]Orlando[/name], because of the hyper commercialized Disneyfied city (the actor is adorable, so no cons there), and unfortunately Faramond! I was totally on board with this one, even though I prefer Faramir, until someone mentioned it sounds like pheromone…now that’s all I hear :-/

[name]Hope[/name] these tidbits are helpful tidbits. So excited to see your lists coming together!

13

Thanks everyone!

First, in [name]England[/name] [name]Orlando[/name] is pretty much (at least to the people my children will associate with) mr Bloom and [name]Shakespeare[/name]. And [name]Woolf[/name]. We all know about the city and Disney-thing, but it’s not the first thing that comes to mind honestly. Not even for me who’s in [name]America[/name] pretty often.

[name]Sparrow[/name]: I never thought of [name]Orion[/name] and [name]Ryan[/name]. I just realized I say [name]Orion[/name] in Norwegian, oo-ree-ON, which obviously isn’t how it will be pronounced in [name]England[/name]. Bugger! I’m going to pronounce Gwenllian gwen-LHEE-an; approved by my Welsh friends.

anajo: thanks, I love those two as well.

[name]Blade[/name] the Ninja: I thought about the -r things last night as well. Besides that, [name]Oliver[/name] is more suitable in the middle for all the reasons that’s been mentioned. I do love it though. So cute and beautiful. I love how you describe Faramond, it’s such a fantastic name.

Bellalulamum: Thanks, I do love stars! No special meaning, but I’m pretty in love with all things that are shining and twinkling.

mrsbeville: Short, yes. Thanks for your opinon!

[name]Emma[/name]: You have a friend named Vrgil? That’s awesome! [name]Oliver[/name] is #2 here, so pretty darn popular. I see what you mean about Faramond (definitely gives me the same vibe as [name]Evander[/name] and [name]Altair[/name], daydreamers dancing on clouds with their long golden locks). [name]Hadrian[/name] and [name]Rainier[/name] are tougher in my opinion; survivors, warriors, hunters. [name]Orpheus[/name] is somewhere in between, a realistic romantic. [name]Orlando[/name] I’m not sure about… Thank you for giving me the go-ahead. I do love [name]Orpheus[/name].

Sesshie: I do love [name]Orion[/name], but now I’m fearing a [name]Ryan[/name] nick name. [name]Ryan[/name] is such a teen mum name here. And [name]Oliver[/name], I sort of knew it was a no go with the rest of the names. I just love him so much! Faramond - pheromone? Thank you, Sessh, now that’s all I’m going to see… with surname it would sound like something weird. Hmmm… Thanks for your wonderful tidbits, very helpful indeed!!

14

I think [name]Oliver[/name] is my least favourite for you, it now sounds so whiny to my ears I’ve heard it so much in this past couple of years. I think it’s too popular and I just don’t see it fitting in with your other names at all, e.g. I wouldn’t expect to meet an [name]Oliver[/name] & Hespera if that makes sense.

[name]Orpheus[/name] reminds me of the word Orifice, as well as [name]Power[/name] Rangers for some reason; think it’s ‘orph’ sound.

[name]Orion[/name] and [name]Orlando[/name] are my favourites; but I understand your concerns about [name]Orlando[/name] Bloom. My brother is considering the name [name]Orlando[/name] too, and the only one I’ve ever met was just adorable and he’s about 6 years old now. I’ve never met anyone with the middle name [name]Orion[/name], and even if it is in the middle name you wouldn’t hear it much.

Faramond is too much for me, the other four names on your list are wonderful but I don’t like this one. [name]Orion[/name] fits better.

15

Thank you, [name]Liz[/name]! I actually think I’m leaning towards [name]Orlando[/name]… boyfriend isn’t sure about [name]Orpheus[/name], and usually that will mean a big NO down the road. [name]Orlando[/name] really has everything I want; great literary references, historical ones, people will recognize it and it’s easy to spell and say. It was given to 59 babies in 2011, not too many.

16

Hey nice signature there! [name]Orlando[/name] is wonderful, and while it sounds akin to your other boy names, it’s distinct enough that you’ll have five different flavors to choose from. Have you seen the [name]Sally[/name] [name]Potter[/name] film of [name]Orlando[/name]? The book is better of course, but [name]Tilda[/name] Swinton is great and the art-direction is out-of-this-world.

Yes I have a [name]Virgil[/name] friend. Rarely see him because he’s a crazy driven artist always working, but a sweet puppy. The name suits him.
Actually I know a couple who named their son [name]Orlando[/name]. A dancer and a classics professor. He (the dancer) is always being mistaken for a gay man, so I had a bit of a laugh over [name]Orlando[/name] because I think of it as such an androgynous name. But in the end I could only marvel at their opulent, evocative choice.

Five children [name]Ottilie[/name]! Wowie. Well, you have such a playful spirit, I’m sure you’ll be a great mama to a troupe of beautiful kids. I secretly want a gaggle of small people (three seems like a lot!) but I don’t know if I could manage it. I guess once you dive in and have the first child, the worries about juggling career and family go out the window and you get on with your life?

Well anyway. What are some preferred middles for Mr. O?

17

Thanks sweets! I have seen that movie… I pretty much adore [name]Tilda[/name] in everything, she is amazing. And you’re right, the art direction is amazing! Your [name]Virgil[/name] friend sounds like my mr beau; always working. Actually, I think our groups of friends are pretty alike by the sound of it… I love that you have friends with a little [name]Orlando[/name].

Yeah we want five! I actually want eight, but we’re being realistic! Career for me is basically yoga and painting… I just love children, I want a whole bunch (not in [name]London[/name] though, we’d have to move to the country).

Middles…argh, no we’re sort of looking at it for all the names. We definitely want Orpehus, [name]Endymion[/name], Faramond, [name]Oliver[/name], [name]Weyland[/name], Wythe, [name]Orion[/name] and [name]Herne[/name]. Amazing suggestions are always welcome.

18

[name]Ottilie[/name], I love [name]Orion[/name]! Faramond is great, but I think [name]Orion[/name] is by far my favorite from your list of Os.

P.S. I also really like [name]Evander[/name], [name]Hadrian[/name], [name]Morgana[/name], and [name]Thalia[/name].

19

Yoga and painting! I might have guessed. My work is physical too. I so wish you could pop by for a cuppa, but I bet we’d meet and just start ranting names at each other. [name]Will[/name] you post [name]Altair[/name], [name]Evander[/name], [name]Hadrian[/name], and [name]Rainier[/name] with their likely middles again? I can’t keep track. Then we can have a shot at [name]Orlando[/name].

20

I want eight kids, too!

Anyway, I know you’ve already gone through the whole vetting process, but I just want to throw out [name]Orfeo[/name] as a perhaps more realistic [name]Orpheus[/name]. 1) It doesn’t sound like orifice when said too quickly. 2) The o ending makes it very accessible. 3) Sir [name]Orfeo[/name] is [name]Orpheus[/name]/[name]Eurydice[/name] retold with FAIRIES. What could be better and more magical and medieval? 4) It has less of a one-man-name sound.

Otherwise, I think [name]Orion[/name] is your best best. I will say, however, that I had a friend who recently published a story in which the protagonist made fun of hippie parents who named their kid [name]Orion[/name]. [name]Just[/name] to say that, yes, [name]Orion[/name] is a very typical choice for altie parents, and that’s something to be aware of.

[name]Orlando[/name] is very swashbuckling, but in an easy, superficial way. Your other names feel more substantial. There is the lovely connection to [name]Virginia[/name] [name]Woolf[/name], however.

[name]Oliver[/name] is so very popular! I feel you’ll regret it, wonderful name thought it may be. It’s so easy to grow tired of names when there are three in a playgroup. Names that once sounded gorgeous start to sound like BLAH BLAH.

The last name on the list, the F name, is my favourite, and gets my vote.