See the results of this poll: Poll: what’s your favorite for a first name?
Respondents: 68 (This poll is closed)
- Tobias : 41 (60%)
- Lionel : 16 (24%)
- Bruno: 11 (16%)
I voted [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], though [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] is awesome. I fear [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] on its own is too strongly connected to [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Richie[/name_m], and [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] to singer [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] [name_m]Mars[/name_m].
I like both [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] and [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] (they’re on my own list), but I think [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] sounds best [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] (since the ending “s” in [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] and the beginning “x” run into each other). If you go with [name_m]Noble[/name_m], I think [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] is your best option. [name_m]BruNO[/name_m] NObel and [name_u]LionEL[/name_u] NobEL seem to clash.
For what it’s worth, I do not have any associations with the name [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] (apart from maybe [name_u]Tobey[/name_u] [name_m]Maguire[/name_m]… but I’m not even sure if [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] is his full name. Or how relevant he is anymore), [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] reminds me of [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Luthor[/name_m] (Superman), and [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] reminds me of the horrible (in my opinion) [name_u]Sacha[/name_u] [name_m]Baron[/name_m] [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] character.
Thanks for the feedback, bibliophile & dovah! I appreciate it 
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] would have the nn [name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] would have the nn [name_u]Toby[/name_u]
And [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] would have the nn [name_m]Bear[/name_m]
I’m not a fan of [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] [name_m]Noble[/name_m] because I don’t like the “no-no” in the middle but [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Noble[/name_m] doesn’t bother me as much because I pronounce [name_m]Noble[/name_m] as No-bul, not No-bel. I am partial to [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] in the middle with all three but I want my SO to love the name, too.
More feedback is welcome. I’m starting to think we might just end up taking all three names to the hospital…
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m]! I’ve loved this name for years; [name_u]Toby[/name_u] is such an endearing nickname.
Are you pronouncing [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] as Ex-avier or [name_m]Zavier[/name_m]? If you’re pronouncing it as Ex-avier, I like [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m]. Its a very strong and unique name!
[name_m]Noble[/name_m] sounds awkward as a middle for [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], [name_u]Lionel[/name_u], and [name_m]Bruno[/name_m].
I am fully torn between [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] and [name_u]Lionel[/name_u]. Absolutely delish ones. I don’t like [name_m]Noble[/name_m] with either but [name_m]Xavier[/name_m]…[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] flows slightly better so I vote [name_u]Lionel[/name_u].
Thank you, liviajoan & mclevine! The feedback is appreciated more than you know
I don’t mind either pronounciation of [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] & would be fine with Exavier but I usually say [name_m]Zavier[/name_m]. [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] is a family name on my side while [name_m]Noble[/name_m] is a family name on my SO’s.
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] nickname [name_u]Toby[/name_u]! I adore the nickname [name_u]Toby[/name_u]. [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] is nice.
I chose [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], as I love the nn [name_u]Toby[/name_u]! My second choice is [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] - I really like the nn [name_m]Leo[/name_m].
The other nn I have been considering for [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] is [name_m]Bo[/name_m]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] thought I’d add that
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] would be fantastic! I love love love [name_u]Lionel[/name_u]! My second choice would be [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] [name_m]Noble[/name_m], [name_u]Toby[/name_u] is adorable.
Thanks everyone for voting and feedback! I feel really good about our list and having outside input helps immensely. I think about it all the time and it’s so nice to know other people’s thoughts and preferences! I’m leaning toward [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] in the middle, still, bc it only seems fair to use at least one name from my side of the family. I know a lot of people are voting for [name_m]Tobias[/name_m]/[name_u]Toby[/name_u], but I just can’t shake [name_u]Lionel[/name_u]/[name_m]Leo[/name_m] or [name_m]Bruno[/name_m]/[name_m]Bo[/name_m] out of my head! The [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] [name_m]Richie[/name_m] and [name_m]Bruno[/name_m] [name_m]Mars[/name_m] associations don’t phase me at all, neither strikes me as a one-person-celebrity-name. The fact that these names are a little less popular but still loved means a lot to me. At least we don’t have to lie to family when we say we are still undecided - we aren’t sharing the name with family and friends until he gets here to make his birthday more special. Thanks so much, Berries, for being the sounding board for me! I don’t know how I’d keep our list quiet otherwise
Anything but [name_m]Tobias[/name_m]/[name_u]Toby[/name_u]. [name_u]Toby[/name_u] is such an ugly sounding word–I’ve had a visceral reaction against it since I was a child. It makes me think of toes and associated fungi. Sorry my repellence is so strong. Am I the only one??