See the results of this poll: Which name?
Respondents: 89 (This poll is closed)
- Lionel Rafferty F_____n: 48 (54%)
- Mathis Rafferty F_____n: 41 (46%)
[name]Just[/name] so you know, I love your kids’ names, and [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Rafferty[/name] is a fabulous combo.
[name]Just[/name] so you know, I love your kids’ names, and [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Rafferty[/name] is a fabulous combo.
I don’t like either of them. [name]Lionel[/name] or [name]Mathis[/name]? [name]Just[/name] because it sounds good doesn’t mean you should go with it unless this little guy is going to grow up to be a famous artist or songwriter.
You are really grasping at straws this time. I am pretty sure “sounds good” is at the top of most people’s criteria for picking a name.
Ooo, you’re really getting close now! [name]Love[/name] the mn [name]Rafferty[/name]. I prefer [name]Mathis[/name] to [name]Lionel[/name], so that got my vote.
@punkdoubt-- I wouldn’t qualify [name]Lionel[/name] or [name]Mathis[/name] as names exclusive to creative types. [name]Lionel[/name] is actually on the top end of the top 1000, so there must be at least a few hundred of them around. And, as pp said, ‘sounds good’ is probably the very first thing you want in a name, because even if the meaning is lovely, you wouldn’t want a name that sounds bad!
Well punkdoubt, you are entitled to your opinion but I don’t think either [name]Lionel[/name] or [name]Mathis[/name] is a particularly ‘rock star’ name anyway…
[name]Lionel[/name] is an ancient name, and [name]Mathis[/name] is in the top names for boys in [name]France[/name]…
Maybe I should have given the option for people to say ‘neither’ though, you’re right.
Also I agree with a pp, I think ‘sounds great’ is the optimum for a name. Sounds good, good history, and a name which gives you a sense of pride. I think unusual names are something to be proud of, and I hope my daughters and son will agree.
One thing to consider is that [name]Mathis[/name] is likely to get mispronounced a lot if you’re in the U.S. (or even the UK, potentially?) because people are familiar with [name]Matthew[/name]—so you’ll get a lot of “[name]Math[/name]-is,” if you care. (Nevermind the whole [name]German[/name]-vs.-French pronunciation debate of MAH-tis vs. Ma-TEES!) Not sure that’s a reason not to use it, though, as [name]Matthias[/name] has the same set of challenges and I know several little ones with that name. But [name]Lionel[/name] wouldn’t have that issue, if it matters.
That’s not true about “sounding good” being the most important thing. Let me clarify, I mean sounding good with your last name. Because on its own, [name]Lionel[/name] and [name]Mathis[/name] (pron: Mah-tees) really don’t stand by themselves (in the USA anyway). I’m sure [name]Mathis[/name] is a great french name. They sound great with your last name, don’t get me wrong, but as standalone, I don’t think they’re very versatile. I think Versatility is the #1 thing to look for, because don’t forget, as this child grows older, he may change a lot. Giving him a name with different variations gives him the flexibility to be who he wants to be. Naming him [name]Lionel[/name] only makes him [name]Lionel[/name] for his entire life.
@Harrietsmummy don’t PM again. I was sharing my opinion and don’t need your scathing remarks. People come on here for 360 degree views of opinions. Nothing I’m going to say is going to deter someone from a name they like, but it will make them think. And if they decide “eh, I can live with what he’s saying” then I’ve only helped solidify their choice.
I have never heard of [name]Mathis[/name] …and I wouldn’t have known how to pronounce it and I would say “[name]Math[/name]-is.”
Also, I disagree with ‘punkdoubt’ about [name]Lionel[/name] - it’s my favorite name and I love it BECAUSE it’s [name]Lionel[/name] and not some name that can be easily dissected into a stupid or ugly nickname.
I think both names are nice, but [name]Lionel[/name] gets my vote.
@punkdoubt I only PMed because I don’t want to fill Nameberry with public tiffs. I just think the way that you phrase your comments is unduly rude and not constructive. Criticism is fine, but you do have to phrase it like the other members here do- not in a put-downy way as you seem to!
We haven’t only picked [name]Lionel[/name] because of how it sounds with my surname- whatever would give you that idea? Me and my partner both love the name, love how it sounds and looks on its own et cetera…
Please don’t insinuate that I have chosen it as some sort of frilly ‘show name’ which isn’t usable in everyday life.
I take people’s point about [name]Mathis[/name], there could definitely be pronunciation issues. [name]Do[/name] you think this would bother him too much? My name is so easy to say that I’ve never had any of these problems. I don’t want to presume that having to correct people now and again is a small price to pay for a lovely name; I wouldn’t know. Does anyone have an opinion on having a name where people dither over how to say it? [name]Do[/name] you love the name anyway or is it a pain in the neck?
I am swaying toward [name]Lionel[/name] as this point, but we will have to see!
Harrietsmummy,
I think I would have to vote for [name]Lionel[/name]. While neither name suits my style personally, I didn’t know until this post that [name]Mathis[/name] wasn’t ‘[name]Math[/name]-iss’. As a bit of a name nerd, I would consider myself more likely than the average non nerd to know how to pronounce a name. If I got it wrong, I expect you would have pronunciation problems regularly!!
@ Punkdoubt- I agree that most people post here to get honest opinions, good and bad. But I think the reason your comments are being received so negatively is because you were just plain mean. Constructive criticism doesn’t have to be rude.
Thanks labmama, do you think the [name]Matisse[/name] spelling is any better? Or is it just too associated with the artist?
Boy…it would be hard to get away from the artist association with the spelling [name]Matisse[/name]. And something about it looks feminine to me as a first name when spelled that way. Its not quite the same, but would you consider [name]Mattias[/name]?
Ya, I do think [name]Matisse[/name] is too connected with the artist. I like the [name]Mathis[/name] spelling more, and maybe it’s pronunciation is better known in the UK, than here in [name]Canada[/name], I’m not sure. Good luck with your decision!
I don’t love [name]Lionel[/name] (how I love [name]Leander[/name] and they’re similar), but I do think it goes much better with [name]Harriet[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], and [name]Cordelia[/name]. [name]Lionel[/name], like your other names are vintage, where as [name]Mathis[/name] strikes me more as “exotic” for lack of a better word. I would expect [name]Lionel[/name] to have a sister named [name]Beatrix[/name], and I’d expect [name]Mathis[/name] to have a sister named [name]Petra[/name].
[name]Hi[/name]-
FWIW, I took 6 years of French in school and I would have pronounced it “[name]Math[/name]- iss”…it doesn’t look that French to me, I guess (and isn’t, at least [name]IMO[/name], a classic French name that is recognized as French, say, as [name]Jean[/name] or [name]Jacques[/name] or [name]Etienne[/name] would be).
I would think about the pronunciation issue, because I would bet most teachers upon seeing the name would say “[name]Math[/name]-iss”. People will get it once they are corrected, but it’s a bit of a bummer for a child’s name to be consistently mispronounced. [name]Just[/name] something to ponder, perhaps.
I definitely prefer [name]Mathis[/name] to [name]Lionel[/name]. 
[name]Lionel[/name] by a long shot! [name]Both[/name] individually and with [name]Harriet[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name] and [name]Cordelia[/name] it’s the best option, in my view.
Good luck!
I chose [name]Lionel[/name] over [name]Mathis[/name]. I’d never seen [name]Mathis[/name] as a first name before, and would never have guessed Ma-TEES as a pronunciation. [name]Mathis[/name] is a reasonably common surname, usually pronounced [name]MATH[/name]-iss, which would contribute to more mispronunciations depending on where you live.
That said, I grew up with a very unusual name (at the time) that needs constant prn correction and spelling. ([name]Annalise[/name]) For me it is a small price to pay for a lovely name, but I know many people who don’t feel like that about their own names. Also, there are people who have known me for years that still insist on pronouncing my name how they think it should be pronounced. I would foresee that being more of a problem with [name]Mathis[/name] than [name]Lionel[/name].
Fun bit of trivia, [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Mathis[/name] is the name of a French footballer.
I like [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Rafferty[/name] best by far. So handsome and fun for a little boy to have.
[name]Mathis[/name] for me, is really mismatched with your daughters.
[name]Just[/name] BTW have you considered [name]Leopold[/name]? I think it would be perfect with your other names, and is similar in style to [name]Lionel[/name], in my mind anyway!