I am so torn between two COMPLETELY different boy names: [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] or [name_u]Spencer[/name_u]. My husband and I like [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] a lot because of the sound, history, and the meaning - there is also no one in our families with that name. We also like the name [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] because it was my husband’s now-deceased grandfather’s name, and he was a very nice and special man.
We live in the United States, but my husband is from [name_f]England[/name_f] (his entire family is over there), but has an Italian last name, so the baby’s last name will be Italian (ending in an “A”). [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] is a biblical name and we are both [name_m]Christian[/name_m], and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] is very British.
If it’s important for you to have sibling names go well with each other, which style would you prefer using in the future? Also how important is honoring to you? I personally prefer [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] between the two.
This is our first child, and we aren’t exactly sure how we’d want the names to match in the future. Honoring isn’t super important to us, in general, but we did love his grandfather very much. His grandmother is still alive and is in her late 80s, and we think she would be very touched if we named her great-grandson [name_u]Spencer[/name_u]. So in this case, the pull to honor is a bit stronger than it otherwise would be.
Thank you so much for your personal opinion as well!
I love the name [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], but from your descriptions I would definitely go for [name_m]Raphael[/name_m]! You say you love it for its “sound, history, and the meaning”, as well as its biblical roots - that’s a LOT to like about one name and it sounds really special to you.
I think [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] in the middle name slot would be a lovely way to honour your husband’s grandfather - [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] sounds cool and would age really well.
Both [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] are lovely names, however, my personal preference is [name_u]Spencer[/name_u]. You cannot go wrong with either one.
I like [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] best, esp with an Italian last name. Maybe save [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] for another child rather than use it as a mn for this one.
I think that [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] sounds lovely!
Between those two names, I personally would prefer [name_u]Spencer[/name_u]
I like [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], but [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] {nickname [name_u]Rafe[/name_u]} wins my vote for feeling more distinguished because it’s less commonly used.
Wow, what a conundrum! They are both gorgeous names and as you say, so different.
With the last name, [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] would work well, but it doesn’t sound as though [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] would work poorly.
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m] to me summons up the image of a gorgeous, sensuous European male. [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] makes me think of the US and [name_f]England[/name_f] and someone smart and witty and attractive.
When I have two options and don’t know what to do I toss a coin. Not to decide my choice, but to help me realize my choice. So I toss a coin and call out [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] heads and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] tails and before it falls, I might realize I am thinking, “Oh please let it be heads” or tails.
Also, others will likely nn him [name_u]Rafe[/name_u] or [name_f]Rafa[/name_f] or [name_u]Spence[/name_u] so you might use your feelings for those as deciders too.
