I was lying in bed last night unable to sleep and began wondering about [name_m]Romeo[/name_m]. I’m not considering the name for my own list, but it does strike me as curious that it’s not more widely used. I know of at least one child and one college age [name_m]Roman[/name_m], and [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] isn’t that far off. I anticipate several people are going to reply that the [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]/doomed lovers connection is too strong for it to be viable, but I’m not sure that argument holds when you consider the popularity of [name_f]Juliet[/name_f].
[name_m]Just[/name_m] musing aloud, really. I don’t have any ego wrapped up in this name, but it does have a certain poetic quality and shortens to the sleeker [name_m]Rome[/name_m]. I wonder if more people will get brave enough to try it as naming trends continue to be bolder and bolder.
I think [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] held that same Shakespearean stigma for a very long time, but lately there have been other things that have made people reevaluate [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]. I can think of at least two pop songs that are about a girl named [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]. It’s made the name seem more accessible.
I think [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] seems too romantic, and that’s not typically a trait people want in boys’ names. They don’t want to name their child after a world-famous lover, they want to go with something sturdier. They want strong and daring. Sappy and romantic connotations are more feminine, so [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] is more culturally okay. Does that make any sense? That’s my take on it.
I would use [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] on a pet, but not a kid. But I think that’s just because I don’t think I’m spunky enough for the -o ending (that’s why [name_m]Milo[/name_m] is also on my list of pet names! and that’s also why I waffle on [name_f]Margo[/name_f]). I do love [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], though, go figure.
Editted to Add: Another thing I thought about is that the phrase “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?” is much more common than any phrases that mention Juliet by name. Like if I even think of the name Romeo – just as a name – the quote springs to mind, and usually in a faint, weak, female-mocking voice. The main phrase about her is “But, soft what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” But that one is more uncommonly mentioned in pop culture. Like I had to think about that one.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t the [name_m]Beckham[/name_m]'s have a [name_m]Romeo[/name_m]? I thought that was make it more popular but apparently not. I guess the [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] associations make it a ‘one person name’.
My first [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] association is actually [name_f]Alfa[/name_f] [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] (the car). I’ve read and heard of [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] like most others, but I really don’t see why [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] is considered a ‘one person name’ because of that. People are starting to use [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], and I would be more cautious to use that one.
I like [name_m]Romeo[/name_m], but don’t think I’d use it. There are simply other names that I like more.
I’ve met a few baby [name_m]Romeo[/name_m]'s within the last say two years, and it seems to really suit them…Although I probably wouldn’t name my child [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] it does work for some
I met a toddler named [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] and an adult named [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] and to be honest, my first reaction to both was that it was a bit of a ridiculous name. It just seems too tied to the one character to use. However I just looked it up on Behind the Name and it’s ranked pretty highly in three different countries most popular names list - USA at #338, [name_f]England[/name_f]/UK at #279, and [name_f]France[/name_f] for some reason at #179. So you’re definitely not alone if you like the name.
And yes, the Beckhams do have a [name_m]Romeo[/name_m], which might explain some of the popularity. It does have a familiar sound (a la [name_f]Ro[/name_f]- names like [name_m]Roman[/name_m]/[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]/[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]) and that chic -o ending, so I think if not for the tragic Shakespearean character it would be even more popular. For me it’s just too “wherefore art thou” to be usable.
I think [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] was very tied to the [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] association but is traveling a little farther from it now. I believe with enough usage [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] could do the same. I actually quite like the name and find it handsome I personally wouldn’t use [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] only because I have so many more names that I like more, but I wouldn’t be against it for any reason (I also have [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] on my list, so that would cancel out [name_m]Romeo[/name_m])
But I think that’s just because I don’t think I’m spunky enough for the -o ending (that’s why [name_m]Milo[/name_m] is also on my list of pet names! and that’s also why I waffle on [name_f]Margo[/name_f]). I do love [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], though, go figure. 
I personally wouldn’t use [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] only because I have so many more names that I like more, but I wouldn’t be against it for any reason (I also have [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] on my list, so that would cancel out [name_m]Romeo[/name_m])