We’re having our second baby boy this [name_f]May[/name_f] and are REALLY struggling with coming up with a name for this little guy. The name [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] carries a lot of meaning - after having three miscarriages in a year and thinking we had lost this baby as well, there were a LOT of people praying for this baby and so [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] is so fitting. Our problem, though, is I love the nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u] but really don’t like the name [name_m]Samuel[/name_m].
I’ve started coming around to the idea of just naming him [name_u]Sam[/name_u] since it still has the same meaning. My question, though, is that our older son’s name is [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and he goes by [name_u]West[/name_u]. Since we gave him the full name [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and he goes by nn [name_u]West[/name_u], would it be strange to not name this baby the full name [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and just go by the nn?
Finally, do you think [name_m]Weston[/name_m]/[name_u]West[/name_u] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] go well together??
[name_u]Sam[/name_u] could be nickname for [name_m]Samson[/name_m]. It’s meaning is different (“sun”), but also nice. I do think [name_u]Sam[/name_u] can be used as a full name, though. It goes well with [name_m]Weston[/name_m].
Thanks for the feedback! I meant to mention that while [name_m]Samson[/name_m] is a great full name that gives the nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u], we don’t really love it. Especially since it’s the meaning of [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]/[name_u]Sam[/name_u] that we love.
I would personally go with [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and use [name_u]Sam[/name_u] as a nickname, but I can totally see [name_u]Sam[/name_u] being a name all on it’s own. [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] sound great together.
Can I just say that I adore your son’s nn? [name_u]West[/name_u] is adorable! I adore [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u], and yes, it seems so fitting! I personally adore [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], so the choice is easy for me, but I wouldn’t want you to feel like you HAVE to use a name you don’t like. I feel like you’d end up regretting it, and we wouldn’t want that. I agree that [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and [name_m]Weston[/name_m] work so much better together than [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u]–it just seems a bit mismatched, and I can imagine he would appreciate having the fuller [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] that he can put on resumes and such. I didn’t used to care for [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], either, and I loved [name_u]Sam[/name_u], but I slowly came around to it. It’s such a lovely name. What about using [name_u]Sam[/name_u] as a middle, and finding a first name that you both love, and you like the full name and the nn?
I do love the idea of [name_u]West[/name_u] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] as brothers, though–they’d be adorable!
[name_m]Just[/name_m] go with [name_u]Sam[/name_u]! I personally really like [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], but if you don’t love it, don’t use it. [name_u]Sam[/name_u] is my brother in law’s name and it works for him. [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] or [name_u]West[/name_u] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] sound great together.
If it’s the meaning of [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] that you love, use [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and call him [name_u]Sam[/name_u] exclusively. [name_u]West[/name_u] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] are great together.
I would use [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. [name_u]Sam[/name_u] just seems so short on its own. I think [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and [name_m]Weston[/name_m] nn [name_u]West[/name_u] is a perfect sibset!
I have a tendency to like fuller names as given names with nicknames given after (that way people can revert to the full name later in life if they want), and I adore the way [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u] parallels [name_m]Weston[/name_m] nn [name_u]West[/name_u] ([name_m]Weston[/name_m] & [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_u]West[/name_u] & [name_u]Sam[/name_u]: they are SO perfect together!!!) I also do think the full name would probably grow on you simply because it would be your son’s name.
That being said, if you really don’t like the idea of [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and think you may have second thoughts about it, go with just [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. [name_m]Weston[/name_m] and [name_u]Sam[/name_u] still make amazing names for brothers! And after all, it is the very special meaning of the name and the very special blessing of your son that is most important to you anyway (and neither of these things will change if you use just [name_u]Sam[/name_u] instead of [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u]).
I also prefer the name [name_u]Sam[/name_u] to [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]. It would fit with your other son to give him the full name and use the nickname.
I would use [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], nn [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. But I love the name [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]! Either way, [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] or [name_u]Sam[/name_u], it’s got a great meaning for you guys & seems do perfect. Congrats on your coming little one!
I think it is much better for the child’s future to have that full name to fall back. Since [name_u]Sam[/name_u] is such a common and and almost given nickname for [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], I don’t see anything wrong with naming him [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] but exclusively calling him [name_u]Sam[/name_u].
I face the same dilemma with [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]/[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. I adore [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], but I would feel odd giving my child this diminutive as a given name, even though it’s a fine name on its own. I would be compelled to name her [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], nn [name_f]Eliza[/name_f].
Thanks for all the great feedback! I agree - naming him [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] does give him more options as he grows up. Here’s to hoping it grows on me in the coming months!
