My husband and I are having our second baby in [name_u]December[/name_u] and we are thinking strongly about the name “Norrin”. It’s not actually a “name”, but we both like it. Our first son in named [name_m]Christian[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and I want to stick with a name that isn’t too “out there”, goes well with “[name_m]Christian[/name_m]” and people immediately know if it’s a boy or a girl.
So, firstly, what gender would one assume “Norrin” is?
and, is this name too “out there”?
Be honest, now is the time for us to hear the real opinions rather than after we name the baby.
It sounds unisex to me and I like the look and sound of it. [name_m]How[/name_m] did you come up with it? It oddly fits really well with [name_m]Christian[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] - “oddly” because these are established, classic names.
Generally I would stay away from made-up names. Unless they have a special significance for you. Eg, a friend of mine dreamed the name of her daughter, it was “not a real name” but totally worked and I love the story “I had a dream that this would be your name.”
It sounds like “nor in,” as in, “neither our nor in,” or something like that. I don’t mind made-up names, particularly (Someone had to make up [name_f]Mary[/name_f] once!), but it does sound more like a word than a name. If I heard the name, I would think a girl (think [name_u]Fallon[/name_u], [name_f]Marin[/name_f], etc.) However, seeing the name spelt out makes me think boy. Either way, it’s a little too passive for my tastes. There’s not really a hard consonant in there at all.
I’m not sure Norrin goes with [name_m]Christian[/name_m]. [name_m]Christian[/name_m] is a well-established, past-peak name. Norrin is your own invention. Maybe you could use it as a middle?
Other possibilities that sound like Norrin:
[name_m]Warren[/name_m] (more like [name_m]Christian[/name_m])
[name_u]Norris[/name_u] (more masculine, since it’s a surname, but still ambiguous)
[name_m]Warner[/name_m] (also unique and soft sounding)
Norland (ditto [name_u]Norris[/name_u])
Norrin [name_m]Radd[/name_m] is the alter-ego of [name_f]Marvel[/name_f] comics superhero [name_u]Silver[/name_u] [name_u]Silver[/name_u], so I immediately think male. Also that might make you feel better that there IS a slight history of usage as a name there, though SS is an alien. Also Norrin ranked #6,450 in 2015, up 364 spots from 2014, so while it isn’t at all a common name, it IS a name. [name_m]Just[/name_m] to give you some reassurance there.
Overall I like the name, and I agree with the pp who said it oddly fits well with [name_m]Christian[/name_m]. I would recommend a more “classic” middle in case your son finds Norrin a bit too strange when he gets older.
