So DH isn’t as sure about Félix for baby #3 as I was hoping he’d be. We have continued discussing options and I thought I’d get some feedback here. I’m still hoping he’ll decide Félix is the one, but I’m trying to be open to the other names that he likes. So, what do you think about:
We’d pronounce the name both in English and Spanish if possible, depending on the language we’re speaking and our mood. (We live in [name]California[/name]). I don’t really want a name with an “r” in it because I’m not a native Spanish speaker, so I’m more iffy about actually using [name]Oscar[/name] even though I like the name a lot. DH’s current favorite is [name]Ignacio[/name]. I’m trying to imagine calling my (English-only speaking) grandmother in the midwest and telling her the baby’s name is [name]Ignacio[/name]. I think it’s a name that would go right over her head.
[name]Felix[/name], [name]Elias[/name] and [name]Oscar[/name] are appealing because the spelling is the same in both languages. With [name]Agustin[/name] and [name]Ulises[/name], when using his name in English contexts he’s always going to be dealing with correcting [name]Augustin[/name]/[name]Augusten[/name]/[name]Augustine[/name] and [name]Ulysses[/name].
To be fair [name]Augustin[/name]/[name]Augusten[/name]/[name]Augustine[/name] is just hard to spell anyway, and maybe [name]Ulysses[/name] is too : D.
I love the name [name]Ulises[/name]/[name]Ulysses[/name], but I think it’s a bit much on a little boy. Much like [name]Ignacio[/name] could be (If you do choose it…she may be familiar with the related saint’s name [name]Ignatius[/name]? At least in a college or Catholic high school name?)
I guess [name]Ignacio[/name] is spelt the same in both, but it’s also just not really used in English. I’m not sure the nickname [name]Nacho[/name] helps.
Thanks for the feedback so far. I wish [name]Agustin[/name] didn’t have so many spellings (and be so easily feminized). I mentioned [name]Oscar[/name] to my sister and she reminded me that she had a friend in high school named [name]Oscar[/name] who was murdered (in Mexico, a drug-related, wrong-time-wrong-place kind of thing), so that’s probably not a great thing to remind her of all the time. I had forgotten about that because I was already off in college when that occurred, and I only met the guy once or twice.
[name]Ignatius[/name] is kind of cool, but then we have the Spanish speaking side of the family who will not know how to pronounce it. The English and Spanish spellings are probably too far off, I’m thinking. I do think my grandmother would be aware of St. [name]Ignatius[/name], though, since she attends Catholic mass six times/week!
Maybe DH will be more willing if the full name is [name]Felix[/name] [name]Ignacio[/name] instead of [name]Felix[/name] [name]Agustin[/name]. I think I’ll just hope that he comes around to it over the next few months. I honestly don’t think there is a better name than [name]Felix[/name] for #3 (if it’s a boy, of course).
I really do love [name]Felix[/name] for you and I love the combo [name]Felix[/name] [name]Ignacio[/name]! I wasn’t suggesting [name]Ignatius[/name] (although it would be kind of awesome), but that is great if it would help your grandmother get it more.
Or alternately - maybe [name]Nash[/name] is a more accessible English nickname for [name]Ignacio[/name]? I mean [name]Iggy[/name] is cute but I’m not really sure it’s got universal appeal. And [name]Nacho[/name]…it’s actually awesome in its way, but it’s just really, really bold. I realize when you say [name]Ignacio[/name] in Spanish there’s no [name]Nash[/name] sound, but I think in English there kind of is? Certainly Naysh in [name]Ignatius[/name]. Or maybe Cio would be a cool nickname for [name]Ignacio[/name] - I like that!
I like [name]Ignacio[/name]. I’m half white and half Mexican (living in [name]California[/name] too). [name]Iggy[/name] is a cute anglo approved nickname and I think [name]Nacho[/name] obviously works in English and Spanish. You could come up with your own nickname. Or you could just call him [name]Ignacio[/name] and skip the nickname. Congratulations!
I also live in [name]California[/name] and speak both English and Spanish as many of my friends and class mates did. I had a good friend named [name]Ignacio[/name]. I thought it was a cool name. He hated his name, it was very difficult for most teachers and English only speakers to say. He changed his name to [name]Alex[/name] At the end of 9th grade. I think [name]Felix[/name], [name]Oscar[/name], and [name]Elias[/name] are great choices.
