Usable or not?

Boy Names
1

Over the years my naming style has changed a lot. When I look at my list now, I can see it’s even changed dramatically since my oldest son was born. In general, my naming style for girls is very different from the names I like for boys. I tend to like classic girls names, while for boys I prefer more over the top, unusual names.
On my boys list there are a lot of names which I love for personal reasons or because of the history/meaning/namesakes of the name, often all at the same time, but which are borderline unusable or just plain over the top. Below is a list of names I’m not sure about. I did name my youngest son [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m], so I’m not afraid to use heavy names, but still :wink: I’d like you to tell me which ones are okay to use, and which ones are just too much. Anything else you want to tell me about these names (combos, other thoughts, suggestions) are more than welcome.

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m]
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]
Orphée (or maybe even [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]?)
[name_m]Watson[/name_m] (yes, I do love [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m], but [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] is too much even for me)
[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m]
[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]
[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] (maybe Zakkai or Zaccai would be better?)
[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]
[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]

2

They’re certainly all on the brave side, but I’d say the ones that aren’t usable in real life are [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], [name_m]Dionysius[/name_m], and [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]. I think Zakkai is definitely preferable to [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]. I like Orphée, though its a bit feminine with 2 e’s. The others all have usable nicknames, so to me they’re still valid choices, though personally I much prefer the names you have in your signature to any on this list! Vignir and [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] in particular are great names.

3

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - I want to shorten this to just
[name_u]Nico[/name_u]
[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m] - a mouthful, [name_m]Dion[/name_m] springs to mind
Orphée - sounds very awkward, makes me
think of orifice
[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]
[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] and [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] are really beautiful and interesting though.

4

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m], [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m], and [name_m]Watson[/name_m] don’t seem too way out at all to me. [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] would be so handsome as a brother to [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]! These are all very handsome, usable names.

While [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], [name_m]Dionysius[/name_m], [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] and [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] are all quite out there, I don’t think they are totally unusable. I’d be quite shocked to meet one, and perhaps if I wasn’t a name nerd I’d say they were unusable, but personally I think they are usable, perhaps brave though! I especially like [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]!

Orphée is the only one I’d deem unusable. [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] seems slightly more usable.

5

Orphée is the only one I think is way too much, though Orpheas could work. I’m also on the fence about [name_m]Dionysus[/name_m] - it doesn’t seem that weird to me but I’m Greek and I’ve met one before.
All the others are fine in my opinion. I wouldn’t be shocked by a [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Watson[/name_m], [name_m]Maximillian[/name_m], [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] or [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] (if he went by a nickname like [name_u]Nico[/name_u]). The others are usable too, just more out there. I don’t think I’d use the ones that don’t have a more usable nickname (so the kid has the option to go by something else). For example, [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] isn’t your weirdest choice but it doesn’t have any obvious nicknames so maybe it’s not usable.

6

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.

Here are my thoughts on your list:

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m]-I don’t know. I think that this could work on the right kid. It’s a little out there, & kind of a lot to live up to. It’s not awful though & probably usable?

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]-I think that this one if fine. It’s not my personal style, but it’s not too much. I love the nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u].

Orphée (or maybe even [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]?)-I don’t think that this one is a great idea. It reminds me of orifice.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] (yes, I do love [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m], but [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] is too much even for me)-This is cute! Definitely usable.

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m]-This one seems like too much. Especially since you’d be naming a sweet little babe after basically the god of wild partying.

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]-This may be a little much, but I think it’s okay. Not my favorite, but not too offensive or anything.

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] (maybe Zakkai or Zaccai would be better?)-I like this. I like just [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]. Lots of cute nns too like [name_u]Zooey[/name_u], [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] or [name_m]Zac[/name_m].

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]-This is definitely usable. I think that it’s actually fairly popular. Especially the nn [name_u]Max[/name_u], which I love. Kind of bland next to your sons’ names though really.

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]-This is good. Definitely usable. I love the nns [name_m]Thatch[/name_m], Thax & [name_u]Teddy[/name_u].

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]-I’ve seen this movie too many times, & I just picture that bratty [name_m]Mozart[/name_m] character.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]-Ooh, I like this one. It’s definitely usable, & very handsome. I love [name_m]Sol[/name_m] & [name_f]Soley[/name_f].

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. :slight_smile:

7

We actually have a fair few of these in the family, so I’d say most are usable!

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m]: Definitely usable! This one even feels a bit trendy to me, there have been several celebrity babies called [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] recently. I do like it though.

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]: I think [name_u]Nico[/name_u] makes this one usable, even though it’s a hefty name.

Orphée: [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name, but unless you’re [name_m]French[/name_m], I’d stick with [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]. The accent and unfamiliarity of Orphée outside of [name_f]France[/name_f] make it seem quite language-specific to me. As for [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m], I’d say it’s usable as a middle name for sure, and possibly as a first for brave namers.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m]: Definitely usable, but a completely different style to your other names to me, if that bothers you?

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m]: Too much for me.

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]: My [name_m]BIL[/name_m]'s middle name (well, it’s actually the [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_m]Ulysse[/name_m]). I think it’s usable – it’s also a presidential name, after all.

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]: [name_u]Love[/name_u] this, and like Zaccai too, and think both are woefully underused considering the popularity of other “[name_m]Zac[/name_m]” names.

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]: My husband’s name! I absolutely love it – I think it’s really strong, stately, timeless and international, but made accessible by [name_u]Max[/name_u] and Mill for short.

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]: What my husband was very nearly called, and I also love this. We strongly considered this as a middle name, but in the end we chose to honour someone special with another lovely name. [name_u]Theo[/name_u], [name_m]Tad[/name_m] and [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] are great for short.

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]: I think [name_m]Mozart[/name_m], but at least the association makes this one familiar to most, even though it’s really uncommon. I like the sound and the meaning; I’d say it’s on the brave side of usable.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]: I like this, and [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Sol[/name_m]. It’s definitely usable!

8

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m]: Yes! There were 525 boys born in 2017 with that name. It has gained a lot of popularity since the late 1900’s!

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]: While there have never been more than 40 born in one year, there were 37 born in 2014. Definitely rare, Biblical, and it offers the cute nn of [name_u]Nico[/name_u]! I say yes!

Orphée: Less than 5 people since 1880 have been born with this name. For me, that’s a bit too individual. It’s [name_m]French[/name_m] for [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m], a Greek mythological character. I would say no, but if you really like it, it’s your decision. I do prefer [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m].

[name_m]Watson[/name_m]: 197 boys born in 2017 with that name. It’s definitely gaining popularity, though quite slowly. I say yes, because it is a really cute name, plus I like the ties with [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m].

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m]: I’m somehow getting a hint that you like Greek names? Less than 30 have been born since 1880 with that name. It offers [name_m]Dion[/name_m] as a nickname, which isn’t bad. It isn’t my favorite uncommon name, but it isn’t the worst either. I personally wouldn’t use it, but, again, it’s up to you.

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]: Yes. I like the name. I’m not even going to look up the statistics. Go to names.org if you really want them, but I don’t. There are ties to [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] S. [name_m]Grant[/name_m], which isn’t at all a bad thing.

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]: I like this best out of the three other Z options. A cute nickname of [name_m]Zach[/name_m], and besides: It’s Biblical. I am (almost) always a fan of Biblical names.

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]: Totally. I have a friend with that name, and we just call him [name_u]Max[/name_u]. Besides, it’s a cute name to tease with!

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]: Have you ever seen the movie “The [name_f]Star[/name_f]”? It’s a nativity movie. Anyways, one of the dogs is named [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]. I don’t mind it. A cute nn would be [name_m]Tad[/name_m] or Deus. I say it’s usable.

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]: I like [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] better, but [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] is okay. There were 416 boys named [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] and 75 named [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] in 2017. Again, that’s a bit too uncommon for my taste. The only nn I can think of is Deus, which can also be used for [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]. I don’t think it’s usable.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]: Absolutely! It’s Biblical, and a cute, not unheard-of, uncommon name! I say yes!

9

Some folks saying [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] is not usable… This name is fairly common in the Spanish speaking community, where it is usually spelled [name_m]Ulises[/name_m] and pronounced like “ooh-lee-sis” with nickname [name_u]Uli[/name_u] which is pronounced “ooh- lee.”

11

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m] - a lot to live up to, but still usable with a nickname! It’s a cool name and strong namesake.

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - usable, especially with nickname [name_u]Nico[/name_u]

Orphée (or maybe even [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]?) - I think [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] is interesting, and you could probably use Orphee as the nickname.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] - definitely usable, but unappealing to me…too surname-y :frowning:

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m] and [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] seem like too much to me, sorry!

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] - usable, and it’s unusual and interesting - not a big fan of nn [name_m]Zack[/name_m] though. You could also use [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] nn [name_m]Zeke[/name_m]! :slight_smile:

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] - classic and handsome, but very different to your other style!

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] and [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] are both unusual and funky! [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] is one of my favourites on your list :slight_smile:

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] is usable, but too biblical for my taste personally.

12

I currently reside in Europe so this might influence my perspective a bit, but I generally like bold, unusual names. :wink:

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m] — definitely usable and quite trendy in the US AFAIK

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] — not the most obvious Biblical choice and quite a lot to wear, but I think it’s doable

Orphée (or maybe even [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]?) — I’d go with [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] unless you’re a native [name_m]French[/name_m] speaker or live in a Francophone community

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] (yes, I do love [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m], but [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] is too much even for me) — very usable

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m] — technically usable, but I don’t like the alcohol association it might have for some people

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] — usable, but it might be butchered by those unfamiliar with literature (or [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] [name_m]Grant[/name_m])

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] (maybe Zakkai or Zaccai would be better?) — I personally prefer [name_m]Zachariah[/name_m]/[name_m]Zechariah[/name_m], but [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] is also very usable. I’m pretty sure people would try to call him [name_m]Zach[/name_m] all of the time, though

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] — completely usable and quite popular where I live

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] — see [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] — very usable and very cool

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] — see [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]

13

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m]- I think it’s useable, especially in this more modern world.

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]- I actually love this name and was obsessed for a little bit. Now, I still like it but think it would work a little better in the middle spot.

Orphée- Personally I don’t like Orphée or [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]. I think it’s a little too unusual, and I just don’t like the sound.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m]- [name_u]Love[/name_u], love, love this name! It’s on my gp list because it sounds horrible with my last name.

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m]- I honestly don’t think it’s very useable. Among other things, he is the god of wine. That’s not the only thing he is the god of, but I still don’t think it’s a very pleasant connection.

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]- YES! I love this name, and it’s on my short list!

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m]- I like this, but I like Zakkai a little better. I agree with people when they say most people will call him [name_m]Zack[/name_m]. I do think it’s useable.

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]- extremely useable, but I think basically everyone will call him [name_u]Max[/name_u].

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]- a little hard to bear for a child, but it is getting more popular, so I think more people will become familiar with it.

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m]- It sounds very nice and useable. I love the connection with [name_m]Mozart[/name_m]!

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]- I love this name!

14

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m] - Could be useable, mythology names are very “in,” but it’s a lot to live up to.

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - Definitely usable. I actually know two babies with this name, and I love the nickname [name_u]Nico[/name_u].

Orphee - I’m confused about the pronunciation of this one, not sure I like it.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] - Usable, but I don’t like the preppy sound.

[name_m]Dionysus[/name_m] - Nope. Not a God of great things, and it’s too much name. [name_m]Dion[/name_m] is fine, though.

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] - There’s a child in my town with this name and it is regularly mocked (which is of course cruel, but also I wouldn’t choose to saddle a child with this name).

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] - A fine name. I prefer Zakkai.

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] - Very usable, and a nice name.

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] - I don’t personally like this name, but I think it is usable.

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] - I like the sound and history of this name, but I think it definitely needs a nickname. [name_m]Mads[/name_m] or [name_f]Maddie[/name_f]? I kind of like the gender flop there.

15

I’m in the US and have met males named [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_m]Watson[/name_m], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], and [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m], [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m], and [name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] are usable too. The remaining three give me pause, although I have heard of [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] used in Catholic families.

16

Thank you everyone! I can see opinions are divided on most names :slight_smile: I also have more “normal” names on my list, like [name_m]Johannes[/name_m], [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] and [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m], but these were the ones I wasn’t sure about.

@llewthewolf and others that said Orphée makes them think of orifice: I can see why, but English isn’t my first language and I don’t live in an English speaking country, so that’s not an issue for me.

@emmievis: I agree with you on the nicknames. I wouldn’t have chosen [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] if there wasn’t at least one nickname for it that I liked.

@katinka: I’m not sure if [name_m]Watson[/name_m] feels like a completely different style to me. It’s definitely different to Hjörtur, but so is [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]. They have different fathers, so somehow it doesn’t bother me that Hjörtur and [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] are different styles. As for [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Watson[/name_m], they feel different but coherent at the same time to me. Maybe because they share some sounds? It might be because I’m not an English native speaker.

@winterdragon04: I do like Greek names, but it’s mostly because I love the Greek myths, they’re such universal and gripping stories.

@adelina_sophia: thank you so much, I like your taste too.

@southern.maple: we are a Catholic family, so I suppose [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] would fit :wink:

17

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m] -feels very usable today

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - not unusable but verging very much on guilty pleasure-i tend to trip on the pronunciation

Orphee - I prefer [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] and I do enjoy it though it does remind me of the word awful

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] -fits the surname name trend and feels wearable

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m] -as a middle, yes as a first, it feels a bit much

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] -i think it could work, especially with [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m].

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] - with the familiarity of [name_m]Zachary[/name_m] I think it could work though I’d save it for a middle

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] -bold, brilliant but classic

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] -bold but pronouncable and wearable with cute nn [name_u]Teddy[/name_u]

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] -love it. It’s so distinctive yet shares soubds wirh things like [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] and [name_m]Adam[/name_m].

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] -feels meaningful and wearable

18

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] and [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] I really like a lot! And I can see the appeal for something like [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] or [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]. The others are less my cup of tea.

19

I love [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] and I don’t think [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] is useable, [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] and [name_m]Watson[/name_m] are better alternatives. I’d also suggest [name_m]Foster[/name_m], Olivander, [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m], and [name_m]Aurelian[/name_m].

20

I have this problem too haha. I don’t know if I’m gonna be a great judge here because my perception of ‘‘usable’’ is quite flexible and I think most names are, depending on the context perhaps. And of course I’m gonna be using my primarily English speaking context here which I’m aware is not a default obviously.

[name_m]Apollo[/name_m] - I see this on NB quite a bit so assume it passes the usable test by most people’s definitions. I think it’s a great choice.

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - I think these elongated Greek endings might throw some people, but I think this is cool and usable.

Orphée (or maybe even [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m]?) - oh I loooove this. It reminds me of [name_u]Jean[/name_u] Cocteau. I see why people might worry about the accent but even in an English speaking environment it could easily be spelled Orphee and people would adapt to the pn. People do that all the time, in [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] for instance. I prefer Orphée to [name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] but they’re both incredible.

[name_m]Watson[/name_m] - seems perfectly ‘normal’ to most people I think, and if people get the ref then that’s a bonus. It’s funny you should mention it though because a long time ago I remember seeing somebody on here considering [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] as a mn and I wasn’t even that opposed haha.

[name_m]Dionysius[/name_m] - I love this and the feel, but I actually would consider this less usable than the others because of the primary popular connotations (of sex and alcohol… I think of Euripides’ Bacchae of course which I adore but probably wouldn’t use it because of that).

[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] - Another one I love AND wouldn’t use just because of the popular connotations. I think of the [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] novel immediately. And I love [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] of course but … the

[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m] (maybe Zakkai or Zaccai would be better?) - ooh, I’ve never heard this. I’d say it’s usable. Close enough to [name_m]Zachary[/name_m] for popular consumption. I met a kid recently called [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] which feels similarly like a longer form of a common name.

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] - I think most people are pretty familiar with this and it has extended historical international use so I’d say yes.

[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] - usable, very cool.

[name_m]Amadeus[/name_m] - definitely usable, I’ve seen it a little on NB. People love the [name_m]Mozart[/name_m] association.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] - fully usable, for sure. I see this a lot on NB. I think it’s great.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you mind me asking what country your in / your native language? Your boys have fantastic names.

21

@oliviasarah: Thank you! My native language is Icelandic. I’m half Icelandic, 25% Swedish and 25% Polish. At this moment we live in southern Scandinavia. My oldest son, Hjörtur, is from my previous marriage, he also has Ugandese and English heritage. My youngest one has Jewish, Assyrian and [name_m]German[/name_m] heritage besides mine, so you can see it’s quite a mixture. Maybe that’s why the names on my list are all over the place :slight_smile:
By the way, I think I could use [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] as a middle name, just not as a first. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if I wanted to, my SO would never let me :stuck_out_tongue: