Working on my boys list and need some vibe checks on some of the names I’m considering. What do you think of these names? Any specific imagery / vibes / type of person you imagine them to be? For context, I am in the southern US. I’ve put some of my thoughts/concerns also. Please give me any and all thoughts and considerations!
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] - is it too awkward?
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] (eye-van) - does it work on someone of self-proclaimed “plain white bread” ancestry?
[name_m]Casimir[/name_m] - too much first name? is it trying too hard?
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] - is it too modern and trendy?
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] - is it too blunt? unfashionably dated?
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m] / [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] - I think I slightly prefer the [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] spelling, but is it too unusual for a first name in an American context? Would [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] be an easier spelling to live with?
I want to like [name_u]Tiernan[/name_u], but [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] or [name_u]Kiernan[/name_u] are easier to say (or even Tierney). [name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] gives me sweet, slightly nerdy vibes.
I like [name_m]Ivan[/name_m], I think it’s a little weird on a non-Slavic person but not in a bad way? I think [name_u]Ivy[/name_u] is an adorable nickname for a boy.
[name_m]Casimir[/name_m] is too much IMO. Maybe [name_m]Cosimo[/name_m] or [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] would be more wearable? [name_m]Casimir[/name_m] makes me think of a casanova, like he’s a hustler.
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] just makes me think of [name_m]Ryland[/name_m] [name_m]Adams[/name_m]. Not my fave LOL
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] makes me think of “dud” or Mudd jeans, plus it has the same vibes as Jed/Jeb to me, like a country hick. I think [name_m]Judson[/name_m] is a good alternative if you really love the “Jud” sound.
I much prefer [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] over [name_m]Anselme[/name_m], the pronunciation is much more straightforward. It has very stereotypical “attractive European man” vibes to me LOL. I like [name_m]Ansel[/name_m] a little better.
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] - It has that familiar & friendly vibe a lot of [name_u]Irish[/name_u] names have! It’s hard for me to say as someone who struggles with “rn” sounds, but I don’t think it’d be awkward for most people to say
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] - I’m not sure what exactly ‘plain white bread’ ancestry means, but I’m assuming you mean non-Slavic in this case. Since you’re pronouncing it the [name_f]English[/name_f] way (eye-van is not a name in any Slavic country) I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] could work for you! It’s a name most people are familiar with, I don’t think it’d read as strange or too pretentious!
[name_m]Casimir[/name_m] - I also think this one’s fine! It’s long and elaborate, sure, but it has the friendly nickname Cass/Cassy and it’s not really any more grand than something like [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. I won’t disagree that it has an elegant, old-timey vibe, but again, the nicknames really help ground it!
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] - Hm, I mean it definitely feels modern and trendy, that’s the imagery I get from it, but I don’t think it’s too much. Maybe because it reminds me of the classic [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]!
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] - No, I think it’s cool !! It has a cowboy sort of vibe to me, and if [name_u]Jude[/name_u] can work, why not [name_m]Judd[/name_m]?
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m] / [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] - I definitely think [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] is more usable in your situation. I love the name regardless of spelling, but [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] is definitely giving more… fantasy character energy, I guess. Whereas [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] is a bit more down to earth! It has a buttoned-up, wintry, almost Viking vibe to me (although I know it’s German!)
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] - Feels very friendly!! I like it a lot more than [name_u]Tierney[/name_u] because it doesn’t sound like tyranny, but I think I’d prefer Kiernan!! [name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] is nice, but I think [name_u]Kiernan[/name_u] is just a little sweeter for a boy.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] - Honestly it feels pretty international at this point, I feel like I know Ivans of many different ethnicities!! It feels like a pretty “buttoned-up” name to me, but I feel I’d be really happy to meet a little Ivan!!
[name_m]Casimir[/name_m] - I may be a little biased because I love [name_m]Casimir[/name_m], but I don’t think he’s too much at all! He feels very sweet, romantic, and soft to me, and I love the darling cowboy-y nickname Cass!!
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] - Feels a little trendy, but I could also see it working because it’s similar to [name_m]Roland[/name_m]! [name_m]Ryland[/name_m] feels a little sweeter to me than other modern names, and I like it more (maybe you’d like Truett?)
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] - This one is definitely my least favorite unfortunately - it just feels very “hick” and old-fashioned. I think [name_m]Judson[/name_m] with the nn Jud(d) would work much better in today’s contexts!!
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m] - I personally prefer [name_m]Anselm[/name_m], but I think [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] could also work!! He feels very saint-ly and old-timey [name_u]Christian[/name_u], but would fit in with other older boy names like [name_u]Augustine[/name_u] and [name_m]Algernon[/name_m]
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] - I don’t find it awkward - I worked with a [name_u]Tierney[/name_u] and always liked saying it, and [name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] is great too - rugged by poetic
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] - literary and cool - I think with the eye-van pn, it works
[name_m]Casimir[/name_m] - it feels adventurous and bold - and I don’t know if it only feels ‘a lot’ for me because I know the meaning? Objectively, I think it works
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] - it does feel quite modern an quite showbiz but those aren’t necessarily bad things. It feels a bit like [name_u]Leland[/name_u], [name_u]Holland[/name_u], [name_u]Nolan[/name_u], [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] etc I don’t hate it
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] - kind of cool - a bit ‘old man’ but in a fun way - feels a bit sporty or a bit outdoorsy too
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m] - I prefer it without the -e. It looks more concise and sleek. It feels quite wise and sophisticated, but it’s got edge too.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m], In [name_u]South[/name_u] GA here
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] is not awkward around here with our surnamey ways.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m]- I’m a fan. Underused classic.
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m]- Yes too trendy.
[name_m]Judd[/name_m]- Great name. Short, rugged boy names are always good. Like as a mn too
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m]- So strong. I love but I have extensive naming background. [name_u]Will[/name_u] be hard to get used to and continue to require emphasis with new introductions for a lot of ppl. Those reasons did not sway me from using obscure names, which our grown children liked growing up and still do.
Tiernan I didn’t like it at first glance after saying it out lout a couple of times I think it’s kinda cute.
Ivan (eye-van) - I like the pronounciation but the name gives me very cliché Russian associations because I have heard that name used as a generic term for Russian people before.
Casimir - I think it’s a pretty name and I love [name_m]Cas[/name_m] as a nickname.
Ryland - I find it interesting that you fear it being too modern because my first thought was that it sounds too old fashioned. (Maybe it reminds me of Roland?)
Judd - I don’t like it. [name_u]Jude[/name_u] is nice but [name_m]Judd[/name_m] is too short and blunt for me.
Anselm / [Anselme] (Anselme - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity | Nameberry) - Too dated.
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u] - nothing about this feels awkward - I love [name_u]Tiernan[/name_u], and I have for years! He’s a super cool Gaelic-light name. Reminds me of Truett/Truitt which I also love.
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m] - I think so! When I was little our family was good friends with another family that had a [name_f]Coretta[/name_f] and an Ivan… as far as I know, they had no tie to MLK’s family nor [name_f]Russia[/name_f] lol. Plus I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is growing in popularity among the Latino community here in the states - I think [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] is really cool, although I myself prefer [name_m]Ian[/name_m].
[name_m]Ryland[/name_m] - maybe it is trendy? Reminds me a lot of Roland; I thought it had years of history tbh.
[name_m]Judd[/name_m] - not too bad but it does feel a bit dated and blunt. tbh even though I know it’s a different name, all I can think of is [name_u]Elmer[/name_u] Fudd lol.
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m] - such a handsome name! I’ve been crushing on [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_m]Ansel[/name_m], and [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] a lot lately. tbh I’m not sure most Americans are familiar with [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] OR [name_m]Anselme[/name_m] so you could pick your spelling; I knew an [name_f]Anselma[/name_f] growing up, and I’m sure she was constantly spelling her name.
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u], [name_m]Ryland[/name_m], and [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] are my favorites.
Ooh! [name_m]Just[/name_m] realized I missed [name_m]Casimir[/name_m]. It did always feel like a lot of name to me, and a little harsh too. However, I think it’s probably liked more than you think it is… I am finishing up some threads on the girls/boys forums where I’m analyzing what everyone’s top 25s are (wanted to see how our actual favorites would stack up next to the names that receive the most traffic on NB, which I think is what they usually track and post about in the blog, etc.), and I remember [name_m]Casimir[/name_m] ranking much higher than I thought it would! It’s currently sitting at 82, barring any additional responses from anyone (I won’t protest if anyone else wants to share their favorites there - and sorry for shamelessly plugging my thread!). It is too much for me, but based on how many people mentioned [name_m]Casimir[/name_m] being in their top 25, I wouldn’t be surprised if [name_m]Casimir[/name_m] becomes more well used here in the coming years? I don’t know that it’ll ever get super popular, but I could see it cracking the top 1000 again eventually. Looks like it’s height of popularity was 1919, so now would be the perfect time for [name_m]Casimir[/name_m] to make a comeback!