SO and I are expecting our first this [name_f]October[/name_f] and as of yet we don’t know the sex, but we’ve already started talking about names (since we both expect it will take us at least the remaining 6 months for us to decide on one). I’m extraordinarily picky when it comes to boys’ names and we didn’t like each others’ top choices, so started from scratch. I found a few names I could live with and ran them past SO, and surprisingly there was one we both really liked:
[name_u]Loren[/name_u]
We love it because:
our chosen MN honors baby’s great-grandpa, and it would make baby’s initials L.L. (same initials as great-grandpa)
we would probably use NN [name_u]Ren[/name_u] at least as often as his full FN
it’s uncommon for boys, but it’s similar in sound to popular names now
it’s only 2 letters off from a significant family surname, and it sounds great with SO’s surname
I can picture a son named this, and I can see it with sister name [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
But… will he be teased? We’re pronouncing it “[name_f]LORE[/name_f]-en” which I know sounds like [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] (SO actually pronounces it closer to “[name_m]LORN[/name_m]”). I’m hoping if we had a son we would raise him in a way that sharing a similar name with a girl wouldn’t phase him, but I also don’t want some bully to take that and run with it.
We could probably avoid the whole issue by going with something like [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], but it just loses something in the translation [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
So WDYT - [name_u]Loren[/name_u] for a boy, yes or no? [name_f]Honesty[/name_f] appreciated but please keep it polite, boys names are very hard for me.
I love all your reasons for loving it but I just couldn’t get past the [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] sound. [name_u]Ren[/name_u] is such a cute nickname though!
I agree with the previous poster. I love the meaning behind the name, but I couldn’t get over it sounding like [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] either. But that’s just my personal thought.
I think it sounds like its perfect for your baby boy I see it as a boys name and the similarity to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] I would think shouldn’t matter Espescially if pronounced similarly to [name_u]Lorne[/name_u] - also there are pleanty of androgynous names out there and people are becoming much more comfortable with it.
It seems to strike all the right cords! I do think the [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]/[name_u]Loren[/name_u] thing may cause some issue. However, if you will use [name_u]Ren[/name_u] most of the time I think it will be ok. Maybe your husband could try to Starbucks test…go to Starbucks and when they ask his name tell them “[name_u]Loren[/name_u]” and see what reaction he gets/how he feels about it. I think the teasing/confusing potential is definitely there but ultimately it is up to you all whether or not you think that’s a deal breaker. If it’s THE name that you both love, I say go or it.
Well, I feel both ways. It’s traditionally male and a wonderful name. But, it sounds like [name_f]Lauren[/name_f], or even worse [name_f]Loryn[/name_f]. [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]/[name_f]Loryn[/name_f] aren’t quite so popular anymore, so it will not be as much as an issue. It boils down in how much you love it, but I would expect some issues.
I really like [name_u]Loren[/name_u]. I love how special the name would be for the two of you. I knew boys/man with names that are now considered more girl names ([name_u]Stacey[/name_u], [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]) and they never had issues. Plus [name_u]Loren[/name_u] IS a boy’s name, why should a perfectly nice name not be used. Children these days have names all over the board, I do not think there would be an issue. He will be around females with boy’s names, children with nature themed names, geographical names, traditional names, etc. There will be others that will share names with each gender.
I love [name_u]Loren[/name_u]. It’s on my long list of names, and I have a lot of trouble finding boys names that I like as well. The similarity to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] doesn’t bother me at all - especially with the prevalence of unisex names, girls with boyish names, etc, etc. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_u]Loren[/name_u] would be going to school and growing up with kids that have a way wider variety of names than what we grew up with - so I think teasing potential is probably much less than we as adults might think.
Most importantly, you both love it. I wouldn’t worry about possible future what-ifs that may never even come to pass… If you love it, use it
I known boys named [name_u]Kasey[/name_u] and [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], so I don’t see why [name_u]Loren[/name_u] would have to be a big deal. Kids can be mean, but sometimes we assume the worst. It’s traditionally a male name, the spelling is very masculine, and you both love, so I say go for it.
I don’t see an issue. I went to school w/a [name_u]Loren[/name_u]…kind of a shy, bookish guy. I’d opt for [name_m]Lorentz[/name_m]–a family name for me, but your pick is fine!
I see the concern and the similarity in sound to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] but as others have said, [name_u]Loren[/name_u] is an established male name.
I honestly would probably opt for [name_u]Lorne[/name_u] or perhaps [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] but overall I think that if you both love [name_u]Loren[/name_u], you shouldn’t let it go just because of what some others may feel or think. There is beautiful back-story behind how you chose the name.
Have you considered [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] , [name_m]Soren[/name_m] , [name_m]Stellan[/name_m]? I just can’t get past the “[name_f]Lauren[/name_f]” sound…or I would use in middle…
I am so in love with [name_u]Loren[/name_u] for a little boy! I would use it but unfortunately my SO ex girlfriend was named [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] :(. I think you should go for it! It is extremely handsome and it ages beautifully!
I absolutely [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] but I only just like [name_u]Loren[/name_u]. It’s not that it’s close to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]…there’s something just too sticky-sweet about it. I don’t know…but I don’t dislike it, either. I do love that you chose it with a lot of meanings in mind. [name_u]Ren[/name_u] is a great nickname and I don’t think there’ll be too much potential for teasing.
I love it! Sure, it is similar to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] but that doesn’t make it unusable. [name_u]Ren[/name_u] is a wonderful nickname and I think [name_f]Lore[/name_f] is a good one as well. He may need to correct his name every so often but I don’t see that as such a big deal. [name_m]Even[/name_m] the most common names get misheard all of the time. As far as teasing, I have never experienced teasing due to an unusual name (I have one and have never been given a hard time over it). I’m not sure where you live, but with so many cultures mixing and naming becoming braver it’s becoming less of an issue [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
I actually know a guy named [name_u]Loren[/name_u]! Or know of him. There was a guy [name_u]Loren[/name_u] who went to my high school about a year or two before I got there. When I had to do activities up at the school, my friends who attended there before me would be hanging out with him, and he seemed to do just fine. I never heard of him hating it, anyway. Although I went to private [name_m]Christian[/name_m] schools all the way up until my sophomore year of college, and the high school we went to had just as much crazy names as popular ones. [name_u]Loren[/name_u] fit right in with [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], Ivelisse, [name_f]Mariela[/name_f], Eveling, [name_f]Bruna[/name_f], [name_f]Ioana[/name_f], [name_f]Adella[/name_f], [name_f]Ady[/name_f] (a boy), [name_m]Dawson[/name_m], etc., etc.!
I can’t say whether a present-day [name_u]Loren[/name_u] would be teased or not, but I do really respect it as a name and would be happy to meet a little boy with the name!
I think he could pull it off. With so many names populating both the boys’ and girls’ sides of the popularity charts, this is the time to use [name_u]Loren[/name_u] for a boy. [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] is on the decline anyway.
I see it as a boys name and the similarity to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] I would think shouldn’t matter Espescially if pronounced similarly to [name_u]Lorne[/name_u] - also there are pleanty of androgynous names out there and people are becoming much more comfortable with it.