Our little man is due [name_u]June[/name_u] 10th and we are having such a hard time naming him! Our top choice right now is [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] (last name one syllable). We have only told a handful of close family members and friends but the response has been less than positive. It seems no one likes [name_m]Jasper[/name_m]. I know itās pretty common on Nameberry but for the general population itās a bit unusual. The most common thing weāve heard from the people weāve told is that it sounds like a dogās name. I think itās one of those names that might be a little unusual now but in a few years it will be much more common. [name_f]Do[/name_f] we just go with it and wait for the criticism or go with a āsaferā choice? We are being nudged to switch it to [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] but I donāt want him to be called ā[name_u]James[/name_u]ā.
I think [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is just fine! I think that if you went with it (and you should, if itās truly what you want!) your family would eventually get used to it. If you did, by chance switch it to [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], I donāt think you should worry about him being called [name_u]James[/name_u]. We are going with [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] for our little guy and none of our family has said that they are going to call him [name_u]James[/name_u] (except my crotchety old grandmother who Iām not going to argue with about it because honestly, he will never remember her). Everyone has been only referring to him as [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]!
Iām not much for alliteration but I think [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] is a good name. As for the negative nellies, if you love the name then ignore them! [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] has been in the top 1000 boy names in the states since 2000 (#592) and has been slowly but steadily climbing in popularity ever since (#248 in 2013); I hardly think that the parents of those little fellows would think of it as a ādog name.ā
We watched a friend of ours get bullied into picking a more āconventional nameā when her heart was set on a name that was a little more offbeat for her first child and to this day she says she wishes she had gone with her gut instead of popular opinion. We were lucky enough to learn from her mistake and we didnāt tell anyone the quirky name we chose for our daughter until after she was bornā¦people seem to have less negative opinions (in the forefront) when they are cuddling a smushy little one
I have an ex named [name_u]James[/name_u] so thatās why Iām so adamant about it, lol. [name_u]Jamie[/name_u], [name_u]Jay[/name_u], JJā¦ anything else would be fine. Iām glad to hear that no one other than your grandma has any plans to shorten it. Itās so nice just as it is.
Iāve never been a big alliteration fan either. We were actually originally thinking [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_u]Layne[/name_u] but when I saw [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] here on Nameberry I put the two together and really liked it! We werenāt planning on telling anyone for this exact reason but a few people squeezed it out of us and we were curious to get at least a few peopleās reaction to the name. Lesson learned! Now that Iām typing this though Iām thinking [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] [name_u]Layne[/name_u] is not bad either, LOL. :idea:
I love love loveee [name_m]Jasper[/name_m]. Once they meet your lil dude any negative associations they had will fade. Itās an awesome name, go with your gut!
[name_m]Ah[/name_m], other peopleās opinions. I have 2 stories about opinionsā¦A friend of mine was horrified by the name of her newest grand-daughter. She thought it was an āold ladyā name would ruin the childās life. This āhorribleā name was [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]! When I was pregnant with my now 30 year old son, I wanted to name him [name_m]Jacob[/name_m]. You should have heard the howls of horror!
Times change, opinions and trends in naming change. As a grandmother of 3, take it from me, they will love a little [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] as much as a little [name_u]Jameson[/name_u]. Use the one you want and love.
I have to admit, I am not fond of the name that a family member has chosen for a new baby girl due later this year. However, I know that once I meet the little cutie all other associations I have with the name will go away and my little family member will be the only person I think of when I hear the name. Also, she will breathe new life into the name I have hated for years. Although I donāt like the choice I have kept it to myself.
If you love the name [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], then name him [name_m]Jasper[/name_m]. Your family and friends will love your [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] so much that they will find themselves liking the name as well. Like I am expecting, your little boy will put new meaning into the name for them. It will no longer be a ādogās nameā but their āgorgeous handsome nephew/grandson/cousin etcās name.ā
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is an excellent name. Go for it!
I would keep the name to myself until after he is born. People are much more likely to criticize when they think there is a chance of swaying the decision. [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is gaining popularity (along with many other vintage boy names). Go with what you love!
[name_m]Even[/name_m] in my small hometown there have been a couple [name_m]Jasper[/name_m]'s. Itās not out there anymore thanks to Twilight. If you love it, then use it!
I donāt discuss our preferences on names with family & friends for this very reasonā¦ People always say the wrong thing & taint a name youāve finally settled on! I like [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] & [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] but as I seem to be telling people a lot lately, [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is my preference as Iām hesitant on the surnames as first names thing. Personally Iād keep looking for something else you love & then donāt ask their opinion!
I just wanted to add, my father in law confessed to me when my son was a year old, he had some reservations about our sonās nameā¦ mostly negative personal associations. To his credit, he never breathed a word, and let us make our choice without raining on our happy moments. He also added that any negative associations have been replaced by new memories of his sweet grandson.
So later on, when another family member attacked a name my husband confessed to liking, I remembered my father in lawās comments, and smoothly replied, āWell, if we use (such and such a name), hopefully our child will create new associations for you and help you to find a new appreciation for his name.ā
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is absolutely fine. I think that if you and your partner both really love the name, then you shouldnāt worry about what everyone else thinks. Itās your decision and yours alone.
Keep [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and stop telling people his name until heās born.
The problem with telling people before hand is that everyone thinks they are allowed an opinion and that because he isnāt born yet they get to tell you exactly what they think.
I have a friend who gave her daughter a name I find to lofty for her but as itās a real, name and actually very pretty (just not quite right for the family - imo) I kept my mouth shut. If I had been told before Iām sure I would have said something like āoh thatās pretty. a little involved for me I prefer [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] to [name_f]Alexandrina[/name_f] but cool.ā or something. Obviously I altered the name listed here but you get the point - even as someone who knows better Iām not sure Iād be able to always control myself with wanting to give a suggestion. Somehow it makes people feel like they are involved.
I personally love [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and would use it in a heartbeat - seriously - if it didnāt break one of our naming rules. (No J names as we are a trilingual Spanish-English-[name_m]German[/name_m] household and Jās sound stupid different in each language).
The only name we have openly discussed with family members is [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], because my husband didnāt want his two brothers to take the name if their wives ended up pregnant before me (which they have ā our nephew [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] wouldāve been [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] if we hadnāt asked them not to take āourā name). [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] is pretty much set in stone for us, but at this point I wouldnāt be upset if another family member used it ā weāve been TTC for over two years, itās hard to reserve a name for that long.
But I would keep our little girlās name a secret. I just donāt care to have the opinions of others. Iād rather it be a surprise and then everyone can love her and her name when she arrives.
Anyway, quit talking about [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] to everyone. I wouldnāt speak about it until heās born. Good luck!
I wouldnāt worry too much about something being a dogās name. Thatās not to say you should disregard what they say but what theyāre basically telling you by that is that they are unfamiliar with the name as the name for a child. But [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is actually pretty popular as a name so they just donāt know many youngster Iām guessing. Or too many dogs.
The thing is, these days dogs are getting people names and thatās how some people come across a name first. Doesnāt make it a dog name. Jasper has a long history of usage as a male name. Itās not like youāre naming your child Rover or anything. According to VPI pet insurance, some of the top ten names for dogs are Bella, Lucy, Molly, Daisy, Sophie, Chloe, Max, Charlie, Jake, Jack, Cody. Sounds a bit like a kindergarten class, yes?
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t listen to them!! I am a teacher, and [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] is totally normal. It isnāt common, but itās certainly normal, not to mention adorable. [name_f]My[/name_f] cousin had some resistance to names she chose for 2 of her kids, but everybody got used to them and no one complains anymore. Stand firm and I think everything will end up just fine! People may grumble from time to time, but as previous posters said, nobody complains about a name when theyāre holding an adorable little baby.