I’m not sure how I feel about [name_m]Vaino[/name_m]. It would be an honor name in the middle spot for my grandpa, my uncle, and possibly my dad (he and I are on the rocks at the moment), because all of them share the middle name [name_m]Wayne[/name_m], but I can’t stand [name_m]Wayne[/name_m]. I’m really into boys’ names that end in -o (as shown by my enthusiasm for [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_m]Milo[/name_m], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], and others), but I can’t help wondering if it would really work on a little boy, even in the middle.
[name_m]How[/name_m] is [name_m]Vaino[/name_m] pronounced? You have wonderful names like [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_m]Roman[/name_m] [name_m]Evander[/name_m], [name_m]Milo[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], and [name_m]Byron[/name_m] in your signature. So i don’t think you would be happy with [name_m]Vaino[/name_m].
Not a fan.
I was unfamiliar with [name_m]Vaino[/name_m] and decided to check out the nameberry entry, apparently [name_m]Vaino[/name_m] is not a name unless spelled Väinö. It’s not just accent marks, it indicates a different letter entirely. So leaving them out and saying it’s still the same name is kind of like saying that A and E are interchangeable and spell letter as ‘lattar’ instead and assume everyone knows what you’re talking about.
[name_m]Vaino[/name_m] spelled like this also apparently means ‘persecution’ in Finnish…
I have to admit my first thought was that this was a Finnish name, probably because it’s so similar to Vieno, a unisex Finnish name meaning ‘gentle’ that I love. (Although I’ve heard the meaning is better translated as ‘weak’, but I’ll have to look into that some more.)
I love soft, -o ending names for boys, and I like the sound of [name_m]Vaino[/name_m], but I don’t think it’s usable unless spelled Väinö, because of how the meaning changes, but it also feels a little like cultural appropriation when you borrow something and then change it beyond recognition because it’s more practical or some other insufficient reason.
I wanted this to work for you, I just don’t see how, knowing [name_m]Vaino[/name_m] is so far removed from the original…
Other ways to honour [name_m]Wayne[/name_m]:
Vieno (has all the same sounds as [name_m]Vaino[/name_m])
[name_m]Wayland[/name_m] (love the mythological aspects of this one!)
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] (works wonderfully as a middle for a boy)
[name_m]Wyndham[/name_m]
[name_m]Vaughn[/name_m]
[name_m]Vereno[/name_m]
[name_u]Vernon[/name_u]
[name_u]Verne[/name_u]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_m]Winfield[/name_m]
[name_m]Vine[/name_m]
Vervain
From what I’ve read [name_m]Vaino[/name_m] is an Estonian name, the Estonian form of the Finnish name Väinö which @dearest mentioned. The meaning has nothing to do with [name_m]Wayne[/name_m] though - the NB database entry is incorrect. I don’t speak Estonian so I’m not sure of the pronunciation.
I’m afraid I focus on the “vain” part of it a bit too much. The Väinö spelling the pp uses eliminates this, but would probably be a bit difficult to enforce the accent marks in an English (or generally non-Finnish) speaking environment.
I like the suggestion of [name_m]Wayland[/name_m] as an alternative honor name for [name_m]Wayne[/name_m].
And while I think you should definitely not use a name (even an honor name) if you really can’t stand it, I wonder whether it might not be possible to start seeing [name_m]Wayne[/name_m] in a new light given the rise of a name like [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m]. Could [name_m]Wayne[/name_m] be ready for a revival?
All I see is “vain” and it kind of looks made up to me. I cannot see the connection with [name_m]Wayne[/name_m].
@dearest - I honestly had no idea (which, I know, is bad of me. I should have researched the name further than the NB databases.) Thank you so much for your input; I really appreciate it. You’re right about the cultural appropriation bit. Out of your other honor name suggestions, I liked [name_f]Willow[/name_f], [name_m]Wayland[/name_m], [name_u]Wren[/name_u], Vieno, and Vervain the most, although all of them were lovely.
@lumen - Again, thank you. You rock.
So I’ll be shelving this unless I move to a country that uses this name or marry someone from the culture. It was mainly theoretical, anyways. Thank you all so much for your insight and ideas!