What do these names have in common? They are the only names my boyfriend has said he likes. All have received some sort of critisism though. [name_f]My[/name_f] boyfriend is starting to feel rather disheartened about it but I can never seem to suggest a name that he likes
He asked for opinions on [name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Maximus[/name_m] on Facebook and was asked if he was naming a child or a dog. (I’m also not really fond of it.)
[name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] was popular with our friends but family thinks it sounds like a disease.
[name_m]Xander[/name_m] seems to be the best bet right now, but even that hasn’t been always well recieved, many see it as just a nickname.
I wish this naming thing wasn’t so difficult and that people would calm down about it. I am about to say that we won’t discuss names with anyone anymore and they can all find out after he is born.
I would say that your boyfriend is picturing a little tough guy and a future leader. For what its worth, my son’s name is [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. (We also considered [name_m]Maximus[/name_m] for a potential second son.) [name_f]My[/name_f] suggestion is to pick a name that you both like and stop torturing yourselves with polling. We got a similiar reaction when we told people we were naming him [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m], although we were 100% certain by the time we told anyone. [name_f]My[/name_f] mom actually made the disease comment. We told her she could call him [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and she complained that it was an old man name. (Also my [name_f]MIL[/name_f] didn’t like that it sounded like we were naming him after her dad, [name_u]Lee[/name_u]). [name_f]My[/name_f] son will be 3 soon and everybody has gotten over the shock. We love his name!! He mostly goes by [name_m]Leo[/name_m], but he loves being called “[name_m]General[/name_m] [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m]”. Sometimes my dad calls him “the Spartan [name_m]King[/name_m]”. We get a mixture of compliments and strange looks, but we are glad we didn’t let anyone talk us out of it.
I love [name_m]Otto[/name_m]! but [name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Maximus[/name_m] does seem a bit over the top. I like [name_m]Xander[/name_m], but I prefer it as a nickname for [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. And [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] is nice but I prefer [name_m]Leo[/name_m] on its own.
Other ideas: [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], [name_m]Lucius[/name_m], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_m]Cassian[/name_m], [name_m]Cassius[/name_m], [name_m]Caius[/name_m], [name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] (nn [name_m]Iggy[/name_m] or [name_m]Nate[/name_m]?), [name_m]Xavier[/name_m], [name_m]Marius[/name_m], [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m], [name_m]Viggo[/name_m], [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Osias[/name_m], [name_m]Felix[/name_m], [name_m]Dominic[/name_m], [name_m]Alaric[/name_m], [name_m]Evander[/name_m]…
Either way though, i think this, “I am about to say that we won’t discuss names with anyone anymore and they can all find out after he is born,” is perfectly reasonable! Lots of people go this route. Good luck 
I love [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] and will definitely suggest it as a mn for our son (should we ever have one).
I’d consider [name_m]Leon[/name_m] as a nn over [name_m]Leo[/name_m]. I’ve always loved [name_m]Leon[/name_m] but I also feel like it is a less commonly used name or nn than [name_m]Leo[/name_m] is.
I would also just stop talking to people about names. Everyone is going to have an opinion and not everyone is going to be supportive of what you like. It’s really most important that you love the name. Everyone else can learn to love it or keep their mouths shut. Or if you feel you want to talk to your parents tell them that only constructive criticism is welcome. Telling you [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] sounds like a disease is not helpful - telling you they don’t particularly love [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] but suggesting other names that have that cool Spartan Warrior feel and names that have the [name_m]Leo[/name_m]- beginning but then knowing it’s up to you. That’s helpful.
(I mean if you named two sons [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] and [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] I might tell you your’ off your rocker but you guys aren’t considering anything that problematic.)
I don’t know how you feel about these names (you’ve probably already suggested them all to your bf). I like (Ale)xander, [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] and [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and figured if there was something on my list you haven’t found/considered yet it might be helpful:
[name_m]Hector[/name_m], [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] (nn [name_m]Thor[/name_m]), [name_m]Alaric[/name_m], [name_m]Cedric[/name_m], [name_u]Dexter[/name_u], [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], [name_m]Felix[/name_m], [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], [name_m]Hendrik[/name_m], [name_u]Oberon[/name_u], [name_m]Atlas[/name_m], [name_u]Tristan[/name_u], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], [name_m]Oscar[/name_m], [name_m]Octavius[/name_m]/[name_m]Octavian[/name_m], [name_m]Julian[/name_m], [name_m]Benedict[/name_m], [name_m]Zane[/name_m], [name_m]Victor[/name_m]
Thank you for the support everyone. This process has been emotionally draining and is starting to ruin the fun of names for me.
I actually like [name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Maximus[/name_m] (then again, I love the movie Gladiator, which is what inspires parents to name their sons [name_m]Maximus[/name_m]). [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] [name_m]Otto[/name_m] is a cool pairing, too. These sorts of names are becoming far more normal these days, and all of these names have strong histories to back them up, which you can always inform your family members about if they make rude comments.