Baby name help :)

  • Thread starter Thread starter ellam25
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
thelibrarian said:
Matthias would be my choice, and not shortened to Matt. We don’t shorten names in our family, because we like the names we chose as they are.
Click to expand...
If you will ever notice, children’s names do not get shortened nearly as much as they used to. The full first name is used in address and in referring to oneself. Don’t know why this is.

And in our extended family, for some reason, we tend to use entire names when referring to another relative — “John Smith”, “Mary Brown”, and so on. I don’t know why we do that, we just always have. For one thing, the family is so large that there would be several “Johns” or “Marys”, and it helps to clarify of whom one is speaking. I have noticed that among Irish Travelers in this country, they will use descriptive names — “Big Joe’s Katie”, “Pete Man’s Sarah”, and so on. Interesting.
Click to expand...
 
Asking random strangers, I realize , is the way to do it. I don’t want to ask family their opinion and have them say “oh I hate felix*!” And then judge us if we decide to go against what they suggested lol
 
ellam25 said:
Asking random strangers, I realize , is the way to do it.
Click to expand...
Whatever criteria or mechanism you use to decide, it is entirely your decision. When it comes down to it nobody else really gets a vote. Even if you solicit opinions it is your choice entirely how much, if any, weight to give those opinions.

By the way, congratulations on the future addition to your family.
 
whatistrue said:
By the way, congratulations on the future addition
Click to expand...
Thank you! And yes, I realize in the end it will always be our decision. But I like seeing what other people think, especially since my husband and I have been on such a seesaw decding.
 
ellam25 said:
Husband and I are expecting a baby boy in July. We can’t decide between the names Felix and Matthias, both great saints. It took FOREVER to come to those conclusions. What does everyone think?? I am interested in seeing which name gets the best reception.
Click to expand...
You could really have some fun with it by naming your child “Null.” See, that’s used to store a blank field in computers. I had a couple classmates in college with the last name “Null,” and when the profs would call roll their last names would always be missing.
 
Baby name discussions always remind me of the classic SNL skit with Nicholas Cage.

I would link it, but, it is PG-13 and some might be offended. It can be found on the NBC website.
 
If it were me, I’d rather be called Matthias than Felix.
 
I would use both but then you’ll have to decide which combo works best. I personally like Matthias Felix.

So this is a silly test, but when I was thinking of names, I stood at the front door and yelled the name outside to see how it sounded, considering the sound of the syllables, etc. (as if I was calling her home for dinner)… Our last name is one syllable, so my daughter’s name “Jessica Ann” goes well with it. You could try that and see which sounds better to you.
 
Last edited:
“Felix” has already been somewhat ‘stigmatized’ (not necessarily in a bad way at all) in American culture (i.e. “Felix the Cat”), not to mention, it’s the quintessential Roman name for one’s household feline in general; “Happy” (the canine equivalent being “Fido” - ‘Faithful’). The name works for a human as well, but for me, it’s just too strongly associated with a cat.

The advice I give with respect to “baby names” is picture the child not as a baby, but at say 23, out of college going to his/her first “real job” interview…“Good Morning, Mr. Jones, my name is…”. Not sure ‘Felix’ particularly works here (particularly if he’s carrying a brief case).

Matthias would be my choice.
 
It looks like Matthias leads by seven points.
That being noted, may I offer Benedict and Lucas as possible names? Or Peter, who became first among the Apostles?
 
Are you in the US? I personally like a more conservative / classic name for a boy. I think either one is great, but Felix has more personality! If I were you I would wait until Baby arrives and see if either or those suits him. If not, there are plenty of other choices!
Best of luck to you!!
 
Last edited:
Nope. It’s either their full first name, or their last name. 😊
 
Sometimes it depends on what your last name is and what the baby’s middle name is going to be. Some names just sound better with certain last names. And you always want to avoid the first, middle, and last name initials spelling out something goofy.
 
In Hebrew the meaning of the name Matthias is: Gift of the Lord; Gift from God.
 
I like both names equally. I teach elementary school and Felix is more common, especially among Hispanic children.
 
I love Matthias. Felix is a tad weak. Matthias is a strong name that is unique but has a safe shortened version. Matthias is in my top 4 names, 2 if which I’ve already used.
 
Not only the cat. But the odd couple has further weakened felix. I mean nobody wants to be either an oscar or a felix!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top