Names with meaning to you.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

If my guy and I ever have kids, I'd like to name our boy Orion, after the constellation. The name holds a lot of meaning between my fiance and I through some past events and we both love the name.

However, the internet has made me jaded and afraid a lot of names are too "special-snowflake" ... do you think Orion (middle name would be Alexander) is a snowflake name? :C

What names mean a lot to you?

(Please don't lecture about "you should name them whatever makes you happy!" I just want to know what you think! XD)

Comments

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's a snowflake name! I like it a lot actually. It just has a nice sound, and the constellation is pretty neat.

The name Felix means a lot to me and my guy. I'm glad to see that it's gaining a little more popularity in the US actually, because it won't be so unusual and weirdly looked at when we use it.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

The constellation is really recognizable, so it would be easy to teach a young kid which it is. In a perfect world, maybe that could get him into astronomy and he could wind up as an astronaut. LOL!

I like the name Felix a lot, but admittedly, it does bring to mind a Hispanic man or another boy with dark hair. Maybe I'm thinking of the cat. :P

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

That would be pretty neat. All little kids seem to want to be an astronaut at some point anyway!

It's super popular in Germany (I'm half German, my dude is fully German although neither of us were born there) and then... of course... the cat, haha.

[farting-nora.livejournal.com]

You could always call him Ryan, or use it as a middle name. I don't think it is too weird as far as star names go. You could be naming him Sirius.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

It's a shame it's associated with Harry Potter, because otherwise, I think Sirius is a nice name. I just wouldn't want my kid mocked endlessly for it. ;)

And yeah, I was thinking we could call him Ryan as a nickname, or if he really wanted, he could go by Alexander or some other variation thereof.

[stormqueen280.livejournal.com]

My brother had a classmate named Sirius - his parents were astronomers. That was when Harry Potter started getting popular here, so he really got teased.

but you know what? I like the name. And Orion is really cool, too. I think that if your son knows why he was named Orion, he won't care even if he gets teased. At least his name will have a special meaning.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I know why I was named Stevie (my mom idolized Stevie Nicks), but I still don't like or even use my real name, haha.

I just hope he won't think our reason is too sappy for him. :)

[likeanunmadebed.livejournal.com]

I feel like a lot of people say they want to name their kids a certain name, but when confronted with the actual naming once the baby is born, they get scared and change it. My aunt did that to my cousin when she was born.

I prefer "name" names as first names, and then going wild with middle names.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I love Orion to pieces and I'm pretty positive that if we ever have a boy, that's what he'll be named. I just am worried that he would be made fun of for it, but it's not a particular wild name that people could go crazy with, I think. Do you think it is?

[likeanunmadebed.livejournal.com]

I think of the O RLY owl, and I pronounce it as O'Ryan, like as if it was Irish.

I don't really recall anyone at school being made fun of for their name. Maybe because everyone was a Stephanie. If he's a confident enough kid, he can pull it off. So don't embarrass him in any way!

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

LOL oh god, the orly owl.

[likeanunmadebed.livejournal.com]

I hope that doesn't scare you away from Orion. Idk how long away you are from having kids, but I doubt future 4 year olds will be all "HAHA you're named after an internet macro!"

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Unless it's an accident, we're a long time from kids. I don't think they'll associate Orion with ORLY, but now I'll think of it. Hahaha. XD

Oh well.

[lind-saay.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's too "special snowflake."

Most names that mean a lot to me have to do with someone with the name who means a lot to me, or who has done something I think is really cool and I'd like my child to have that connection with them. Examples: Anne, after my friend/mentor; Margaret, after my grandmother (important part is her, not that she's a family member); Timothy, after my dad; Eleanor, after Eleanor Roosevelt; Carver, after Raymond Carver; Mark, after a friend; Ryan, after a friend; Michael, after my older brother/best friend.

There are very few names I like because of their meaning, or that are important to me because of their meaning. Mostly it's because of a personal connection. The actual denotation of the name is less important to me, but always a bonus.

[lovebird.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's too special snowflake but then again my husband is a complete astronomy geek hah.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Astronomy is a cool thing. :)

[beepandetch.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's too special snowflake but I do think it has hippy dippy connotations (like Rain or Ocean). And Most likely by the time he hits middle school he will be going by Ryan. But if you're okay with that, I say go for it!

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I figured he'll turn into Ryan around the house, so I'm not at all bothered by it. If he hates it, his middle name has a ton of variations.

I never thought of it being in the same league as Rain and Ocean, though. XD

[makeitstopjamie.livejournal.com]

My husband and I have already decided on Hana (pronounced ha-na) because we visited the town in Maui the day before we got married so I kinda know what you're feeling.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I'm sorry you feel that way. It's reassuring to see other people not thinking it's so bad, though.

[makeitstopjamie.livejournal.com]

The way it's pronounced is the only real reason (and that and the fact we're not Japanese) why I'm worried. The boy's name we're considering is in the same vein.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what boy name are you considering?

[makeitstopjamie.livejournal.com]

I just posted about it actually. It's Evert.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I like that a lot, actually. I've never heard it before. I would wind up calling him Evan though, if it's pronounced phonetically.

[mela-chan.livejournal.com]

Hana is also a fairly popular Japanese name, so I don't think you'll get too much flack. And I know a non-Japanese Hana as well - her parents loved "Hannah" but wanted it easy to spell and 'different'.

[makeitstopjamie.livejournal.com]

True, but we're in Ohio so not many Japanese. There's also the fact that it's not pronounced like Hannah and I'm sure a lot of people will say it has Hannah and my maiden name is constantly mispronounced so I know how annoying it can be.

[sarahness.livejournal.com]

I like Orion. I would call it uncommon, but not "snowflake special."

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping. I want something different than the top names floating around, but not too terribly weird.

[aislincalum.livejournal.com]

Personally, I love Orion. The Mr. and I have seriously considered it as a possibility if we have twin boys, as we have decided Owen is a definite. :)

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I've never really been a fan of similar twin names. Owen is a nice name, though. :)

[aislincalum.livejournal.com]

I haven't either but that was the only combo we could come up with that we both liked. Lol.

[mela-chan.livejournal.com]

Orion is one of my favorite constellations, and I think it's a neat name. I agree that Ryan would be the obvious nick for it, but with Alexander as a middle he could easily be Lex or Alex as well.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Ugh, Lex. My fiance is torn between having it as a first name or a middle name because he really wants to call him Lex after Lex Luthor. Sigh. :C

[mela-chan.livejournal.com]

At least he's not wanting Ka-El or whatever after Superman. I'm lucky that my fiance likes the names I like, for the most part.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's really reassuring. :)

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I think it's becoming a more popular name, though I haven't personally met any kids named it yet. I wanted something unusual, but not too unique like a lot of names are taking a turn.

Thank you. :)

[wistfuljen.livejournal.com]

I love the name Orion. We considered it for our son when I was pregnant with him seven years ago. (The name has meaning for us also.)

I don't think he would be teased. It's not TOO out there.

[hemlockheart.livejournal.com]

I really like it, and don't think it's too snowflake, but it was on my list too for "mushy" reasons. My reason is that my father passed away when I was 2, in the winter, and Orion is *right* over our house very bright that time of year... my Mom would go for walks to clear her head and "talk" to my dad at night, and said she always felt like Orion was watching over us, protecting us.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Aww, our reason isn't as nice as that. That is very sweet.

[hemlockheart.livejournal.com]

I'm sure your reason is just as nice since it's special to you.

I'm actually thinking about making a separate post about this, but I'm wondering how many people pick out special names, and then go with something completely different when they have a baby. I'm 6 months pregnant right now, and the name we're using is not anything I'd have ever imagined. I figured my baby would definitely be named as a tribute to a loved one in some way. Early in my pregnancy I hated calling the baby "it" so I just called him Bob at random. Then we found out he was in fact a boy, and saw him on the ultrasound, and the boy's name I'd chosen, William after my dad, just didn't seem to fit. He's too hyper to be a Will... BUT by this point, Bob had stuck. So his name will be Robert instead lol. (Middle name will be Rhys, which also isn't after anyone, but does honor my Welsh heritage.)

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

A spechul snowflake name is Star or Hope. Orion is not; it's too subtle. A lot of people I know only have a vague idea of what Orion is, let alone where to find it, and those who do find it a nice tribute or would love to hear the story behind it. Go for it!

Hmmm... The name that probably has lots of meaning would be Athena. Fell in love with her reading the Odyssey in my ninth grade literature class and have loved her name since.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

How is a name as common as Hope a special snowflake name?

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

I think they were just meaning it was in the same vein as sort of a "hippy dippy" name like someone said above, like Ocean and River.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I tend to think of Hope as more of a religious name, along the lines of naming your kid Faith. Virtuous names that are common don't scream special snowflake to me. Now, naming your kid Patience, sure.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

Because I've noticed that when people give their daughters names like Hope or Grace or Joy, it's usually for some corny reason: "Oh, she's my hope, my joy!" or "Hope is all we need in life!"

Though Hope isn't a bad name in itself. It's usually the motive behind the name that makes it spechul snowflake-y. It was just my opinion.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's a snowflake name. Mainly because I don't think I'm quite sure what you mean by it, haha, I don't hear it a lot with regards to names.

I hear a lot of people say that they like it, but I just don't get it at all. I just don't like anything about it, but all those who like it seem to like it a lot.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

I do, but not as much as Oryan would be a special snowflake name. At lease Orion is spelled correctly and easily pronounced.

[penguinsane.livejournal.com]

Oryan looks awful. I'd be sad to butcher the name like that. D:

Orion seems to be on a middle ground. Almost crossing into the special snowflake realm, but sometimes not quite.