Expecting baby boy

[supergirl-04.livejournal.com]

New to this community but loving all the suggestions I've read.

Here's my dilemma: We're expecting a baby boy in October and my SO and I are very enthusiastic about the first name we've chosen, but undecided on a middle name.

However, our families hate (HATE) the name. So, I'd appreciate some feedback. Are we crazy? Or should we disregard the family input?


Our current children names:
Daughter, 8: Isabelle Nicole (Family names. I'm happy with it; but Isabelle has become much more popular than I expected)

Son, 7: Chase Dakota (I wasn't involved with that name....and apparently neither was he)

Son, 3: Griffin Cade (Cade is a family name. I do love this name)

Expectant baby:
River Alden (Alden = family name)
or
River Charles (Charles = dad's middle name)

Are we really crazy to choose "River?" Or should we disregard the family input?

Comments

[ginky.livejournal.com]

Although River is different, it's not weird or way out there.

Of the two, I like River Alden.

[supergirl-04.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's my vote as well. (my grandpa passed away last summer and Alden was his middle name. His first was Arnold and that's certainly not going to fly)

[trissyd.livejournal.com]

I don't mind "River", it's not way out there by any means.
I actually like all of your childrens names :)!

[ashadelic.livejournal.com]

I really like all of your other children's names. I don't, however, like River at all. BUT that's just a personal preference as many people in this community havent liked some of the names that I absolutely love. If you and your SO love the name and want to use it, then that's your prerogative. It's not like you're giving him some crazy outlandish name that no ones ever heard of and will never be able to pronounce. Of the two, River Alden is my preference. On that note, I also like Charles Alden or Alden Charles.

[supergirl-04.livejournal.com]

oh now, I didn't EVEN think of Charles Alden or Alden Charles! I like those both as well. (I love the name Charley) Thanks!

[auntieda.livejournal.com]

I really like River Alden.

[thunderofsins.livejournal.com]

I'm not big on River, but I think its okay when you combine it with something like Charles. I'd stay away from any "crazy" middle names.

As far as family...we're not pregnant yet, but my husband and I have decided that we're not going to tell anyone what we're going to name the baby until s/he is born and named. We'll give the baby a in-uetro nickname...like peanut or bugger or he-who-makes-mommy-barf-and-pee

[bloomingtulip.livejournal.com]

I like River. It's not common but not too over the top either.

I definitely like River Alden better than Charles.

[hygher.livejournal.com]

I like River Alden.

[feelslike-2day.livejournal.com]

i like River Alden... it flows nicely and goes well with your other children's names.
If you like it, keep it. It's your child not theirs, and in time they'll just see the baby when they think of 'river' and all the bad input will be forgotten!

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

This is why you never tell your family the name you have chosen until after the baby is born. If you tell them before they seem to think they can give you their opinion. However, after the baby is already named no one will be rude/callous enough to say "wow I hate your baby's name". Furthermore, they will grow to like the name because of the positive connotations of it being connected to your adorable child.

Anyway, unfortunately you already have told them so you have to deal with it but if you like the name, go for it. They'll get used to it eventually.

But since you are asking our opinions, I like the name River.
River Charles looks like the River is named Charles though.
River Alden is slightly better because Alden isn't such a well known forename.

[neroli.livejournal.com]

There is a Charles River in the Boston area, so around here that's what it'd bring to mind.

[tiffrobyn.livejournal.com]

I like River Alden. I actually have a friend named Rivers.

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

Are his parents Weezer fans?

[tiffrobyn.livejournal.com]

I don't think so.

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

I just ask cos of Rivers Cuomo

[tiffrobyn.livejournal.com]

Nah, they're actually about the same age.

[myfriendjenny.livejournal.com]

Your baby, you get to pick the name!

[museofmyself.livejournal.com]

Your children have beautiful names. I LOVE River, it's one of my faves.

River Alden is my choice. It just seems to flow better. Congrats and best wishes to you! :)

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

River is one of my favorites. and i agree with the other commenter: your baby, your decision.

Griffin is another one of my favorites!

Great names.

[sotypical42483.livejournal.com]

I despise River as a first name. If you really are hellbent on it, though, it's not your families decision, it's yours. I would advise against it though.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Those names are all wonderful :)

River has been on my list for years, currently #2 (after Lennon ... obviously not quite over my hippy era :)).
Have got some agro, but then that's inevitable with anything 'weird'. They'll soon get over it once they meet him.

I generally like unusual first names paired with classic middle names, but in this case do think Alden would fit better with your other childrens' names.

[sydpenguinbunny.livejournal.com]

River's pretty cool, but keep in mind that I've started to see it used as a girl's name...

[supergirl-04.livejournal.com]

I was a little concerned about that. One of my biggest pet peeves is boy names for girls. I know alot of female Devins, Taylors, Bailies and Jordans; but I really prefer girl names on girls and boy names on boys. (And I really don't want my boy growing up with a "girly" name - think of all the male Jesse's!)

[calixbat.livejournal.com]

I like River alot! When my cousins named their baby Cedar all my (rather conservative) family freaked out, they all love it now. So I wouldn't worry to much the name will (hopefully) grow on them once they see the baby! I like the name Charles better than Alden but I think I like River Charles more.

[dreemerr.livejournal.com]

aww,i really like river alden. its original but not far out there. to cute! and i think, you and your SO should name your son whatever you want. its YOUR baby,not theirs, theyll get over it. besides, they arent going to care what the babies name is when he gets here, cause theyll love him just the same:-)

[invisiblepet.livejournal.com]

Love River! Nothing wrong with it at all. Unless your last name is Jordan or Stream or something that just doesn't sound good with River.

That's why you don't tell family nuthin. Name your baby what you and your SO want, and the family can just get used to it.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

The only reason I don't like River is because it rhymes with liver. (I also don't like Olivia because it reminds me of liver. I seem to have liver)... Otherwise I probably would like the name.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

ugh, I meant - I seem to HATE liver, lol...

[super-bitch06.livejournal.com]

I don't think theirs anything wrong with River at all. I like River Charles best, I think.

[chippyjem.livejournal.com]

i really like it!
my friends middle name is forrest, i think its awesome : )

[opalfirefly.livejournal.com]

dont worry about your family
my MIL doesnt like the names Zoe and Sabrina....

I love River and if you both do then use it!!!

[tokossel.livejournal.com]

i like river, tho i tend to associate it with river phoenix. river alden sounds better than river charles, i think.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

if you guys love it, and think youll continue to love it, i say go for it.

river charles sounds wierd to me, because of the charles river in boston, my favorite city and also where i lived for a long time. i think it sounds nice with a classic name, but the europeans (or maybe its just the british, i dont know) instead of saying "seine river" (for example) say "the river seine", so it just sounds wierd to me.

when i have kids, i am hell bent on keeping the name a secret to everyone (except the father and i of course) until the baby is born, that way no one can criticize and make me second guess.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

after reading the other comments, i realized the first choice you listed is river alden, NOT river aiden! i really like river alden a lot!

[one-vice.livejournal.com]

I don't like River, but only because I associate it with two little boys that live on our street. Hunter and River Woods. Ugh. My husband and I call them Hunter and Forager.

[supergirl-04.livejournal.com]

omg. A real family with the real last name "Woods" actually named their kids "Hunter" and "River" ????

I figure I score three gold stars for not subjecting my children to any truly awful names.

I agree, though - people you know (or have known) can definitely ruin a name for you.

[biracialsocks.livejournal.com]

Its your baby not theirs! haha. River is a great name.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

I really like either Alden or Charles. Charles is family name for me too, so i'll probably end up using it as a middle name.
I have to say though, River Alden sounds pretty distinguished.
River is a bit crazy for me but if you love it, use it. It sounds great with Griffin & Chase.