Boy name poll!

[mama_Agnieszka]

Hi ladies!
We're STILL working on the name... tell me what you think of our most recently ideas!

Last name sounds like ol-ska-eh-knee

Thanks!!!

[jtrt]

I like them ALL! Very handsome and sophisticated.

Amy

[BMG580]

I had to vote for Julian, that is also our boy name. I just love it!

[carmen358]

Julian is a great name!

[Gray's Mommy]

I am really liking Nathaniel Oliver & Julien Oliver...

[mama_Agnieszka]

Originally Posted by Gray's Mommy

I am really liking Nathaniel Oliver & Julien Oliver...

Hmm... do you like the spelling "Julien" better than "Julian"?

What do you think of "Julian Nathaniel"??

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by mama_Agnieszka

Hmm... do you like the spelling "Julien" better than "Julian"?

What do you think of "Julian Nathaniel"??

No, I just can't spell when I am tired

[lovebug]

DDCC- due date club crash

but i like Nathaniel Oliver...

[PoetryLover]

I love Julian!

[mama_Agnieszka]

I'm really falling for Julian!!! It just seems to fit this little one... of course, I've yet to meet him...

As for a middle name... I don't know at the moment...

I like "Rilke" because he's my favourite poet. Actually, Julian is the first name of another favourite (Polish) poet... Could be a poetic name! Julian Rilke.

Or Julian Nathaniel... but then Nathaniel doesn't has as much of a meaning, just that we like it...

Well, I guess we'll keep trying to find the right one!

Thanks for your help, ladies. I've really appreciated your input. I'm not talking to anyone (other than dh!) about the name so it's nice to be able to bounce ideas off of you here!

[rlmueller]

Clive Alexander Rilke

Julien is more boyish I think and with the middle name of Rilke, most Americans won't know boy or girl just by looking at the name.

Nathaniel Oliver

I think though I'd take any first name/middle name combo and add Rilke to it. So unique and seems to go with all of your picks and last name too. G

Great choices if I must get over Orrin

Best of luck to you.

[mama_Agnieszka]

Originally Posted by rlmueller

Clive Alexander Rilke

You like that one? I've been torn because Clive and Alexander are both grand fathers' names - Clive on my dh's side and Alexander on mine... So, which one do we make first???

Originally Posted by rlmueller

Julien is more boyish I think and with the middle name of Rilke, most Americans won't know boy or girl just by looking at the name.

Julien with an "e" is more boyish? Hmmm... interesting point. And yes, I can see how with Rilke as middle name it may not be so clear. Hmmm... something to think about...

Originally Posted by rlmueller

Nathaniel Oliver

I think though I'd take any first name/middle name combo and add Rilke to it. So unique and seems to go with all of your picks and last name too. G

Huh. Nathaniel Oliver Rilke and then last name... that's a really long name, especially since his last name is hyphenated!

So, I'm either going to have to go with Julian and Rilke as middle and then explain that he's a he over and over again... or pick a boyish sounding first name to go with Rilke... or drop Rilke all together...


But I'm leaning toward keeping Julian and finding a different middle name. It's a good Polish name (though pronounced "Yulian" so it's different).

Any suggestions for a different middle name to go with Julian??

A.

[BMG580]

There is also the medieval version of Julian, Jolyon, pronounced very similarly, and it definitely has a very masculine look to it. I think it is a cool name and way underused.

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by mama_Agnieszka

So, I'm either going to have to go with Julian and Rilke as middle and then explain that he's a he over and over again... or pick a boyish sounding first name to go with Rilke... or drop Rilke all together....

I strongly disagree. People know Julian is a boys' name. I would find it highly unusual for anyone learning of a baby Julian to think "girl." Whether it's Julian or Julien.

As for Rilke, I am in the camp of picking middle names with meaning, not because they "sound nice." So Rilke is an excellent choice.

(In fact, when I first read your poll, I thought you were considering Oliver Rilke because they were both your favorite poets. I thought, a boy named for Mary Oliver and R.M. Rilke - how cool is that?)

And if that's what you really did mean, then Oliver Rilke is the best name I've seen on these boards in years.

But if you like Julian better as a first name, Julian Rilke gets my vote.

[mama_Agnieszka]

Originally Posted by zinemama

I strongly disagree. People know Julian is a boys' name. I would find it highly unusual for anyone learning of a baby Julian to think "girl." Whether it's Julian or Julien.

You have no idea how cool it is to hear a strong opinion!!! And that Julian seems a boy's name to you... It definitely is in Polish (my heritage).

Originally Posted by zinemama

As for Rilke, I am in the camp of picking middle names with meaning, not because they "sound nice." So Rilke is an excellent choice.

A woman after my own heart! It will take some arguing when we introduce him to the grandparents... but this is my third baby and I'm hardly worried about that, actually...

Originally Posted by zinemama

(In fact, when I first read your poll, I thought you were considering Oliver Rilke because they were both your favorite poets. I thought, a boy named for Mary Oliver and R.M. Rilke - how cool is that?)

Yes! That is exactly what I had in mind!!... And then I met two baby Olivers and suddenly it looks like it's going to be the next "in" name... Do you get that sense at all?? Because, I'd hate to have his name be one of a dozen in his preschool or whatever... And Julian is a Polish poet that I love, too... though definitely not well known here (Canada) or the USA... (But if you're interested, look him up: Julian Tuwim).

Originally Posted by zinemama

And if that's what you really did mean, then Oliver Rilke is the best name I've seen on these boards in years.

Really? And do you like Julian Rilke as well?? Or not so much??

Originally Posted by zinemama

But if you like Julian better as a first name, Julian Rilke gets my vote.

Well, thanks for that. I do like Oliver a lot, too, but as I said, I'm more concerned that the name is the new trend and then the meaning and significance of why we're choosing it will get lost...

A

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by mama_Agnieszka

I do like Oliver a lot, too, but as I said, I'm more concerned that the name is the new trend and then the meaning and significance of why we're choosing it will get lost...

I have heard that Oliver is getting trendy, and I'm sure in some parts it is (not here).

But here's my take: in naming your kid Oliver, you aren't jumping on the trendwagon. You are naming your kid after Mary Oliver! That is so kick butt! Your son is going to be telling his college girlfriend one day, "Yeah, mom named me after her two favorite poets," And that girl is going to be thinking "Coolest potential MIL ever!"

It is a great story and great stories don't get lost. (At least, not until a few generations down the road, but that's not your worry.)

Also, I will tell you that we did not choose the first name we loved because we worried there would be ten in the kid's preschool. He's 9 now, and there haven't been any in his class at any point.

(Also - really, I'm going to stop now - have you read Nicholson Baker's new novel, The Anthologist? Whole lot of Mary Oliver love in there.

[rlmueller]

I'm down with Julien/an Rilke

I love it. So unique. But since you asked before--I like Clive Alexander in that order because of the amount of syllables and their place (1-3).

I wanted Karl Alexander Mueller for my son, but hubby preferred Alexander Karl Mueller which is the name. Works for me, I got the names I wanted.

All the best and we love you here no matter what you and hubby come up with.

[Lauren31]

DDC crashing

I think Julian is such a cute name. NO WAY does it sound like a girls name. If anything, I think Julien is more girly. I like all your names. Oliver is so incredibly cute to me, and not trendy like the name Liam is trendy