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HelpFinal Opinions Please
We are pretty much done with the whole naming process and I am really loving our results. I just wanted a couple more opinions on the choices. We are waiting until birth to find out the gender so the choices are:
For a boy- Jax Anthony
For a girl- Brynn Estelle
The baby has an older brother named Xander.
For a boy- Jax Anthony
For a girl- Brynn Estelle
The baby has an older brother named Xander.
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Replies
Honestly I am not a fan of Jax. I can understand it as a nickname for Jackson or something, but on its own it looks too tryndee.
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Brynn Estelle is lovely. Having grown up somewhat close to New Orleans, I adore old-school French names like Estelle. I think Brynn is lovely, sweet, and not fussy.
Jax Anthony isn't my style. Jax seems more like a nick name than a given name to me. However, there are things to think about...
Do you want both of your sons to have X in their names? I know some parents like having that tie, if so, and if your older son is named simply Xander, then I think it works. I really like Anthony in the middle name spot, because well... sometimes kids don't like their given names and it is nice for him to have a solid classic to fall back on.
Jax Anthony isn't my style. Jax seems more like a nick name than a given name to me. However, there are things to think about...
Do you want both of your sons to have X in their names? I know some parents like having that tie, if so, and if your older son is named simply Xander, then I think it works. I really like Anthony in the middle name spot, because well... sometimes kids don't like their given names and it is nice for him to have a solid classic to fall back on.
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FWIW
I feel like "aging well" is a very silly excuse not to use a name. Saying a name "won't age well" is kind of like saying "I do not understand the passage of time" – in 20 years, people will be able to picture a 20 year old Jax, because the people named Jax will be 20. In 80 years, same thing, people will be able to picture an 80 year old Jax, because the people named Jax will be 80.
Like, 30 years from now, if Jax is out of school and applying for a job, their potential boss isn't going to look at the resume and say "Jax? But that is a baby's name, not a name that belongs on an adult! I cannot hire a baby!" That'd be dumb, right?
I think what people mean when they say "it won't age well" is "it will be dated one day". Like, 50 years from now, people will be like "I don't want to name my kid Jax, because that's an old man's name". And I don't think that's a very good reason not to use a name you like. Your milage may vary though.
If you and your partner like Jax better than Jaxon, use Jax. Don't let this board stop you; we'd name every other boy Henry, given the opportunity.
I feel like "aging well" is a very silly excuse not to use a name. Saying a name "won't age well" is kind of like saying "I do not understand the passage of time" – in 20 years, people will be able to picture a 20 year old Jax, because the people named Jax will be 20. In 80 years, same thing, people will be able to picture an 80 year old Jax, because the people named Jax will be 80.
Like, 30 years from now, if Jax is out of school and applying for a job, their potential boss isn't going to look at the resume and say "Jax? But that is a baby's name, not a name that belongs on an adult! I cannot hire a baby!" That'd be dumb, right?
I think what people mean when they say "it won't age well" is "it will be dated one day". Like, 50 years from now, people will be like "I don't want to name my kid Jax, because that's an old man's name". And I don't think that's a very good reason not to use a name you like. Your milage may vary though.
If you and your partner like Jax better than Jaxon, use Jax. Don't let this board stop you; we'd name every other boy Henry, given the opportunity.
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Don't let this board stop you.
Initially it wasn't really clear what the OP's motive for asking opinions here of her choices was. "Pretty much done" is somewhat ambiguous. But now that she has stated that she's changed her mind, it seems obvious that she wasn't completely sold on the name and came here seeking opinions to either cement or not cement the choice. If that was her motive, I don't see why she shouldn't let the board stop her.
I hate Jax. I think Jaxon, though not a favorite, is an improvement.
Initially it wasn't really clear what the OP's motive for asking opinions here of her choices was. "Pretty much done" is somewhat ambiguous. But now that she has stated that she's changed her mind, it seems obvious that she wasn't completely sold on the name and came here seeking opinions to either cement or not cement the choice. If that was her motive, I don't see why she shouldn't let the board stop her.
I hate Jax. I think Jaxon, though not a favorite, is an improvement.
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That whole line was supposed to be read together, like this:
If you and your partner like Jax better than Jaxon, use Jax. Don't let this board stop you
Personally, I prefer Jax to Jaxon. I'd rather see Jax, or Jackson, than Jaxon. (I mean, Max can be used as a full name, so why not, plus I feel like Jaxon would be slightly more of a hassle to live with). BUT what I'd like to see (know?) most of all, is that this person is happy with their baby's name, and not like "Well I liked Jax better, BUT the internet people said Jaxon is better :\ :/"
I mean, if she and her partner like Jaxon BETTER than Jax, then she SHOULD "let us" stop her. I just want her to know her opinion is the most important– that way we don't have to hear about people with name regret, right?
If you and your partner like Jax better than Jaxon, use Jax. Don't let this board stop you
Personally, I prefer Jax to Jaxon. I'd rather see Jax, or Jackson, than Jaxon. (I mean, Max can be used as a full name, so why not, plus I feel like Jaxon would be slightly more of a hassle to live with). BUT what I'd like to see (know?) most of all, is that this person is happy with their baby's name, and not like "Well I liked Jax better, BUT the internet people said Jaxon is better :\ :/"
I mean, if she and her partner like Jaxon BETTER than Jax, then she SHOULD "let us" stop her. I just want her to know her opinion is the most important– that way we don't have to hear about people with name regret, right?
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I think that if she were as sure about Jax as one should be when choosing a name for one's child, she most likely would not have posted here asking for opinions at all, and most certainly never would have changed her mind. I think that at this point, in order to ensure that both she and her partner have chosen a name with the view that their opinion is the most important, both Jax and Jaxon should be abandoned, to be honest. That way, neither "Well I liked Jax better, BUT the internet people said Jaxon is better" or "I was so unsure about Jax that I asked the internet people about it BUT they said it was OKAY" is possible.
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^This.
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It's true that names that sound young now because they're new, or just fashionable sounding, will age with their bearers. But some names just feel juvenile or silly to some people and don't sound very serious and "professional" on adults, regardless of how "old" they are fashion-wise.
An example ... even though I think of Daisy as a "senior citizen" name, I still think Daisy sounds childish and feel sort of sorry for any Daisy over 30. Not because the name makes her sound literally juvenile, but just because the name sounds so trivial and cutesy. Another one is Bonnie, the name of the agent who sold us our house. She's basically a sleek gray fox, a very professional older person, and I feel like her name is so inadequate for her. I think when some people say Jax won't age well, they mean they believe they'll still feel that Jax is too playful and lacking in presence, or something like that, for a grown man. Because of how it looks and sounds, how it evokes games, or whatever. Even if they know that because of fashion Jax is more likely to be the name of a grown man and not a child.
An example ... even though I think of Daisy as a "senior citizen" name, I still think Daisy sounds childish and feel sort of sorry for any Daisy over 30. Not because the name makes her sound literally juvenile, but just because the name sounds so trivial and cutesy. Another one is Bonnie, the name of the agent who sold us our house. She's basically a sleek gray fox, a very professional older person, and I feel like her name is so inadequate for her. I think when some people say Jax won't age well, they mean they believe they'll still feel that Jax is too playful and lacking in presence, or something like that, for a grown man. Because of how it looks and sounds, how it evokes games, or whatever. Even if they know that because of fashion Jax is more likely to be the name of a grown man and not a child.
This message was edited 1/8/2015, 9:51 PM
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No. I've only known child Zoes but Zoe's one of those classicky Greek names like Penelope, Phoebe, Daphne, and Irene. I think Chloe is more youthful than Zoe - Chloe's not childish to me but makes me think of youth since I know it means green shoot. Zoe's more ageless.
Zooey and Zowie, though ... they look a little childish to me. Zoey and Zoie do only a little bit. Because phonetic spellings sometimes make me think of a child's errors.
I think the reason Daisy and Bonnie seem childish to me is because of the particular flower and what it symbolizes for me, and the word bonny as in bonny lass.
Zooey and Zowie, though ... they look a little childish to me. Zoey and Zoie do only a little bit. Because phonetic spellings sometimes make me think of a child's errors.
I think the reason Daisy and Bonnie seem childish to me is because of the particular flower and what it symbolizes for me, and the word bonny as in bonny lass.
This message was edited 1/9/2015, 9:15 AM
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You know, I have ONLY met adult Bonnies, so that name doesn't seem particularly childish and cutesy to me . Neither does Zoe. :/
This message was edited 1/9/2015, 8:05 AM
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I've never met a child Bonnie either. Of course.
The age of bearers has nothing to do with my impression of the name's potential to sound like someone of adult status. Daisy and Bonnie sound to me like names given with an ideal of cute innocent youth in mind, and they don't sound quite like they were meant to be names for people who are powerful, shrewd, wise, sexy, accomplished, authoritative, able to guide and nurture others, etc.
It's a personal reaction and ymmv of course - I don't think they are "bad names." I just feel like they're slightly inadequate as full names. I don't really have that reaction to Jax very much but I imagine some people do.
The age of bearers has nothing to do with my impression of the name's potential to sound like someone of adult status. Daisy and Bonnie sound to me like names given with an ideal of cute innocent youth in mind, and they don't sound quite like they were meant to be names for people who are powerful, shrewd, wise, sexy, accomplished, authoritative, able to guide and nurture others, etc.
It's a personal reaction and ymmv of course - I don't think they are "bad names." I just feel like they're slightly inadequate as full names. I don't really have that reaction to Jax very much but I imagine some people do.
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Sort of! I think they can pass the test just by being familiar as names of adults.
But it doesn't change my impression that they are sort of childish names!
I think Prime Minister Bonnie is credible. But while it is suitable because it's familiar, I don't feel like it's well-suited. It's ever so slightly ironic to me.
Kind of like the accountant named Rebel, only for different reasons ... Bonnie seems so much about pleasantness, to the point of neglecting character; Rebel seems to be about independence, to the point of suggesting questionable dependability.
I don't hate these names, and I don't disrespect people who have them, and I don't attribute any qualities to the bearers. They're just names. I felt like real estate agent Bonnie's name was vaguely ironic, but we still bought the house. I just wouldn't want to be named these names, and I wouldn't use them.
Police Chief Daisy does fail the test completely IMO... seems so ironic that I can't help noticing it. Daisy is a nice name for a pet.
But it doesn't change my impression that they are sort of childish names!
I think Prime Minister Bonnie is credible. But while it is suitable because it's familiar, I don't feel like it's well-suited. It's ever so slightly ironic to me.
Kind of like the accountant named Rebel, only for different reasons ... Bonnie seems so much about pleasantness, to the point of neglecting character; Rebel seems to be about independence, to the point of suggesting questionable dependability.
I don't hate these names, and I don't disrespect people who have them, and I don't attribute any qualities to the bearers. They're just names. I felt like real estate agent Bonnie's name was vaguely ironic, but we still bought the house. I just wouldn't want to be named these names, and I wouldn't use them.
Police Chief Daisy does fail the test completely IMO... seems so ironic that I can't help noticing it. Daisy is a nice name for a pet.
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I hate both first names, sorry. I love your middle name choices though.
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I wasn't sure who to reply to, but I would just like to thank everyone. I have changed the boy name to Jaxon Anthony. I am set on Brynn Estelle for a girl. It's nice to see how the name is used in other places. I live in Arkansas and I have only met little girls with this name but I did know that it was a unisex name and even exclusively a boy name in some places. I don't know what it is about the name that I like so much but I do. Everyone of you were very helpful. Thanks again. :)
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"Once, long ago and far away from here..."
"Once, long ago and far away from here, there was a boy named Jax and he fell in love with the moon." - The Wise Man's Fear.
To be honest, I prefer Iax but depending on where you live that might give you some pronunciation issues.
It does give you a X in both children's names and though there's nothing really wrong with that if you ever have a third please don't give him/her a name with an X just to continue the trend...
Brynn is entirely a male name to me so I'd struggle with seeing it on a girl... but so many boy's names - even names like Wyatt and John! - are apparently turning up on girls that I don't have the energy to protest anymore. Brynn is a lovely name. If you must use a boy's name on a girl, at least you have chosen a nice one.
Estelle is a real favourite of mine and, incidentally, so is Xander.
"Once, long ago and far away from here, there was a boy named Jax and he fell in love with the moon." - The Wise Man's Fear.
To be honest, I prefer Iax but depending on where you live that might give you some pronunciation issues.
It does give you a X in both children's names and though there's nothing really wrong with that if you ever have a third please don't give him/her a name with an X just to continue the trend...
Brynn is entirely a male name to me so I'd struggle with seeing it on a girl... but so many boy's names - even names like Wyatt and John! - are apparently turning up on girls that I don't have the energy to protest anymore. Brynn is a lovely name. If you must use a boy's name on a girl, at least you have chosen a nice one.
Estelle is a real favourite of mine and, incidentally, so is Xander.
This message was edited 1/8/2015, 4:56 PM
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I'm not a huge fan of Jax, but it's okay. It may not age well. I just can't visualize a Jax over the age of 20. I would use it as a nickname for Jack or Jackson, but your child's name is your choice. The combo sounds really nice and handsome! Anthony goes really well with Jax.
Brynn is on my list, but I tend to use it more as a middle name. It's really cute and still a solid name. Brynn Estelle flows well.
Brynn is on my list, but I tend to use it more as a middle name. It's really cute and still a solid name. Brynn Estelle flows well.
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Honestly. Jax is a terrible name. It's a huge fad at the moment and i've seen dozens of little boys being named Jax. In my opinion there is no way that Jax suits a person of all ages, it might be cute as a baby and a teen but as an adult I can't take Jax seriously.
However why not Jackson "Jacks/Jax". My cousin is named Jackson and generally goes by Jacks most of the time (my mother is Jacqueline "Jackie", so not to get confused). At least Jackson sound like a mature name and can suit a guy for his whole life.
Jackson Anthony sounds really handsome and professional.
Brynn Estelle - I really dislike Brynn on a girl, but the combo works. I know two male Brynn's so its 100% male to me.
However why not Jackson "Jacks/Jax". My cousin is named Jackson and generally goes by Jacks most of the time (my mother is Jacqueline "Jackie", so not to get confused). At least Jackson sound like a mature name and can suit a guy for his whole life.
Jackson Anthony sounds really handsome and professional.
Brynn Estelle - I really dislike Brynn on a girl, but the combo works. I know two male Brynn's so its 100% male to me.
This message was edited 1/8/2015, 1:49 PM
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I know two male Brynn's so its 100% male to me.
This is one of the reasons I love coming to this board. It's great to see the different opinions/observations of how names are used in different parts of the world, or even different parts of the same country. I don't know if I'm remembering right, cause I've been gone for a while, but you're Australian right? Here in Illinois, I don't think I've ever met a male Brynn haha It's very much a girl's name here. So I don't know where Raelynn is from, but regional usage should be taken into account. Maybe it'll make a difference, maybe it won't, but still good to know lol
This is one of the reasons I love coming to this board. It's great to see the different opinions/observations of how names are used in different parts of the world, or even different parts of the same country. I don't know if I'm remembering right, cause I've been gone for a while, but you're Australian right? Here in Illinois, I don't think I've ever met a male Brynn haha It's very much a girl's name here. So I don't know where Raelynn is from, but regional usage should be taken into account. Maybe it'll make a difference, maybe it won't, but still good to know lol
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Yeah, I know one female Brynn, one male Bryn, one male Brynn and a female Brynlee (yuck)
Yeah i'm Australian. I think Australians tend to use more unisex names as masculine names in general. The only name that is pretty much exclusively for girls is Taylor but spelt as Tayla/Taylah or some other horrible spelling. Taylor is generally male whilst Tayla is female. Even Madison is not exclusively female, I know a male Madison "Mads". Even Harper is still in the top 100 for boys and girls in Australia.
I've had female and male Mackenzie's in the same class, same with Emerson, which I think is almost exclusively female in America.
Yeah i'm Australian. I think Australians tend to use more unisex names as masculine names in general. The only name that is pretty much exclusively for girls is Taylor but spelt as Tayla/Taylah or some other horrible spelling. Taylor is generally male whilst Tayla is female. Even Madison is not exclusively female, I know a male Madison "Mads". Even Harper is still in the top 100 for boys and girls in Australia.
I've had female and male Mackenzie's in the same class, same with Emerson, which I think is almost exclusively female in America.
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I've known both male Emersons and Harpers! In America! ;) Just thought you'd like to know it's not super, super exclusive.
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Yes I know that. However, here it is much more common you would not be able to assume one gender over the other necessarily.
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Neither are horrible or anything, they're just nms but that's not important here, and I think both go with Xander.
Personally, I think Jax is too nickname-y and something like Jaxon would be better. My cousin had her second baby back in October and named him Jaxson (I forget the middle name atm), though he pretty much only goes by Jax. I also think Jaxson/Jaxon Anthony sounds a lot better than just Jax Anthony.
Brynn Estelle sounds kinda off to me as well, but that may just be because of the single-syllable thing and because I personally love multiple mns haha Though Estelle Brynn sounds much better, and Estelle deserves to be a fn, it's so pretty :)
But yeah, I think Jax and Xander or Brynn and Xander sound good.
Personally, I think Jax is too nickname-y and something like Jaxon would be better. My cousin had her second baby back in October and named him Jaxson (I forget the middle name atm), though he pretty much only goes by Jax. I also think Jaxson/Jaxon Anthony sounds a lot better than just Jax Anthony.
Brynn Estelle sounds kinda off to me as well, but that may just be because of the single-syllable thing and because I personally love multiple mns haha Though Estelle Brynn sounds much better, and Estelle deserves to be a fn, it's so pretty :)
But yeah, I think Jax and Xander or Brynn and Xander sound good.
This message was edited 1/8/2015, 1:30 PM
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Jax is really silly, in my opinion. Jack Anthony is much nicer. Or Jackson Anthony.
Brynn Estelle is just all right, though I think Estelle is beautiful.
Brynn Estelle is just all right, though I think Estelle is beautiful.
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Since I'm not American, I can't really comment. Jax looks like a product name; I'd expect 'Jax are on special until Tuesday' or 'Get your mint-flavoured Jax now and save!' Anthony is good; do you pronounce it with a -th- sound or a -t- sound? Probably not important, since it's a mn.
Brynn sounds and almost looks like the male name Bryn. I don't usually like unisex names much, and this one is so strongly linked to huge rugby players and the amazing bass-baritone Bryn Terfel that it seems unfair to stick an extra -n on to it and expect it to become female. Estelle is very dated where I live, so I would prefer Stella, but as a mn it hardly matters.
If you're happy, go right ahead. In your position, I'd strongly consider reversing the order: Anthony (or, preferably, Antony) Jax or Estelle Brynn. And the flow is better that way, to my ears anyway.
Brynn sounds and almost looks like the male name Bryn. I don't usually like unisex names much, and this one is so strongly linked to huge rugby players and the amazing bass-baritone Bryn Terfel that it seems unfair to stick an extra -n on to it and expect it to become female. Estelle is very dated where I live, so I would prefer Stella, but as a mn it hardly matters.
If you're happy, go right ahead. In your position, I'd strongly consider reversing the order: Anthony (or, preferably, Antony) Jax or Estelle Brynn. And the flow is better that way, to my ears anyway.
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