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HelpHelp Me Wrap My Head Around This Name
My boyfriend, Caspar, has mentioned several times that he wants to name his first born son Balthazar. Being a name nerd, I think it's really cool that he wants to use an unusual name, but I can't see myself actually using it. He intends to call him "Zar." What do you all think? Is it doable, especially with the easy nn? What would you name a sibling to Balthazar? (Aside from Melchior, of course).
Thanks!
Thanks!
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A big part of me actually does like Balthazar. Having said that, I do believe it would be a challenge to live with such a name. Re: Zar, it's different and I can't say that I love it. At the same time, I can't think of another nn for Balthazar that works as well (Bal? Balt?). Overall, I think it's doable.
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Sorry, but I don't think this name is useable. And Zar is another way to spell Czar, it's just weird.
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Well, I'm on team Balthazar. It really is just badass. In fact, I don't even really see it as an "out there" type of name - but then, perhaps I have warped standards. I like most names that sound like they could belong to wizards.
Zar is far preferable as a nickname to Bal, think of it that way.
I'd name a sibling something like....
Lazarus
Xerxes
Leopold
Ferdinand
Algernon
Achilles
Charlemagne
Mordecai
Beauregard
Calpurnia
Desdemona
Morrigan
Boadicea
Hyacinth
Because when would be a better time to just go name-crazy? None time. The time is now.
I can see your point though, that Balthazar is a hard act to follow. Maybe something strongly relating to your name, or with a lot of personal significance to you, since Caspar got his shot.
Zar is far preferable as a nickname to Bal, think of it that way.
I'd name a sibling something like....
Lazarus
Xerxes
Leopold
Ferdinand
Algernon
Achilles
Charlemagne
Mordecai
Beauregard
Calpurnia
Desdemona
Morrigan
Boadicea
Hyacinth
Because when would be a better time to just go name-crazy? None time. The time is now.
I can see your point though, that Balthazar is a hard act to follow. Maybe something strongly relating to your name, or with a lot of personal significance to you, since Caspar got his shot.
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Balthazar was my top boy name for a long, long time. I love it. Also I never thought of using Zar as a nickname, I quite like it. There's a couple names on my personal name list that might fit that kind of style, if you want to check it out. Link is below :)
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I don't like the "easy" nn. I don't think it's easy. Bal (rhyme pal) would be an easy nickname, or Balt if you pronounce it BALL-.
I think the pronunciation of the whole thing is a little guessy in English. I learned "BALL-tuh-zahr" when I read R&J, but I guess some folks say "BAL (like pal)-thuh-zahr" ... that's two places it can be missaid, which means more wrong ways to say it than right. That makes it less doable, but not un-doable.
I would put it with names like Atticus, Leonardo, Constantine, Gideon, Bartholomew, Ignatius, Jericho, Thaddeus, Lazarus, Ramses. However, it goes towards one end of that spectrum ... not all the way into Marmaduke, Severus, Azrael territory, but closer to being in that league than in the league of Theodore and Orion.
I think the pronunciation of the whole thing is a little guessy in English. I learned "BALL-tuh-zahr" when I read R&J, but I guess some folks say "BAL (like pal)-thuh-zahr" ... that's two places it can be missaid, which means more wrong ways to say it than right. That makes it less doable, but not un-doable.
I would put it with names like Atticus, Leonardo, Constantine, Gideon, Bartholomew, Ignatius, Jericho, Thaddeus, Lazarus, Ramses. However, it goes towards one end of that spectrum ... not all the way into Marmaduke, Severus, Azrael territory, but closer to being in that league than in the league of Theodore and Orion.
This message was edited 4/13/2015, 1:48 PM
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Well, it's been used in the past... so I guess it could fly. It's not really my style, but then again I never saw the appeal of the popular Maximillian... wh ich is just as bold.
If it helps, I know a kid named Zadoc... another biblical name. I would have put it in the same category as Balthazar, and yet it's in use. After a couple weeks of hearing his parents say "come here, Zadoc" or "say hello, Zadoc"... you get used to it, realize it's a name in use and move on.
I think Balthazar is quite bold, but I am sure that Caspar is just as bold to some people in the world too.
While I wouldn't recommend using Balthazar, I do think it is potentially usable. Zar really help in this case.
If it helps, I know a kid named Zadoc... another biblical name. I would have put it in the same category as Balthazar, and yet it's in use. After a couple weeks of hearing his parents say "come here, Zadoc" or "say hello, Zadoc"... you get used to it, realize it's a name in use and move on.
I think Balthazar is quite bold, but I am sure that Caspar is just as bold to some people in the world too.
While I wouldn't recommend using Balthazar, I do think it is potentially usable. Zar really help in this case.
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I love Balthazar and I think it's a great name. I think it's better off as a middle name though.
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I happen to like Balthazar I do think it completely usable. "Zar" does make an easy nickname; "Taz" or "Baz" could work too, I think. A sibling for Balthazar? Sebastian was first to come to mind. Hmm...
Alastair
Cassander
Desmond
Erasmus
Evander
Gregor
Gulliver
Gunnar
Isidore
Jerome
Leander
Lucian
Maximilian
Neville
Roland
Stellan
Sylvester
Willem
Xavier
ETA: Forgot the girls...
Amarantha
Annora
Antonia
Athena
Cassandra
Constance
Cordelia
Diantha
Dorothea
Eliza
Esmeralda
Francesca
Genevieve
Guinevere
Helena
Isolde
Ivy
Juliet
Kerensa
Lucinda
Mathilde
Natalia
Ophelia
Penelope
Philippa
Rosamund
Sabrina
Theodora
Vivienne
Wilhelmina
Winifred
Alastair
Cassander
Desmond
Erasmus
Evander
Gregor
Gulliver
Gunnar
Isidore
Jerome
Leander
Lucian
Maximilian
Neville
Roland
Stellan
Sylvester
Willem
Xavier
ETA: Forgot the girls...
Amarantha
Annora
Antonia
Athena
Cassandra
Constance
Cordelia
Diantha
Dorothea
Eliza
Esmeralda
Francesca
Genevieve
Guinevere
Helena
Isolde
Ivy
Juliet
Kerensa
Lucinda
Mathilde
Natalia
Ophelia
Penelope
Philippa
Rosamund
Sabrina
Theodora
Vivienne
Wilhelmina
Winifred
This message was edited 4/13/2015, 12:24 PM
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Baz was my first thought on a nickname too. I like it miles better than Zar.
OP, I really like the name, but it's not one I would personally use in the first spot. It would be cool to see someone else use it though
You didn't ask about pronunciations, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to hear what people say. I pronounce it ball-tuh-zar. I'm from the southeast United States.
OP, I really like the name, but it's not one I would personally use in the first spot. It would be cool to see someone else use it though
You didn't ask about pronunciations, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to hear what people say. I pronounce it ball-tuh-zar. I'm from the southeast United States.
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