View Message

Gustav
Background: If I have another son, I'd like to call him Gus. I need a formal name for Gus to derive from. Augustus is a favorite, but my husband isn't sold on it. I love Angus, but my husband, and it seems, everyone else on the planet hates it. Just Gus is not an option. My other sons are Willoughby (Will) and Finley (Finn). My great great great grandfather (mom's dad's dad's dad) was named Gustav.Questions:1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav?
2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)
3. Do you at all like it?
4. Can you think of any alternatives?Thank you!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav?
goos-tahv2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)
No.3. Do you at all like it?
No, nor do I like Gus, although I agree that Gus isn't enough to stand on its own. I prefer Gustavus to Gustav and Augustus over them all.4. Can you think of any alternatives?
Honestly, I can't think of any alternatives that haven't already been mentioned (the whole Augustus name branch). According to BtN Gus is a nn for Constantine names as well so that might be a possiblility although if I met a Gus who told me it was short for Constantine it'd certainly make me think.On a side note, my friends' son is Gus (full name: August Matthew).
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
~Mark Twain
vote up1
I think Gustav is okay for an American. However, I must admite Gustav Van Hook sounds very, very ethnic. Other ideas for the nn Gus...
Augustin
Fergus (though Finley and Fergus might be too much)Arcadia
Image hosting by Photobucket
It's just an object
It doesn't mean what you think
SigByImage hosting by PhotobucketEatFruityOatyBars

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 4:45 PM

vote up1
1. I'd pronounce it GOOS-tahv
2. I think it sounds perfect with your LN
3. It's so-so
4. Only alternative I can think of is August, but DH probably doesn't care for that either
vote up1
I wonder if Gus would work as a NN for Magnus?
vote up1
Come to AustraliaHere everyone uses Angus, its really popular! I adore Angus and i was going to call my first son Angus but its too popular!1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? Probably Gustav but then i would remember its Goos-tav2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook) Definately not!3. Do you at all like it? Love it, but prefer Augustus or Angus
4. Can you think of any alternatives?
What about Augustine ? I love it, and Gus is such a wonderfull nickname
~~~~~~~~~~ Bex ~~~~~~~~~~~
Lover of the book Sirius & Remus
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
vote up1
1. Pass - as I pronounce the Swedish way
2. I don't understand this question. Since Americna is a classic immigrant land, how can ANY name be to "ethnic"? The problem is if it is hard for Americans to pronounce or spell, otherwise I don't see the problem? Gustav Van Hook sounds fine to me.
3. Well, I am biased. This is a royal name in Sweden (our present king is Carl XVI Gustaf). It is also very popular.
4. Augustus, Augustin, AugustWhat about the French form Gustave? (Stress on the second syllable) Or Atticus? Maybe you find Gus too far from Atticus. But I don't think you have to be so rigid about nn; if you like the nn it is good enough. "But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
vote up1
I ADORE the name Gus, but the only 'formal' name I really love for it is August. Augustus and Angus are great, too, though. 1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? - GOOS-tahv
2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook) - No, not too "ethic" but it does run into your ln a little bit. I do like that it honors a family memeber, though.
3. Do you at all like it? - I do a little, but the "goose" sound throws me off. :-/
4. Can you think of any alternatives? - August is my best suggestion. :) BTW, I love your sons' names, and I think "Gus" and any of its variants would complement their names wonderfully. ETA: I forgot about Augustin / Augusten, which I also love, and Augustine. :b Augustin/en can be pronounced aw-GUS-ten or AW-gus-ten, I believe.
~Heather~

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 11:55 AM

vote up1
1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? - GOOSE-tav2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)- I don't think it seems too ethnic on its own, but with your surname it might. Do you have any Germanic connections? If so, it might be alright. 3. Do you at all like it? - I like Gustav, but I don't really like Gus. I would probably use Tavo-another name that I really like!4. Can you think of any alternatives? - I think Augustus is amazing! It would go really well with your other children's names too. If only your husband would reconsider!
vote up1
Mom great grandmother and my great great grandfather were born in Germany.
vote up1

1. GOO-stahf
2. Yes, I think it does sound too ethnic for an American child but if you plan on calling him Gus maybe you can get away with it.
3. Not really, it sounds too harsh and dramatic to me. The other two names Willoughby and Finley sound so whimsical, Gustav just doesn't fit.
4. Augustyn or Gussie
vote up1
You're not alone - I love Angus! The host of my favourite panel show (Have I Got News For You) is called Angus Deayton, and I just love him. That's probably why I like the name so much.1. I would say Guh-STAYVE.
2. I can't answer for America, but it would sound a little strange for a child over here (England).
3. It's okay, actually. I didn't like it at first, but it's growing on me.
4. How about August, rather than Augustus? As a rule, I prefer August for a girl, but your husband may prefer it.
[EDIT] Okay, I saw your reply to Siri, so please disregard #4. I'm afraid I don't have any other suggestions.
- MariaFormerly known as Miss Natla

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 11:26 AM

vote up1
That's my nephews name.1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav?
= GU-stav.2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)
= Pass here since I can't know that one.3. Do you at all like it?
= I love it, and that even before I had a nephew being named that.4. Can you think of any alternatives?
= No I can not.
Charlie BlueJareth, the Goblin King!
Image hosting by Photobucket
"Labyrinth"
vote up1
I'm always wary of basing a formal name around a favourite nickname. There's a good chance of the child refusing the nn, in which case you're left with a formal name that wasn't chosen on its own merits.1 - GOOS-tahv (but a short "oo" like in "foot")2 - It sounds quite appropriate with your surname to me, although I know Gustav isn't Dutch as such. I think Gustaf would suit better still.3 - At first, no. But with some thought, Gustaf is rather cool. (I prefer the F, which softens it.)4 - Fergus and Lugus could both be cool names. I love Lugus but I fear people would confuse it with Lucas.
_____________________________________________________________________Elinor

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 6:43 AM

vote up1
I think I like Gustaf better, but since it's so close to Gustav and since Gustav is in my family, I was considering it. I've never heard of Lugus. I can't say I like it (reminds me of lugie / loogie, which in America, at least, is a disgusting spit wad). See response to Soul and Eilis regarding Fergus (too lazy to type it out again).
vote up1
Oh, and regarding the nickname thing...I somewhat agree, though he would be called Gus from birth and I'd most definitely make sure I would be more than comfortable calling him by his formal name, should he choose it.
vote up1
1. The Swedish way: GOO-stahf
2. Not really - I've seen stranger names - but I personally would automatically assume that he's got a Swedish backround.
3. Yeah, a bit. I like it because I see it as a historical name.
4. For the nn Gus? Argus, Fergus, Marcus - OK, that's a stretch - Gustave.
vote up1
I do like Argus (but not as much as Angus or Augustus) and could see it growing on me more and more. Husband isn't completely against Argus, but he doesn't love it. I don't like Marcus, and Fergus is pretty much unusable because dh most likely wouldn't go for it and because of BtN's Fergus (a lovely man who I hold high regard for, but it would be too strange).
vote up1

1. I'd say GUS-tav
2. That is pretty ethnic, but I've heard it before on people from several different generations so it doesn't come across to me as being ridiculously ethnic or anything. It's definitely useable, IMO.
3. I like it. I go back and forth a bit with how I pronounce it, but all in all I think it's a good name.
4. Another 'gus' name that comes to mind is Fergus. I have a new little relative named Angus Leo and I think it's an awesome name. So... someone likes Angus!
Image hosting by Photobucket
vote up1
Angus Leo is great! Congratulations!I don't think I could do Fergus. Mostly because I'm almost positive my husband wouldn't go for it. Also, because of BtN's Fergus (who I adore, but it would just be too strange).
vote up1
Augustus Van Hook would be my choice by far. I like Augustus ten times more than I like Gustav and a million times more than I like Angus.Gustav - I imediately prn. it GOO-stahf: the way BtN has it.
Angus - let's see, how can I get you to see how horrible this name is... Angus is a type of cow. A popular type of cow. If you were to walk into a McDonald's, Burger King, or Hardee's he would be on the menu. My grandfather use to have a farm where he raised mainly Black Angus cattle. I've helped birth them, I've helped feed them, I've had a ton of disgusting experiences around them. Angus is a cow.I'm really not trying to be mean about Angus, it's just that it is a cow. It's not like a place name where it's like, "hey, I've been to Montana, it's beautiful there" or "Virginia, it's a state, but it was a name first!". This is like "you are a cow" or "come on guys, lets go to McDonald's and eat Angus, ha ha".Besides, Augustus is a great name and Augustus Van Hook sounds like it's meant to be."We can even learn from our enemies." -OvidMitakuye Oyasin
vote up1
Angus was a personal name before it was the name of beefIt is the beef which was named after a man, not the other way around.
Angus was the "Irish god of love and youth" and also the name of kings.Do you really order "Angus" at McDonalds in USA? I like the Celtic names Angus and Fergus, but I guess I don't understand your kind of humour."But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
vote up1
There are very few people (excluding namenerds) that would know that Angus started out as a name. Most (at least in the US) will think of the cow.The new thing at McDonalds, Burger King and Hardee's is "Real Black Angus Beef"I didn't mean to insult Celtic names, but in the US Angus is beef and that's just something to keep in mind when naming a child that lives here. Fergus (I didn't even touch on that name) is nmsaa, but not a bad name."We can even learn from our enemies." -OvidMitakuye Oyasin
vote up1
lol didn't work.Though those are the arguments my husband gives. I just love it. It sounds kind of quirky and fresh to me (a la Oscar, Ike, Milo, Leo, etc). I do love Augustus, but my husband says he thinks it would be too much to live up to.
vote up1
lol - to each their own
"We can even learn from our enemies." -OvidMitakuye Oyasin

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 7:02 AM

vote up1
I know someone named Gustav.He's married to the sister of my sister-in-law. I pronunce it Gus-tav... and yes, Gustav Van Hook is pretty ethnic.I love it, though. If you don't like Augustus, why not just plain August? Siri
vote up1
I just don't like August. I think because it reminds me of Austin, which I just can't stomach at all. So he pronounces it GUS-tuhv?
vote up1
Maybe.It's Americanized here - gus-TAV. He actually hates Gus.Too bad about August - I can't think of any other "Gus" names.
vote up1