Want some honest opinions

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2005
Want some honest opinions
16
Fri, 09-23-2005 - 2:46am

Hi. I'm pregnant with my first, just found out, pretty unexpected...but welcome! Both my fiance and I love the name Boone Alexander Zimmerman for a boy and Saraid Louisa Zimmerman for a girl. Are these names, although we really like them, going to cause problems for our child? I didn't feel insecure about the names I like until I told my father, who is starry-eyed about becoming a grandfather, that I would name the baby Boone if it was a boy. He looked rather mortified, and then lectured me about the benefits of a "normal" name in society, i.e. school, jobs, ect. He seemed to think it was selfish of me to stick my kid with such an "odd" name, but I love it! I don't think its odd. I really need some outside opinions!

Erin

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Sat, 09-24-2005 - 9:37pm

Hi Erin,

Pick what the two of you like, period.

But you did ask for honest opinions...so. For Boone I'm on the 'nay' side. a 'boon' is "1. an advantage, a blessing. 2. a thing asked for, a request," according to the OED. That's a nice sentiment expressed towards your son, but you *could* be a little more subtle. And by the time he's 11, you may or may not be thinking the same thing (I just got a very funny email from my SIL about her 11 y.o.), even though you'll love him dearly :P What "Boone" actually made me think of first was boonie- as in, "i live way out in the boonies/hick town/etc"- not very complementary, and boys can be as cruel as girls when it comes to nns. To add to that, Boone rhymes very nicely with Goon. Another thing thing is that the oo sound is a bit difficult to make- he or his friends my have trouble saying it correctly when they're small- it may come out sort of like "Bwoone" or "Bwroone." I know this from experience: my DS is Ewan (pron. Yoo-un) and a couple of his friends had trouble with it; one of them still does (they're 6-7yo). Even though my DS has a similar-sounding name which I love, for some reason Boone makes me want to giggle. Probably this is the Boonie thing- I tend to add '-ie' to the ends of the names of the ppl I love, much to their chagrin :P

Other names which mean something like gift, blessing or lucky (if that's what you were going for):

Jesse (gift in hebrew)
Theodore (nn Theo? Teddy? "gift of god," greek)
Felix (luck in latin)
Madoc (fortunate in welsh)
Evander (good man, from Greek via Latin)
Alden/Aldwyn (old friend, from old english)

Names which 'feel' similar to Boone (entirely subjective!)
Ewan or Euan
Lewis
Dean
Blaine
Blaise
Jules
Jude
Julian
Carl/Karl (no idea why this came to mind, but it did)

As for Saraid, I know I've seen it SOMEWHERE, but I can't think where. I don't have an opinion about it either way.

Good luck!

-Sisi

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2003
Fri, 09-30-2005 - 11:17am
Whelp... do what you want to do. Boone is def. different, but not going to relegate him to a life as a repair man, but doesn't necessarily sound like a Fortune 500 CEO. Saraid is a little odd, to be honest. There would be TERRIBLE teasing on that one. I think the boy's name is fine though. Does your dad want him named after him? or some other fam name? Both our fathers were HORRIFIED that we didn't name our son after them or at least the middle name. Oh well. IT may be best to keep your baby names to yourself until you really love the name. You sound just pregnant, and trust me as you say the names in the mnonths to come your opinion might change all on its own, or you may find another name you like. There's my honest opinion, if you still want it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Fri, 09-30-2005 - 1:37pm

To be honest, and in my honest opinion, I hate Boone and Saraid for names. First, Boone reminds me of Daniel Boones and isn't there a really cheap wine called Boones? Too close of a similarity. And Saraid, no one will be able to pronounce it and you'll be frustrated b/c you have to remind everyone how to say it. But then again, I hate everything most people name their kids today like Kinsgley, Kinsey, Chandler, Ronin, what-have-you. But I was also very particular and picky about what I named my daughter. I get people want to be different but it's become to the point where it's too trendy and ridiculous. Of course, my honest opinion wouldn't keep you from choosing a name you and your husband like.

With that said, I'm so tired of people saying you should choose a "normal" name b/c what if he's a doctor, a lawyer, ect. Don't you think if he has a unique name, one pronouncable of course, it will stick in people's minds more and therefore, your kid will make a name for himself,ect.? Okay, it contradicts what I said above but it's just something else to consider:)

And I must point out that your parents, your in laws, won't like the name you choose no matter what you choose. Take my sister and brother in law. They named their son Hugo. No one liked the name and were convinced it was a name of an old man. But they stuck with their guns. And now we can't see Hugo as anything but Hugo.

Anyway, I don't mean to sound harsh. You did ask for my honest opinion, right? Just thought I'd add something different to the mix and give you something to think about. Good luck on choosing a name:)

~Ricky:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2005
Fri, 09-30-2005 - 7:18pm

You don't happen to be a fan of the show Lost do you? There was a Boone and a Sayid, which to me sounds close to Saraid.

Personally I like the name Boone, I used to watch the old Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett shows when I was a kid, so I get an image of Fess Parker who played both. It gives me a rugged outdoorsy sort of image.

Saraid I would pronouce Sar aid, but it could be so many other possiblities. Your child would definatly have to spell and prounounce it for everyone. But thats up to you whether or not you care about that sort of thing.

As far as what your parents think. I agree with a PP, no family ever likes the names you choose. So don't worry about it, eventually they will either accept it.. or drive you so insane complaning about it you stop talking to them, hehe.

Good Luck!

Jade
Girl #4 edd 12.23

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2002
Sat, 10-01-2005 - 10:46am

I think it is your baby your choice.

Jennifer W (uclp)
mom to
Ashley (6-18-03 - ucl &ar, food allergies, Sensory Processing Disorder)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2004
Mon, 10-03-2005 - 4:23pm

Everyone has a point. IMO they are both odd. The word boon comes to mind first with Boone (kind, generous). Nice meaning, but to me it's a last name; Daniel Boone. I agree that Alexander Boone should be an option - it sounds better, won't elicit teasing from kids in school and you still get to use Boone. With Saraid you or she will have to pronounce and spell for the rest of her life. It does sound exotic, but in this day and age, having a name that sounds like it's from a different country isn't necessarily beneficial. People get pre-conceived notions even on just a name.

In the end, it IS your decision, but you have to think of ways each name you think of can be used "against" your child in teasing, initials, ease of spelling and pronunciation, rhyming, association, etc. You can pick a strong, old-fasioned classic name that is not being over used just as easy as you can pick some letters from the alphabet and just rearange them so the vowel lets you actually pronounce it.

Naming is so important. I agree that people, especially celebrities, nowadays are trying to be so different and original that it has almost become a joke to us "real" folks. Remember, your child has to LIVE with that name until s/he is 18 and can legally change it.

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