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Help[Opinions] Re: Ira, Thomas and Rapahel
in reply to a message by vigdis
I dunno, there are some names that are just too Hebrew for me to use, just like there are names that are too Irish or too Arabic for me to use, given my heritage. Raphael isn't one, but Ira is (alas - I really like Ira; Ira and Ezra are IMO the only truly masculine-sounding names for guys, that end in -ah sounds). So are Reuben and Lev, too Hebrew for me. They say Jewish to me, and I am not comfy with heritage-loaded names when it's not my heritage. I guess you don't perceive them that way? Maybe I'm out of touch... that wouldn't shock me. So, gimme a clue? Am I the only person who finds Ira and Lev and Reuben distinctively Hebrew?
I don't find Raphael excessively dramatic (especially since he could be Raffy or Raf), nor is it excessively Hebrewy. But Ambrose and Constantine are dramatic, a little bit. Still, I'd enthuse about Constantine because I think the religious allusion is vague enough, and also not too vague if that's what you're going for. The only problem with it is the length. Ambrose is positively fey IMO, I would never want to be called Ambrose if I were a guy. Would X want to be addressed as Ambrose?? ffs. Edgar isn't that dramatic either, but it's unattractive IMO; I can't imagine calling a son Edgar. Those consonants, so clunky to say. Fail on boom boom test (at least for my own generation!). Unless you call him Eddie or Ed.
Simon seems ever so safe, not bad but nms; I think it is very quiet. Thomas is also ever so safe and comfy - very mannish but never overbearing - and even cooler because he could be Tom. Thaddeus seems too yuppie/hipster to me; it's like Atticus. Julian seems safe, but on the fashionable side - I would have seriously considered it, and maybe even named my son it, if he hadn't had a cousin born shortly before him who was named Julian. Amos is archaic and Southern crustified IMO; I think of Famous Amos cookies, lol. Theron is no less dramatic than Ambrose or Constantine, but I still like it - it has more masculine modesty, to me.
So, thumbs up for Ira only if you don't mind the Hebrewness (I'd compare it to the Irishness of Daragh), because Ira just sounds so sharp; and Thomas or Raphael are great too. I know I've mentioned, I know a little boy Raphael who is my son's age, and I think it's not too dramatic at all.
I don't find Raphael excessively dramatic (especially since he could be Raffy or Raf), nor is it excessively Hebrewy. But Ambrose and Constantine are dramatic, a little bit. Still, I'd enthuse about Constantine because I think the religious allusion is vague enough, and also not too vague if that's what you're going for. The only problem with it is the length. Ambrose is positively fey IMO, I would never want to be called Ambrose if I were a guy. Would X want to be addressed as Ambrose?? ffs. Edgar isn't that dramatic either, but it's unattractive IMO; I can't imagine calling a son Edgar. Those consonants, so clunky to say. Fail on boom boom test (at least for my own generation!). Unless you call him Eddie or Ed.
Simon seems ever so safe, not bad but nms; I think it is very quiet. Thomas is also ever so safe and comfy - very mannish but never overbearing - and even cooler because he could be Tom. Thaddeus seems too yuppie/hipster to me; it's like Atticus. Julian seems safe, but on the fashionable side - I would have seriously considered it, and maybe even named my son it, if he hadn't had a cousin born shortly before him who was named Julian. Amos is archaic and Southern crustified IMO; I think of Famous Amos cookies, lol. Theron is no less dramatic than Ambrose or Constantine, but I still like it - it has more masculine modesty, to me.
So, thumbs up for Ira only if you don't mind the Hebrewness (I'd compare it to the Irishness of Daragh), because Ira just sounds so sharp; and Thomas or Raphael are great too. I know I've mentioned, I know a little boy Raphael who is my son's age, and I think it's not too dramatic at all.
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Hebrew names are very much my style.
I'm not Jewish but I am very Baptist - so Old testament names are my style. I don't mind Raphael so much, really - it's just that I wish we could find other names to compromise on. Julian is nms, really - it's whiny to me and too 'new.' I know what you mean about Amos - I still love it. Amos is a book name to me - meaning that I've read enough books that have characters named Amos to love it. Abel is the same to me - it's that 'book connection.'
And yah, ditto for Simon - it's just...eh. I don't know - I'm just not loving any of these names besides Thomas & Amos. I don't hold out for 'the most perfect, God-given name EVAH' but I do want a name that I love - one that I can imagine calling my son for years to come. (And I do admit to loving Raphael - I just get less than positive reactions from my family. The thought of my poor son having to endure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle jokes from his not-very-mature uncles gives me pause.)
I'm not Jewish but I am very Baptist - so Old testament names are my style. I don't mind Raphael so much, really - it's just that I wish we could find other names to compromise on. Julian is nms, really - it's whiny to me and too 'new.' I know what you mean about Amos - I still love it. Amos is a book name to me - meaning that I've read enough books that have characters named Amos to love it. Abel is the same to me - it's that 'book connection.'
And yah, ditto for Simon - it's just...eh. I don't know - I'm just not loving any of these names besides Thomas & Amos. I don't hold out for 'the most perfect, God-given name EVAH' but I do want a name that I love - one that I can imagine calling my son for years to come. (And I do admit to loving Raphael - I just get less than positive reactions from my family. The thought of my poor son having to endure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle jokes from his not-very-mature uncles gives me pause.)
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