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HelpOdysseus and Ulysses
Two names I think about a lot, what do you think?
I like that Odysseus has literary roots and that in Homer’s epics he was more famed for being smart and cunning than his strength like most heroes. I do dislike that the name means “to hate” though.
Ulysses is a variant of Odysseus that seems more usable, perhaps because a U.S. president bore this name, though it feels a little lackluster compared to Odysseus.
“I wanna go where the sun is shining
and no one knows my name”
I like that Odysseus has literary roots and that in Homer’s epics he was more famed for being smart and cunning than his strength like most heroes. I do dislike that the name means “to hate” though.
Ulysses is a variant of Odysseus that seems more usable, perhaps because a U.S. president bore this name, though it feels a little lackluster compared to Odysseus.
“I wanna go where the sun is shining
and no one knows my name”
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Replies
I like Ulysses more. Seems heavy for a baby these days, but it'd make an awesome middle name.
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I love both but prefer Ulysses because of its nickname potential (Uly--so cute!).
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I don't mind literary roots at all, but a name needs something more to be usable. 'You' isn't the best starting sound for a name, and Odysseus ... I can't quite put my finger on the association, but wasn't there a cartoon cat - Garfield, perhaps - whose dull and stupid canine sidekick was known as Odi or Ody?
Antony Charles Odysseus would work as a combo, but then Odysseus wouldn't be in daily use. Which is the point, of course.
Antony Charles Odysseus would work as a combo, but then Odysseus wouldn't be in daily use. Which is the point, of course.
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I don't like Ulysses. Odysseus is the proper true form of the name to me. I typically prefer original Greek forms over Roman alterations and I'm not keen on U- as a first letter either.
Like you, I think it's nice how he's a smart hero in Homeros' epic, but I never really sympathized with the character myself. The meaning ruins the name. There's nothing cool or likable about it.
Like you, I think it's nice how he's a smart hero in Homeros' epic, but I never really sympathized with the character myself. The meaning ruins the name. There's nothing cool or likable about it.
This message was edited 5/1/2019, 10:53 PM
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The meaning somewhat bothers me to, but you have to remember that it was given to the character Odysseus because he was hated by the gods, most notably Poseidon.
I appreciate meanings but they’re not a deal breaker to me.
I appreciate meanings but they’re not a deal breaker to me.
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I like Odysseus but not Ulysses. I think Ulysses S. Grant made it sound like a boring old man name instead of like.. the Odyssey. (I've also met someone named Odyssey)
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Maybe if you knew the Ulysses that I did you'd change your mind. He was neither boring or old. If I had been twenty years younger.....
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This.
Ntntnt
Ntntnt
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I totally agree with this. I could not take someone who named their child Odysseus seriously. That's a heck of a lot of name.
Now, there could be another classical-names-for-boys trend (just as there was in the 19th century that produced all those Ulyssess and Horaces and Homers and Virgils), in which case it would be fine, but it's not here yet.
Now, there could be another classical-names-for-boys trend (just as there was in the 19th century that produced all those Ulyssess and Horaces and Homers and Virgils), in which case it would be fine, but it's not here yet.
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I tend to avoid U names like the plague. lol and Odysseus isn't much better! I guess myth names just aren't my cup of tea (which seems to be an unpopular opinion here...)
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What kind of names do you like?
I'd enjoy to have another point of view and new ideas! XD
I'd enjoy to have another point of view and new ideas! XD
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I like my names like I like my music--current and popular. Trendy, even. But not too trendy--no Jayden, Kayden, Brayden, Zayden, Grayden (yes, unfortunately that's become a name lol), and what have you for me!
But aside from that, I also like lnfn's, nature names, Biblical names, uncommon-but-not-too-out-there names, popular classics, and slightly dated ones (I draw the line at 1980, though). Oh! And some names that are primarily for boys but can also be used on girls, like Emerson and Oakley.
That reminds me--I need inspiration for new names! I'll just make a separate thread for that, though.
But aside from that, I also like lnfn's, nature names, Biblical names, uncommon-but-not-too-out-there names, popular classics, and slightly dated ones (I draw the line at 1980, though). Oh! And some names that are primarily for boys but can also be used on girls, like Emerson and Oakley.
That reminds me--I need inspiration for new names! I'll just make a separate thread for that, though.
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I'm right with you - I love Odysseus much more than Ulysses (it just feels sort of... Heavy?) But Ulysses feels much more usable. I'd be delighted to meet an Odysseus, but I'd never dare to use it myself. And it does seems like just so much for a little kid. You will want a shortening for little kids trying to say it, but the most intuitive one is Od... Middle name might be the spot for this
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I was going to say Odie but that's the dog from Garfield XD
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Hi !!!!
Here in Italy we have two further forms: Odisseo (o-dees-SE-o) and Ulisse (oo-LEES-se).
Odysseus in nice because it is the original form.
Odisseo is still used just in few dated books.
Ulysses is the Latin form but I prefer the English pronounciation for it.
Ulisse is increasing very slowly in popularity (just 32 Ulisse born in 2017).
I think that the meaning disappears if we compare to the tryumphant (both positive and negative) fame of the myth.
I would be glad and proud to use Ulisse or a child because this name carries a ton of beautiful stories that are the basis of our culture (here in Italy at least Ancient Greek & Roman myths are well-known).
Here in Italy we have two further forms: Odisseo (o-dees-SE-o) and Ulisse (oo-LEES-se).
Odysseus in nice because it is the original form.
Odisseo is still used just in few dated books.
Ulysses is the Latin form but I prefer the English pronounciation for it.
Ulisse is increasing very slowly in popularity (just 32 Ulisse born in 2017).
I think that the meaning disappears if we compare to the tryumphant (both positive and negative) fame of the myth.
I would be glad and proud to use Ulisse or a child because this name carries a ton of beautiful stories that are the basis of our culture (here in Italy at least Ancient Greek & Roman myths are well-known).
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Odisseo sounds cool to me, but it probably sounds dated in Italy.
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I actually had a poll last year asking which people preferred! Of those who responded more than half (61%) preferred Ulysses. I was rather surprised by that.
Odysseus is a fantastic name and would make a great middle. It's meaning isn't really idea but it was meant to drive home the fact that he's hated by some of the Gods and Goddesses in the epic.
I think Ulysses is lackluster when compared to Odysseus as well. It's not bad but it's not really good either.
Odysseus is a fantastic name and would make a great middle. It's meaning isn't really idea but it was meant to drive home the fact that he's hated by some of the Gods and Goddesses in the epic.
I think Ulysses is lackluster when compared to Odysseus as well. It's not bad but it's not really good either.
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I like them both a lot - I'm a huge fan of Greek and Roman mythology, though my one concern is that they aren't very wearable for a young child.
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I actually read that a Buzzfeed journalist named his son Odysseus, which also got me thinking about it again. I think that made me see it as more wearable than I previously had.
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I don't think either is particularly usable, although I'd love to see an Odysseus for the same reasons you mention.
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