Too feminine?

anotherbrock

My husband and I are expecting our first baby and are set on a girl name (Flannery Annette, after Flannery O'Connor and my grandmother), but are really torn on the boy name. We're Greek Orthodox and he has to have a namesake for a Saint. We both love St. Seraphim of Sarov, and would like for him to be our son's Patron.?

?We know Seraphim's who are adult men, but none in the South (where we currently live). I feel like if we moved back to Pittsburgh, and he went to Orthodox school, it wouldn't be such an odd name, but for now we have no plans of moving.?

?His full name would be Seraphim David, so he could go by David if he wanted.?

?We've also talked about Basil Seraphim, and calling him Basil, which is another Saint that we love.?

?Thoughts??

anotherbrock

oh, and it's still super-early so we have time. I'm just thinking ahead.?

maltwin1

This may not be what you want to hear, but I'm pretty familiar with the area and I can't help but think that even before little kids know what Seraphim means, they will know little David's first name sounds like "Sarah".

What about using Basil David or David Basil instead?

rc1276

I think in most circles, in most parts of the country, that name would seem kind of feminine to most people. I think it's the first part sounding like "Sarah" that does it.

Basil Seraphim would solve that problem, though.

Good luck!

Temp950106187509203

I completely adore your girl's name.  Flannery O'Conner is a favorite of mine, and it sounds great with Annette.

I love the concept of using Seraphim, but I agree that it might sound odd to most folks in Alabama.  I think it makes a great mn, though.  I really like Basil Seraphim (although if you plan to use the Baz-uhl pronunciation, a lot of people will probably mispronounce it like the herb).

TripMomma

I like Annette and David all the rest are NMS.

anotherbrock

?Thanks, everyone!?

?I agree that Seraphim turns into a great man's name. That was my thought when dh wanted to use it. I know that it's not a name used in any part of the country, but there are certainly more Orthodox cities in the US, where the name would more accepted. Not using it at all is not an option, it will appear in his name somewhere, even if it's in his middle name.?

And even if kids in his class make fun of him because his first name begins with "Sarah" at least it means something and it's not just made up and trendy. That said, I'm leaning towards Basil Seraphim at this point.

MrsCFB

i don't like seraphim or basil.

i like david.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

NMS...sorry

jsillyfun

Basil Seraphim is cool. Seraphim as a fn will probably bring him a lot of grief as a youngster.

Harms80

With response to the title of the post- yes it's too feminine.  Seeing that you're intent on using it no matter what people say to your original question, it doesn't really matter, right?  My opinion is that Basil and Seraphim are NMS.  I'd go with David Seraphim if you're intent on that name.  But, I love Flannery Annette.... 

FutureMrs.Steen

MrsCFB:

i don't like seraphim or basil.

i like david.

This. Flannery is an very unique name. It's too out there for me. Annette is cute.

wheelenl

Given that Serafina is a name that is starting to be used a little more for girls, I think it makes Seraphim seem more feminine. I'm protestant, so I'm not familiar with Saint Seraphim, and I'm from the South originally, but I wouldn't have guessed that Seraphim was a boy.

Sorry, I don't love Basil. I do love David, though. Surely there is another saint you can come up with that you like? There are lots.

anotherbrock

Harms80:

?Seeing that you're intent on using it no matter what people say to your original question, it doesn't really matter, right? ?

I'm intent on Seraphim being his Patron, and being in his name somewhere. I'm not intent on it being his first name. I just wanted to feel it out first. ?

AgathiP04

We are Greek Orthodox, as well.  We chose St. Nicholas for our son...which is super common   He is Niko.  I like Basil, or Vasili   It is common for me to hear that name.  If we have another boy, we like Demetri and Christos.  We considered Savvas for our son, too.  Anyway, I think Basil Seraphim is nice. 

Would you let him go by William or any nn's for William since that is the English translation for Basil? 

jessawakawaii

Of the options you mention, I agree that I like Basil Seraphim the best. As far as other saint's name options, I like Cosmas, Justinian, and Augustine. If you choose a more traditionally (American) masculine sounding name, I think Seraphim is a fine middle name especially since it has meaning for you and your H.

anotherbrock

AgathiP04:

We are Greek Orthodox, as well.? We chose St. Nicholas for our son...which is super common ? He is Niko.? I like Basil, or Vasili ? It is common for me to hear that name.? If we have another boy, we like Demetri and Christos.? We considered Savvas for our son, too.? Anyway, I think Basil Seraphim is nice.?

Would you let him go by William or any nn's for William since that is the English translation for Basil??

?

I love Savvas, too. I know a few "Bills" that are from Basilios. I'd want him to stay Basil. If he eventually wanted to go by Will, that's fine. It's his name. I'm open to different names for the first name, but I love love love St. Seraphim and it's not gonna kill him to have it as a middle name. We also like John, which is a family name, but we have pregnant friends who are naming their son "John Seraphim" and we wouldn't do that to them. My husband had his Paterikon out last name reading the names in the index. He loves Ignatius, which I nixed. No son of mine will be called "Iggy".?

AgathiP04

I also love Lazarus, Leonides and Constantine.

anotherbrock

We've talked about Constantine. We might use it should we ever have a 2nd boy. If we ever have a first boy, of course.?