Constructive Criticism

DaniL5139

We are just recently pregnant and have been trying for a little while so we've already done the searching and thinking about baby names but we really want to know what everyone thinks of them before we make the announcement to our friends and family on the pregnancy. We wanted to wait to share our news until a bit longer when its the right time. At any rate my husband is Jamaican and I'm originally from NY. We wanted unique names that gave them a Jamaican or island feel but nothing too outside the box that would get them harrassed for the rest of their lives. Here are our top 2 boy names and top 2 girl names.

 Girls- Marley Jayda and Kenya Vicktoria 

 Boys- Jahari Shayon and Zion Cale

 

Thanks for suggestions and comments...we're super exicted

ECB0718

Kenya Vicktoria is really pretty, but I'm not sure how I feel about the others.  Sorry

Becky262

I like Marley Victoria, but I don't see what Kenya has to do with Jamaica or NY.

I like Zion better than Jahari, but both are nms 

globetrotting7

love love love Kenya Vicktoria.

strangebird

While I see where you might perceive these names as having been influenced by the islands . . . I'm afraid here in the States they carry a different perception--they're somewhat trashy. I really love the sound of Kenya, for example, but I've met two girls with the name and both were uneducated, poor, classless individuals.

I think Marley and Zion stand out as not falling into that category, but they sit solidly in other categories and will not be perceived as an "islander's" name here. Marley could be associated with Bob Marley, but more likely will be associated with a Labrador. It's also exceptionally trendy, so it comes with an urban/surburbanite feel, rather than an island feel.

Zion, I personally associate with conservative Christians. I don't think it's been discussed on the board before, so I'm not sure how most people perceive it, but just as with Kenya, I've met two boys with this name and both were from very deeply "born again" religious families. Not exactly the perception you were going for.

If I had to choose from your list, I like Marley best, but I don't think any of them really project what you were hoping they did. I'm not sure I have any great recommendations for other names, either, though! This one's tough!

LadyXaverian

I agree with a lot of what strangebird said about the "feel" of the names.

From your lists, my favorite is Marley. I'd probably go with Marley Jade or Marley Victoria.

Neither of your boy names are my style, but of the 2, I prefer Zion.

 

shannm

I like all of them.  Although, I don't really feel "island" when I hear Kenya.  And I have trouble picturing a little Zion in my son's toddler class. So I would say that Marley Jayda and Jahari Shayon would be my top picks.  And FWIW, they don't seem trashy to me.  I know a Marley and she is far from trashy so maybe that is why.

DaniL5139

Well I know lots of people end up feeling a name sounds trashy after they met someone with a certain name that was indeed trashy but that doesn't mean that because you use that name your child will be trashy. So I appreciate the thoughts on that.

 Kenya is not islandish...my husband just really likes that name and his family has a strong love for the "mother" land of Africa, so his mother loves that name too. 

What about other names that you like? Any suggestions help. I like Kenya Vicktoria the most but we are having a hard time coming up with good boy names.

KatieNanny

I like Marley. To me the influence is ALL Bob Marley, and not at all Marley and Me.

I also really like Zion. 

Kenya and Jahari are not as nice sounding in my opinion.

sunnyday016

NMS at all, but I guess Marley is okay. It's just a little "too much" Jamaican with the Bob Marley association IMO.

k*princess

I like Victoria (not Vicktoria). I like Jada (not Jada). I can deal with Marley, I suppose, but I think choosing a name for the Jamaican association + Marley = cheesy.

I don't mind Zion Cale, I suppose. I think it is pretty religiously affiliated, though...

I guess my vote for be for Zion Cale. For your girls, I guess Marley Jayda gets the vote (although I dislike Jayda, it's the middle name so it's less offensive). I have other suggestions, though: Victoria Jade or Marley Jade.

kizz11

zion cale is decent.  i don't like the others.

Sugarpie3

DaniL513:

 Girls- Marley Jayda and Kenya Vicktoria 

 Boys- Jahari Shayon and Zion Cale

 

Thanks for suggestions and comments...we're super exicted

I don't care for weird spellings...

Marley for Jamaican influence...meh.

Jahari and Zion -- NMS at all... Cale makes me think of produce. 

Shayon sounds made up... or another youneek version of Shane.

anna7602

Is there any way you could look up top names used in Jamaica recently or go back on your DH's family tree to look for names? As weird as this sounds, I actually went through a cemetery in my parents' home country looking for "authentic" names from their culture. I didn't care if people outside our culture identified the names as such, but I wanted people within the culture to recognize them as "belonging."

HarperM

Love both of the girls names

 

Not too sure on the boys names. 

Lithigin

I dig Marley and Zion and they definitely have the Rasta island vibe you are looking for. Jahari sounds Hindu or Indian to me, and why Kenya? Does DH have African blood and identify with Africa? I don't see why you need to put a k in Victoria.

DaniL5139

Vicktoria with the K means something to us because my mom's name was Vicki.