Second Guessing Boy Name now...suggestions/opinions

laurendom · January 2012

Carmine "CJ" Julian Cxxxxxxxx (a 4 syl Italian last name) pronounced Car-mine not car-meen-nay

Background: Carmine/Carmen is a family name. I chose Carmine because my mother is Carmen Renee, and until she was an adult she was conflicted with having the same name as her father who was also Carmen (Who the name would be honoring) and I wouldnt want him to think he had a girls name due to my mom. My great grandfather is also Carmine.

Anyway, we chose Julian because it could make a nickname that we liked if Carmine was too much a child. And DH is dead set on all names being Italian/European or at the very least Latin. Which I am ok with.

I am conflicted because I am wondering if its too Old-school or more that some cultures and people see it as feminine, which I never knew until I researched. Its not feminine in Italy at all.

Another name we liked was Luca and Luca Carmine is nice, but is it too close to the Lucas Fad? I do not want a popular name.

thoughts? Any other suggestions?

kerribear1717 · January 2012

If you want to call him CJ then go with Carmine. It's nice that it's a family name. I would probably think girl. I've known several Carmen's, all girls.

I don't really see Luca or Lucas as a fad name at all. I don't know any and really haven't seen probably more than one here on TB. I like the name Luca.

Keri Marie · January 2012

I like Carmine - CJ.

laurendom · January 2012

No I dont necessarily wnt to call him CJ, I just though that having that option was nice. Yes Carmen is increasing a more feminine name, but in the Italian culture Carmine is strictly male. It is the modern American perception that is making me second guess.

Lucas is popular near me, Luca is not.

kelnyc · January 2012

I would just switch the middle and first names. Julian Carmine sounds just as good and is a little more modern. Carmine is VERY old-school, so if you're concerned about that, then this is the solution I would opt for.

526SadieSadie · January 2012

Carmine is extremely old-school, but it's honoring people in your family and there's a history to it, so if you like it, do it.

I LOVE the name Luca, (but my last name is DeLuca, so it would be beyond cruel to name a future son Luca.) It might be too close to Lucas/Luke for the trend thing, but I think it's the least common of the three.

My great-grandfather's name was Crescenzo (prn Creh-shen-zoh), and my mom was named Christine in his honor. There are nice ways of naming children cross-gender and cross-language names in honor of relatives. I don't think little Carmine will mind that his name partially came as a derivative of a female relative.

blu-eyedwife · January 2012

I like the name Carmine, but not with a C- last name. I'd switch Julian and Carmine.

LadySybil · January 2012

kelnyc:
I would just switch the middle and first names. Julian Carmine sounds just as good and is a little more modern. Carmine is VERY old-school, so if you're concerned about that, then this is the solution I would opt for.

I agree with this. Carmine is pretty stuffy. Love Julian and Luca.

Pictures29 · January 2012

Carmine feels a little feminine, I prefer Luca.

queenbone · January 2012

I like Carmine, I don't think it is feminine at all.

Julian doesn't do much for me, but if you want the J name option it is fine. I think I'd prefer something like Carmine James, Carmine Joseph, or even Carmine Julius instead.