Opinions on odd names

unsettled

I've been trying to think of names for our new baby.  I have normal names, but I also have some that are different and some that are little 'out there' and am wondering if they are TOO out there for a name.  So please, post your truthful opinions!

Boys:

Nero

Marek

Atticus

Gaius

Apollo

Nikolai

Tiberius

 

Girls:

Hera

Faris

Ember

Monroe 

Vesper

Halo

Ever (Everly)

CocoBrynne

They're a little much for me, sorry.  The only ones that I think aren't TOO over the top are: Atticus, Nikolai (my favorite from your list), and Monroe (which is kind of a guilty pleasure name for me)

Fink

Of your boy list, only Nero is too far out there for me.  I like Marek and Nikolai the best.  As for the girls, they are all too far out there for me.

HannahO28

IMO:

Acceptable for use: Marek, Atticus, Nikolai, Ever

Should remain Guilty Pleasures: Gaius, Tiberius, Hera, Monroe

Should never be on anyone's list, ever:  Nero, Faris, Vesper, Halo

irish city girl

I really like Marek and Nikolai for boys.  I'm not a fan of any of the girl names though.

DaisyZH

I love Ember, I knew an Ember that was my absolute best friend in elementary so I have a very positive association.  My little brother swears he is naming any future daughters of his Ember.

af1274

I'm someone who likes unusual names, but I think these are a little too out there for me. All of your girls names are just really NMS. I don't know why anyone would name a baby Nero... for historical reasons. That's a lot to saddle a child with.

As a PP said, you may be able to get away with Nikolai (which I actually really like) and Atticus. I know Gaius was a very popular name in Roman times, but I think it would probably welcome a good bit of teasing. I know it isn't pronouced like GAY-us, but I think some people might read it that way.

chibride4

For me, the vast majority of these names are too "out there." I like unique names, but not ones that are outside the top 1000. That being said, I'm kinda digging Nikolai. It's a nice, refreshing variation of the commonly used Nicholas. Everly is the best of your girl names. The rest are pretty bad.

aimee1899

I love Atticus. Nikolai, Marek and Tiberius are okay. I can't get Battlestar Gallactica out of my head when I see Gaius.

I don't really like any of your girl names.

Zimger

Boys:

Nero-Can't get past the emperor

Marek-I like this one.

Atticus-It has a nice old-fashioned feel to it.

Gaius-Same reason as Nero 

Apollo-Different, but not in a bad way. I think it's creative.

Nikolai-I think this one is one of my favorites from this list.

Tiberius-Oy, guilty pleasure don't get me started. I really like it.  

 

Girls:

Hera-Hera was too grouchy for my taste 

Faris-Not really feeling this one.

Ember-I like it but it sounds too much like Amber. I don't really care for Amber.

Monroe-Cute, it would take a certain kind of personality to carry it though, maybe a middle name? 

Vesper-I like the meaning of Vesper. It's a bit on the too different side for me.

Halo-I can't seem to get behind this one. 

Ever (Everly)-I like Everly.  

melody921

Nikolai is the only one that isn't too out there for me.

jburdet1

From your boy list only Atticus and Nikolai are acceptable IMO. I like Monroe only as a mn. Everly is my guilty pleasure name.

unsettled

Lots of different takes on these names!    Like many of you pointed out Nero does have a negative association.  I really like the way it sounds, but I probably wouldn't choose it because of that.  Too bad! 

KittyMarie219

unsettled:

Boys:

Nero -- Roman emperor or famous actor.

Marek -- Like.

Atticus -- I know there's supposed to be some great literary connotation to this name that everyone seems to love, but I haven't read much classic, so I'm just missing it. That being said, it's a pretty okay name, I guess.

Gaius -- I feel as though this would mispronounced a lot. Sometimes on purpose.

Apollo -- No. I'm sorry but unless you're naming a rocket or space shuttle, no. That, and my mind also goes to the movie Apollo 18 and I hate found-footage horror movies.

Nikolai -- Yes.

Tiberius -- Lots of media connotations -- from Star Trek, right? -- but otherwise, a good name, IMO.

 

Girls:

Hera -- I've never understood why someone would want to name their daughter after a Goddess. I mean, isn't it asking a bit much of them to try and live up to an actual Goddess?

Faris -- Like the carnival ride?

Ember -- Used this once as a 4-yr-old's codename in an X-Men fanfiction. Her real name was Mischa. NMS as a first name.

Monroe -- I've only met boys with Monroe as a fn, so Idk how to feel about this one.

Vesper -- Reminds me of vipers, the snakes.

Halo -- Name of a video game, not a person, IMO.

Ever (Everly) -- Too close Waverly, which always reminds me of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium and how they abused their patients with "experimental" treatments, o this gets a no from me as well.

Aside from what's already been side, I found your name last to be quite fun to critique and refreshing to look at. 

magsugar13

I absolutely love Nikolai!! LOVE

Atticus i like

the only girls names i like are Hera and Faris

CayleighDawn

I LOVE Marek and Everly. I like Monroe as well, but I don't think I have the guts to use it.

FWIW, Marek is on my list, but spelled Merrick, after the town I grew up in.

iadanza

I really like Marek, Faris, and Monroe. 

AnotherPreggo

I like Nero, Nikolai, Tiberius,  Ember, and Monroe.

dmfan897

Attiticus is the only OK name for me, the rest are too out there.

 

Girls:

Hera-no

Faris-I think Anna Faris

Ember-no

Monroe-Isn't that Mariah Careys DD? 

Vesper-I think of James Bond.

Halo-No

Ever (Everly)-I actually really like this name

Reilly626

I don't like any of them. As a teacher you are torturing them...

RubyLou11

I like Atticus and Ember.  I would imagine using Nero would be a bad association. 

adventureolive

Boys:

Nero- It has a nice sound but it has terrible connotations. Reallt bad connotations, and one day your child will pick up a history book and discover his namesake was balls to the wall crazy.

Marek- I've never heard this name before, but I like it. It sounds nice, assuming it's pronounces Mare-eck

Atticus- This is my name for a boy!! So OBVIOUSLY I love it!

Gaius- I really like this name and the meaning.

Apollo- Nice name, nice reference

Nikolai- I support any name that references a fabulous scientist! But "Nikky" appears to be an obvious nickname.

Tiberius- This is a bit long for a young kids name, and Tibby or Tib isn't an appealing nickname.

 

Girls:

Hera- Again, nice name but bad connotations. Hera is not considered one of the favorable goddesses. She's kind of considered the b*tch of the gods.

Faris- Nice, but expect a lot of "Ferris" references.

Ember- Beautiful name

Monroe- Really trendy. I don't know how much I'd want my child to carry a sexpot namesake.

Vesper- I just think of the 007 Bond girl. I forget whether or not she was actually a traitor.

Halo- I generally dislike religious imagery for baby names. I know a few embarrassed atheists named Christian, Angel, and Faith. It's pretty awkward for them.

Ever (Everly)- I think this is a lovely name, and the nickname is very sweet.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP

I like Atticus and Nikolai

Monroe is ok, but Mariah Carey just gave her daughter that name, and I don't like any of your other girl names. 

badrianne

I like Apollo

Everly and Monroe. The rest nms. 

ObLaDi

Boys:

Nero - like

Marek - I've never heard this one before but find it appealing

Atticus - love! Was on my short list but DH vetoed

Gaius - I'm gonna be shallow--I think the fact that it contains "gay" is not something you want to set your kid up for. Love Caius, though.

Apollo - love. Now that I'm actually pregnant I think it may be SLIGHTLY too out there for me, but I'd be super pumped if someone else used it.

Nikolai - like

Tiberius - like a lot, actually.

 

Girls:

Hera - awesome. I greek mythology

Faris - ...bueller's day off. Don't like it.

Ember - trashy sounding to me. Sounds like a trendy version of Amber.

Monroe - all I can think of is J Lo's twins. It's better than Moroccan, but that's not saying much.

Vesper - nms, but I can definitely see it growing on me if I knew someone with this name. As it is, all I can think of is Casino Royale.

Halo - 1st person shooter. No.

Ever (Everly) - eh, ok but nms. Also feels kind of trendy. I like your boy names way more!

adventureolive

ObLaDi:

Gaius - I'm gonna be shallow--I think the fact that it contains "gay" is not something you want to set your kid up for. Love Caius, though.

 

I'm not sure if the OP intended this pronunciation, but Gaius is  traditionally pronounced as Guy-US.

Zaphina

I happen to LOVE Nikolai, and I like Hera. Those are my 2 faves from your list!