baby boy name - feedback please?

parnb01

Our 5yr old son is named Koen ? a Dutch name and spelled the dutch way. We have Dutch heritage and wanted to stick with that origin for names.. The dutch name we are looking at is ?Arjen? pronounced ?Aryin? however we?d want to spell it the proper dutch way. But I am concerned that people will always misspell and mispronounce the name? Any thoughts? We plan on calling him ?aire? for short or for a nickname as well?

Todd&Laura

I thInk you should go with it!! He will have to correct people sometimes, but who cares? My name is as simple as it gets (Laura) and I still have to correct people sometimes. It's unique, reflects your heritage, and goes well with his sibling's name.

misscarter87

If you like it go with it ppl will always mispell something anyways lol

austenreader85

I think nearly any Dutch name is going to make someone think it's mispelled or made up, just because most people here are so misinformed on true ethnic names.

I know that Katja is pronounced as Katya, so I think there's hope for Arjen.  I would keep it spelled that way.  My name is a bit unusual and I often find people don't even try to sound it out, when they do they add in an extra "T" or run to a name that's more familiar to them and spelled closely.  So yes, I think he'll have to spell it and pronounce it for people most of the time.  But that doesn't mean you should scrap the name.  What are some other names you're looking at?

elizjane26

Yea, it's going to get pronounced wrong and misspelled a lot. But if you like it, then you should use it. 

parnb01

Thank you for your feedback! That is the only name we like so far, we just found out that we r having a boy like a week ago so early in the naming process.

alliejo725

I honestly don't mean this to be snarky, but how Dutch are you? Do you have living relatives in the Netherlands? Do you visit there frequently? Is your husband (or his family) a Dutch immigrant?

Because...people will always mispronounce and misspell this name. Always. All the time. And I guess I don't see "we have some Dutch heritage" as a good enough reason to spell Aaron that way.

The thing about Koen is that it's pronunciation is intuitive and the spelling is very easy. And I'm all for using another Dutch name, but why not use one that's a little more accessible? (Unless you're, you know, "Dutch enough" to pull it off.)

aascaha

i like it and i love that you're sticking to your heritage

apc1929

I'm sure they will misspell  but If you love the name I wouldn't let that stop you.  Its a legitimate dutch name in a huge melting pot country-   I think its an attractive and interesting name..    Aire is a great nn too

CeCe8579

I like Koen!!!! I like Arjen too especially because of the tie to your heritage but I would probably mispronounce it.

strawberrytree

alliejo725:

I honestly don't mean this to be snarky, but how Dutch are you? Do you have living relatives in the Netherlands? Do you visit there frequently? Is your husband (or his family) a Dutch immigrant?

Because...people will always mispronounce and misspell this name. Always. All the time. And I guess I don't see "we have some Dutch heritage" as a good enough reason to spell Aaron that way.

The thing about Koen is that it's pronunciation is intuitive and the spelling is very easy. And I'm all for using another Dutch name, but why not use one that's a little more accessible? (Unless you're, you know, "Dutch enough" to pull it off.)

I agree with this. If it's a 'my great-great-grandfather was Dutch' kind of thing, then it might be a bit much. If you actually speak Dutch, have family there, etc, then disregard. 

FWIW at first glance I would assume it's an alternate spelling of the Indian name Arjun and pronounce it that way. 

parnb01

Thank you for your feedback... My husband travels to the Netherlands about once a month for work and I've been there a handful of times as well. We both have Dutch back a generation or so we are pretty "dutch" i guess you could say. We don't speak it at home or anything like that though... And we don't live in a Dutch Community either. There is a professional dutch soccer played named Arjen Robben and we are fans of his as well. But the name is not "Aaron" it's pronounced "Aryin" .

Thank you

BabyCarryingVessel

Please go with it if you love the name! I think it's unique and wonderful