Let Us Name Your Baby

Anonymous Writes:

"My dad's name is Aristoteles — the Spanish variation of Aristotle — and I want to honor him somehow. Ideally, I’d like to give my child a first or middle name that resembles his. However, I don’t want to name my kid Aristotle or Aristoteles. My dad asked my siblings and me not to use his name on our children because he didn’t like it growing up. Are there any variations of the name for a girl or boy that work both in English and Spanish?"

Nameberry Editor Brynn McKeon:

Let’s start with the most straightforward answers to this question — names that resemble Aristoteles. 

Aristoteles is a beautiful and regal name, and fortunately there are a lot of sounds to pull from! I think any name beginning with Ari- would be a lovely way to honor your dad, including short and sweet unisex Ari on its own.

Or maybe you would like Arista, Aristeia, Aristella, and Ariadne for a girl, Aries and Aristeo for a boy, or unisex Aris and Ariel. I also love the idea of Risto for a boy — a Finnish version of Christopher that has all the right letters.

Any of these options would be a clear tie to your dad’s name, while being pronounceable in both English and Spanish!

Nameberry Editor Clare Green:

As Brynn says, there are plenty of Ari- names to choose from — in fact, it’s an ideal time to use one, as it’s a popular sound that also connects to your dad.

If you’re going down that route, I’d use one that’s not too close to Aristoteles, as it sounds like he wouldn’t consider that a compliment. For a boy, Ari is a super name with roots in many cultures. At Number 344 in the US currently, it’s well-known but not overused.

Ari would be great for a girl too, if that’s your style — or you may prefer Aria, Ariana, or Ariella. I’m guessing your dad may not have liked his name growing up because it was too unusual and too tied to the Aristotle, but none of these names would have the same issues.

However, as your dad has specifically asked you not to use his name, perhaps a different name with a connection to him would honor him more. If you’re open to exploring other options, there are plenty of creative ways to honor loved ones. For example, would your dad’s middle name or last name work for your baby? Or you could riff on the philosophy theme of Aristoteles with a name like Sofia (“wisdom”) or Hugo (“mind”).

BM:

I think the best way to go about this is determined by the reason why he didn’t like the name, as it seems that this was a significant experience in his life.

Did it feel like too much of a mouthful? Aristoteles is a big name! If this is the case, I think any short and sweet spin-off like Ari, Aria, or Aris would be the perfect solution.

Did he resent feeling pressure to live up to his famous philosophical namesake? This seems to be a common phenomenon that I have come across when chatting with people named after a particularly renowned and glorified historical figure, such as Darwin, Cleopatra, or Amadeus, and even fictional characters like Hercules and Gatsby. If this was his aversion, then any sound-alike name with separate, unrelated roots to Aristotle would avoid this association. 

Aristeia, for example, stems from a literary term in epic poetry, while Ariel comes from Hebrew meaning “lion of God”. Arista derives from the root of the word “aristocrat”, and as I mentioned earlier, Risto is a diminutive of the classic name Christopher. Araceli is a stunning Spanish girl’s name meaning “altar of the sky” that shares many of those same sounds as well and has the added bonus of tying into baby’s Spanish roots.

If he simply just didn’t like his name, maybe a different path is the right one.

Does he have a favorite musician, a favorite place, a favorite color? Perhaps you’ll find inspiration in the name of the street or town in which he grew up. Did the two of you share common interests or hobbies that bring back fond memories? Did he have a childhood nickname for you, or any nicknames family or friends called him? 

There are so many fun and creative ways to go about this. If this feels like the right route for you, I would start by jotting down a list of your favorite memories with your father as well as a list of his favorite things, and see where this takes you.

CG:

I agree, it really does depend on your dad’s reasons for disliking his name, and your relationship with him. It’s one thing if he harbors a deep resentment and wouldn’t want a grandchild’s name to even echo it; but it’s quite another if he’s cool with his name now, but just doesn’t want his grandkids to be burdened with such a long, rare, comment-worthy name as Aristoteles.

As Brynn said, I’d start by reflecting on this, and maybe having a chat with your dad about how he feels, and taking a trip down memory lane for extra inspiration.

Finally, you’re open to using it as a first name or middle name, and this widens your options. The middle spot is a great place to put a name you love and feel connected to, but which doesn’t feel right for everyday use — and your dad may prefer this too. I think Arista or Risto would make stunning middle names (although if you like them as first names, by all means use them!).

What we’re naming your baby:

BM: I would name your baby Araceli or Risto!

CG: I'd name your baby Aria or Ari!

Best of luck in finding one that feels right for you and your baby!

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