My husband is determined to name our son.......I'm not sure if i like the name.?

Question

What do you think of the name Banjo? I have a six month old daughter that i named and my husband is determined to name our next child ( if it is a boy )...Banjo. I told him i would consider it as a middle name but i would like some feedback.

I'm the husband who wants to name my son Banjo.The name originates from a famous Australian poet, Banjo Patterson. Everyone in Australia has heard of him.
Daughters name is Tanna.

Answer 1

Banjo??? Are you kidding me? Tell your husband if he makes that his child's name he is only setting him up for a lifetime of cruel jokes. That is ridiculous and down right mean.

Answer 2

I hope you are not seriously entertaining this name. Would YOU want to be named Banjo? I wouldn't even agree to it as a middle name. This is your child. Give him a real name, one that he can put on a resume and be taken seriously. Everyone who sees his name will think he is some backwoods country boy.

Your husband may think it is cute, but I assure you it isn't. Thank goodness the hospital staff asks MOM to fill out the sheet for the birth certificate. Make sure you name the child something he can get through life with, without being beat up on the playground, or ridiculed daily.

Imagine your son applying for a job with a hospital, after YEARS of med school. They have one position, two equal candidates, and one of them is named Banjo. The other person is going to get the job, hands down. This is seriously how you need to think when you name your child. Studies have shown that people with unusual names will not have the same advantages when it comes to getting a good job.

Name him Benjamin. Hubby can call him BENJI while he's small (close enough to BANJO). Then when he's older he can be BEN or BENJAMIN and retain his dignity.

Answer 3

To each his own. No one likes the name my husband and I chose (Rhys) so I have no room to talk. If it's popular enough where you live, it'll be fine. If you lived in my town, it would be okay-- they're pretty tolerant. Some other towns, though, might be a little messy for the child when he gets into school. Of course, bullies are no reason to name your child something simple and mundane- but that's only my opinion. Your child might feel otherwise in grade school. Kids can be really mean. I'm a teacher- I've seen it all. I can't believe some of the things about which they'll harrass a student. In any case, if it's important to you, keep it. If it's just a "thought", keep it written down while you are open to other names and go back to it periodically and see if you still like it best. That's what we did. And the whole family is calling the baby (that will be born next month) Rhys already- that's how I got used to it. And that's how I knew it should be the name for our son. =) Good luck.

Answer 4

I am australian so that might be why I dont see anything wrong with this name and have known several Banjo's all of whom are great men who love their name and their namesake , I think its a rather cute name and he could go by Joe as a nickname
I can see why the other people dont like it as Banjo is also the name of a string instrument and isnt really a name in the states but here in australia the meaning is different

Banjo as a middle name coukd be really cute

good luck in finding a name

Answer 5

Rachel Griffiths named her son Banjo after the Australian poet. But Banjo Paterson's real name was Andrew Barton Paterson (yes, just one t in Paterson). Banjo was a nickname. Perhaps Andrew or Barton or even Paterson would be better than Banjo. If you go with Banjo, be prepared for some teasing by other kids.

Answer 6

Do not let your husband name your child that. Since he is the father, he does have a little bit of say as to the name , but not Banjo. The child will be picked on all his life. I'd say no to Banjo for a middle name also....that is just crazy.

Answer 7

they it's always good to make a good first impression, and first impressions can often start with 'hi my name's .........' now if the name your son will have to fill in that space with is Banjo, hwo many people will take him seriously? i think you need to sit down and discuss the fact that if he names his son this and then sends out into the ever so cruel world of primary school children it will be like sending a lamb to the slaughter! and when he's older what if he wants to become something like a business man will people ever be able to take him seriously? also i know this may seem over the top but think of the pyscological effects this could have, along the same lines as 'wee man syndrome' where short men feel they have to have a huge ego to make up for what they lack in stature, well when your son grows up he made face a similar problem and feel he has to make up for his unsual(to the say the least) name by showing his strength in other ways i.e having a huge ego, or bullying other kids straight away so the spot light won't be on him! i hope you find another name good luck, and have a good pregnancy x

Answer 8

You know, the Australian poet's name was Banjo Paterson, not Patterson, and his actual given name was Andrew Barton, not Banjo (his nickname.)
I wouldn't give in. Banjo would be a great name if you get a dog, though.

Answer 9

All I can think of is the dueling banjo's. It might be an invitation to get picked on in grade school. I agree with using it for a middle name. Maybe let him make a list and together you pick from the initial list he made. Luckily you still have time to convince him of another name.

Answer 10

Sorry, but "Dualing Banjos" from Deliverance immediately started playing in my head (da-na-neer-neer-neer-neer-neer-neer-neer ... LOL). Sorry, not sure how else to convey that thought. ;)

You might also want to be aware of the familiar movie (if you're not already) about a dog of the same name. Sort of akin to naming him Lassie or Cujo, in that sense.

I'm not certain what your arrangement was here, but it sounds like your husband is simply trying to come up with an obviously-poor choice since you got to name the first child. Like a bit of a naming tantrum, if you get my meaning. "You got to name her such-and-such, so I'm naming him something you'll HATE! So there." LOL

It's all well and good if you for some reason agreed to such an arrangement, but the parent NOT doing the actual naming should at least have veto power. Think of it as being in the best interest of the child. ;)

Answer 11

BANJO? Wow.

Ask him WHY he wants to name his son Banjo. If you know the story behind why he likes the name, maybe you can find a way to direct him to another name that he likes just as much. Maybe you'll even be able to make him think he changed his mind all by himself :)

If all else fails, make sure the nurses know that you're the only one allowed to fill out your son's birth certificate forms ;)

What about just calling him Joe?