Thoughts on Valo?

[gershwin]

Hi everyone! I've been working on my name list, and I think I like the name Valo. However, I'm worried that it will be mispronounced/mistaken for a girl's name. What are your thoughts on the name Valo? Would it go with a brother named Sorin or a sister named Lyra? Also, if you have any middle name suggestions for Valo that would be great

[jesba]

I'm Finnish American and I love seeing Valo considered! I've considered it off and on, especially as a middle, since I tend to (for my own potential children) prefer more mainstream names. I think it works as a girls' name but looks masculine. Val Kilmer is a masculine association, and -o endings tend to be masculine. Plus the fact that it's masculine in its own culture.

I like the original pronunciation Vah-lo, but I also like Valo to rhyme with halo which is what I assume would happen all the time. Vah-lo sounds more masculine to me. I'm not sure what I would use honestly. I think it goes pretty well with Sorin (I prefer Soren), in that both ring Scandinavian in America, although Finland is actually pretty distinct in culture and certainly in language from the rest of Scandinavia (Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian are very closely related, Finnish actually isn't related to many other languages at all except Hungarian, distantly, and Estonian, closely, and some languages not associated with countries). I like it with Lyra for other reasons: short, kind of space-agey (in a good way) names.

It's hard to suggest middles since I'm not sure what you're looking for. Would you want something more classic to balance it out, or something Finnish/Scandinavian to stick with the theme?

Valo Matthias is the first thing that comes to mind - it's kind of both of those things.

You might also like the Finnish Veikko (means brother) Vay-ko. Spelling and prn are probably hard for it too though.

[lexiem]

I agree with everything @jesba said. I had never heard of Valo before this thread but it looked distinctly male to me for all the reason already given. Also my natural inclination would be to prn it Vah-lo. (I actually can't really wrap my head around it potentially rhyming with halo - it seems odd to me).

[gershwin]

I chose Sorin instead of Soren, as Sorin is actually a Romanian name meaning Sun. I'm not really sure exactly what I'm looking for as per middle names - I'm thinking less heard of classic names. Like Valo Frederick or Valo Montgomery. I really like Valo Matthias though. I think I will add that to my list
I'm glad you both would pronounce it Vah-lo. My name is one that is constantly mispronounced, so I want to try and avoid names that people have difficulties pronouncing.

[gershwin]

I'm thinking maybe Valo Caspian James or Valo Thaddeus James. Any thoughts?

[judyariel]

Nice name! I'd never heard it before, and I immediately pronounced it as "Vah-lo."
Middle name ideas:
Valo Sebastian
Valo Gabriel
Valo Augustin
Valo Abram
Valo Abraham
Valo Ezra
Valo Ezekiel
Valo Remington
Valo Amias
Valo Dorian
Valo Kristof
Valo Adrian
Valo Andreas
Valo Clement
Valo Clemence
Valo Damian
Valo Ephraim
Valo Isadore
Valo Ignatius
Valo Augustus
Valo Julius
Valo Edmond
Valo Xavier
Valo Dominic

[jesba]

Good to know about Sorin : D! And I like Valo Frederick, glad you like Valo Matthias.

[gershwin]

Oh wow! I love your suggestions!
I really like these:
Valo Abram - I've actually been tossing this combo around in my head. I've always loved Abram
Valo Remington
Valo Dorian
Valo Ignatius
Valo Julius
Valo Dominic

I definitely have a lot of new ideas to work with

[xoxox77]

It's cute! Never heard it before (I'm in Canada) and think it is an awesome unique choice! Also works great with Sorin or Lyra Maybe Valo matthias? Valo Arnold?
Good Luck

[gershwin]

Here are some combos I've come up with:
Valo Remington James
Valo Dominic Abram
Valo James Dorian
Valo Matthias Abram

Any thoughts?