Will a boy get teased with this name?

[texaswillow]

My husband and I both love the way the name Gaius sounds (Guy-us). It is a strong name filled with history (and we both love battle star galactica to boot!). The name Guy is also a huge family name- an uncle, a great grandfather and two cousins have the name so I would feel like I was partly honoring it.

The only problem is the spelling. Will a boy get teased and be called Gay-us? I am not homophobic by any means but children can be cruel. My little sister's friend (a boy) has the last name Gaylord and he is teased mercilessly. While I admit Gaylord has more potential for teasing that Gay-us... I still worry about it.

What do you think?

Also, please please do not recommend alternative spellings- it is a pet peeve of mine to butcher classic names with funky made up spellings. I'd rather just not use the name at all. Thanks!

[katseaborn]

Um, yes. I really hate that kids get teased for such thing, but this one is really just asking for it. I am even wondering a bit if this is some sort of practical joke question -- if you're not kidding, perhaps you'll see how serious this is?

And I may be wrong, but I think you live in Texas from your name. Perhaps perhaps perhaps you could get away with this in, say, Brooklyn or Seattle, but oh my ... please don't try it in Texas.

If you love the way it sounds so much, why not Caius? Or just Guy?

[jennie]

I'll admit that my first reading was "Gay-us," and I think that both pronunciations are correct.

Personally, I would use Caius instead (which is simply another form of the name) and side-step this issue altogether.

[alexandramae]

I don't think it will be a problem and if it is, it won't be a big one. A Gaylord is certainly more teasable, unfortunately. I knew a Galen (Gay-len), who wasn't teased. Now, if it had been spelled Gaylin or Gaylynn, I'm sure someone would have picked on the Gay- part. He was just a confident but quiet, well-liked guy. You just have to raise a child who is tolerant and not embarrassed to be associated with homosexuals. He has to be comfortable with himself. As long as he's confident and if someone makes a joke, he accepts it, no one will do it again because it's not fun if the bullied person just shrugs it off.

Gaius is great and if he has the nickname Guy, I doubt "Gay" will stick with him.

If you're worried, you could try Caius, even though that takes away from the family name. Perhaps ask your cousins and/or uncle (depending on age) and see if they had any problems growing up as a Guy. If they had a problem, you can always call him Gus.

BTW, it is said that Gaius is probably the root of the word 'gay' (appropraitely used) since Gaius means 'happy; rejoice.'

[devinjes]

I think this would be a bit of a problem. Mostly in elem./middle school, and some/very little in highschool. And i only say this because i remember seeing children be teased as a younger child, and i was even teased to tears once for my last name (Reno), which other ids turned to Rhino and continued to chant around me until i cried. However that one experiance does make me very sensitive to possible tease potential names. I really only think it will a problem because i think people will have a hard time pronouncing it. When i first read, i thought it was Gay-us, event hough after the explination, Guy-us gramatically makes more sense. It is just difficut because all it takes is one or two mispronuciations for children to catch on. And i believe a previous poster mentioned you liv ein Texas. I would think teasing for a name with a possible 'gay' connotation would lead to more teasing specifically because of texas. However you may be in a part of texas that isnt as....anti-alternative lifestyles? (Is a way to put it).

Just my opinon though, and i also had a tramatic experiance as a child. So it does alter and possibly dramatify my feelings about names with what i deem easily tease-worthy.

Good Luck!

[texaswillow]

Thanks for the replies, berries! Sorry I didn't respond sooner, something unexpected came up yesterday and I wasn't in front of a computer.

Anyway, I think we have decided against it. I wish we lived in a society where being called gay in a teasing way didn't exist but I think we are a couple decades too early yet.

Here is an unusual name that I want some feedback on: Ptolemy. Husband and I both love the sound of the name and the quirky P spelling. It is pronounced TOE-LEH-ME for those that are unsure. It does have a similar flow to Timothy which I also like but hate the nick name Tim/Timmy. What do you guys think? It has great history and I have always adored ancient Egyptian history. Too weird?

Also, any middle name suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[gwensmom]

I kind of like Ptolemy! It's a little out there, though. I would definitely use it as a middle name, or if the first pair it with a more tradtional middle. I like the rhythm of it though, like you said.