Hello Swistle,
My husband and I started trying to have a baby this month, so here is to hoping that we will get some happy news after I pee on the stick in a few weeks.
Regardless I am very passionate about names. My future children’s, other peoples children, etc.
My main issue I would like to address is the name Atlas. I LOVE THIS NAME. I like the way it sounds, I like the way it looks, I like the stories behind it, I like it all. However, when I tell other people (friends & family) about it I sometime see the panic in their eye.
The fact that is is not common makes me very happy. My name is Autumn and believe it or not I haven’t met many others in my lifetime. I also have people say all the time “I have never heard that used as a name! How beautiful!” and every now and then I have people ask, “Can you spell that?” which blows my mind. Anyways, I love the uniqueness of my name.
My husbands name is Joshua (normally Josh, sometimes J) which is much more common, although I do like the sound of it. Also our last name is Vernon.
Back to Atlas. We don’t plan on finding out the gender of our baby so we will have 9-10 months to decide on some girl and boys names that we love. For a girl I am pretty set on Blair. I think it is feminine yet spunky, old yet new, and I have NEVER met anyone with the name. Middle name Catherine (my mothers name).
I am just worried that Atlas may be too “out there”. However, J and I think it is very masculine and strong.
Atlas really resonates with me. I have traveled extensively my whole life and am truly passionate about seeing the world. And I think the name would be a tribute to the adventurous, strong willed personalities we hope to pass on to him.
His name would be Atlas Scott (Husband’s Middle/Grandpa’s Name)
Some other names on the list to give you an idea of my overall style:
Boys: Knox, Phoenix, Huck, Dexter (Dex), Lincoln
Girls: Ivy, Phoebe, Wren, Rory, PoppyI honestly prefer names without a nickname most of the time or short and sweet one syllable names. My middle names is where I will add some length. Except for Scott. Oh well, you see what I’m saying.
Name I like but can’t use:
Boys: Miles (could possibly use but long kinda bad story behind it), Hudson (too popular), Ace (sister in law naming baby Asa and I feel too close)
Girls: London (way to popular), Lane
Hopefully this all makes sense and isn’t just a jumbled mess.
So I would love insight on any of the above names but my main questions is, “Atlas, Usable or Not?”
Thanks so much,
Excited (hopefully) soon to be mama
Autumn
One of my favorite baby-name-considering exercises is to imagine the name on a variety of people. In this case, let’s picture the name Atlas on:
- an adventurous, strong-willed man in his early 20s
- a pale, non-athletic little boy wearing glasses
- an outgoing, cheerful little boy
- an awkward high-school boy with pimples
- a high-school football quarterback
- a grocery stockboy
- a lawyer in a courtroom
- a dad at Parents’ Night
- a dentist
- a teacher
- a wrestler
- a baseball player
- a dancer
- a Target clerk
- our husbands/boyfriends
- our fathers/brothers/uncles/cousins
- our children’s friends
Another good test is to imagine an introduction: either imagine introducing yourself as Atlas, or meeting someone named Atlas, or introducing a child to someone else. You say, “Hi, I’m Autumn!” He says, “Hi, I’m Atlas!” Or you say, “Hello! My name is Autumn and this is my son Atlas.” Or, “Hello! This is Atlas; he has a 10:00 appointment.”
I like to imagine the name in everyday use. The nurse leans out into the waiting room and calls “Atlas?” There is an arrangement of apple cut-outs by the classroom door, and one of them says Atlas. A kindergarten scribble with Atlas written on the bottom. “Atlas, did you do your homework?” “Atlas, I have told you THREE TIMES to put your shoes on!” A college student tells her/his parents about a new boyfriend, named Atlas.
The Starbucks coffee test is a favorite around here. The clerk asks for a name to put on a coffee. Your husband says “Atlas.” This is a good one for your husband to do in person, rather than imagining it.
Testing the name in your own social circles can also be useful. However, I do think for the most part people adapt to the names that are chosen—and if they don’t, it feels like a small thing: we all have different tastes in names, and I don’t necessarily like the names my friends/relatives choose for their kids, either. What I think of more is “Will the child like the reactions he gets to his name?” And of course we can’t know that: some people LOVE the startle factor, and some people wince and end up going by their middle names.
For a first baby especially, I like to do a Sibling Name check: pair up the name Atlas with other names on your lists, and make sure you can make sets you like. If for example you liked the names Atlas, David, Thomas, William, and Charles, I’d suggest Atlas might be a difficult one to pair up, and might be an outlier for your tastes. Looking at your lists, I’d say the two issues will be: (1) finding something mighty/important enough to measure up to the name of a divine being, and (2) finding something that doesn’t sound amusing. The name Lincoln might be mighty enough, but the pairing strikes me as amusing—I think because I get a mental picture of tall, dignified, top-hat-wearing Abraham Lincoln standing next to naked, crouching, heavily-muscled Atlas with the universe on his shoulders. Atlas and Phoenix seems good, but gives you a strong mythological theme. And so on. Brother names seem more important to me than sister names: I think it’s fine to have brother/sister style differences, and I am much more likely to notice, say, “Jacob and Grover” than, say, “Sophia and Grover.”
For me, I think the main impediment to the name Atlas is the divine-being thing. It seems like a tough name to live up to, no matter how strong-willed and adventurous a person might be. And on a homebody who likes to read, the imagery of the huge and heavy burden is more apt but less pleasing.
The symbolism is also iffy, if what you’re looking for is adventure. We call a book of maps an atlas, and so that could give the explorer/adventurer/traveler imagery you like; but the mythological Atlas is the Titan who was punished by having to stand still forever and hold up the heavens. Atlas is a symbol of endurance, rather than of adventures and exploration; and his strength was used to carry a burden, rather than to exert his own will.
I think if I were you, I might pursue a similar but different track. Perhaps I would look for the names of famous (human) explorers/adventurers, or other people you admire whose names make you think of confidence and strong will and adventure.
You mention liking the uniqueness of your own name, but the name Autumn was/is much more common than the name Atlas. I think another area to explore is names that are more in the league of your own name’s level of unusualness. You can find name rankings on the Social Security Administration’s baby name site.
If what you’re asking is if the name is usable, the answer is yes: it is currently being used in the United States, and in fact it just appeared in the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, at a ranking of #789. Let’s look at how the name’s popularity has increased over the past ten years of data:
2004: 20
2005: 17
2006: 19
2007: 35
2008: 53
2009: 62
2010: 100
2011: 108
2012: 118
2013: 282
This tells us that not only are people using it, they’re using it more and more.
Name update!
About this time last year I emailed you asking your thoughts on the name Atlas. After 4 months of trying to conceive we found out last June we were expecting. We also decided to not find out the gender of baby until he/she arrived. After A LOT of time spent going through names we decided on Atlas Scott Vernon for a boy and Indie Catherine Vernon for a girl. On February 24th we met our sweet Atlas Scott. Everyone comments on how much they love his name and how extremely perfect it is for me and my husband. I am so happy with our decision. Thank you all for your help. We are in love.
-Autumn
Oh Autumn! you and I have very similar taste in names.
I say if you and your husband love then Atlas…I say use it!! I use to look at my sister weird when she said she was naming her son Memphis! and now I couldn’t even picture him as anything else!!!
I also love Knox and Phoenix from your list. They were on my list too. If we have another child and it’s a boy Ace is on the top of my list along with Dawson!
Ivy was suppose to be my 2nd daughter names but someone else from town used 3 weeks before my girl was born so we went with Felicity.
I love Poppy and Phoebe but couldn’t use because our first daughter is Piper!
I love the name Blair and Wren from your list for girls. Also, I think Briar could pretty cute too.
First of all, I just love the name Autumn! Secondly, one of the “mom blogs” I follow has a son Atlas and I have completely fallen in love with the name through her posts. Had I heard the name without the child’s face attached, I might found it “odd” but associating it with a child makes it oh so lovable. My favorite thing about the name is that it says “unique” without being hard to spell or hard to pronounce. If I read “Atlas” on a name tag, I know how to pronounce it, which is not something you can say for a lot of names.
Overall, I say, if you love it, stick with it. Those panic expressions on friends/family faces will disappear shortly and you will hear “I couldn’t imagine him with any other name!”
I really like Atlas!
Every name has its drawbacks – the two with Atlas for me would be the myths don’t really go well for him – he’s eternally punished in one, tricked by Heracles in the other – and the idea that it might be unpleasant to be a shy or uncoordinated boy named Atlas. I say if those two issues don’t bother you, go for it! Seriously, every name has pluses and minuses, and I don’t think the minuses here are so large as to make the name unusable if it’s one you love.
I really love Atlas! It was on my short list but my husband shot it down. And I typically have pretty traditional tastes (my boys are Jude and Leo) so I wouldn’t say I am an outlier as far as unusual taste in names goes. I wonder if you might like Atticus because of its similar sound? Or maybe Orion (because it sounds like a sibling to Atlas)? But I say if you and your husband love it, go for it! I would love to meet a baby Atlas:-)
Wow Lauren! We must have similar tastes all of these names are on shortlists for me!
The book Atlas Shrugged ruins the name for me. I would make assumptions about the parent’s political / philosophical leanings and they would not be kind assumptions.
My thoughts exactly.
Me too.
Unfortunate because Atlas is kind of a cool name, but I can’t get past the Ayn Rand connection.
I do like Atticus as an alternative.
I was going to suggest Atticus as well (plus I love the Atticus Finch/To Kill a Mockingbird connection).
Me too! I just finished watching the last season of Downton Abbey where there is a very likable character called Atticus :)
Yup.
Even worse than people naming kids Reagan, though I also make Unkind Assumptions about those parents. (HE WASN’T THAT GREAT GUYS).
I absolutely love the name atlas! I’ve heard it only a few times and adore it. I’m also very passionate about names and my husband is very traditional. Makes making a little hard! & we only have one so far. Haha. As for the mythological references, that’s not really what I think about when I hear the name, so I don’t see it as a huge drawback! :)
I know a little boy named Atlas. It’s not my style, but I do think it’s totally usable, and if you love it, it can be yours.
His name doesn’t make me wince (as opposed to the little boy I know named Oven, or the girl named Gamble).
Oven? Is it a name in another language or did they name their son after an appliance? Gamble would be a hard name to carry off as well.
I imagine every teacher that poor boy encounters reads off his name as: “Oven…? As in, the appliance?”
No way! Where are you hanging out that people are naming their children things like Oven and Gamble?! (Reminds me of “Pffft. Stove. What kind of name is that?” from Bridesmaids.)
I know a toddler named Rooster. Cringe every time. So much nope for me.
I was going to say the exact same thing as Jenny. I know a baby named Atlas. It’s not my style, but I don’t think the name is too weird. In this family, the dad has a similar unusual name, so they go together.
I was going to say it’s completely usable and that the mythological/map references make it feel like it could fit on a wide variety of personalities, from athletic to academically minded to adventurous (to some combination of those traits). The only thing that makes me hesitate is the Atlas Shrugged/Ayn Rand connection, though I didn’t think of it until someone mentioned it. People do tend to have pretty strong opinions about her pro and con.
My brother is good friends with an Atlas; we have known him for 15 years or so. Atlas is his last name, however, and now that he is in his 30s, he introduces himself by his first name.
He doesn’t mind when people use his last name, and I quite honestly forget that Atlas isn’t his first name pretty much all the time. I think it’s very usable.
I live in a hipster neighborhood (Vancouver, BC, Canada) and I know of two little boys born in the last year named Atlas. So to me, it’s already entering the mainstream. Totally usable. It really depends on your area and your comfort level. I don’t find it any more adventurous than Phoenix on your list. And Huck might give some parents pause.
I think Atlas is usable, but I do want to bring up the chance that he will be called “Fatlas.” I have a friend with a cat Atlas, nicknamed Fatlas for obvious reasons. Not reason to abandon the name entirely, but you should consider it. I really like Atticus (mentioned above) for you. Sort of the same sounds with better connotations, I think. Plus I like it better with Blair.
First off, I love the name Autumn and I really like many of the names on your list! Some of them were on my own list, too. :)
Here’s my input. I thought about it and to me, the name Atlas is useable AND I would say Go for it!
At first I was a bit torn, for two reasons:
(1) The mythological Atlas is not a super-inspiring story to me. My husband even puts the mythological Atlas into the same category as Sysiphos.
(2) I have to admit Ayn Rand’s book “Atlas Shrugged” IS a potential association that is out there.
These are definitely worth considering before making the decision.
But I think you have a beautiful association with Atlas – traveling, adventure – , and so for me this outweighs the potential cons. I know of a travel-themed cafe named Atlas Cafe and it makes perfect sense, and I never thought of the mythological or the Ayn Rand Atlas in that context! In that sense, unless I KNEW, say, that baby Atlas’s parents are passionate about politics, or that they have other children named after Greek deities, the name itself strikes me as rather neutral. If I met an Atlas, I’d compliment the parents (and child) on the beautiful name! Also, I would not be surprised either – the name doesn’t strike me as odd.
The only one of Swistle’s hypothetical boys/men named Atlas that gave me pause was the Target clerk; I’m not sure why that felt so different from the grocery stockboy– maybe because people tend to migrate through the grocery stocking jobs relatively quickly during their teen/college years, but it seems people tend to work much longer at Target, etc. Atlas seems like such a hugely ambitious and “out there” name that the energies don’t match.
I also struggled a little with Dr. Atlas Lastname, Dentist. I think I just see the name as belonging to a very daring, outdoorsy, never-in-one-place-for-too-long kind of guy. Some kind of adventurer or coach or pilot or something.
I honestly didn’t really think of Ayn Rand until reading the other comments, but now it’s inescapable and would rule the name out for me personally. But it’s also about context. If you live in a very progressive area, or one that is fairly politically neutral, I doubt many people would make the connection. But if you live in the Beltway, or Orange County…skip this one, I think.
Atlas is a useable name, especially if you are aware of the drawbacks. (All names have drawbacks, and we all have different acceptance levels per drawback.). I do wonder if Atlas is going to rise in popularity in the coming years, so keep that in mind if it would bother you.
I wish I had thought more about sibling groups before naming my first, especially the names my choice would eliminate. Would Atlas knock out any other names? Knox and Phoenix would be difficult sibling names, so you might have to pick one of those. Or Lucas would knock out Lucy. Or Natalie / Nathan.
I never thought of the Atlas Shrugged connection at all, and I don’t think that would be the first thing people thought of you when introduce your little boy, so I say use it. I automatically think of a world traveler being the inspiration for the name. The Greek mythology connection is there, but again, I didn’t think of it until Swistle mentioned it in the post. I think the name is growing and definitely useable…Lots of people are choosing unique names these days, and I say go for it. I find it to be endearing and think the name could grow with him, especially since Scott is such a normal name. The only concern I’d have, after making sure the Greek connection didn’t bother me, would be matching the other names I would like for siblings. You’ll have plenty of time to look at all of your options. I’m a fan of Atlas, though! Best of luck!!
Atlas has actually been our number one name for years and I’ve been so sad to see it climbing the ranks.
I first heard of it when my sorority sister married a man named Atlas.
So definitely usable imo!
I think of the Ayn Rand book right away and I live in the Midwest, not the Beltway. I would wonder if the name is a political statement.
It’s a bit daring, but seems to fit with your other boys’ names and I do think it’s useable. It’s certainly not a name that makes me question the sanity of the parents. It’s easy to spell and pronounce and it’s on the SSA charts. From your letter, you obviously love it. I say go for it.
I do think it is cute and usable. Like many names becoming popular recently (especially the more ‘hipster’ names) I have a bit of a hard time picturing it on a grown adult. It sounds cute and fun for a little boy, though.
I think Atlas is definitely useable. I’m shocked at how many people already know an Atlas in real life and wonder if the rise in popularity will sully the name a bit for you?
I use the “class list” test; which for me is imagining how I would respond when skimming through the names of all of my child’s classmates at the beginning of the schoolyear (as reference, I have 2 boys, one in 1st grade in one in 2nd grade). Would I skim over the name without thinking twice, make a face or snarky remark about it to my husband, or would I think “ooh great name!”. Atlas would fall into the “ooh great name!” category for me. There are plenty of unique names these days so I don’t think it would stand out as odd; it’s definitely not in the category of naming a child Oven (are we sure that wasn’t a typo that should have been Owen?)
It’s clear you love the name so I say go for it – although with all this discussion I suspect we have jinxed you to having a house full of girls. haha! Best of luck to you and your husband and please keep us posted on whether you end up having a little Atlas or Blair!
I saw the name Atlas and immediately thought of Ayn Rand. That would kill it for me. The legend doesn’t bother me, just her book.
The name Atlas has a strong association with Greek mythology for me. As strong as naming a baby, say, Zeus or Athena. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a Greek god name because of the details of the story that Swistle outlined above. I’ve also been to a hipster-y bar called “Atlas,” so the name leans heavily hipster for me, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just a thing. That said, even though it’s not really my taste, I do think it’s a usable name. I could definitely see it on a baby.
I just noticed that the woman who runs British Babynames just profiled Atlas last week: http://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2015/03/atlas.html . There’s some interesting background on usage and meaning there.
So usable!
This name is not uncommon where I live. Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t say it’s popular either! But most people make the map association or the mythology connection around here.
Siblings for the map association: Florence, Sydney, Mojave, Sahara, Vancouver, Aspen, etc.
Siblings for the mythology connection: Orion (think someone mentioned this above), Athena, Persephone, Ajax, Apollo, Castor, Kronos, etc.
Otherwise, a name as BIG as Atlas… Tank, Titan, Torque, etc.
This is a solid name that isn’t weird or unfamiliar–just under the radar. I agree that it is wise to consider sibling names before naming your first child.
Best wishes as you prepare to be a parent!
I love your names! Atlas and Blair are awesome names. Stop telling people because you’ll regret it if they talk you out of it – imagine if you don’t end up using the name and you feel regretful. I’d definitely use them.
We picked a noun-name with a vivid word picture and people only comment once when they meet the child, then they never bother mentioning it again. And I can just continue saying my child’s awesome name and loving it each time I say it! Not worth changing your mind just because it’s not everyone’s favourite taste. It’s perfectly usable.
My gut was ‘useable’ /I would not flinch on the slightest. but Rayne’s comment made me hit myself upside the head. I’m inclined to agree with her.
I have an Irish nephew Orion and I also like Atticus if you are interested in replacement
I know a little boy named Addis. That would give you the sound of Atlas without the Ayn Rand association (if that association bothers you). That said, I like Atlas and think it is definitely useable.
I asked my 10 year old son and his reply was ‘is he smart?’. He thought of an atlas and linked it to bookishness which was the opposite of my association (mythology and Astro boy!). Not my style but it is useable imo as it a classic and has a nice sound.
Is the travel connection about the noun atlas, book of maps? Because my first connection with the word as proper noun is the mythological Atlas, which has a much grimmer, less-adventurous association. I don’t connect Atlas as a name with atlas as a noun at all, really.
Atlas as a baby name is not my style, but perfectly usable. However:
1) I think this is exactly the trajectory of a name that is becoming quite of-the-moment-trendy, which could be a concern if you’re seeking out a name hoping that it will be unique. It’s uncommon but not unknown here in SoCal on hipster babies.
2) My guess is that many people will assume you guys are huge Ayn Rand fans. That’s a kind of assumption that might or might not feel okay to you. (Think when non-religious people use a name that signals “very religious in this specific way” – for some people that’d be totally fine, for others it would be quite uncomfortable.) Of course, if the name becomes more popular, it also tends to soften the association with Rand, which is maybe a good news/bad news situation?
For all of the out there names I’ve heard, I wouldn’t call Atlas offensive or completely off the rails….but I don’t know that I like it with your girl names. And I really like your girl names! I will say from your list, please don’t go with Knox—way too many jokes can be made of that name.
I think of Atlas as an extension of the rise of Cyrus/Silas, which I think of as an extension of the -x names (Knox Pax Maddox and all the other non-Jole-Pitt ones too). So! Usable, for sure. Likely to rise further? Yeah. But recognizable, easy to spell, associations which I think are too remote to be negative. Nearly all names arising from Greek myths have some tragedy in there, but many are used all the time.
I think the Ayn Rand association is weaker. “Ayn” would signal more of a fangirl vibe to me. I don’t think Atlas aligns you with free market capitalism any more than Bella would align you with racist generalizations a la The Bell Curve.
Wiki check: pardon me, it’s laissez-faire capitalism that Rand promoted :)
Thank you everyone for your feed back! It was nice to see so many of you in favor of Atlas. I had never heard of Atlas Shrugged believe it or not. I also have not had anyone mention that until in the comments when talking to friends and family. I don’t really feel that would be a problem for me. My biggest fear was that of the Greek god, however I feel the good outweighs the bad and at this point plan to use the name. Thanks again! I will be sure to update when the baby arrives.
I wonder if the name Ajax would interest you. It has that appealing x, masculine, ancient aspect Atlas carries (see what I did there). My brother inlaw has mentioned wanting to use it multiple times. It’s not my style, but I think Atlas is usable. The only drawback I would have is coming up with an adequate sibset to match.
I know a 2-yr-old Atlas, brother to Linus. I was a bit startled when his parents announced the name, but it’s grown on me quite a bit, and of course, once it’s a real baby, not an abstract name, that changed things. The name seems to suit him well. I like the idea of balancing an uncommon first name with a more familiar middle, and I am rooting for team pink for you, because Blair Catherine is so lovely!
Before I’d even read the post, I saw the name Atlas in the title and my mind mediator sparked into the idea of a baby boy growing into a great adventurer!!! I think it’s a lovely name. It’s unique enough without being TOO different for me. Since the name is on the rise, I say if you really love it, go for it!!!
Immediately* (not mediator!)
I engaged in Swistle’s test and tried to imagine Atlas in the different categories she provided above and it DID NOT pass the name test for me. While I like the sound of it, I just don’t think it is quite usable. With that being said, what about Axel Scott Vernon? It’s not too popular right now and has the same feel as Atlas.
Other suggestions:
Silas
Ansel
Tripp
There’s a little Atlas in the childcare at the gym I go to! It doesn’t seem out there at all to me. It does remind me of Ayn Rand right away.
As for your other names, I just wanted to mention that I think Lincoln is actually super super super popular. I have three good friends with little boys named Lincoln. I’ve also heard lots of Knoxes and Wrens (with varied spellings).
I love the name Atlas! it has been a favourite of mine for a very long time. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned however unlike you I love a good nickname and my husbands family shorten everything so that is the only thing stopping me from using it. I am almost 100% positive I would use it as a middle name. I say go for it! I would like to think I am well read but I have never heard of Atlas Shrugged however I am Australian and from reading about it on Wikipedia it sounds like a very american political novel. There was a bad guy on Astro Boy called Atlas – it’s kinda where I got the name from, one of my friends knocked the name because of the bad guy rep but I don’t think there would be many out there who make this association.
Please name your son Atlas Scott it sounds great!
Also I have a male cousin called Blair but I’ve always thought it sounds soft and gentle and is also fitting for a girl.
Atlas is on my baby name list too. We both love video games and there is a character in Bioshock called Atlas – I also studied Classical History at Uni so we’re both quite taken with the name.
I wrote a pretend email at work and signed it “Atlas McKay” to see how it looks and I’m quite taken with it. It’s probably going to be a bit of a shock to the system for our traditional parents but we’re quite ready for that. Other names on our list (also) Lincoln, Booker and OH likes Algernon but I’m not keen.
It’s probably a good thing that you can’t use Maggie (though I love it too) since, as someone already mentioned, you’d have a Maggie and Thatcher … Would definitely seem like a Maragret Thatcher tribute to some.
And as another commenter mentioned, I also noticed the Grey’s Anatomy trend with Shepard and Thatcher, so that’s at least something to be aware of. Wouldn’t bother me, personally. It’s not like the show will be around forever (though it does soldier on after 10 seasons)…
I love the suggestion of Arden. I’ll also suggest Winslow and Merritt. Of your listed choices, I like Linden and Everly.
I think it’s usable. It didn’t entirely pass the name test scenarios Swistle provided, but where Atlas failed, Les, which could be a nickname, worked nicely.
Came across your article and wanted to say I love the name Atlas, When I found out I was having a boy in January we decided to use Atlas as our sons name and we are quite pleased with it, at first family and some friends did not like it but they are coming around more and more :) We love how it is unique and strong. Our sons middle name will be Reign. Good luck!
Hi Autumn,
Tonight we were discussing with friends if Atlas is also used as male name other than Turkey. While investigating for this on web, I found this blog.
I think it is a special name. My son Atlas is 4 years old, we are living in Brussels and it is also a rare name here.
My son’s full name is : Arel Atlas Dil. When I was pregnant, since we could not agree with the dady on the name, we ended up having two first names, which also compansated the very short family name: Dil.
I am now pregnant for the second baby. I expect to have a girl this time. I am still thinking about a female name that insprises me as much as the name Atlas.
Atlas makes me think the colur blue, the ocean and the mountain and then the entire world. It covers all life: water & air and earth. Actually, it is “all” to me.
I hope you will ( or already) have an easy delivery and a healty baby boy.
I named my little boy Atlas. I first heard the name about 15years ago when I was introduced to an Atlas and I fell in love with the name.
At first I was a little reluctant to give him that name because even though I’m not into mainstream name i was afraid it was too out there. So I braced myself for negative comments when I introduce my son name only to be surprised by how much people love his name :)
I love the sound & i see it more as an inner strength than physical strength :)
Hi!
I have a son name Atlas, he’s 8 now : ) The name came to me in a dream when I was 8 months pregnant. We didn’t had any name picked up yet, there was nothing that we both liked enough to be The Name, In my dream I was walking, pregnant, and a voice whisper to my ear, “Atlas”. I stopped and says, “hum..! That’s a nice name!” and woke up. I told my husband right there and immediately he loved it. That was it. It was decided.
People reactions were like “oh, interesting…”follow by an uncomfortable silence or “oh, COOL!!!! Tell me more!”
We live in a busy city and friends have told me “I hear this kid talk about Atlas and ask if it was you guys, and of course it was! There’s no other Atlas!” In his school (K-8) everybody knows who Atlas is.
He likes his name, (which is Mars Atlas) and wants to be called Atlas.
Go for it! It’s an awesome name ;)
Good luck (by now yoy probably already have a baby !)
best,
Mikas
Yay!!! I’m so glad you got to use the name you loved so much! He’s beautiful. Congratulations!
I find it interesting that everyone finds Atlas masculine. I didn’t know about the mythological character, but I’ve kind of liked Atlas my whole life- not enough to use, but I’ve always thought about it. It was my great grandmother’s middle name: Mary Atlas. My own name is very unique, and I like uncommon names that don’t sound too out there.
Hi well I am a girl and my name is Atlas. I am only a teenager but I think it’s a great idea to name a boy Atlas. From my perspective I very rarely get told I have a unique name but I have had people question me and give me confused looks when I have said my name is Atlas
Autumn, I know this was a very old post, but I was very happy to see in your update that you went with Atlas and you loved it. We are expecting our third boy, and plan to name him Atlas. And my name is Autumn, too!!!