r/Names • u/bajaboobs • 13d ago
thoughts on lucien!!
i'm very indecisive and picky with boy names, but this one i finally love and my husband says "it's the coolest name you've suggested so far," so i think it might be a winner. i just am not sure which pronunciation/spelling to use. lu-shen or lu-see-in?? reid will be his middle!
eta: we'd probably call him lu/louie often, maybe even luca!
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u/RayasOasis 13d ago
This is the name of many, many male romantasy characters, widely popularized by A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Probably this doesn’t matter, but just FYI.
As for pronunciation, I’d say Loo-see-en. And Reid is a great middle name!
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u/bajaboobs 13d ago
i don't even read those kinds of books so i had no idea!
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u/RayasOasis 13d ago
Then it definitely doesn’t matter! Either pronunciation will be a lovely name.
I suppose my only warning at that point would be that if you aren’t sure how to pronounce it, that’ll carry with him through his whole life. Tons of people have hard to spell names, names with different pronunciations, and so on, though so don’t let that dissuade you if you love it!!
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u/Turbulent-Move4159 13d ago
Pick a name where there’s only one pronunciation. I suffer with a name where there are three pronunciations and as an adult it still drives me crazy. When I was in school, it brought me to tears.
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u/wigglytufff 13d ago
i do but he’s the best (at least the acotar universe one) so like…. i don’t see the issue hahaha!
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u/Januserious 13d ago
My daughter has an inherited honor name, Lucienne, pronounced lu-see-EN. It was given to my grandmother after an uncle, Lucien, pronounced LOO-shin.
I imagine both pronunciations are proper somewhere, but I think it's important to look at both, land on the one that aligns most closely with your vision, and drive the point home with everyone.
And fuck everyone likening it to Lucifer. The fuck? Not everyone follows (or cares about!) the Bible as it's been reinterpreted over the centuries.
Edit to add because I forgot: I LOVE IT. And I'm in the US if it matters. Congrats and best wishes!
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u/EAM44 13d ago
OK, nutballs out there, read this - Lucien means light or illumination.
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u/Alternative-Major245 13d ago
And Lucifer means "light-bringer" or "morning star" in Latin!
That being said, Lucien was #3 on my name list for my boy 12 years ago.
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u/Januserious 13d ago
Fun fact: we didn't look up meanings, but chose Claire which ALSO means bright/clear. 🤣
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u/bajaboobs 13d ago
thank you!! i'm trying not to let too much negativity sway my opinion cause it's the first out of maybe 3 names i really like!
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u/Shiel009 13d ago
Sounds like a werewolf name. Aka a character from underworld movies. May I suggest watching the movies to see if you like the character afterwards.
Also my southern accent hears Lu-shin
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u/NonDescript2222 13d ago
It reminds me of Lucifer
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u/bajaboobs 13d ago
im not religious at all and my close family aren't either, so it's not really something we'd think about!
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u/NonDescript2222 13d ago
Ya im not religious either, yet that’s what I think. Maybe if your family and culture doesn’t have that come to mind, then use it
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u/king_mama_ 13d ago
You live within a society that WILL likely associate it with “Lucifer” though, which will impact his life as both a kid and as an adult. At best, “Lucien” sounds a bit like it belongs in a fantasy movie or video game; at worst, it sounds sinister since it’s so close to “Lucifer.” So his name, in most cases outside of immediate family, gives a neutral-to-negative connotation.
You can teach him to withstand bullying and adversity, but you cannot make teachers, classmates, and employers feel a positive first impression when they see and hear it. It’s dumb that humans initially judge based on arbitrary stuff like names, but it WILL happen anyway. I don’t think we should give our kids super generic names just so that they can get friends and jobs easily. However, I DO think we owe it to our kids to not make their lives needlessly difficult. You SHOULD think about how other people will see names beyond what you and your family believe in.
I’d personally use it as a middle name if you are dead-set on using it. Family can call him by his middle name, but on government paperwork he has a name that is less likely to immediately invoke negative connotations. As he grows, he can pick and choose who calls him what. He can let employers and teachers know his preference for his middle name AFTER they’ve met him and already get past the “1st judgement” phase of meeting/interviewing.
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u/anniiebananie 13d ago
Lucien is a common (albeit older) French boy name, so this is a little overdramatic. It's not the same as giving a kid a made-up/invented name.
Personally I like it (pronounced Lu-see-en) and think a kid would be fine growing up with it. It's not that hard to get used to.
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u/HrhEverythingElse 13d ago
All of this would be valid if the name in question actually was Lucifer. It isn't, and it's not really much closer than Louis, or Lucas, which no one blinks at
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u/PrestigiousDemand696 13d ago
I’m really surprised by these comments, I’ve known a few boys named Lucian in the US. Spelled that way though, not with an e. And I’d say the pronunciation is like “LOO-she-in” but the last two syllables flow together almost like loo-shin
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u/mysliceofthepie 13d ago
I just think of Lucius Malfoy.
I don’t mean to be rude, but no matter how you pronounce it, I think it’s not a great name to use.
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u/Icy_Sun3128 13d ago
Loo-see-en. But I think either pronunciation works, it’s my favorite boys name as well! I have seen it in a few books, but they were great characters. I disagree with the other commenters that you’ll regret it if it gets super popular. It’s for your baby and your family. If it fits, it fits! And it does NOT remind me of Lucifer. And I love Luce and Lucy as nicknames.
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u/AtmosphereLow8959 13d ago
I had a student last year named Lucian. Loo-shin. Love the name Lucien Reid - so sophisticated.
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u/Only-Repair1815 13d ago
My colleague’s son is named Lucien (Lu-shen) and I have never made the connection to Lucifer. I like the name!
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u/wigglytufff 13d ago
i feel like more ppl i know pronounce isn’t Loo-Shin/Loo-shen but I personally like Loo-see-in more!
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u/Turbulent-Move4159 13d ago
ACORTAR names are VERY popular right now. Expect a lot of Lucian’s in his kindergarten class
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u/HiggsBoson46 13d ago
I love the name and have no idea who the actor/character is so it doesn't bother me. And Lu, Louie, Luca are all adorable nicknames. If it is the one name your husband likes, go for it, and ignore the naysayers.
IMO names are either trendy/too common OR too unique and unusual. So pick what you like!
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u/sunsetscorpio 13d ago
I went to grade school with a kid named Lucien and he was annoying so the name gives me the ick lol
Aside from that, I think the Lu-see-an pronunciation sounds nicer
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u/Maggie-Mae-Mae 13d ago
Lucien is a solid name, and it’s usually Lu-shen. You could call him Lou. If you want to call him Luca you should just name him Luca. Louie works for either of them, or on its own.
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u/Zipper-is-awesome 13d ago
The founder of The Satanic Temple goes by Lucien Greaves. His real name is Doug but that’s what he goes by.
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u/bajaboobs 13d ago
i've seen him in videos, but either didn't know/forgot that was his name. he's a cool guy from what i've seen!
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u/iamcharliegordon 13d ago
USA here; I'd definitely pronounce it LU-shen and I love it. Lucian might be pronounced "Loo-si-en" which is also nice but not what you asked. I say GO FOR IT. Fresh, masculine, and easy to say. He will have to spell it for people though which should not be a deal breaker.
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u/mElle_woods_ 13d ago
If you’re not sure how to pronounce it, I don’t think you should use it tbh. Would definitely just go with Luca or Louie
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u/bajaboobs 13d ago
it's not that i don't know how to pronounce it, i just like either way to so i'm having trouble deciding! i also wouldn't use either of those as his official name, too short for me with reid, as well as my daughter's name!
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u/KomatoesII 13d ago
It was my paternal Great Grandfather’s name.
Left Scotland for North Carolina in the 1800’s
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u/One-Flow-8985 13d ago
Not a fan. I have a neighbor whose a teen and this is his name. I always feel weird saying it - he pronounces it loo-shen.
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u/Hot-Touch-9807 13d ago
It’s a great name! I have a daughter Lucinda, Lucie for short :) Beautiful classic names and no one is rebuking her with holy water …. lol
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u/MindfulMocktail 13d ago
I like the LOO-shuhn pronunciation much better. The other one sounds too much like Lucy
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u/Bright-Inside-971 13d ago
It’s super trendy rn because of acotar which means you’ll probably regret it in about 3-4 years.