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1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav?
goos-tahv

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2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)
No.

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3. Do you at all like it?
No, nor do I like Gus, although I agree that Gus isn't enough to stand on its own. I prefer Gustavus to Gustav and Augustus over them all.

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4. Can you think of any alternatives?
Honestly, I can't think of any alternatives that haven't already been mentioned (the whole Augustus name branch). According to BtN Gus is a nn for Constantine names as well so that might be a possiblility although if I met a Gus who told me it was short for Constantine it'd certainly make me think.

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On a side note, my friends' son is Gus (full name: August Matthew).

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“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
~Mark Twain

I think Gustav is okay for an American. However, I must admite Gustav Van Hook sounds very, very ethnic.

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Other ideas for the nn Gus...
Augustin
Fergus (though Finley and Fergus might be too much)

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Arcadia

It's just an object
It doesn't mean what you think
SigByEatFruityOatyBars

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 4:45 PM

1. I'd pronounce it GOOS-tahv
2. I think it sounds perfect with your LN
3. It's so-so
4. Only alternative I can think of is August, but DH probably doesn't care for that either

Come to Australia

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Here everyone uses Angus, its really popular! I adore Angus and i was going to call my first son Angus but its too popular!

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1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? Probably Gustav but then i would remember its Goos-tav

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2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook) Definately not!

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3. Do you at all like it? Love it, but prefer Augustus or Angus
4. Can you think of any alternatives?
What about Augustine ? I love it, and Gus is such a wonderfull nickname
~~~~~~~~~~ Bex ~~~~~~~~~~~
Lover of the book Sirius & Remus

1. Pass - as I pronounce the Swedish way
2. I don't understand this question. Since Americna is a classic immigrant land, how can ANY name be to "ethnic"? The problem is if it is hard for Americans to pronounce or spell, otherwise I don't see the problem? Gustav Van Hook sounds fine to me.
3. Well, I am biased. This is a royal name in Sweden (our present king is Carl XVI Gustaf). It is also very popular.
4. Augustus, Augustin, August

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What about the French form Gustave? (Stress on the second syllable) Or Atticus? Maybe you find Gus too far from Atticus. But I don't think you have to be so rigid about nn; if you like the nn it is good enough.

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"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty

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"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)

I ADORE the name Gus, but the only 'formal' name I really love for it is August. Augustus and Angus are great, too, though.

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1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? - GOOS-tahv
2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook) - No, not too "ethic" but it does run into your ln a little bit. I do like that it honors a family memeber, though.
3. Do you at all like it? - I do a little, but the "goose" sound throws me off. :-/
4. Can you think of any alternatives? - August is my best suggestion. :) BTW, I love your sons' names, and I think "Gus" and any of its variants would complement their names wonderfully.

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ETA: I forgot about Augustin / Augusten, which I also love, and Augustine. :b Augustin/en can be pronounced aw-GUS-ten or AW-gus-ten, I believe.

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~Heather~

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 11:55 AM

1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav? - GOOSE-tav

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2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)- I don't think it seems too ethnic on its own, but with your surname it might. Do you have any Germanic connections? If so, it might be alright.

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3. Do you at all like it? - I like Gustav, but I don't really like Gus. I would probably use Tavo-another name that I really like!

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4. Can you think of any alternatives? - I think Augustus is amazing! It would go really well with your other children's names too. If only your husband would reconsider!

1. GOO-stahf
2. Yes, I think it does sound too ethnic for an American child but if you plan on calling him Gus maybe you can get away with it.
3. Not really, it sounds too harsh and dramatic to me. The other two names Willoughby and Finley sound so whimsical, Gustav just doesn't fit.
4. Augustyn or Gussie

You're not alone - I love Angus! The host of my favourite panel show (Have I Got News For You) is called Angus Deayton, and I just love him. That's probably why I like the name so much.

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1. I would say Guh-STAYVE.
2. I can't answer for America, but it would sound a little strange for a child over here (England).
3. It's okay, actually. I didn't like it at first, but it's growing on me.
4. How about August, rather than Augustus? As a rule, I prefer August for a girl, but your husband may prefer it.
[EDIT] Okay, I saw your reply to Siri, so please disregard #4. I'm afraid I don't have any other suggestions.

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- Maria

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Formerly known as Miss Natla

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 11:26 AM

That's my nephews name.

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1. How would you automatically pronounce Gustav?
= GU-stav.

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2. Does it sound too ethnic for an American child? (our last name is Dutch - Van Hook)
= Pass here since I can't know that one.

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3. Do you at all like it?
= I love it, and that even before I had a nephew being named that.

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4. Can you think of any alternatives?
= No I can not.

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Charlie Blue

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Jareth, the Goblin King!

"Labyrinth"

I'm always wary of basing a formal name around a favourite nickname. There's a good chance of the child refusing the nn, in which case you're left with a formal name that wasn't chosen on its own merits.

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1 - GOOS-tahv (but a short "oo" like in "foot")

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2 - It sounds quite appropriate with your surname to me, although I know Gustav isn't Dutch as such. I think Gustaf would suit better still.

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3 - At first, no. But with some thought, Gustaf is rather cool. (I prefer the F, which softens it.)

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4 - Fergus and Lugus could both be cool names. I love Lugus but I fear people would confuse it with Lucas.

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_____________________________________________________________________

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♥Elinor♥

This message was edited 2/14/2006, 6:43 AM

1. The Swedish way: GOO-stahf
2. Not really - I've seen stranger names - but I personally would automatically assume that he's got a Swedish backround.
3. Yeah, a bit. I like it because I see it as a historical name.
4. For the nn Gus? Argus, Fergus, Marcus - OK, that's a stretch - Gustave.

1. I'd say GUS-tav
2. That is pretty ethnic, but I've heard it before on people from several different generations so it doesn't come across to me as being ridiculously ethnic or anything. It's definitely useable, IMO.
3. I like it. I go back and forth a bit with how I pronounce it, but all in all I think it's a good name.
4. Another 'gus' name that comes to mind is Fergus.

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I have a new little relative named Angus Leo and I think it's an awesome name. So... someone likes Angus!

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Augustus Van Hook would be my choice by far. I like Augustus ten times more than I like Gustav and a million times more than I like Angus.

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Gustav - I imediately prn. it GOO-stahf: the way BtN has it.
Angus - let's see, how can I get you to see how horrible this name is... Angus is a type of cow. A popular type of cow. If you were to walk into a McDonald's, Burger King, or Hardee's he would be on the menu. My grandfather use to have a farm where he raised mainly Black Angus cattle. I've helped birth them, I've helped feed them, I've had a ton of disgusting experiences around them. Angus is a cow.

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I'm really not trying to be mean about Angus, it's just that it is a cow. It's not like a place name where it's like, "hey, I've been to Montana, it's beautiful there" or "Virginia, it's a state, but it was a name first!". This is like "you are a cow" or "come on guys, lets go to McDonald's and eat Angus, ha ha".

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Besides, Augustus is a great name and Augustus Van Hook sounds like it's meant to be.

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"We can even learn from our enemies." -Ovid

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Mitakuye Oyasin

I know someone named Gustav.

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He's married to the sister of my sister-in-law. I pronunce it Gus-tav... and yes, Gustav Van Hook is pretty ethnic.

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I love it, though. If you don't like Augustus, why not just plain August?

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Siri