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Humphrey and Nikita
Two quite different names, I know. I encountered an only-just-an-adult Humphrey a few years ago, and, having seen it in such a new light, I found myself becoming quite fond of it. Only now, however, am I pondering whether it's universally usable, or whether the Humphrey I encountered had something about him that meant he could pull it off. Thoughts?Nikita I've encountered on both genders on people around my age, never much older or much younger, and I've been contemplating it as a boys' name on-and-off for some time now. I was researching it again today, and looked at the original form of Niketas, which, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm pronouncing as nie-KEE-tahs, though I'd be tempted to Anglicise it to nee-KEE-tahs. What do you think of both Nikita and Niketas? Which do you prefer?Much obliged!


Ottilie


http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467

This message was edited 1/3/2015, 8:11 AM

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Humphrey would be adorable on an animal (like the Humphrey the Whale mentioned already. I just think that's so cute) but not so great on a person. Then again, I do get a tenacious vibe from it, so maybe the right person -could- pull it off.I -hate- Nikita on a girl. I think it's just a bit tacky.On a boy... hmmm... I can see the appeal. However, it's one of many Russian names which probably won't fly outside of Russia, sadly. And as much as I like the sound, Nikita Krushchev pretty much kills it stone dead for me. He was not a nice chappy.I still like Nikita better than Niketas, though.
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Thanks :)
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I quite like Humphrey, but I'm not sure anyone could pull it off. Nikita is strictly male to me. I think it's better than Niketas. It's nice too, but I prefer Nikita, it's sweeter.
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Thank you! :)
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Humphrey would take some confidence and swagger to pull off, and in agreement with the others, it has strong teasing potential. A dog that used to stray around my area received the nick name Humphrey because of his avid pursuit of female dogs. He was also less subtly called Hump-freely. Nikita is a fun upbeat name for girls. For a boy, I prefer Niketas since it's less ambiguous and won't be mistaken as feminine.
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Haha, thanks!
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Well, living in northern California, I think of this fella when I hear the name Humphrey:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_the_WhaleAs a name, it isn't TOO bad. I can see the right person pulling it off, but they couldn't be hopelessly dorky or else it would just be a bad combination. He would need a certain level of confidence.Nikita reminds me of this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_(film)I think it's sleek and edgy and cool, in that 90's way, but only for a girl. For a boy, it's too feminine, IMHO.

This message was edited 1/3/2015, 10:38 AM

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Aw, the whale is sweet!I've heard of La Femme Nikita, though I'd conveniently forgotten the association, and I might have to watch it when I get the chance.Thanks!
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You're welcome. "La Femme Nikita" is one of my husband's favorite movies, so that's what I think of. :)
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I don't like Humphrey. The "humph" sound is really unattractive.I've met a male and a female Nikita in the past year, both are 12 years old. I prefer it on a boy.
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Thank you :)
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I adore Humphrey and Nikita -- Humphrey for its unabashed fustiness, and Nikita for its sprightly rakishness. Niketas is also quite appealing.
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Glad to hear it! Thank you :)
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Humphrey...hmm...I'm torn. He's so cute and sweet and harmless. A bit dorky, but in the most endearing way possible. I like it. But I worry about it being somehow more teasable than average. And I have a pretty wide range of acceptability as far as teasing potential. The 'hump' part...the geeky part...I worry that if Humphrey happened to have glasses or be particularly lanky, it just wouldn't work well. That said, I do like it, and I'd totally love to meet a little Humphrey. Nikita is girl to me. I would find it very weird on a boy.Niketas could work though. I'm finding that original pronunciation a bit awkward in English. I would totally anglicize it too.
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I very much agree with your thoughts on Humphrey; I'm of the belief that name-related teasing is quite rare, but even so I worry about Humphrey's teasing potential. I'm not entirely sure the pronunciation I listed is the original, just a vaguely educated guess, but I agree it's rather awkward if it is the original. Thank you!
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I'm almost sure I had a Beanie Baby camel called Humphrey. It's just such a doofy and uncool name I can't see it on a real person. Even Humphrey Bogart is best known as Bogie or Bogart.
Nikita as a man's name belongs entirely in Russia.
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The male Nikitas I know seem to be handling having the name in the UK just fine. Even so, that is why I put forward Niketas as another possibility.
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