Need Help with New Name!

Hello, I heard a name the other day and really would have liked to have thought of that name for my boys. you may not like it and that is ok. the name is Maddix.

Try changing up a tradional name. I have a son and we named him Olyver. Take a name that you like and change the spelling a littl.

Loki is nice, but have you considered Gary? I also like the name Walter. There are so many names out there. You go with whatever name feels right, B.. Good luck, and congratulations!

I consider myself creative, and can see the appeal of naming your children something unusual or unique. Quirky can be fun, but remember it is your son who will have to go to school with this name, try to get a job with this name, and live with this name.

I'd say if you go with either of your choices, the names should be either nicknames or middle names..but not a first name. I have one friend with a quirky name and the other with an "ethnic" sounding name (one of those made up..not real name deals), and they both would be the first to say they've had problems in various situations because they've either been prejudged or taunted in school.

One friend is white, but she was given a very black sounding name...Tisha. She said everyone expects her to be black, and they're always surprised to see a blond, blue-eyed woman. She says she's really shocked at how rude people are to her on the phone, or the stereo-typical assumptions people would have about her sight-unseen when she was looking for work..just because of her name. While she got interviews, it was always tough until she actually showed up to meet people face-to-face.

The other is a co-worker- a man named Kim. He said he got his butt kicked at school everyday growing up, and all the guys accused him of not liking girls. He unfortunately was a softspoken guy, and his work was very phone oriented. People would always assume he was a she, and would give him a very tough time when they'd discover he wasn't.. especially when they'd find out he had a wife and many children.

I kind of liken trendy, quirky names to have the same permanent affect as getting something like a tattoo, or permanent makeup. When it goes out of fashion, or doesn't look so good because your old, you're stuck with it. Be kind to your kid and give them the option as to whether they want to be called by either of these names in the future. If you make it a nick-name, it won't be on permanent record anywhere, and they can easily ditch it they please. A middle-name is permanent, but unless someone is purposely trying to find it, no one really needs to know.

Worldwide, this is becoming a big issue. There have been many court cases involving children fighting parents for the right to change their name, because their name is causing them mental distress or other life issues. Just a week or so ago, a couple in New Zealand almost lost custody of their 8-year-old daughter for giving her the name "Lula Tula Does the Hula in Hawaii". The girl testified in court she was socially disabled by the name, and was too mortified to tell her friends what her real name was.

In fact, New Zealand apparently had several cases prior to this one in recent months involving angry and upset kids saddled with names including; Violence, Midnight Chardonnay, and Number 16 Bus Shelter.

While Lula Tulula's story made all the papers and national news last week, I was only able to track this version of the story. Here's a link to ABC news' coverage;

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/24/2313126.htm...

Here's an Italian case where a caucasian child was given a black slave name from a classic lit book;

http://teamsugar.com/889795

In Canada, an alarming (perhaps biased) study says that society perception of kids with odd names is that they come from uneducated, lower income family families and are more likely to wind up in a life of crime;

http://www.wayodd.com/study-unusual-names-linked-to-male-...

In the U.S. kids who get ethnic sounding names get passed over and prejudged;

http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/4482169/detail.html

A blog from a U.S. mom who grew up with an semi-unusual name and why she chose to name her children traditional names;

http://www.professorshouse.com/family/baby-names/unique-b...

Lastly, why do you want to give your children quirky names? I think too weird of a name, or one that's damning to their reputation is kind of unfair. Your child will be labeled before they get started in life. Whether they're a trouble maker or not, everyone will think they are if their name is "Riot" or that of a Norse god with the reputation of being a prankster or trouble-maker. In school they'll be the first one blamed if something goes wrong, and unless your son grows up to be a big bruiser, the kids will probably come up with unsavory versions of the name themselves to bully him with. I say, unless he's world touring rock-star, feared gang member with a reputation that precedes him, a Pitt Bull, or ex-con, I think I'd give the kid a break.

We really wanted to name our son Fleetwood. And nick name him woody .. We seriously liked it.But our last name is Peterson "Woody Peter-son" So his name is Caleb.

Wow... I am a little shocked at some of the responses you have received. I think some of these moms need to keep their 2 cents to themselves - you asked for other quirky name suggestions, not whether or not you should use a traditional name. I think, when done tastefully, a quirky name is great. My daughter's name is Bijou (French for jewel), and I think a lot of our family flinched when she was born and we revealed the name, but now everyone has grown to love it and couldn't imagine her name being anything else. I would feel very sad for my child if she grew up having the same name as other people. I want her to be unique and her own person. My husband and I are R. and Quinten, and we grew up rarely meeting anyone with the same name. And we both grew up in really small towns and were never made fun of. Anyway... go for whatever name you and your boyfriend settle on... I think that unless you are trying to make a joke out of the name, then you should name your son whatever you feel. Sorry I don't have many suggestions for boys names though. Good luck!

Congratulations on your baby. I usually try not to offer opinions on names since it is such a personal issue. I think unique names can be great, but in this case I have some experience with the name Loki. I studied Norse mythology in college and as one person pointed out Loki was the Norse god of mischief. However, he was more than that and could often be quite evil in Norse mythology. I just wonder how people might react if they were familiar with the god Loki. I also have a dog named Loki and there are quite a few dogs named Loki, which is something you might want to consider. Even though I've run into other canine Lokis people also think it's an unusual name for a dog and I have gotten several reactions and comments to his name and I always have to explain it. (He is 15 1/2 so I've had a lot of time to explain the name Loki!) Also, people actually mispronounce Loki quite a bit, which always surprises me. But just so you know--it happens. How about looking through some sort of book or reference for another name that is unique that starts with L? Or another Nordic name? Good luck and best wishes with whatever you decide.

P.S. I should have added that I personally love the name Loki, but there are just some things to think about when giving that name to a child. Happy naming!

I think you have two issues going on here. First, whether or not quirky names are in the best interest in your child and second, your boyfriend doesn't like them.

One of my very best friends named her kids, Darius, Cyrus, Ahesia (prounounced asia), Nautus, River and English.

Granted the kids are geniuses and even highlight by their local news organization for being so brilliant. The kids are the most socially gifted children I have ever met. They are friendly, polite, but more than that, they are incredibly physically gifted. coordinated. strong. healthy. These are truly wonder kids. Their parents are super involved and amazing.

For example. Darius is 10 and doing college courses. Recommended by the principle and school councilor. Not the usual nerdy kid by all means.

These kids could pull off any name that had been given to them. They were named after remarkable people.

When I first met them, I sniggered internally at the names, I have to admit, but as I got to know them....I was seriously blown away.

Honestly, kids can pull off a quirky name, but I do believe that it can set them at a disadvantage.

Also, I have always regretted not acting in unity where my kids are concerned. You have lots of years to work with this babies dad, whether or not you stay together. Good luck!

Make sure to let us know what you decide.

What about Luke or Lukas?

Hi B. - I love your adventuresome attitude about names. I wanted to name on of my 3 sons Romeo, but went with Greg instead. mostly because it's important to compromise with the other parent for everyone's best interest.

What about Kyle for his name? It's obviously a boy's name and it uses the some of the letters you like. Or, Rex is nice too!

best wishes to all.
K.
Revitalize Life Coaching
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what about luke and just calling him loki as a nickname?

http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager
this is an awesome name site! :D

Luke might be an alternative, but you need to consider what he's going to go through in school with the name Loki. Is this something he's going ot get made fun of for? Does it rhyme with something like Dopey Loki? "Quirky" names are cool for the most part, but you can go to far with some of them (Apple, Kyd, etc). My kids dont have traditional names by far, but you need to look at how hard they will be to pronounce, spell, what they rhyme with, how well they will fare in the business world (would anyone respect a CEO names Puffy?) and if the initials spell something less than desirable. Remember, this name is going to be with im forever, and while it might sound cool now, in 10 years you might be kicking yourself. On a side note, I love the name Riot. I wanted our third son to be named Gabriel Kayne, but I got outvoted. :( Instead we have Rayden (god of thunder and lightning) Alexander. Good luck :)

I think quirky names are great my first son is Justin and that is very popular of course when I named him I didn't know any Justin's and my other kids also have somewhat common names so one you don't here very often is great. My son has friends named Lark and Abshack for a boys you don't hear those alot either and another friend of mine her daughter is Willow i also know someone who named there baby Meadow.Maybe there is something you both could agree on and you will like the nickname so you can call him what you want.I wish you luck and happy naming =) I wish I would have put alot more thought into it as they got older I started hearing there names everywhere so a unique one is good!!

I like it! We have ended up with a twist on normal names for some of our kids. Usually my husband would spell them weird because he wasn't getting his way, lol. Now he gets his way, but I do get veto power.
Our first is AnDrew Jaimes, pronounced ONdrew James. He was born in Germany, we were young, and the german language does use the aaaaaaaa sound, it is more like hond instead of hand, so we did that to his name for a memory, I guess.
Then there is Kaytlin, spelled so you can't call her Katie, its KAY for short, lol.
Devon and Cody are not too abnormal. Hope-Anne is different, I don't know why we did that. Donnie hated it, I didn't care for it, but I just "knew" it was her name. And she likes it.
Then came a 7 year gap due to a vasectomy. The babes started coming again after a reversal.
My husband then decided he gets to name the kids since he had the two surgeries.
Trinity came first. I still don't like it and she is 4. But she doesn't mind yet, and we haven't had a lot of people not like it.
Then came Samuel, God named him for us.

I regret AnDrew's spelling all the time because in order to get the capital D you have to make a space in the name on forms, An Drew, and now he gets all sorts of mail to An Pederson. With him goingn in the military, it really makes things difficult for him.
However, he really loves his name!
I know we are going to be going through this with Hope-Anne soon, because you can't put that hyphen on forms. And with Trinity Renèe we can't get the è on her social security card, even! They don't allow special characters.

So, my advice is to be careful with strange names, but I also know that kids do tend to like being different, as long as it isn't bizare. (like Harry Pitts)

I'm working on Trygve for our next boy, and my husband has been trying to get me to agree to Dorn since our first boy, lol. I've almost won, because he likes the nickname Trig, lol. I bet I could seal the deal with Trygve Dorn. Now to just get pregnant again.

Have you tried to find a more traditional name that you could nickname as Loki? (Logan, Lucas, etc.) That way your boyfriend gets the traditional name he wants and you still can call your son what you want.

I think different names are wonderful. My name is K. (I'm white and not Hindu) and I love having a name that is not common. My sisters are Monique & Rakel and none of us have had issues with getting jobs or being looked down on for having different names as some before have mentioned. I chose somewhat unique names for my 2 boys also, Barret and Devlon. When I was picking names I wanted something unique but not weird and I feel like I achieved that. My husband had veto power if he thought anything was too strange, but he understood how I felt and let me choose the names. I couldn't even imagine having to pick a traditional name! Good luck.

Just wondering if you were aware that Loki was the equivalent of the devil (or demon) in Norse Mythology? Perhaps some of the "good guy" names would be kinder to your son.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say please, please , please don't give your child a boring name! A few years ago I decided to embrace my name but I spent many years wishing I had a unique name. I came to the realization that my name is not my identity but I still would have loved a unique name.
I like Loki but it is a type of fish. I didn't know about the mythological meaning. My theory is that you have the priviledge of naming your child. If it is special to you then tell them why their name is so special and they will treasure it no matter how many rude people give nasty comments!
Good luck on your compromise! And congrats on your growing family!
EDIT*** I see that someone else recommended Luka. I love that name!

I don't have an alternative to Loki, but if you're looking for a middle name (that I think would go well with Riot), I really like the name Ranec (pronounced Rennick)...I used to want that as a first name for my little boy!

Hello! I've got some suggestions for you...

Malachi
Maddox
Mattias
Matteo
Kai (pronounced Kye. It means Ocean. Isn't that beautiful!)
Corbin (means Raven)
Dexter
Dominic
Pierce
Lucian
Ryder (means Knight, Mounted Warrior)
Rex
Hector
Wolfgang (Wolfgang Puck is a famous guy that a lot of people know so I think your little guy could pull it off.)
Thorne (nickname could be Thor, oh that would be cute!)
Tomai (this is the greek form of Thomas. Thomas is pretty traiditonal. So when Tomai gets older he could just go by Tom if he wanted to???)
Tyrell (nickname Ty)

Good luck!

I also like unique names. We named our son Escher. I at first wanted his name to be Tyr, but now I am glad he has his name. It is a unique name (but no stealing :) ) but is still nice for when he gets older, goes to college, gets a job, ect, and will hopefully alleviate him from teasing about being named "Tyr" during his formative years. So I guess my advice would be to come up with a name that is unique but still elegant. What about Locke (like "rock" but with an L)? It is interesting but more formal than Loki? Good luck. Riot is an awesome name.

Hi B.-

Remember that your sons have to live with their names the rest of their lives. I am a teacher and kids can be harsh towards other kids. Children need every advantage they can get these days and then think ahead to when they are professionals.

How about going for a family name that is different or never used anymore, but still a strong name. I like different names too, but my husband likes traditional. So, we agreed on a strong family name and we both settled with it.

Good Luck

I like to have some substance behind a name - unusual names are great, but it is even better when there is a meaning behind it. Check out the website "behind the name" maybe you can find a name with a meaning that appeals to both of you. Good luck!!

That's an interesting choice! I don't have any ideas for a different version though. Loki was known for being a trickster in Norse mythology (took the class in college!). Sometimes tricking the Norse gods when they took his advice. Let us know what you end up choosing:)

Loki is the name of a norse god and my friend named her son that - they LOVED it! Go for it, unique names are awesome!

While interesting names are very cute on a young child, consider what your boy might go through in Jr. High. Or when his teacher is trying to figure out how it is pronounced and says it wrong. A boy will take a lot of hits if his name gives others an excuse.

The best advice I got when I was naming kids is to take the name I like, open up the back door and yell it three times. If I still like it, I should use it. If I didn't like it in that form, I shouldn't use it because that is what I will be doing with it most of the time, yelling it out the back door for the kid to come home.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, your quirky names. I do NOT believe they will tramatize your child either. Have fun!

Naming babies is such an honor! And such a dilemma, really! Ultimately, I soooo agree with the first person who 'posted' - and just have a few thoughts for you - I have a cousin who is friendly and warm and loving - and outwardly eccentric / quirky. Her boyfriend is much sillier, for lack of a better word. Friends and family cringe with each name choice they've given their children - and I do think they dislike their names very much. The names come with ugly meanings as well.

On the flip side, my husband and I chose names that were unique to our community - yet one that was strong for our children to have for their elementary years (could the teachers and other children pronounce them) - would the name look good and strong enough on a resume, in particular, strong enough to offset the last name they have no choice but to endure 'Ding' ! - and to have with them their entire life.

We chose Avery, Alivia, and Geneva - and so far have not been disappointed. Each have a nickname that suits their personality.

On the other hand, the children I was referring to have parents not allowing nicknames, so they are saddled with names like cauldron, mayhem, and worse - funny? maybe. quirky, yep. a choice for an employer to get past on a resume? who knows. but myself, I'd not take the chance.

good luck with your decision! my vote is for nickname, or middle name at the most - but that's my thought -

I don't think that the name is as important as agreement between parents. Keep looking until you get one you both can be happy with. It took my husband and me a long time to agree on names for our children. I felt bad that he didn't like my favorites and he couldn't understand my aversion to some of his choices, but we stuck to it and found beautiful names for our children that we both love. Now I can't imagine naming my children some of the names I thought were so adorable.

B.,
I believe that everyones input is their own opinion. I have a very unusual name, S., that I LOVE even through all the teasing, and yes I have been teased even as an adult! LOL but I love it!! I also think I have the personality to pull it off also. My siblings also have unique names my sister Venus and my brother Skyler and my moms name is Starr. Then my mom had her second set of children and named them Avonna (aye von na), Shaquaree (sha car ree), and DeZhonae (day jha nay)(pronunciations) which provide difficult in pronunciations, but they all love their names and the youngest is 9 oldest being me 28! I'm glad my mother looked outside of the box! I am a foster parent and have a good job that has yet to meet someone who didn't like me or my name! So be true to yourself and name your child whatever you like!

P.S. as an adult I have come across more people who wish they had a name like S. than not!!

One of sister inlaws.used her madien name.It worked well.If you dont want a normal name go back in your family tree.There maybe so names that you change around.I tried wtiteing some names backwards...I gave my daughter my middle name,that was givin to me my dad is from a diffent country.There is anther ting to do.See what are the most popular names in other countries

I think that it's important that the meaning of each name we give to our children be a good thing. I was very upset when I came to understand that my middle name meant "bitter". I wondered why my mom would want to name me that? Combine that with the second most popular female first name for my generation and I quickly grew up hating my name and wanting to give my daughters something unique.

All of my daughters have unique names. Each of them have a first name and three middle names - one of which is always after a goddess. So... I can understand your wanting to name your child after a god.

Are you really aware of the facts about Loki, though? Hollywood paints him to just be a mischievous trickster, but he was more than that. He was a coward, a liar, a cheater and a thief. He carefully arranged for the death of the kind God, Baldur, and then showed no remorse for what he had done. I would be really loathe to name a child after a dark deity. Perhaps you can find a more suitable namesake in the god whom Loki killed, Baldur the Good.

My friend has very untraditional names for her kids. She named her first girl Jackson. Her son, her fourth and only boy, she named Dane. Don't know if that's quirky enough but I love it and there are not that many Danes out there.

You are a brave lady asking for advice from a whole bunch of mommies!!!! :)

The only thing with Loki is that people may be confused if it is a feminine or masculine name (ie: the whispers may go, "Is B.'s baby a boy or a girl...I know it has a really cool name, but I can't remember the gender...")

I'd opt for something a bit quirky with a traditional "o" at the end (like Nico, but you prob. shouldn't change your original to Loko) ...just my 2 cents...since ya asked :)

I agree with your husband about choosing something less quirky. I worked for a program that served children and we would often make comments amongst our staff about the crazy names people pick. I wouldn't want people doing this about my kids and I wouldn't want them to be made fun of by other kids. Leave quirky to the celebs. That doesn't mean you have to go with boring.

Names I've heard that aren't common or weird are:
Larse, Drake, Fernando, Garth, Yule, Owen, Heath, Harry, Keane, Mitchel, Noel, Oliver, Oscar, Preston, Shilo, Simon, Blane, Terence, Victor, Costa, Blake, Calvin, Zarco, Leighton/Layton.

I don't think Loki is too quirky.

I think, too, that naming kids with "made up names" is really getting out of hand. And I agree with the people who responded that weird or ethnic sounding names can cause preconceptions and trouble for their owners.
I had an unusual name and growing up was not fun! My name is Deanna, named after the movie star, Deanna Durbin (WHO? She was in some films with Judy Garland, as near as I can find out). All my life I have been called Diane, Diana, Deann, Dean-ah and other weird sounds. Nobody knows how to spell it or pronounce it. I could never find stationery, mugs, pens, or anything with my name on. Maybe it would have worked if I had been one of those strong, self-confident kids, but I was shy, fat, and came from a "broken home".
So, anyway, when it came time to name my kids I went with very traditional names, based on their meanings. Matthew and Joanna both mean "Gift from God", which they were, as I had a hard time getting pregnant. Matthew's middle name is his grandfather's and they have a wonderful, wonderful relationship today. Joanna's middle name is after my mother-in-law, who was a wonderful, tough, gracious woman. It made my kids feel good to sit in church and find THEIR name in the bible (and no weird spellings!). And they really felt good about being named after someone, too.
I would agree with the people who suggested you give your child a more standard name and use Loki as a nickname.
Mama P

I like Arizona, and then you can call him "Rizo" :) I also like Sequoya, Sage, River, and Forrest.. Have fun! We're planning on naming ours Sequoya Arizona or Arizona River, but we know how much that might change in the next 5 months.

Riot and Loki are both fantastic names! I gave both my children unique first names and conservative middle names. That way, if they hate it later, they can go by their middle name. You could stick with Loki and use your boyfriend's name for the middle name. Good luck...remember to go with your heart. :-)

Loki is some sort or Norse/Icelandic God? apparently otherwise known as Loke, which is similar to Luke and so quite tame. you might use "Loke"

hmmm, otherwise Loki reminds me of Lokum which is Turkish delight... so why not Turk?

I LOVE Riot! That's cool. What is his first name? If you went with something more traditional you may not want to name the second boy something very different like Loki. Do you like Luker?

I like unusual names but didn't want anything too crazy so for my two boys I went with Julian and Asher. I am hearing Julian more frequently so that's not quite as different but I don't know any other Ashers. I got that name out of a book I was reading, and when I looked it up, it turns out it means "happy and blessed." How about Asher Loki? My girl is named RitaMae, after my grandma. Even though it's not a wild name, because it's so old-fashioned I don't know any others.

Good luck, let us know what you decide. :)

B., I can appreciate that you want to be creative, but please keep in mind that it is not you that has to go to school and through life with this name. Also keep in mind the meaning of names. Loki is the Norse god of mischief. That seems cute when they are 6 months old, but not at 6 years old and he thinks he has to live up to his name.... How about Luka?

I'm not really a fan of quirky names because the child has to grow up, be teased, and live an adult life with that name. I have 2 nieces with quirky names and it's really hard for them now that they are 12 and 9.
Why can't you just use conventional names and then use quirky nicknames? That way your sons won't have to grow up and use initials for their names because nobody will take them seriously with their real names. Something even like Logan and call him Loki as a nick name.
Trust me, it's a cruel world out there and it will break your heart one day when they come home crying because everyone is teasing them. Or they can't get a professional job because nobody will call on their resume because they have a silly name. Trust me, it happens, I've worked in the corporate world. Go crazy with the nicknames but not the real ones.
J.
Mom to Ainslow, Willow ba dillow, Pedobadeedo, and Dizzle. Cute nicknames but not their real names.

Naming a child is an awesome responsibility. You are giving this child something that he will have to carry with him for the rest of his life. You have no idea where life will take this child. Will he be a CEO of a major company? Will he be a doctor? Will he be a rock musician? Think about how much confidence you would have in a medical doctor named Riot? Giving a child a quirky name may be cute until he is about 3 or 4 yrs old. Then it become a burden that the child has to overcome everyday of his life. Even creative spelling of common names is a burden. I have a slightly uncommon name and although I was named after my grandmother it has always been difficult. People can't spell my name, they don't remember it, I can never find stationary, coffee cups, pens, or pencils that are pre-made with my name on it. This is heartbreaking to a child. And inconvient to an adult. If you truely love your child give him a name that is easy to spell and easiy to pronounce and something most people are familiar with.

How does Brady sound for you? Kaden? Geene? I would love to hear from you on what you and your husband decided to name your second newcomer.

Enjoy your little ones!
S.

When I was in the hospital having my daughter, there was a couple with a little boy that they'd chosen to name Panakake Adventure. All I could think was, that poor little boy! I think quirky names can be fun (and Loki isn't that bad), but while they sound good to the parents, you don't have any way of predicting how other people will perceive your child because of the quirky name.

I don't have any specific name suggestions for you, but an idea instead. I'm not sure what your families' ethnic backgrounds are (German, Swedish, etc), but how about looking for a name that might be a little unusual here in the US, but is a traditional name in your ethnic background? Or like someone else suggested, use a family name that isn't used as much anymore. I'm a big fan of that as my daughter is named Lily after my grandmother and if we have a boy, it will be Leo after my hubby's grandfather.

No matter what you do, make sure both you and your hubby are happy with the name you choose. You're both going to have to live with the name and you don't want ill feelings about it to color your child's view of his name (he will pick up on it if one parent doesn't like it).

How about Lucus, or Lukas, Luke, you could still call him Loki that way.

This is from thinkbabynames.com:

[[[The boy's name Loki \l(o)-ki\ is of Old Norse origin. Mythology: Loki was the mischievious troubemaker in the Norse pantheon of gods.

Baby names that sound like Loki are Lake, Locke, Lock and Luke. Other similar baby names are Lon, Louis, Keoki, Lioni, Levi, Lou, Loyd, Loeb, Loew, Long, Lonn, Lot, Louie, Lowe, Miki, Niki, Riki and Zaki.

Loki is a very rare male first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Loki. Click here to compare Loki with related baby names.]]]

also check out http://www.mutantreviewers.com/rbabynames.html for baby names from movie characters.

BTW, I love the "Riot" for a middle name.
we seriously considered naming our son Ryobe, but when he was born he didn't seem like a "Ryobe" to us, so we settled on Riley instead :)

I think Loki is the name of a mischievous troublemaking god in Norse mythology...? Anyway, here are some alternative names:

Logan
Lucas
Loren
Luca (I like this one a lot)
Kieran
Kenan
Conan
Killian
Loden

Good luck!

Oh, and for the record, I think Loki could be a fun nick-name, but I'd be leery of giving my child his "official" name as Loki. It reminds me too much of "loopy" or "loco."

B.,
You came up with an excellent compromise. Please Please think of your child and the name they will be living with their entire life.
A really off the wall quirky name you might like but your child may not. I am a physician and meet people all day long. People often apologize for their quirky names. Giving the child a quirky middle name is perfect. Then if your child loves it they can use it and if they aren't so excited about it they can keep it as a middle name which is always fun to explain.
If you are a family that loves pets that is another fun place to use funky names. You get to use your creativity there.

One thing you could look into which is what my husband and I have decided is to go with a traditional name, but spell it different so it is still unique. IE

Alexzandar
Lukas
Brayden
Brandin
Pahl
Nikolas

Idk, my brain isnt working right now. 12 hour day at work will do that to you sometimes. but you could change almost any name with an "e" in it to an "a"...like the alexandar. Anything would work. Hope something like that helps.