How about Nikander? The Nike part means victory, so Nikander means “victorious man” or “winner.” There was also, FWIW, an ancient Greek poet named Nikander.
I’m a 32 yr old man from England and my christian name is Lysander. No-one has ever forgot my name, though quite a few folk have had trouble pronouncing it – I’ll always remember one particular rustic wurzel-woman who managed to mangle my name into ‘Lou Sammidge”(?!?). As regards abbreviations, a couple of people have tried ‘Sandy’ which I think is naff and makes me sound like an androgynous surfer. What I’ve ended up with is the nickname ‘Lice’. My hair does not have an infestation of what we call here in the UK, ‘nits’ (head lice), and actually I don’t mind the nickname as it is memorable and suits my slightly unkempt character, but it was one of the readiest associations made by the pundits of the playground – ‘Lysander has lice!’ – so you have been warned. On the other hand, I am trying to put you all off the name anyhow: as Levi-Strauss (the anthropologist) put it, ‘Une Jean est un membre de la classe des Jeans’, and I like the relative exclusivity of being a member of the class of Lysanders. Regards, a real-life Lysander
The Potter/Shakespeare links redeem the name for me. Lysander/Leander/Leland/Evander/Anders (Ander is actually the Dutch & Afrikaans word for ‘another’) etc aren’t really my style, so it’s a choice for someone else. It doesn’t remind me of the medication, but of a salamander. I can understand the appeal, but it’s an option for someone else
I do love Luna & Lorcan. Luna because the Potter books introduced me to it & it has ‘moon’ links. I’ve got a week spot for names with links to the moon i.e. Selene etc. Lorcan because an Irish friend introduced me to it. It’s the Irish form of Larkin & I ADORE Irish names
I read everything – highbrow, lowbrow, trendy, dusty, classic, forgotten, what-have-you. And while Luna is strongly Harry Potter to me, I’ll give you that the names of her sons are mentioned just once, briefly, in the epilogue. But then, I’m 36-going-on-37. Anyone younger have a reaction? I suspect HP might have generated more chatter amongst the younger set, and so Lysander and Lorcan might be more quickly recognized and linked to the novels.
Well, I’m under 25 & I grew up with the books which is I might think Luna first.Also, I have looked up Harry Potter names before, as I find them all very fascinating.They’re not names that are used in every day life. I’ve also got a weird book memory. I can remember the names of a lot of the characters in books that I’ve read from long ago(if only I could remember my studies the same way) .Which could all explain the initial association. I’ve only started to read Shakespeare & some of the other old classics lately, as when I was younger I wasn’t really into them & didn’t have a proper appreciation for it. That’s why most literary associations I have are usually from a contemporary novel. I’m also a full time student, so the time that I get to relax, I tend to go for the lighter reads (Grisham,Roberts,Sparks ,Patterson etc) as opposed to something like Kafka or Tolstoi
I am part of the under 20 set and am an HP fan. The two names (Lorcan and Lysander) do not imediately shout “Harry Potter!”, at least to me. I thought of Midsummer’s first when I read Lysander. So I doubt you would have any issues.
Well, I can’t use Lysander, as it doesn’t work with my husband’s surname and I already have a nephew named Andrew, but I love it anyways. I would be delighted to meet a real-life Lysander (or Leander.) I think Sandy would be a handsome nickname and Sasha would work as well.
I really love Lysander, especially with the Shakespeare and Harry Potter connections. I don’t think it’s very usable as a first name, though. Evander and Leander are great too!
One of those names I do really like even if I’d never have the nerve to use it. Especially as A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first Shakespeare play I ever read and when played well, the Hermia/Lysander romance can be hilarious.
Ooo I love Lysander, Evander and Leander.
I would most likely use Lysander in the middle and I think Evander is passable as a first name.
Jude Lysander Gabriel is a combo that I adore.
I absolutely love Lysander and Lysandra. I only wish I had the guts to use it. Around here, it would seem too weird and too out there. Which is a shame, because I really like it. I like the idea of Anders as a nickname.
A part of me really, really likes Lysander. Like many, I’m a fan of Alexander, but not quite so keen on Alex. I once tried to convince my husband to agree on Skandar, which is (I think) a Turkish variant of the name. Lysander would fit our background much better than Skandar, but I doubt Mark would be any more impressed with Lysander than he was with Skandar. Oh well, maybe I should just go and re-read A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Interesting history! I don’t love the sound though, it made me think of Lysol as well. I much prefer the sound of Evander and Leander. But Evander is all Holyfield and I’m afraid Leander might be too feminine sounding these days.
I could see a Lysander being called Lyle or maybe even Zander.
Lysander is alright, but then I quite like Evander, too. I don’t love the slightly antiseptic feel of the Lys- part (it does evoke a Lysol-esque feel for me), but it’s not so strong that I couldn’t get past it. I don’t see why it wouldn’t wear well. Nns are mostly of the Anders/Andy variety, though, which are not my favorite (Anders is preferable of the two). I guess you could go with Ly, but that sounds like ‘lie’ which isn’t great. Other nn constructions that pull out easily are too feminine (Lysa, Sandy, Ysa). Overall, I’m luke-warm on it, but I think if I met a mom on the playground who introduced her son as Lysander, I would be pleasantly surprised…. yep, it’s not for me, but very nice for someone else.
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How about Nikander? The Nike part means victory, so Nikander means “victorious man” or “winner.” There was also, FWIW, an ancient Greek poet named Nikander.
I’m a 32 yr old man from England and my christian name is Lysander. No-one has ever forgot my name, though quite a few folk have had trouble pronouncing it – I’ll always remember one particular rustic wurzel-woman who managed to mangle my name into ‘Lou Sammidge”(?!?). As regards abbreviations, a couple of people have tried ‘Sandy’ which I think is naff and makes me sound like an androgynous surfer. What I’ve ended up with is the nickname ‘Lice’. My hair does not have an infestation of what we call here in the UK, ‘nits’ (head lice), and actually I don’t mind the nickname as it is memorable and suits my slightly unkempt character, but it was one of the readiest associations made by the pundits of the playground – ‘Lysander has lice!’ – so you have been warned. On the other hand, I am trying to put you all off the name anyhow: as Levi-Strauss (the anthropologist) put it, ‘Une Jean est un membre de la classe des Jeans’, and I like the relative exclusivity of being a member of the class of Lysanders. Regards, a real-life Lysander
Love Lysander! Anders would be a great nickname possibility.
The Potter/Shakespeare links redeem the name for me. Lysander/Leander/Leland/Evander/Anders (Ander is actually the Dutch & Afrikaans word for ‘another’) etc aren’t really my style, so it’s a choice for someone else. It doesn’t remind me of the medication, but of a salamander. I can understand the appeal, but it’s an option for someone else
I do love Luna & Lorcan. Luna because the Potter books introduced me to it & it has ‘moon’ links. I’ve got a week spot for names with links to the moon i.e. Selene etc. Lorcan because an Irish friend introduced me to it. It’s the Irish form of Larkin & I ADORE Irish names
Is the Harry Potter connection a big deal? Meaning, would many people be aware of it?
I’m a literature snob, so it’s a negative connotation for me.
Well, I read mainly popcorn fiction, so the Harry Potter connection was the first thing that I thought of as opposed to the Shakespearean one.
I read everything – highbrow, lowbrow, trendy, dusty, classic, forgotten, what-have-you. And while Luna is strongly Harry Potter to me, I’ll give you that the names of her sons are mentioned just once, briefly, in the epilogue. But then, I’m 36-going-on-37. Anyone younger have a reaction? I suspect HP might have generated more chatter amongst the younger set, and so Lysander and Lorcan might be more quickly recognized and linked to the novels.
Well, I’m under 25 & I grew up with the books which is I might think Luna first.Also, I have looked up Harry Potter names before, as I find them all very fascinating.They’re not names that are used in every day life. I’ve also got a weird book memory. I can remember the names of a lot of the characters in books that I’ve read from long ago(if only I could remember my studies the same way) .Which could all explain the initial association. I’ve only started to read Shakespeare & some of the other old classics lately, as when I was younger I wasn’t really into them & didn’t have a proper appreciation for it. That’s why most literary associations I have are usually from a contemporary novel. I’m also a full time student, so the time that I get to relax, I tend to go for the lighter reads (Grisham,Roberts,Sparks ,Patterson etc) as opposed to something like Kafka or Tolstoi
I am part of the under 20 set and am an HP fan. The two names (Lorcan and Lysander) do not imediately shout “Harry Potter!”, at least to me. I thought of Midsummer’s first when I read Lysander. So I doubt you would have any issues.
Well, I can’t use Lysander, as it doesn’t work with my husband’s surname and I already have a nephew named Andrew, but I love it anyways. I would be delighted to meet a real-life Lysander (or Leander.) I think Sandy would be a handsome nickname and Sasha would work as well.
LOL – Julie, I tried to call my husband Sandy as a nn – our last name is Sandel. He put his foot down.
Ooh, but Sasha would be fun.
I really love Lysander, especially with the Shakespeare and Harry Potter connections. I don’t think it’s very usable as a first name, though. Evander and Leander are great too!
I agree – the connections are stellar.
I absolutely LOVE the name Lysander! Lysander and Coriander have both been favourite names of mine for quite a lot time.
Coriander? Not Cilantro?
One of those names I do really like even if I’d never have the nerve to use it. Especially as A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first Shakespeare play I ever read and when played well, the Hermia/Lysander romance can be hilarious.
Ooo I love Lysander, Evander and Leander.
I would most likely use Lysander in the middle and I think Evander is passable as a first name.
Jude Lysander Gabriel is a combo that I adore.
Jude Lysander Gabriel is amazing!
I absolutely love Lysander and Lysandra. I only wish I had the guts to use it. Around here, it would seem too weird and too out there. Which is a shame, because I really like it. I like the idea of Anders as a nickname.
A part of me really, really likes Lysander. Like many, I’m a fan of Alexander, but not quite so keen on Alex. I once tried to convince my husband to agree on Skandar, which is (I think) a Turkish variant of the name. Lysander would fit our background much better than Skandar, but I doubt Mark would be any more impressed with Lysander than he was with Skandar. Oh well, maybe I should just go and re-read A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
I totally didn’t think of Lysol until JNE and Wrenn mentioned it – that is a downside!
My first thought is “Shakespeare” – though I wasn’t even familiar with which play the name was in.
I think it’s pretty wearable, with the similarity to Alexander – that would be my first “sounds like” association.
Sander would probably be my nickname of choice – though it’s not a name I’d really choose either.
Interesting history! I don’t love the sound though, it made me think of Lysol as well. I much prefer the sound of Evander and Leander. But Evander is all Holyfield and I’m afraid Leander might be too feminine sounding these days.
I could see a Lysander being called Lyle or maybe even Zander.
Zander would be a good option.
Lysander is alright, but then I quite like Evander, too. I don’t love the slightly antiseptic feel of the Lys- part (it does evoke a Lysol-esque feel for me), but it’s not so strong that I couldn’t get past it. I don’t see why it wouldn’t wear well. Nns are mostly of the Anders/Andy variety, though, which are not my favorite (Anders is preferable of the two). I guess you could go with Ly, but that sounds like ‘lie’ which isn’t great. Other nn constructions that pull out easily are too feminine (Lysa, Sandy, Ysa). Overall, I’m luke-warm on it, but I think if I met a mom on the playground who introduced her son as Lysander, I would be pleasantly surprised…. yep, it’s not for me, but very nice for someone else.