Kate writes:
I have been reading the blog for awhile now and never thought I would actually need to write in for help…but alas here I am. My husband and I found out we are having a boy – due September 29th. Initially when we found out we were having a boy we were somewhat on the same page with names so decided to take a break over talking about it at every moment (okay that was more me) since we knew we still had 20 more weeks to decide. Well now we are fast approaching and when the discussion resurfaced we are TOTALLY on the wrong page. We have a couple of names we like but I don’t think any that have totally wowed either of us. Neither of us are opposed to going into the hospital with a top three but we can’t even agree on those at this point.
The last name is Jones so everyone keeps telling us we can go way out there with the first name but part of the problem is I have always liked somewhat more traditional names, I am not really into some of the more “invented” names if you will. With that said I don’t want the name to be the most popular name out there either where every kid on the playground has the same name as my little boy. The only other hang-up is the syllables in the name – it may sound crazy but I prefer to have at least two syllables in the first name since our last name is so short. Some names we have discussed haven’t so I am not opposed to going the single syllable route, just prefer more than one.
So without further ado here is the list we are working with:
– Gavin
– Isaac
– Everett
– Elliott
– Graham
– Charles
– Emmett
– Marshall
– MitchellAny help you can give us would be greatly appreciated!
If I could COMPEL you to use the name Isaac, I would. Isaac Jones! It’s wonderful! Modern yet ancient! And I love how both names have an S that sounds like a Z.
But I also love your other options. If I had to pick a Top Three list for the hospital, I’d choose Isaac, Elliott (which I’d spell Elliot and my husband would spell Eliot, and neither of us would budge, and that’s one of the main reasons we didn’t use it ourselves), and Emmett.
Let’s have a poll over to the right to see what the rest of us think [poll closed; see results below], and we can put our Top Three lists in the comment section.
Poll results (229 votes total):
Gavin: 30 votes, roughly 13%
Isaac: 56 votes, roughly 24%
Everett: 36 votes, roughly 16%
Elliot: 43 votes, roughly 19%
Graham: 13 votes, roughly 6%
Charles: 6 votes, roughly 3%
Emmett: 27 votes, roughly 12%
Marshall: 10 votes, roughly 4%
Mitchell: 8 votes, roughly 3%
Name update: Elliott
LOVE LOVE LOVE Isaac and would have named my boy Isaac if it didn’t completely clash with my last name. Isaac has a lot of personality to liven up the Jones part. Also like Everett and Elliot. Charles Jones doesn’t sound good, too bad Charlie Jones is super cute.
Everett Jones is my hands down favorite, and to be honest, I am just not as into the other names as much. Isaac always sounded really harsh to me with the long I and Zack sound, but maybe that is why some think its so cool. Since you want to be wowed by the name though and these you just like, I’ll try to suggest some more possibilities that might match your style:
Garrett
Gabriel
James (something fun about the repeating sounds)
Frederick
Stewart
Edwin
Theodore
Henry
Tobias
Eli
Miles
good luck!
My top three:
#1 Elliott
#2 Gavin
#3 Isaac
Nice list overall. I hope something clicks with you soon. If not, maybe similar names would work (e.g. Isaiah instead of Isaac, Gabriel instead of Gavin, Elijah or Elias instead of Elliott.
My top three would be:
1. Marshall
2. Mitchell
3. Everett
Graham and Marshall make me think of Malcolm – my latest favourite.
I really like the Malcolm suggestion, but would never use it because my last name begins with M. Malcolm not only has the repetitive beginning but also blends into my last name – not something I would want.
Marshall was my Grandfather’s name. It’s not something I personally would choose, but I would like to see it on a baby now.
For what it’s worth….Everett and Jones is a well known local BBQ chain in the SF Bay Area (and was the first thing that came to mind when I saw Everett paired with Jones).
Aww, saw the suggestion of James and my heart did one of those beat-skip things because my grandfather (who I was extremely close to before he passed away in 2005) was James Jones. It’s a name that’s near and dear to me.
I have a million cousins with the last name Jones because it’s my mother’s maiden name, and she has SIX brothers… so while I am not a Jones, my family is. LOL.
We don’t have these in our family, but I certainly like them:
Isaac
Elliot
We have a Colin Jones, which I like.
Our “Joneses” are all really traditional boys names (Matthew, Brian, Jeffrey, Jesse, Bradley, Keith, etc)… but I will say this: almost ANY name goes with the last name Jones. So pick whatever you like, whatever number of syllables you like, it doesn’t matter. Our family is massive, and the names are all over the place and it all works.
Totally choose Isaac… it’s just so great!
Alright, my top pick is GAVIN. I have a Gavin, he is almost 10 and it has been a great name. It was down to Garrett or Gavin and he definately looked like a Gavin to me.
My second choice is ISAAC. Love it.
Hard to choose a third, I’d probably go with Graham.
Can’t wait to hear what you decide on.
Walter and Fletcher come to mind.
Everett is my favorite from your list. I would eliminate Elliott because it’s ANOTHER one that is being used now for girls!
I notice that 6 names on your list have repeating consonants. Other names with that feature:
Aaron
Atticus
Beckett
Harrison
Jesse
Russell
Warren
Would it help you choose if you considered possible future sibling names?
I know when we named our first baby, we used possible future sibling names to help us arrive at our sweet Tara Beth. :)
Love Emmett and Everett. Couldn’t get my husband on board with either. Good luck.
I voted for Gavin. Jones is Welsh and Gavin has a connection there too, so I think the names go well together. I’ve always really liked the name Gavin.
Isaac sounds ‘old’ to me (and also I sometimes hear “I sick” when the name is pronounced.)
Everett, Elliott and Emmett seem too close to similar sounding girls’ names which are trendy now — the Evs and Eves: Evelyn, Evie, Eva, etc.; the Els: Ella, Ellie, Elle, etc.; and the Ems: Emma, Emily, Emerson, etc.
Graham doesn’t have the 2 syllables you want with Jones.
I think Charles and Jones sound fine together and really like the nn Charlie.
I like Mitchell, but don’t care for Marshall (similar to Marsha). I know a 6 year old Mitchell.
So my three picks would be, in this order:
Gavin
Charles
Mitchell
Best wishes!
@Anon 5:05:
I think there’s been prior discussion of whether Graham has two syllables. I think it does and I really like GRAYem but I dislike GRAM, which means I will never use Graham. *sigh*
Swistle, maybe we need a poll on this. It might change my mind if I knew that only a few people say Gram.
Top 3 from your list:
– Gavin
– Isaac
– Emmett
Some of the names are too last-name-sounding to me – starts to get that law firm feel.
A few more names to throw into the pot:
Simon Jones
Evan Jones
Gabriel Jones
1. Elliott Jones (I also prefer ‘Elliot’
2. Emmett Jones
3. Isaac Jones
4. Gavin Jones
This is a fantastic name list, and I really don’t think you could go wrong with any of them! All great classic yet not overused names. Good luck to you!
Love Gavin & Emmett best, but I think all your choices are pretty solid, so you’ll be good no matter which one you end up going with. Good luck!
I love Everett the best followed by Elliot. Two of my top choices, though DH isn’t thrilled. I prefer a longer name with a short LN. Everett Jones just sounds amazing to me. GL!!
Someone said something about Isaiah and I just thought that really sounded great! Isaiah Jones :)