Baby Girl or Boy Terrill

Harry and Dawn write:

We are expecting our fourth child at the end of November. We have a girl, Eve (no middle name), a boy, Porter Cardon (both family names) and a boy, Harry William (again both family names). We don’t know the sex of the fourth child, and need to come up with something before the baby arrives (with the last one it took us three weeks AFTER he was born to decide on the name!) Our last name is Terrill (pronounced like Merrill with at “T”). If it is a girl we wont have a middle name but if it’s a boy we would like to have a middle name. We have not come up with much but here is what we have so far. If it is a girl we both like the name Wren, my wife likes the name Isla. We both are wondering if Wren is feminine enough for a girl. Do you like the name Wren? Have you heard of any other Wrens? We don’t want a name that is too popular but we don’t want something weird. For a boy my wife likes the name True (I’m not 100% convinced on that one, not sure if it sounds like a real name or not.) My wife also likes the name Holden (she has not read Catcher in the Rye, I on the other hand have, and don’t care for it as much.) So we really don’t have much, any suggestions for names that would go with Eve, Porter and Harry would be greatly appreciated.

The name Wren falls into a very specific category for me: Names I Think are Wonderful in Writing, But Not as Much When Said Aloud. The word is beautiful, and I like the bird association—but “Ren” is not as pretty a sound to my ear, and has more of an association with Ren and Stimpy. With your surname, too, I dislike it: Ren Terrill. I’m imagining her introducing herself and the other person being unable to make sense of the name.

I have many of the same objections to the name True: beautiful in writing, great concept, but not as good said aloud–and likely to be misheard as Drew. Furthermore, I think the name True seems too feminine with strongly masculine names like Porter and Harry. It seems like it would be better for the middle-name slot, as with the actress Kirstie Alley’s son William True.

However, many, many people would vehemently disagree with me on both these names. And I have a very different opinion of more established word/concept names such as Rose and Hope: there’s no reason either are any nicer on the ear than Wren or True, but because they’re well-established as names, they come to my ear as Names instead of as Sounds. Wren and True, still rare as names, come to my ear as sounds.

If this were your first girl, we would talk a little about middle names, and I would have emailed you to ask for more information about why you didn’t want to use one. Since you already have a no-middle-name girl, however, my sense of consistency kicks in.

Suggestions for a girl name:

Audrey
Claire
Elise
Hope
Iris
Jane
June
Lila
Nina
Phoebe
Rose

My favorite is Jane. I think Eve and Jane are great sister names. I also like Eve and Rose.

Your first two sons both have family names. I don’t know what names are available, but that’s where I’d look if this is a third son. Perhaps you can find one more family name and then use True or Holden as the middle name. If the barrel of family names has been thoroughly scraped, then here are a few possibilities to consider (I’m avoiding anything ending in S, to keep from the unfortunate sound-blend STerrill):

Brogan
Coleman
Colton
Drew
Hudson
Jameson
Landon
Sullivan
Weston
Wilson
Wyatt

I like Wilson best. Porter, Harry, and Wilson. I also like Drew.

20 thoughts on “Baby Girl or Boy Terrill

  1. KL

    I agree with Swistle about the names Wren and True. I also find True to be a feminine sounding name (upon investigation I realized that Joely Fisher has a daughter named True Harlow which was probably where my association comes from).

    For a girl: I do love the name Isla (so does my husband – it is on our short list for a future baby girl), although I think Rose, Lila, and Jane sound a bit better with your last name and would go nicely with Eve.

    Personally I would steer clear of Claire, which sounds too rhyme-y with your last name.

    For a Boy: Porter is somewhat unconventional while Harry is a traditional, classic name. If you have a third boy, I would attempt a name that falls somewhat in between. I like Wilson, Hudson, and Weston with your last name.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    How about Mia for a girl? I think it goes beautifully wih Eve.
    I agree with Swistle about Wren and True.
    What about Cooper for a boy?
    Good luck!!

    Reply
  3. StephLove

    I like Wren well enough. Never met one, but I’ve heard of it. Holden is good, too, but True is not my cup of tea.

    Girl suggestions:

    Alice
    Christina
    Felicity
    Lucy
    Ruth

    Boy suggestions:

    Andrew (nn Drew)
    Edward
    Chase
    Collin
    Mason

    Reply
  4. Erin

    I strongly dislike Wren, especially because Eve is so classic. Also, since she doesn’t have a middle name to fall back on in the event she really dislikes her first name, I am all about giving her options with the first (maybe even a nicknameable name, as long as its not too long and contrasts too much with Eve).

    True is ok but I don’t like the double T of True Terrill (if it was a longer name, such as Timothy Terrill, however, I would quite like it).

    Its been my experience that many of swistles posters have similar name tastes, and that this strikes me as a name board that particularly gravitates toward older, traditional, antiquey type names (this is not across the board of course) so when posed with a name like Wren, you might not get as many positive responses as some other naming site – so if you really love it, don’t be too discouraged.

    For a girl, I also love Jane, June, Audrey I think Isla is quite beautiful and fits fine with the other siblings. A couple of extra suggestions for fun:

    Lane
    Leah
    Faith
    Faye
    Paige
    Lucy
    Nova
    Maia
    Arden
    Ruby
    Tess
    Quinn

    For boys I like from Swistle’s list:

    Hudson
    Jameson
    Sullivan and
    Weston

    I would also add to swistle’s suggestion of trying to find a family name that would work in the first or middle slot if possible.

    Reply
  5. Mommy Daisy

    Since you like Wren, maybe Raven would be a possibility for a girl. I think it has similar appeal.

    As for True, it seems unusual to me and doesn’t really fit great with the other children’s names. I do however know a family with a little boy named Truent. Little different, but similar.

    Reply
  6. tracynicole22

    To me the name Wren sounds very masculine, even though I guess it is considered a girls name but I personally know a father & son named Wren. I think Isla is a much nicer pick with Eve. I also like Adele, Clara and Lark for a girl. On the other hand True sounds feminine to me and it also doesn’t seem to fit at all with Porter & Harry. I like Swistle’s suggestions of Colton and Landon, I also like the name Tate (Tate Weston sounds good) or what about the name Truett? I think Truett sounds much more masculine than True. Good Luck!

    Reply
  7. tracynicole22

    I thought of another name I liked for a girl for your family. The name Bryn. It sounds similiar to Wren, but to MY ear sounds more feminine than Wren and is a cute short name that sounds good with Eve.

    Reply
  8. Alison aka Baby B

    I like Wren! I hear it as a feminine name. However, I don’t love it with Terrill. (BTW, names I like run between old fashioned and nature-y, in general.)

    I do like Isla. Lila is very similar; it’s on my list.

    Good luck!

    Reply
  9. KL

    Love Tracynicole22’s suggestion of Bryn! Similar to Wren but it sounds strong and feminine and pairs perfectly with Eve :)

    Reply
  10. Karen

    I like Isla and pp’s suggestions of Mia and Bryn. I do like Wren and I read it as a very feminine name. But, alas, I don’t think it pairs well with Terrill. For a girl, I think a place or word name, especially a naturish name, would tie the sibs together and have a tidge of the creative/contemporary appeal that the Terrills seem to like. How about?
    Sage
    Aurora
    Eden
    Iona
    Brooke

    oh and OF COURSE: Dawn. It fits very nicely with the sibs and repeats the naming after the parents.

    For a boy, I notice that Harry hasn’t said what he likes, just that he doesn’t love Dawn’s suggestions. True is not my cup of tea for pretty much the same reasons Swistle gave. But I second Erin’s point that we’re a conservative lot around here; so, don’t give our objections too much weight. I like Drew or Andrew nn Drew as an alternative. Or you could use Truman nn Tru. But then people would think you were naming your kids after the 33rd US president. Truent sounds too much like truant, to me.

    A place or surname-name would work well (most of Swistle’s list, for example.) more ideas:
    Nelson
    Griffin
    Sawyer

    I also think that Reid goes with just about everything. I also like the pp’s suggestion of Mason.

    Reply
  11. Cara

    We also liked the name Wren but after much deliberation, thought it was too uncommon of a name (and perceived as too strange by many) to be a first name and decided to make it a middle name for our first daughter (Lila Wren). But since you don’t do middle names for your girls, that’s not really an option for you.

    What about Jillian?

    Reply
  12. Amber

    I have heard of someone named “Wren” as a nickname for “Kathryn”….just a suggestion for you.

    I was going to suggest the name Truitt for a boy instead of True. Seems more traditionally masculine whereas I think True could be either boy or girl.

    Reply
  13. Christine

    I don’t hate Wren, but I don’t necessarily love it with your last name. How about Robin for a more common, but still not very popular name and I think it’s lovely at that and goes with your other names.

    For a boy you might want to get a family name and then use True as a middle name? Thereby avoiding having a name that doesn’t sound like a name as Swistle mentioned. Of course if you love it, go for it and don’t listen to us. If you’re going for meaning, I remember a Jewish friend’s nephew was named Emmett which means truth. And that could work. I don’t know if Emmett True Terrill has too many Ts in it though.

    Reply
  14. Pocket

    Well, when I saw True, I thought it would be a cute nickname for Truman, then I realized you have a son named Harry and you don’t want “Harry Truman” in your family…or maybe you do, but I think that would be weird. As for boy names, I love Jack or Michael as a traditional American name, but if you want to go European to match Porter and Harry you could do Oliver, Francis, or Charles. As for the girl name, I love love love Swistle’s Ruth suggestion. I’ve always adored that name for a little girl since I had a dear aunt named Ruth who was wonderful, and it has the same “R” sound as “Wren” but isn’t as harsh on the ear. You could also do Rachael (that’s my name!) with has that R sound and goes well with Eve, Porter, and Harry.
    Good luck!

    Reply
  15. Anna

    I love Wren its gorgeous! It is a little iffy with your last name though. I prefer Tru on a girl theres a Tru Catherine on a naming forum I frequent.I dislike Holden.

    Heres so more short girls and some boys that may work if you don’t go with Wren which I hope you do!!

    Ada, Cora ,Esme, Hazel, Olive, Iris, Ida, Ivy, Inez, Luna, Nina, Nora, Nuala, Polly, Rhea, Ruby, Sasha, Ziva.

    Marcus, Lance, Vaughn, Isaac, Dominic, Cole, Elliot, Theo, Oscar,
    Sullivan, Fletcher, Fergus, George, Hamish, Joel, Jedidiah, Keaton, Lucian, Baxter & Micah

    Reply
  16. Anonymous

    I like Wren. The only hesitation I have is that you will likely get compared to Nicole Richie’s Sparrow a lot. If you can live with that, go for it!

    If you are looking for an alternative to “Wren,” then perhaps “Gwen” will work? It sounds great with the sibling names. Plus, like “Harry,” it falls into that category of nicknames that make great original names!

    I’m not so fond of True. When I asked a group of supposedly grown up men about this name, they all shouted “True That!” If you get this reaction from 40 yo kids, I can only imagine middle school kids.

    How about the name “Duncun”? Again, it goes well with the sibling names and your last name.

    Given that you referenced literature, what do you think of “Marlowe”?

    My favorites are Eve, Porter, Harry, and Gwen & Eve, Porter, Harry, and Duncan.

    Good luck! JM

    Reply

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