Hope writes:
My husband and I are due with our 5th child on April 27th. Our other children are Luke Samuel (10), Anna Elizabeth (8), Elise Marie (6), and Jack Robert (4). In the past we’ve never had trouble with names, but the fact that this is another boy is making that process more difficult for us! I think I would have been a little more adventurous with a girl’s name, but my husband and I are both more comfortable with boys names that don’t seem ‘trendy’. I thought we’d look to go in a direction that wasn’t so short and snappy since we have a Luke and a Jack and my husband’s name is Sam.
So far, we like William (Will), and Andrew (Drew), I guess this takes us back to the one-syllable names, but they still seem softer to me. I have liked Ian, Reid, and Evan, my husband, not so much. I also really like Nathan, Anderson, even Harrison, but none of them sound good with our last name, Mason. We would love advice on a first name that is traditional, but current, and goes with our other kids names.
We haven’t thought much about middle names yet.. in the past we’ve tried to use family names, (Samuel, Elizabeth, Jack, and Robert), but we’re not tied to that. We’ve sort-of run out of boy family names we’d like to use, with the exception of possibly my little brother’s name which is Jay. I’d love to use that if it doesn’t seem to short for a middle name..? It sounds like an initial when it’s pronounced, but I don’t know if it flows well on paper.
I immediately think of the name Isaac. It’s definitely traditional, but it’s surprisingly current: it’s been in the Top 50 since 2001, according to the Social Security Administration. It’s great with your surname, and I love your brother’s name as a middle name: Isaac Jay Mason. Isaac does have the same hard-C ending as Jack, but the other sounds in the names are so different.
Another possibility is Nathaniel. You mentioned Nathan not being good with your surname, but Nathaniel is great: Nathaniel Mason, maybe Nathaniel Jay Mason. And if he wanted a snappy name like his dad’s and brothers’, he could go by Nate.
To modify another of your options, we can take the problematic -son sound off Harrison and make Harris. Harris Mason, maybe Harris Jay Mason.
Another possibility is Nicholas: Nicholas Mason, maybe Nicholas Jay Mason, and with the nickname Nick if he wants to be like the other guys in the family.
Noah would work well: Noah Mason, maybe Noah Jay Mason. It’s short like the other boys’ names, but it’s softer.
I like Oliver for you: Oliver Mason. Very traditional, yet currently…current. I wouldn’t use Jay with it because of the initials O.J.; maybe Henry instead? Oliver Henry Mason.
In fact, I like Henry as a first name, too: Henry Mason, maybe Henry Jay Mason. Traditional but current.
More suggestions for the Masons?
Name update 05-09-2010! Hope writes:
Thank you for your advice about our little guy’s name! William Jay Mason was born on May 1st. Having everyone’s input really helped us to make our decision. Thanks!
Timothy? Timothy Jay Mason. Luke, Anna, Elise, Jack and Tim. Or TJ.
I love love love Isaac Jay Mason! Great Suggestion Swistle! You could nick name him Ike :-)
I also love Nathaniel nicknamed Nate!
How about Bennett, Graham, Noah, or Sebastian?
Or Leonard: Luke, Anna, Elise, Jake and Leo.
Good luck!
If you like William, what about Liam?
I like your choice of William a lot! From Swistle I like Henry a lot. My favorite overall flow is Noah Jay Mason.
For whatever reason, I’m not feeling Isaac and Nathaniel as much, I feel like your other names are traditional in a victorian english way (except maybe Luke, but Samuel counts), and those get a little too old testament sounding for me. Hence loving Henry and William for you.
So my favorite is William Jay Mason, good ring to it, and Will Mason is great, and great with your other kids names – I LOVE IT
(1) Phillip. Phillip Andrew Mason. Plus you can have a nickname that’s one-syllable name like the other boys’ names. Luke, Jack, and Phil.
(2) Edward. Edward Jay Mason. Luke, Jack, and Ed.
(3) Paul. Paul Jay would turn into PJ (YUCK!). I’m not a fan of Paul Andrew either. Hmm. Paul ? Mason.
(4) Daniel Mason.
(5) Hmm. A bit of a different style. How about Scott. Scott Mason.
I think will and Drew are both lovely and fit perfectly with the other boys’ names. (My husband is a Will and we have a Sam and considered Andrew). I was also thinking Nathaniel when you mentioned Nathan. It can be shorted to Nate or to Nathan if you like, and it’s a good traditional name without being too old-fashioned. I think Jay is a wonderful middle name. If you wanted to, you could even use a long form of Jay as his first name–such as Jason or James.
I like Nathaniel. I have a friend named that who goes by Nat. I thought I’d mentioned it in case Nate doesn’t have the right feel for you.
I like Andrew, Ian and William from your list and Nathaniel, Nicholas and Noah from Swistle’s suggestions.
How about Jonah, Joshua or Zachary?
I like Daniel Jay Mason.
Andrew is great, too. Andrew Jay
You could do just Drew, with a longer middle name. How about
Drew Daniel Mason?
I think Daniel is the all around perfect boy name. (Unfortunately, I could not use it for my sons because it was already used in the family.)
Isaac Jay Mason is my favorite.
Other names I like are:
Eli
Dylan
Noah
Tyler
I also like Andrew/Drew – traditional, yet short and snappy.
Seth?
Mark (Marcus?)
A friend just had a baby and called him Jude … which I LOVE (and wanted to have before a friend, haha) – maybe too matchy with Jude, but I still want to throw it in the ring!
Also, Ben (Benjamin)?
Your other children have lovely, lovely names! I can’t wait to see what you decide. :)
No suggestions, but can I say I LOVE the names you’ve already picked for your other children?
Seconding what has already been suggested:
Edward, though I prefer the nn Ted over Ed, which always reminds me of the talking horse.
Nicholas, Nick
Benjamin, Ben
I would also like Zachary/Zack if you didn’t already have a Jack.
All solid, traditional, yet current names.
Off topic, but I love your daughters’ names and would be interested to know what you’d have named a third girl.
Is Jude too similar to Jack and Luke?
Great names, and I love big families. I love Henry, as I was reading the post I kept telling swistle “Henry!” I had to wait till the last line to read it. :) Because your names have an english feel, it seems to fit. I also like Oliver or Simon, but perhaps too trendy for dad? What about Edward (again english) and use Ned as the nickname? Do let us know what you decide!