Miranda writes:
I absolutely love your blog and am in desperate need of some boy name advice! I am 22 weeks pregnant with my second boy and am having a terrible time naming him. I think my problem is that I used my two favorite boy names with my first son. His name is Lane Gray. I definitely pictured having two little boys named Lane and Gray, but knew I wasn’t guaranteed a second boy. What do I do!? We have other names that we “kind of” like, but it feels like we are settling. Gray is a family name.
I thought about using Roe as a middle name for this baby because it is also a family name that I like.
Here are a few names we kind of like so you can see our style:
Reid
Graham (have close family friends who used this recently)
Quade
Crew
Shepherd-Shep (husband isn’t too crazy about this one)
William-Will
TaftAnd most of these do not work with Roe. Our last name is Lawrence. I also don’t know how important it is to stick with a one syllable name (because our favorite girl name is June)…? We very much appreciate any advice or suggestions! Thank you!
My opinion on the 1-syllable situation depends on (1) how many children you’re likely to have, and (2) whether you’d LIKE to do 1-syllable names for all of them. If, for example, you’re planning three children, and it appeals to you to use 1-syllable names for all, and you think you could choose a third 1-syllable boy name if needed, then yay, fun challenge! But if, on the other hand, you’re planning four children and you’re out of 1-syllable names if you have two girls / another boy, then I’d suggest breaking the pattern now so that it isn’t a problem later. Or would you like a 4-letter-name pattern, instead of a 1-syllable pattern? Another thing to consider, if you do use Roe as the middle name: would you feel trapped into using 1-syllable names for all first names AND all middle names?
For 1-syllable options, I’m going to be taking a lot from the the Brisk and Breezy section of The Baby Name Wizard.
My first suggestion is Cade. It’s similar to Quade, and I think it’s nice with Roe. Cade Lawrence; Lane Gray and Cade Roe.
I have a soft spot for the name Wade—and it’s even more similar to Quade. And “Lane and Wade” has some of the same sound as “Lane and Gray.” Wade Lawrence; Lane Gray and Wade Roe. [Edit: Oops, see comments section about the Roe vs. Wade association. Even Quade and Cade might have too much of that sound for comfort.]
Quinn Lawrence. Lane Gray and Quinn Roe.
Grant Lawrence. Lane Gray and Grant Roe. It has much of the sound of Graham, which would have been my favorite from your list if it weren’t for your close friends recently using it.
Clark Lawrence. Lane Gray and Clark Roe.
Finn Lawrence. Lane Gray and Finn Roe.
Flynn Lawrence. Lane Gray and Flynn Roe.
Nash Lawrence. Lane Gray and Nash Roe.
Dean Lawrence. Lane Gray and Dean Roe.
Keane Lawrence. Lane Gray and Keane Roe.
Hugh Lawrence. Lane Gray and Hugh Roe. I’m not sure about Roe with it, but I like Lane and Hugh. I wonder if Hugo works any better? Hugo Lawrence. Lane Gray and Hugo Roe.
Theo Lawrence. Lane and Theo. I’m not sure Theo Roe works, but I like Lane and Theo together.
Reid Lawrence is my favorite from your list. Whether Reid Roe works or not depends mostly on how you feel about alliteration. Lane Gray and Reid Roe. Rhys Roe is another option. Or combine it with another name from the list: Rhys Grant, Rhys Dean, Rhys Taft.
From my own list, I think Grant and Clark are my favorites.
If you decide not to do a pattern, I like Julian. Julian Lawrence; Lane Gray and Julian Roe.
Or Ian. Ian Lawrence. Lane Gray and Ian Roe. I like the way each boy has the same number of letters in his own first/middle set—unless that would make you feel trapped into repeating the same for each child. I just noticed that the initials would be IRL, so that would eliminate it for me—but I’m particularly picky about initials not spelling anything. IRL isn’t anything bad, and with textspeak there’s likely a meaning for almost any 3-letter combination.
I’d probably prefer Eamon, though. Eamon Lawrence. Lane Gray and Eamon Roe.
Or Nolan. Nolan Lawrence. Lane Gray and Nolan Roe. I like the way each boy’s name repeats its own strong vowel sound.
Foster. Foster Lawrence. Lane Gray and Foster Roe.
Miller Lawrence. Lane Gray and Miller Roe.
Avery Lawrence. Lane Gray and Avery Roe.
Or Cray? Cray sounds very much like Gray, so you’d have almost your Lane and Gray sibling set—but it’s not a duplicate name. Lane and Cray. Or Lane and Clay.
Or Lane and Grady. Hm, I like that. Lane Gray and Grady Roe. It’s very similar to Gray, yet without that “using the same name twice” sibling-politics problem.
Everett Lawrence. Lane Gray and Everett Roe. I like that a lot.
I really like Wade Roe, but could there be Roe vs. Wade associations? That could just be me though, and it’s unlikely to come up much.
Oh, Anonymous, very good point! I hadn’t noticed that, but now that I HAVE noticed it, it’s something I’d want to avoid.
I like William Roe Lawrence from your list, best. Lane & Will (and maybe some day Lane & Will & June).
Grady or Grayson are similar to Gray. Also Clay.
I think Swistle hit on a super name with Nolan Roe Lawrence. It just sings for me.
I also thought of Grant so that would be my vote. Hugh is one of my favorite boy names and I’m surprised I didn’t think of it on my own. But I don’t really like the sound of Hugh Roe – sounds too much like “Hero.” I don’t think Hugo Roe sounds much better.
Is there another family name besides Roe that you might like for the middle name? Or would you be ok not using a family middle name? It seems Roe is difficult to pair and it might be limiting your options.
Good luck.
Too bad about Roe v Wade, since Wade Roe is nice.
I think I like Ian Roe best because I love the patterning, but I don’t want to to feel like you have to keep up that pattern.
Clay is good, too, though. And what about Jude? That won’t work if you are planning to use June, though, but if you aren’t or if June is a MN, I like Jude Roe/Lane and Jude A LOT.
Grant is great.
Oh! Zane. Zeke. I’d like Lee for you but too close to Lane.
If there are other possible middle names, I think Ronan is nice with Lane.
I know a grown pair of brothers named Lane and Evan. Both are really, really good guys.
From your list, the name Crew stands out. Crew Lawrence is just cool, untrendy, and is still only one syllable with four letters. BUT if you want June for a daughter, Crew might be too similar in sound.
So (eliminating all names with ‘oo’ and ‘ay’ as their main sounds) Taft pops to the top. Taft Roe Lawrence. Lane & Taft. Taft Lawrence.
If you decide to have three children, and you find out that your third is a boy, you could always use Crew then (since you would know there wouldn’t be a June).
You’ve got great taste in names; you’ll choose the right one for this little fellow. All the best to you and your growing family!
Along the same lines as Grant, here are a cluster of names that go in the like-Graham part of my mind, because they all have strong G and R sounds: Garrett, Garrison & Griffin.
I would avoid another -ay sound because it will be quite rhymy- Lane Gray, Quaid, Grady, etc.
I like Reid the most from your list, Lane, Reid and June would be really nice.
Other ideas:
Nash
Vaughn
Boone
Pierce
Archer
I really like Reid or Grant. I had to chime in too to say that I have a friend whose twins are named Lane and Gray!
I am not a comics nut, but Lane and Clark paired together immediately made me think of Superman. (Lois Lane and Clark Kent) I’d avoid that one.
Perhaps I’m just on some animation kick today, but I’d avoid Everett Roe as well. For some reason, every time I say “Rhett Roe” I use the Scooby Doo voice.
From your list, I like William best. Would using the nn Liam make it better for you? Lane and Liam. So cute. From Swistle’s list, I like Finn, and Dean.
Do you like Roan (alt spelling Rowan)? You could use the nickname Roe.
– Seth?
– Wesley, nn Wes?
– Edward, nn Ward?
i also immediately thought of Superman when i saw Clark and Lane. But I LOVE so many of the suggestions… cade, nash, quinn… good luck!
Oh SETH! Seth is such an underused name! Use that!
I’m starting to feel a little spooked by this post! I have a son named Quinn, his middle name is Lawrence. I also have a son named Grant and Dean is my maiden name. Ooooh!
Joking aside, I’d like to vote for Quinn. It’s one of my all time favorite names (obviously) and, on a selfish note, I really want there to be more boy Quinns than girl Quinns.
Or how about Evan? Evan Roe Lawrence.
I love Swistle’s suggestions of Cade and Flynn, Flynn Roe or Cade Roe both sound great! I also love Reid from your list.
Can i suggest Tayte, Chase, or Bryce!!
Congrats and good luck!
I like the suggestion of Taft, which made me think of Tate.
Another thought: I saw Lane being considered for a girl on Swistle’s blog in the paste. The spelling may have been different, but nevertheless, I would advise against names that could also be used for girls such as Quinn and Avery. You could have two boys with names that sound like you could possibly have two girls and then if you do have a girl down the line, you may feel compelled to use something extremely girly to overcompensate.
Another thought on the middle name: Roe seems to go better with the two syllable first names. For some reason, I thought maybe you wanted to repeat the one syllable pattern, but perhaps with Roe as a middle name you might be better off with some of Swistle’s two or three syllable suggestions. I like Nolan Roe the best.
Good luck.
I heard the names Saul (pronounced Paul but with an S) and Duke at playgroup this morning made me think of your post and thought they might be your style!! I think they are both Lovely names with the middle name Roe, Saul Roe or Duke Roe!
I love one syllable boys names.. I think they are Masculine and Dashing for some reason. Our list consists of (listed in order of most liked by my husband and I)
Heath
Hugh
Bram
Grant
Wes
Honorable mentions would be
Vaughn
Pierce
Penn
These were suggested by one party but vetoed by the other
Knox
Fox
Graham
West
Nole
Dash
Cash
Cullen Roe.
Cullen Dean.