Christy writes:
Swistle I’ve been following you for a while, and knew if I were having a boy I would need your help….so here I am 8 1/2 months pregnant with a BOY and still no name!!!! To make matters worse…My husbands #1 name is a popular girls names: Peyton…HELP!!!!
Our last name sounds like Julien-elle. We have a daughter Gwen Grace (yes just Gwen, its not short for anything). We are absolutely obsessed with her name and love that we don’t know any other Gwen’s.
So we have never really had a boys name (thank goodness we had a girl first!) and I am having a hard time thinking of a name that fits well with Gwen. Like mentioned above, our daughter is just Gwen……I am a “Christine” who has never gone by that one day of my life (always been a Christy)….so I tend to be drawn toward shorter names that aren’t shortened to a nickname. We do have middle name options (woohoo!): James, Paul, or Gideon.
Names I like:
Vance – my secret favorite, my husband liked it at first but is slowly getting over it, thinking it is too “out there”. I really think Vance goes well with Gwen. (but is VJ bad initials to have?!?!?)
Rhett – Husband thinks it sounds like Rex ( and we know a baby Rex)
Paxton – my attempt to sway him from Peyton, I like the nickname Pax (yes I realize this goes against my rule above!) but feel like its a bit made up to me and getting popular.
Gavin – I’m pretty sure Gwen Stefani ruined this one out for us……although I think its a super cute sibling set!!! Plus we are fans, so that might be a little too weird!
Landon – but I don’t think it goes with Gwen
Miles – ehh
Layne – Hubby not into it
Names husband likes:
Peyton – enough said!……..Although in my husbands defense, I too liked that name for a boy about 10 year ago….but in this age of mommy groups, gym classes and the internet I’ve come across LOTS of baby girl Peytons.
Barron – bad association
Caleb – this is slowly moving its way up his list……I must admit I do like it, but have a real issue with its spot on the SSA list #33 (although I do not know any kids named Caleb, and honestly have never met one in my life!!! thats saying a lot….see below)
One last thing that complicates things all my friends have boys, so we have lots of boy names off limits: Nathan, Eli, Jack, Will, Kaiden, Liam, Cooper, Luke, Brody, Brayden, Christian, Charlie, Cade, Colin, James, Rex just to name a few…….
Please help me find Gwen’s brothers name! THANK YOU!!!!
I suggest Grant. It’s short, it’s similar to Rhett and Vance and Landon. If you wanted to continue the G theme (especially if this is your last child), you could use Gideon as the middle name. Grant Gideon Julienelle; Gwen Grace and Grant Gideon.
Or Garrett: it’s the Rhett sound you like, but with an additional sound to avoid the Rex problem. Garrett Julienelle; Gwen and Garrett.
Or Clark: Clark Julienelle; Gwen and Clark.
More suggestions for the Julienelles?
Name update! Christy writes:
Introducing Vance Paul Julienelle born November 22, 2011.
I had known in my heart that his name was always Vance, and while my husband liked it was not his #1. After much research of the name Vance in history and lots of praying, we had been given so many Vance “signs” that the name was undeniably meant to be! Even my husband agreed! The name is perfect for him and we get lots of complaints. Thank you for all your comments and support!!
Grant is spectacular! Leo is another suggestion. And out of the names you mentioned, it seems like Caleb is the only viable one, but I can tell you that it is mega popular where I live.
Oh and I forgot to add, its a bummer that your friends names are off limits, I love Jack, Will, Kaiden, Luke, Cade….I would name a son any one of those names!
Do you like Maddox? Sounds a bit like Paxton but less “made up”. I know a Maddox and his name is never shortened.
FWIW, the only Peyton I know is a little boy. That name reminds me of Peyton Manning, so it’s definitely boy to me.
I love the suggestions of Grant and Clark. What I like about Clark is that it is surprisingly underused. There’s also Carl or Karl which is also surprisngly underused.
I love your daughter’s name, and i have also never met a little girl named Gwen!!
For your little man i really like Vance, Miles, and Landon! and i think Gideon would be a great first name too!!
Landon makes me think of Lincoln and Lawson, I love both these names!!
I agree with you that Peyton has gone to the girls i know a lot of little girls with the name which is a shame as its a great name for a boy!
Caleb is a great name but were i live it is also very common!
Other names you may like:
Dion, Byron, Archer!
All the best and congrats!
I also like Caleb. Caleb Gideon is truly great. It’s not so popular that your son will be one of three in his class – and it’s nowhere near the popularity of the Aiden names, so I wouldn’t worry.
If that doesn’t work, what about combinations of your middle name choices? I like Gideon Paul and Gideon James a lot! Even Paul Gideon would work. Paul is kind of like Gwen, in that it’s familiar but not at all popular.
How about Graham, Wade, Cole, Blake, Reed/Reid or Rhys/Reece? I really like Rhys with Gwen because they are both Welsh (Rhys is the original welsh spelling of Reece) Plus it’s #471 on the ssa list, so not very popular! I also really like the suggestion of Clark
Be careful not to avoid a name you love just because you know a few kids with the name where you are living. Unless you know you will never move from there! Case in point, where I live (and I work in the school system) there are TONS of Caleb/Kalebs and only boys named Peyton but there are at least 3 of them in 6th grade and below (the grades I see).
That being said, I like the name Grant from Swistle’s list and I like Vance from your list. I went to high school with a boy named Vance and always liked the name. Good luck!!
I love the name Grant, its my sons middle name. Vance is great too. What about Gage?
I like Vance a lot too. Maybe Lance? I think Rhett is different enough from Rex. How close is that friend? Once they are in school and grow up they will meet so many new people. Drew, Kale, Dwight, Dale, Clay, Clayton, Grey, Brett, Bryce, Gabe, Ian, Owen, Lance, Rhett, Barret
The first two names to pop into my head were Bret, like Rhett, but not to be confused with Rex–also short and un-nicknameable, and Clayton, which mimics the sound of Peyton, but is pretty exclusively masculine. Clayton will beg the nickname Clay, but if you’re willing to compromise… It does have a completely different feel from Peyton, though, so…it depends on if it’s the style or the sound that your husband is so drawn to. The name Peyton *does* have the superstar quarterback Peyton Manning going for it, but I just saw a statistic that is #60 for girls & #130 for boys.
Some other suggestions:
Van (like Vance, but…edgier? Maybe too close to Gwen?)
Ryan (reminds me of Peyton)
Bryce (reminds me of Vance, maybe a bit different from Gwen?)
Vaughn (seems like a bit of a compromise between Vance & Peyton? Again, it’s so close to Gwen)
Ethan
Owen
And two just for fun:
Ross
Bo: this one seems to fit your style of a short name that’s not a nickname and won’t have one. Also, it is ridiculous adorable. Also also, Gwen & Bo sounds too cute.
Good luck!
Oh, I totally just realized Owen won’t work with Gwen. Duh. But what about Vince?
I know a 9 y/o Gwen and her parents considered Griffin Dane for a boy name at one point, though they never had a boy. I like both Griffin and Dane for you. Gwen & Griffin, Gwen & Dane. Griffin Julienelle, Dane Julienelle.
I do like Vance, too. When you mention the initials, are you referring to VJ day? If so, I don’t think it should be an issue.
p.s. I like Caleb, too and I don’t think it’s too popular.
What about Gable, possible nickname Gabe?
Vance is a great name for a guy! Masculine, established, and unpopular. Great idea!
Other suggestions:
Do you like Knox? Knox Paul Julienelle.
Craig is virtually unused in this generation. Craig James Julienelle.
How about Drake? Drake Gideon Julienelle.
And, finally, this one may be too old-fashioned for you, but do you care for Foss? Foss Paul Julienelle.
All the best to you and your growing family. Excited to hear what you and your husband decide!
Oh, I really like the idea of Rhys! Rhys James or Rhys Gideon, Gwen & Rhys – fantastic!
Peyton would be a no-go for me as well; it’s become very popular with baby girls in our area – it seemed like every 4th one I met last year was named Peyton (an obvious exaggeration, but still.)
I’m not a fan of Vance/Vince – they sound kind of “slimeball-y” to me, but I guess I have associations with the names (though I can’t remember any specifically.) Not a huge fan of Grant either.
I do think Garrett was a fantastic suggestion! It echoes the sounds of both Rhett & Gavin. I wouldn’t rule Gavin out because of Gwen Stefani & her husband. Chances are, few people will remember the association by the time your kids are old enough for it to be a concern.
My runner-up names are Garrett and Gavin and my hands-down favourite for you is Rhys.
Look forward to your update!…
I like Gavin (we won’t use as live in the UK and it is too popular for me, as is Graham/Graeme), Grant, Rhett amd Garrett. Wade is one of my tops as well (although my W last name makes me bristle at the aliteration!)
What about Wyatt? Or Vaughn? Roarke?
Or Owen? It is so close to Gwen, yet so different!
I’m also partial to Clay or Caeden – I like the idea of the mom and the son sharing initials!
Hope you’re getting some good ideas! I’m also looking forward to your update!!
Graham (or Graeme)
I think Peyton is the best choice. Its still quite popular for boys without it being too common, he’ll always have Peyton Manning as a masculine figure to his name. Plus, what’s the problem of there being boys named Peyton, Riley, Taylor, Jordan, etc? In this day an age, its fine. Kids don’t care and are used to unisex names. Its us parents that seem upset by it.
Congratulations on your adorable baby Vance. I love his name! I hope you get lots of “compliments” rather than “complaints”?