Anna writes:
We are expecting our first child, a boy, in early June. Of course, we had a girl’s name chosen, Emmaline Virginia, after my late grandmother. We will probably use this name if we have a girl in the future. Choosing our son’s name has proven to be more difficult!
My husband and I are at least on the same page when it comes to style, so that’s a start. We tend to like traditional, classic names. Most of the names in our list have a family connection as well.
Our last name is Mayberry, which has a positive connotation for most people, but of course, we don’t want to burden our child with any names related to the fictional town (Andrew,Barney, etc..).
Here are some of the names we’ve considered. We would possibly combine these as a first and middle name.
Henry–this is my favorite! I somehow feel an attachment to this name for our baby. My reservation is with the “Y” ending in both the first and last name. Is it too much of a rhyme?
Thomas–I think this has a nice flowing sound with our last name.
William–not sure about the double “m” sound.
Benjamin–one of my husband’s favorites
James–my father’s name
Michael–my FIL’s name
Additional names which may be a middle name:
Calvert
ChaneyWe don’t like surnames as a first name. Also, we want to call our son by his first name, not his middle name.
Here are a few combinations we’ve considered. We would love your input on these and any other names we may have overlooked.
Henry Thomas
Henry James–is the literary connection a turn-off? My sister says so, but she is an English teacher. Surely, it’s not as recognizable as Edgar Allen. What do you think?
Henry Benjamin
James Michael
James Calvert
William HenryThanks for your help, Swistle. We are so grateful!
I feel like you just CAN’T make a mistake here. All these names are so classic and traditional and go so well together, you could almost pick any two out of a hat and have a success. This can make things harder, as we look for one combination that rises above the others—but it can also make things more relaxed, because they’re ALL good.
If I had to start narrowing it down, I’d probably start by crossing off James and William and Thomas. The -am- of James and the May- of Mayberry give me a slight tongue-stumbly feeling, and I think the problem intensifies with nicknames: Jamie Mayberry gives a mee-may transition my mouth doesn’t like to say, and Jim Mayberry blends too easily into Jimayberry. I feel the same about the way the final M of William blends into the beginning M of Mayberry, and the way Will Mayberry slides together. I like Thomas Mayberry, but not Tommy Mayberry or Tom Mayberry. I still like all three names as middle name candidates.
One of my top favorites is Benjamin Mayberry. I think that has a wonderful sound. (Though maybe too many sounds in common with Emmaline? I can’t tell.) The initials bother me, but I know from previous discussions that they aren’t an issue for everyone.
But I’m very influenced by the way you talk about the name Henry. It sounds like that’s the name you’re most drawn to for this baby. I see the issue with Henry Mayberry, but I think it still works. It helps that the -ry of Henry has that strong N-sound right before it (Harry Mayberry would be more of a problem), and also that Mayberry has three syllables (Henry Berry would be more of a problem).
Henry James definitely makes me think of the author—but both names are so common (and the surname James is so familiar as a given name), I’d assume there was no connection. If your surname were James, I think I’d suggest avoiding Henry, but as a first/middle I think the author connection just makes the names sound even more natural together. Your example of Edgar Allen is a good one: those names are so much less common, which makes the association much stronger.
I also love Henry Michael Mayberry. I think the repeating M gives it a slightly whimsical sound that goes well with Mayberry. But if Mayberry is your husband’s family name, I’m inclined toward using a name from your family for the middle name.
Henry Benjamin has the rhyming Hen/Ben, and I can’t tell if that’s an issue or if it’s the very thing that makes the two names work together.
Henry Calvert Mayberry is so distinguished.
Henry Thomas Mayberry, YES. That’s a great one.
If you use Henry, are there any names on the list you’d particularly like as brother names? I’d set those aside, and be less likely to consider them for the middle name. Are there any names on the list you’d rule out as brother names for Henry? I’d give those extra middle-name consideration, since they wouldn’t otherwise be used. (Or if you don’t choose Henry, I’d do this same exercise with whatever first name you do choose.)
I think my top favorite combination is Henry Thomas. What does everyone else think? What are your favorite combinations?
Name update! Anna writes:
We welcomed our precious baby boy on May 31st. We named him Henry Calvert Mayberry. Calvert is a family name, so we were happy to honor my dad in this way! Thanks to all for helping us narrow down the choices, and for some very positive feedback!
If my daughter had been a boy, we were going to name her Henry. It is such a great name! Thomas was one of the middle names we considered–it lost out to Christopher, but only just.
two things, one of the problems with William for me (an editor with an English degree, so take this with a grain of salt) is the “will” and “may” in both names. Especially if he were nicknamed “Will”, the fact that both names have the first syllable that’s also a verb would bother me. However, it’s never bothered me before for just one to have this (meaning, I hadn’t noticed the “may” of Mayberry before I saw the names paired).
also, having a train obsessed three-year-old, I couldn’t help but notice that many of these names are those of Thomas the Train and his friends. This could make for a great connection if your little boy turns out to love trains.
Henry Calvert Mayberry is brilliant! The ‘Ry’ repetition is not an issue to me. I am inclined to agree with swistle that if Mayberry is your husbands surname that you make the middle name a link to your family, so maybe your dads name as middle would be nice, but both work. You love Henry so stick with it.
I agree with Swistle–you practically can’t go wrong. I would suggest you do go with Henry James, Henry because you love it, and James because you don’t know if you’ll have another son in the future, and this way your baby will have a name from both the grandfathers: James and Mayberry.
Best of luck!
Love all of them, and agree that the -ry in Henry is not an issue with the last name. I also would not have noticed Henry James if it hadn’t been pointed out. Henry Calvert is very distinguished, but I also like the idea of using your father’s name in the middle. Or your maiden name perhaps? (That is my favorite thing ever, so I like to suggest it.)
I don’t think you mentioned nicknames, but most of these names have common shortened versions–would any of the common nicknames be a deal breaker for you? (Even if you chose not to use it, if your son did in the future?)
Good luck!
Henry Henry HENRY! On the middle name front, I think it sounds best with James – it just flows. (And there’s nothing wrong with some literary cred. :o) I also think the letter J is one of the best middle initials to have.
Henry Mayberry sounds great, the vowel sounds are different enough & the syllables vary so it is not too rhymey. Any of your names would work as a middle, but I think my favorites are Henry Thomas, Henry Michael & Henry James. I did think of the author but I think for first middle it’s not a big deal. I know a H3nry D@vid where D@vid is the family name. When asked about a connection to Henry David Thoreau the parents just explain David is a family name & the literary connection was just a bonus.
You seem quite drawn to Henry, so that would be my choice for you and I don’t think Henry Mayberry is too rhymey. I like Henry Benjamin and Henry Thomas. I’m on the fence about Henry James. I’d say no if it wasn’t you father’s name.
Maybe James Henry instead? And if we’re straying from Henry, Thomas James gives you a possible initial nickname of T.J. which I like.
I love your last name! Personally, I think Thomas Henry or Henry Thomas Mayberry is a winner! My Thomas just turned one and he goes by Thomas – he is still young, but no one has called him Tommy or Tom yet! My own nickname for him is Tomo (toe-moe)(an Eastern European version of Thomas – my kids are 1/2 French so it’s not far-fetched).
I love Henry James Mayberry.
I think Benjamin Mayberry is the perfect brother name for you.
Your last name is to die for!
I really like Henry Calvert…I’m assuming Calvert is a family name and I say always go with the family connection. Thomas Calvert would also be nice. Thomas James sounds good too if you’d like to use your father’s name in there.
Henry Calvert Mayberry. Harry would be out as a nickname, but wouldn’t it likely be anyway? You could use “Hank” if necessary.
If there’s a brother, Benjamin James Mayberry, just because I love imagining someone saying “Hi, I’m Ben Mayberry.”
Anything from your list is going to be great.
Henry James Mayberry seems the perfect name for your son. I really like naming for a special person in one’s life (not just a name from a family tree) and think it’s such a gift for a grandfather and grandson to share a name. For me that overrides style and/or sound. In your case, Henry James Mayberry sounds superb, and no need for concern about HenRY MayberRY — the repetition is muted by the 3 syllable surname following 2 syllable Henry — or about Henry with James, thus Henry James — you would be choosing James to honor your dad and it’s only coincidence that Henry James is a famous name. Too, Henry is an excellent pairing with Emmaline if you someday have a little girl. As others have said, Benjamin would fit too for a little brother. Henry James Mayberry, Henry Mayberry — an excellent name!
I love Benjamin and Emmaline as a sibling set the most, but Henry and Emmaline or Henry and Benjamin are very good too.
Henry Michael Mayberry wouldn’t work *for me* because of the initials. This may be due to my fondness for typing “HMMMMM?” at the end of nosy emails/texts though.
I love Calvert as a first name! So cute!
I vote Benjamin James (Ben Mayberry!) or James Calvert. I know I’m in the minority here, but I don’t like the -y ending of the first name and the -y ending of the last name together. It’s not that it’s too rhymey, I just don’t think the rhythm of the two syllables before Mayberry or the look of the two y’s on the page quite works. My two cents!
I would definitely go with your heart and use Henry for the first name.
I wouldn’t use what appears to be your second favorite Thomas as the middle name though as this would rule it out for Henry’s possible future brother.
Congratulations! I love the name Henry Calvert – so handsome and charming.