Baby Girl or Boy Kenya-with-a-B, Sibling to Blaze

Kellie writes:

I LOVE your blog!  Have been reading daily for months and months now and wrote to you for help with my first baby 14 months ago (without an answer), so I’m writing this time in desperation!!  I’m Kellie, my husband is Craig and our surname is like Kenya with with a ‘B’

My husband and I have recently found out we’re expecting our second bub due end of March, so while we have quite some time to pick a name, it’s already causing so much angst for both of us!  We had a name picked out for our first baby before he was even conceived, then a short while before he was born it got used by someone we knew so we lost interest and were at a complete loss for names!  That name was Jett, and as much as I love the name, I just know I couldn’t use it – there’s a total loss of connection with it.  We named our son Blaze as per my husbands suggestion right before he was born and I love how qwerky, different and unique it is.  It suits our son perfectly!  (I also LOVE that SO many people say ‘wow, that’s a great/cool name!’

We won’t be finding out the sex of this baby, but we’re pretty certain we have a girls name picked and that’s Harper.  Do you think the two ‘er’ endings are ok together?

I also like Harlow and a few of the other girls names I liked but am not 100% on are:

Lexi (not Alexis – just Lexi, which I think would prompt every one to ask if it’s short for something, so might be an issue)
Caelyn
Laci
Braelyn
Piper (but was used by a relative, so it’s definitely out – but I LOVE it).
Isla

And finally Poppy.  This name is actually used as a nickname for the baby while in utero as this baby is due on his/her Poppys birthday (and I like that the baby is the size of a poppy seed at the very beginning!).  I am becoming very, very fond of this name as it has a bonding capacity for me and the baby so as much as I love this baby in my belly, I’m loving the name that that baby has.  I am pretty certain we will use this name as a middle name (if it’s a girl) as it has such a special feeling to it and the connection with his/her Poppy is so lovely to me.

In general I quite like girls names that are unisex (but am not in love with them/or game enough to use them!) like:

Jamie
Billie

Boys names are a lot more tricky (and I’m sure I’m having a boy!)

I love Cruz (or Cruse), (but hubby doesn’t)
I like Levi (but hubby doesn’t)
I like Balen (but hubby doesn’t)
I like Pax or Paxton (but hubby doesn’t)
I don’t mind Knox – but not sold on it
Love Beau and considered it for our first baby, but again hubby isn’t sold!
I like Maddox but am worried about nicknames like ‘Mad’ or ‘Ox’ and the pronunciation might get exhausting when used regularly – what do you think?

I’d really like a boys name with a ‘v’ or ‘x’ or ‘z’ to go with Blaze which has the ‘z’.

Hubby likes single syllable names so it can’t be shortened or have a nickname, but as it appears from my lists above, I’m indifferent to this.  I definitely want something that is different although if it’s popular I don’t mind so much.

One last thing – we used both our grandfathers names for Blazes middle names (Brian and Douglas) but haven’t got a clue what we’ll do for this one (for a boy).  I’m pretty sure we’ll use our second favourite name, so perhaps I’ll get one from my list that husband has vetoed!

Any suggestions for the name that is perfect but we’re missing?!  Would love your help PLEASE?

I think I would avoid a first name and surname that both ended with -er, but that doesn’t mean it’s not okay to use it if you want to. Because the name Harper is so much more common for girls than Blaze is for boys, and because it ends in -er like your surname, and because your husband likes single-syllable names, I suggest Harp.

Because you like Braelyn and Caelyn, I also suggest Maelyn and Layle (rhymes with Gail) and Vayla and Maeve and Callan.

Because you like Lexi, I suggest Bex and Beck and Laney and Delaney.

Because you like Piper and Harper, I suggest Juniper.

A name like Blaze seems like it needs a pretty cool/tough brother name. Some possibilities:

Arrow
Axel
Axton
Bax
Bode
Cain
Colt
Cord
Daxton
Drake
Duke
Flint
Ford
Hugo
Hutch
Jax
Lance
Maxon
Maxton
Maxx
Nash
Orion
Otto
Pierce
Rhett
Ripley
Slate
Steele
Stone
Vaughn
West
Zed

 

 

Name update! Kellie writes:

I have a name update for you. Our gorgeous little man was born on March 25 and after considering your and your readers suggestions we ended up choosing Wyatt with Cash as a middle name. I know it’s very popular at the moment in America but here in Australia it’s very uncommon. We’ve had many, many positive comments about Wyatt and it being a great subset for Blaze. Thank you for your help – I wouldn’t have heard of either name if it wasn’t for your blog.

29 thoughts on “Baby Girl or Boy Kenya-with-a-B, Sibling to Blaze

  1. Anonymous

    Of all of your boy names, I like Cruz the best, but your names do seem a little plain next to Blaze. Some other suggestions-Cash, Royal, Hawk, Jude, Peregrine, Ace, Noble, Phoenix.

    I like Harper, but it does seem a bit ordinary compared to Blaze. I’m also not a fan of the double “er”. Swistle’s suggestion of Harp is really good. I also really like Poppy as a first name, though that would probably be too confusing since that’s what her grandfather is called.
    I’ll suggest Briar, Aurora, Rain, Aura, Avalon & Paisley. I really like Avalon since it has the V (why save the high scrabble letters for boys?).

    Reply
  2. Gail

    Some other short male names with V, X, or Z that sound cool with Blaze:

    Croix (rhymes with toy, means “cross” in French)
    Pax (means “peace” in Latin)
    Valo
    Zion
    Enzo
    Ivan
    Yves
    Zane
    Ezra
    Lennox
    Zander
    River
    Rex
    I think my favorite might be River…..

    Girl names soft in tone and similar to Harper (I tend to agree with Swistle about avoiding the double “er”ending)

    Lark
    Orla
    Mira
    Willow
    Tamsin
    Darby (very unisex, though)
    Avery
    Coralie
    Elowen
    Pippa
    Kestrel

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    What about Thane for a boy? I was thinking Blaze reminded me of Blaine…which reminded me of Thane. That would be one hardcore sibling set if you ask me.
    Blaze and Thane, kicking butt and taking names! lol
    For a girl it looks like you have some choices you like, but what about Hadley? I guess Hadley Poppy is a bit singsongy but it seems close to Harlow and Harper minus the er problem. I’d also suggest just Bree for a girl, or Brielle shortened to Bree.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous

    I notice that there are a lot of celebrity baby names in there (Harper, Harlow, Cruz, Pax, Maddox, Knox) – maybe you can look at celebrity baby name lists for other inspiration? The website namecandy.com has a lot listed

    Reply
  5. Trudee

    I’m confused here. Where is the double -er ending coming in? I thought the last name was Kenya with a B? Am I missing something?

    Reply
  6. StephLove

    I am confused about the double -er problem, too. But I like Harper or Isla for your, or maybe Penelope with the nn Poppy.

    For a boy I like Cruz and Maddox, or how about Axel, Felix, Tor, or Van?

    Reply
  7. Mary

    What about Craig Kellan as middle names after you and your husband?

    Some ideas for siblings to Blaze (sorry if any are repeats):

    Calix
    Jago
    Brett
    Ryker
    Jax
    Kai
    Zeke
    Axel
    Hawk
    Boone
    Bryce
    Brooks
    Dierks

    Reply
  8. Mary

    As for girls,

    Harper B—er could be a bit much, but it depends on the middle sound.

    I think Hadley Poppy could be very cute with Blaze.

    Other ideas:

    Arden Poppy
    Auden
    Wylie
    Kinley
    Bellamy
    Ruby
    Dabney

    Or you could go with a full name for Poppy, and have Poppy be your nickname for her

    Penelope,nn Penny or Poppy
    Phoebe
    Pomme

    Reply
  9. Anonymous

    What about Rex for a little boy? I also like the suggestion of Harley for a little girl. It would avoid the whole -er double up.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    What about Creed for a boy. I realize it doesn’t have your ‘v’, ‘x’, ‘z’ criteria, but I think it sounds great with Blaze! And I love Poppy for your girls name. I think you should go with it!

    Reply
  11. Grace

    I love swistles suggestions for short, cool boy names. My favorite is Ford. I hesitate to suggest it, since I love it Soo much, but Crew is my favorite name. It has that short, cool feel. Also Madden is like Maddox, but less popular and without the ‘ox’. Finn or Flynn would be good choices too.

    As far as girl names, poppy is cute for a middle. I like Harper, but it is becoming very popular. Hadley is the name we plan on using for our daughter, so I guess these names are right up my alley! I feel like Caelyn and Braelyn are too trendy. I like swistles suggestion of Delaney.

    Good luck!

    Reply
  12. Rita

    I think it would be nice to use another nature / world name – which is why I love Poppy for you. Blaze is so cool that somewhow I can’t imagine it paired with something predicatble like Piper or Levi.

    Alexia “Lexi”
    Azure
    Bliss
    Blithe
    Bryony
    Brave / Bravery
    Crimson
    Ember
    Everly
    Fable
    Halo
    Holiday
    Hero
    Liberty
    Reverie
    Solace
    Scarlet
    Temperance
    Temple
    Zara / Zahara (since you seem to be a fan of the Jolie-Pitt’s naming style!)

    Bracken
    Chord
    Falcon
    Flint
    Fox
    Hawk
    Harbour
    Hunter
    Indiana
    Lake
    Lynx
    Onyx
    Reed
    Rider
    River
    Sage
    Scout
    Storm
    Story
    Wilder
    Wolf

    Reply
  13. Trudee

    I think Harper sounds fine with your last name (I’m hearing it rhyming with “tenure”). It’s a great name that goes well with Blaze. Poppy seems a lot girlier to me but would also go well with Blaze (if that’s important to you). I really think you are between those two, but for what it’s worth, I also like Lexi and Laney/Delaney.

    I think you have a lot of great suggestions for boys. I think I like the suggestion of Ryder the best. Good luck!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    I really love either Vale or Vaughn for a boy.

    Blaze and Vale (Awesome!)
    Blaze and Vaughn

    I also suggest Zane (more popular though).

    For girls I like Hazel, Ivy, Waverley.

    Blaze and Hazel
    Blaze and Ivy (Love!)
    Blaze and Waverley (Very pretty!)

    I also really like the name Aven (Boy or Girl).

    Hope this helps.

    Good Luck!!

    Reply
  15. Eva.G

    My favorites for boys are Cord, Daxton, Harbour, Noble, and Thor. May I also suggest Atlas? Blaze and Atlas; love it! Since you like Beau, what about Beaumont? Blaze and Beaumont.

    For girls, even though I love it, I agree that Harper is too much more popular than Blaze. Harper flew up the charts and is ranked at #54 in 2011.

    I do like Blythe, Harlow, Juniper and Lark.
    Would you also like:
    Ever
    Honor
    Juno
    Lyric
    Pippa (instead of Poppy)
    Poem
    Sloane
    Sonnet
    Story
    Thisbe
    Tulip
    Vaela
    Winslow

    Reply
  16. Kellie B (original question asker)

    Oh my!! Your readers are amazing Swistle (as are you of course!!) I’m so very thrilled to read ALL of these suggestions! Have printed off this page for hubby and I to have a big discussion!

    I’m really off Harper now as I was always worried about the two er endings and you’ve all confirmed this.

    River for a boy would be great (Blaze for fire and River for water!).

    Beginning to really like Pippa – my cousin recently used Piper (which is why it’s out), and my mum kept mistaking it for Pippa and it seems to have grown on me…

    Will certainly write with our update once this baby is born!!

    Reply
  17. Moomoo

    If your last name is like Kenya, I think dont use any er or a ending names. Too matchy with surname. So Pippa, River, Harper are all out. But Poppy is a lovely nickname (I know two girls who it is full name, NOT nickname, but I think there should be a formal bame that it is short for, like Penelope or Persephone or Portia)
    I know a boy Blaise who has Hermione and Tamarind as sisters.
    Russell and Hugh are underused names which have a manly sound like your Blaze. If you have gone off Jett, what about Rhett?

    Reply

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