G. writes:
I definitely could use some name advice.
We already have one son, born January 2010, named Noah Christopher. Our last name starts with a hard G like in “goal.” Christopher is my husband’s middle name and he just liked Noah.I am due with boy #2 on Feb 25, 2013. We have agreed (for now) on Nathaniel for the first name but are stumped for a middle. Husband’s first name is Johnathan (and it was originally supposed to be John Nathan Christopher until his mother objected), so we’re taking the Nathan from that.I suggested Joshua, my husband’s brother’s name, as a middle. Husband doesn’t like the sound of the J following the ending L.We would both consider giving the baby a middle name after my dad, but his names are both fairly awful – Eugene Francis. He does go by Gene (and my name is derived from his), but I don’t think the husband would go for that since Gene has the same starting sound as Joshua. I might try to convince him. My dad doesn’t like his name, so I don’t really feel like pushing past my dislike would be worth it, even though I would love to find a way to incorporate his name.There are no other good male family names on either side to choose from, and we’re kind of stumped. Despite what our choices in names indicates, we’re not particularly religious, so no requirements there.Middle names husband has rejected so far: Joshua, Lee, Anthony
Since both boys have names honoring your husband’s side of the family (and do they also have your husband’s surname?), I feel very motivated to find a middle name that honors your side this time. Perhaps even if your husband doesn’t find the L/G combination ideal, he can tolerate it for the sake of honor and balance? Nathaniel Gene is great, and I suspect your father would find new appreciation for his name seeing it on his grandson; it’s particularly encouraging that he liked his name well enough to give a version of it to you. And since the two names from your husband’s side are directly from your husband’s own names, it gives a pleasing balance to find a name that reflects your own name as well as your dad’s.
But if you’re not keen on Gene either, are there any surnames from your side that would make good middle names?
Or perhaps you could find something that represents your family’s ancestry? Or the name of an important town/street in your family’s history?
Or, I suppose we could go back for another name from your husband: if the Nathan- of Nathaniel is from Johnathan, the middle name could be John. Noah Christopher and Nathaniel John. While I’d prefer a better balance of family names, in some families the names just don’t work out that way. And it does appeal to think of both boys having names from their father. And it does make a good naming story: from John Nathan to Johnathan to Nathaniel John. My first choice, though, is still Nathaniel Gene.
Without the surname, it’s difficult to find more middle names that would sound good with the whole name, but here are some that I like with Nathaniel:
Nathaniel Charles
Nathaniel David
Nathaniel Davis
Nathaniel Dean
Nathaniel Emmett
Nathaniel Everett
Nathaniel Flynn
Nathaniel Frederick
Nathaniel Henry
Nathaniel Louis
Nathaniel Owen
Nathaniel Peter
Nathaniel Ryan
Nathaniel Sawyer
Nathaniel Scott
Nathaniel Shepard
Nathaniel Tyler
Nathaniel Wesley
Nathaniel Wilson
Nathaniel John and Nathaniel Gene are SO CLOSE, I’d think you could sell Gene if you wanted to.
Also, no one mentioned mom’s maiden name…is that an option? I have a last name that is absolutely not an option for a middle name (trust me), which makes me sad, so I always like it when others can use theirs, if the child will have the father’s surname.
I think Nathaniel Gene is perfect. I’m not sure what is wrong with a J sound following the ending L, but I hope being able to honor both you and your father will help your husband get past it.
my neighbor’s name is Nathaniel James…I know it’s the L J issue but I think that sounds nice
I agree you should aim for a better balance of honor names from both sides. Nathaniel Gene is quite nice. You could also do something like Nathaniel Frank, Frank coming from Francis. According to behindthename.com, Owen is an Irish & Welsh translation of Eugene. Maybe you’d like Nathaniel Owen? Or what about your mother’s names? Are their male versions of these?
I like the idea of using a name that starts with C for the middle name so that both kids have the same initials!
I actually love the name Francis…I think of the older brother from Malcolm in the Middle who was a badass despite having that name. If you use it, it will demonstrate that you care about the honor more than the name which I’m sure would be touching to the man being honored! And it also solves the J-sound issue.
I, too, think it would be nice to use something from your family. Maybe a surname? I think Nathaniel Eugene or Nathaniel Francis would be fine. There’s something to be said for using the actual name when it’s a namesake in the middle name position, even if it’s not quite your cup of tea, and neither strikes me as objectionable.
Nathaniel John was a fun idea, too, though, because of the story. Or a C name for the initials. Nathaniel Carl? Nathaniel Caleb? Nathaniel Carter?
Finally, I know a little Nathaniel Micah. I like it so I thought I’d throw it into the pot.
I love both Eugene and Francis for the middle, at this time they’re refreshing…..
Or maybe Nathaniel Connor?
Nathaniel Collin? Okay, I will stop now.
Nathaniel Colby. I can’t let go of this one.
I love Nathaniel Francis. Gene is just okay.
Really not enough names to play with. It would be interesting to get your first name or maiden name or even your moms maiden name.
From the Greek Eugene come the Welsh name Owen and the Scottish name Ewan – both great alternatives, I think!
I like the idea of honouring your side of the family, your dad, and you (I’m going to make a guess at your name – is it Gina?) You could have all this in spirit and still use a name like Owen or Ewan. Both Nathaniel Owen G. and Nathanial Ewan G. sound great to me.
It would be very special for this son to be named for your dad, for whom you too were named. Nathaniel Gene or Nathaniel Eugene would be a fine name. I like the balance between
Noah Christopher (2/3 syllables) and
Nathaniel Eugene (3/2 syllables)
I also recalled that there was a connection between Eugene and some Celtic name, as was noted above, and found the Eugene – Eóghan link in the Oxford Dictionary of First Names: “Eugene is sometimes used as an Anglicized form of Irish Eóghan and has also been used as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Aodh”.
From behind the name.com:
EOGHAN
USAGE: Irish, Scottish, Irish Mythology
PRONOUNCED: O-in (Irish, Scottish), YO-in (Irish, Scottish)
Meaning & History: Possibly means “born from the yew tree” in Irish, though it is possibly derived from EUGENE.
OWEN (2)
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: Irish
Meaning & History
Anglicized form of EOGHAN
EUAN
GENDER: Masculine
USAGE: Scottish
Meaning & History
Anglicized form of EOGHAN
I think Owen sounds better with Nathaniel than Euan does.
Nathaniel Gene
Nathaniel Eugene
Nathaniel Owen
Any of these would be a tribute to your father, thus giving your second son a name from both his father and maternal grandfather.
My preference would be Nathaniel Eugene because it has the same rhythm — in reverse — and the same formality as Noah Christopher and because the mn is clearly after your dad. But Nathaniel Gene is good too. Why not let your Dad decide between the two — and Owen too, if you prefer that connection to Eugene?
I vote for Nathaniel Francis! Love it! Flows well and great names.