A. writes:
We are looking for some help deciding the name of our baby who is due in 2 weeks (although neither of us thinks the baby will actually make it to the due date!) We elected not to find out the sex ahead of time, but it’s just the boy name we need help with. Girl names are pretty easy for us, but boy names are TOUGH. Our last name is Hayes and because it only has 1 syllable, we think the first name should be something with at least 2 syllables for it to flow well. Our other naming “rules” we’ve established are that it cannot be something very popular (top 30 on the SSA list are automatically out! Top 50 is even pushing it because they could easily rise up in the next couple years) or names that sound…plain? (I’m not sure the right adjective to use here). “Plain” names would be something like John, Matthew, Ryan, William, Edward, Peter, etc. We want something a little different, but not too strange either. The middle name will be a family name and we’ve pretty much decided it will be either Jeffrey (my father) or Andrew (my husband’s middle name). We would like something that’s not hard to pronounce by looking at it (though I know EVERY name gets mispronounced sometimes) and not easily made fun of in the schoolyard. (Again, I know this happens to most every name at some point too!) Not really a “rule” for us, but good nickname possibilities are a definite plus. My husband is a big fan of Hebrew sounding names for boys, but not the classics like David or Jacob because of the “plain” factor. I also like those names, but like to branch out a little too. Right now, it seems are top two choices are Gracin (pronounced Grace-in) Jeffrey and Micah with either middle name. My husband also really likes Calvin Andrew, but I’m not completely sold on it. Names that we liked but took off the list (due to popularity) were: Elijah, Lukas, Jayden, Mason, Logan, and Caleb. We like Isaac, but we can’t name our son Isaac Hayes! Names we’ve also considered and are still potentials: Judah, Ryder, Oliver, Isaiah.
This baby will be also be the sibling to our almost 3 year old son, Jesiah Dean. We had Micah Jeffrey or Jeremiah Dean picked out for him, but neither seemed right once he was born. He did seem like a JD, however, so we picked a different J name that we’d liked. I was worried about going with Jesiah with an e instead of Josiah because I’m sure he’ll be correcting people his entire life, but I really did not like the nickname Jo, which I figured he’d almost inevitably end up with at some point. I did, however, like Jess or JD. Funnily enough, if we do shorten his name, we call him Siah more than anything else! So, I guess you never really know with the nickname thing. I would like Jesiah and his brother to have names that sound good together, but aren’t too matchy. I worry that Judah may be too close because of this.
Our problem is that we can come up with a lot of names we like, but it’s hard for us to decide on something we love and want to use for our child for the rest of his life! Please help!!
While Grayson/Gracin is a unisex name, I think the spellings that evoke the name Grace seem better for girls. For a boy, I would suggest using a spelling that evokes the name Grey/Gray, and ideally also the word son: Greyson or Grayson. Something like Graysen or Greysen or Greycin might also work.
With Jesiah, I prefer Micah: Jesiah and Micah both have an ancient/biblical sound, while Gracin/Greyson sounds modern. My only hesitation is the matching -ah ending.
I’d also suggest Ezra. It matches the sound of the ending, but it looks a little different. I love the way the Z-sound repeats in the surname. Ezra Hayes!
Or Ezekiel, with the nickname Zeke. Ezekiel Hayes; Jesiah and Ezekiel; Siah/JD/Jess and Zeke.
Ari would be handsome. Ari Hayes; Jesiah and Ari.
Reuben is a name I heard while pregnant and thought “THAT’S IT!! THAT’S THE NAME!!”—and then tried it with my surname. Dear me, no. It’s great with yours: Reuben Hayes; Jesiah and Reuben.
Or Nathanael. Nathanael Hayes; Jesiah and Nathanael; Siah/JD/Jess and Nate.
Or Phineas Hayes; Jesiah and Phineas; Siah/JD/Jess and Phin/Finn.
I wished I had been bold enough to use Solomon. He’s a great biblical character, and Sol is right up there with Wes on my Favorite Boy Nicknames list. And look how great it is with your surname: Solomon Hayes.
I’ll throw Victor into the mix. It’s our son’s name and we get lots of compliments on it – Victor Hayes sounds great to my ear and Vic is a fun nickname.
Solomon, Ezekiel and Nathanael are my favorites for their 3 syllable pattern mirroring Jesiah. The matching -AH sound ending of a lot of the other Biblical names listed bothers me. Makes saying brothers names sound a little too cutesy. Good luck & congrats!
I like Micah for you and all of Swistle’s suggestions, esp. Ezra, Nathaniel, and Reuben. Ari made me think of Aaron, which might work for you. Also I’d like to urge you to reconsider Caleb. I like it with the surname and brother name.
I think you can use the name Isaac Hayes. My maiden name was Jennifer Jones / Jenny Jones and I got a lot of “like the movie actress? like the talk show host?” and I found that to be no big deal. Isaac Hayes is not going to be a name your son’s peers know instantly.
I know of a boy named Zeb at my son’s school, which I think fits your requirements. I think that is a very cool name and it’s nearly unused.
Benjamin! Jesiah and Benjamin. JD/Siah and Ben/Benji.
I agree Gracin is all girl to me, but I think something like Greyson works well with Jesiah. I also like Micah, but the sound alike endings aren’t ideal. It seems almost too matchy for my taste. Ezra is a better fit, they both still end in “ah” but not “i-ah” which helps.
What about Levi, Elias or Abram? I’m really, really liking Abram for you. Jesiah & Abram. JD & Abe. If you went with Abram Jeffrey you could do JD & AJ.
I’m usually pretty sensitive to matchy-sounding names, yet “Jesiah and Micah” still sounds great to me. Maybe my perspective is skewed because of my love of the name Micah! I lean toward very plain, “solid” names for boys. Micah reaches a nice (rare) balance of being under-the-radar but still strong and traditional in my mind. Micah Jeffrey Hayes. Sounds beautiful. (Even with another -ah on Jesiah!)
I love the sound of Ezra Hayes or Isaac Hayes. So cool! I think it’s the repeating “Z” sound that does it for me. Ruben and Micah are my other favorites.
I do like Greyson but, as the only one I know is a girl, it sounds very feminine to me. Especially so with the Gracin spelling.
I’d also like to suggest:
Malachi – nn Mac is great!
Silas
Samson – nn Sam and such a strong, underused name.
Jonas
Tobias – the nn Toby is adorable!
Thaddeus – nn Thad is super cool!
Amos
Jeremy – I know, starts with a “J” too but not heard much anymore.
Jared – As above.
Hope these help and all the best!
Also agreed about Gracin being girlie, but Greyson working much better. Also, “Grey” is a trendy (but not in a bad way) nickname … definitely the coolest color name out there in my opinion ;)
I love the Levi idea. And the Reuben idea. And Ari–wow! So intriguing as a brother to Jesiah. And as a male name in general. Handsome is totally the right word there.
And the idea of using “Benji” for a Benjamin nn completely turns the popularity (and maybe plain) factor into unique but still well-known.
Or Asher! Jesiah and Asher. Asher has that “new” sound like “Jesiah” while it’s still well established. Not sure where it ranks though?
I generally have a hard time with the boys name “Ezra” ..even though I *know* it’s a male name, I can’t get passed the cultural a-ending being female. But, for some reason I love it with Jesiah–I think Jesiah somehow pulls out the established/biblicalness of the name and reminds me that it’s a strong, male name.
Asa – I usually have the same issue with the a-ending with this name, but I love it paired with Jesiah. Then again, maybe with “Hayes” it has too many “aye” sounds ..
Is Theophilus too scholarly? Possibly not a great match with Jesiah (aside from the biblical thing) … but what great nn potential– Theo, Phil. If not that, maybe Philemon? Still kind of “big” though for a little boy, perhaps.
Maybe Thaddeus? I’m not sure I’d call him that a lot, but it’s a fun full name … and “Tad” is SUCH a great nickname. Way too underused.
Absalom or the Scandinavian version of the name .. Axel. Jesiah and Axel. Axel Hayes. Wow, what an awesome name. I also love it because it means “father of peace.” Then again, Absalom has a pretty negative story in the bible … so I’d probably go with the Axel version for that reason alone.
Zebedee … daring, but awesome. Zeb is an awesome little brother name, too.
Eliezer/Eleazar (though the first looks more masculine to me) …. this is a cool connection to his brother, since both mean versions of “God helps” …and it has the fun nn Eli without it being the popular Elijah.
Felix? Jesiah and Felix? Felix Hayes is nice. Not sure if I love or am confused by it as a sib pair, though.
Or … ooo … Corban! Sounds fresh and new and has Hebrew origins .. it means “gift to God.” Jesiah and Corban. Ah, I like that a lot. Corban Hayes. Swooooon!
There are so many names I like for you guys! My favourites:
Thaddeus (LOVE… my number one favourite)
Ezekiel (Second choice)
Tobias
Micah
Solomon
Tobias
Abram
I agree with one of the previous writers, I have a difficult time getting over the fact that Ezra is a male name… the couple times I have seen it used, my mind automatically thinks it’s a little girl and then I am reminded that it is a boy! I also am not crazy about Grayson/Gracin… think there are other options that I prefer BUT you have to do what is right for you guys!! Good luck and keep us posted!
I vote for Micah or Ari! And I agree, Gracin just screams girl to me…I do like Greyson, however, for a boy.
I happen to love this category for boys. Some of my favorites- Asa, Abel, Aaron, Ezekiel (Zeke), Jedediah, Jesse, Samuel, Silas, Tobias, Solomon.
My friend has kids named j0siah and Ezekiel. Siah and Zeke. Great names :)
Other people have suggested Thaddeus and Ezekial, which both happen to belong to great grandfathers of mine, so I thought I’d recommend another to the list… Amaziah. While I was researching my family tree I found him listed on census records as Amzi, Amsey, Amz, and Ames, so he had quite a few nickname options.
I agree that Gracin appears feminine, but that is mostly because I know a little girl named Gracen. I love some of the other suggestions too — Ezra, Malachi, Tobias, Phineas. They all sound like great little brother names for Jesiah.
Of swistle’s suggestions, I like:
Ari! [one of my favorites]
Ezra
Ezekiel
Micah
Nathaniel [with an i, but I don’t like Nate]
Solomon [or Saul]
Of commenter’s suggestions, I like:
Benjamin
Aaron
Felix
Axel
My suggestions:
Eli [or Elijah with nn Eli]
Samuel
Oscar
Naphtali [cool little-known Biblical name, also spelled Naftali]
This is possibly my favorite boy name category! I love all the suggestions! Most of these have already been listed, but I’ll highlight my favorites.
Abel; Jesiah and Abel. So nice!
Asa; Jesiah and Asa. Both Josiah and Asa were good kings of Judah so this is a nice, subtle theme!
Asher! Jesiah and Asher. This is my favorite.
Canaan! Jesiah and Canaan.
Eben is a Bible name; Jesiah and Eben.
Ezra; Jesiah and Ezra. I know a little boy named this and he wears it so well. It definitely does not read feminine and I love Ezra Hayes!
Hezekiah; Jesiah and Hezekiah. Is this too matchy? Also has the kings of Judah theme.
Jonah? Jesiah and Jonah.
Judah – this is one of my personal favs. Jesiah and Judah.
Malachi was our favorite boy name for a long time; Jesiah and Malachi.
Naphtali! Also a favorite. Jesiah and Naphtali.