B. writes:
I am at an impasse when it comes to naming my 3rd son, due in April. I think I’ve narrowed it down to two names but I just cannot decide.
Our last name is Hammond. Sons are Everett Paschal and Callum George. Both boys’ middle names are family names. I cannot decide on a good middle name for this baby yet either.
I think I’ve narrowed down first name possibilities to Finnian or Lachlan.
Here’s what I like about each. Finnian: has double consonant like the boys, has a common nickname like the boys (Ev and Cal) with a less common full name, an Irish name whereas the boys have germanic and Scottish, my ancestry is Finnish so neat little play on words there. Dislike that it seems very trendy thanks to Glee. Lachlan: much less common in the US, also the connection to Scandinavian culture.
My older son is very partial to Finnian (he’s obsessed with Phineas and Ferb J) and my husband likes Lachlan better (because of popularity). I can’t decide! Is there some other perfect name that I just haven’t considered?
Other names I had considered but crossed off the list: Rory, Sebastian, Archer, Griffin, Fletcher, August, Thaddeus, Finnegan. Girl name would have been Romilly Wynn.
Thank you!!
Name update! B. writes:
I so appreciate all the comments trying to help me decide on baby 3.0’s name. In the end, I just felt like Finnian was off. Something about the sound of it didn’t sit perfectly with me. So, we know have a lovely little, almost one month old, Lachlan William. His middle name is after my father, my husband’s uncle, and various other relatives. :) He already has many nicknames but most often is called Lachie.
Thanks again!
I prefer Finnian over Lachlan.
Other ideas:
Brennan
Brooks
Harrison
Keegan
Lennon
Maddox
Sullivan
Tanner
I also like Finnian over Lachlan because of the nickname flexibility. And there are so many reasons folks choose Finn as a name that I think the glee thing would be a non-issue.
Probably not your style, but I could see Stefan with your sibset. Little bit Scandi, little bit German. And I know a grown man named Stef and it works just fine.
I like them both, with a slight preference for Finnian.
Definately prefer Finnian. Lachlan just sounds wrong to me.
Also like Brennon, Stefan, and Keegan. Love how Finnian has something in common with other names.
Lachlan all the way! ‘Lock’ is an easy, one-syllable nickname that has a different vowel sound from Ev or Cal. In the part of the US where we live, there are little Finns running around everywhere.
And, this may or may not influence you, when I hear ‘Finnian’, I hear the title ‘Finian’s Rainbow’… which doesn’t exactly read as masculine.
You’ve got great taste in names! Best wishes as you welcome your new son!
I personally think of Lachlan as a more feminine name than Finnian (can’t entirely explain why), plus I think the sibset of Cal, Ev, and Finn sounds a lot better than Cal, Ev, and Lock.
One suggestion that I saw and really liked was Sullivan. Cal, Ev, and Sully sounds adorable.
I have to say that I am on the fence with this; both names are great, I do love the Finnish connection to Finnian though. But at the end of the day, you both have to go with what feels right.
I do love Sullivan. Gives you that double consonant like the other boys, and despite it having the same -LL as Callum, Sullivan has a whole different sound to it so I don’t think it would be an issue.
What about Duncan?
Other names, although not sure if they are your style:
Seamus. I actually like this one the best. Callum, Everett and Seamus.
Fraser
Fergus
Magnus
Bruce
Kieran (seems too feminine for my taste, but I actually know a Kieran and it suits him just fine)
Good luck!
I definitely prefer Finnian. However, I think that’s mainly because the name Lachlan is SO COMMON here in Australia. I swear every second male is named Lachlan/Lachy!
Everett and Callum are lovely names. WDYT of:
Griffin (you can still use the nn Fin/Finn)
Keegan
Julian
Angus
Hamish (too alliterative?)
Isaac
Best of luck!
I’m with the majority here & prefer Finnian. I had no idea it had a connection with Glee – it even made it onto our long list for a time, so I don’t know if I would worry about that connection.
Lachlan is very popular in Oz. I guess I just can’t see myself calling out “LACHLAN!” for the next 18 years. Also there’s no very good nn imo. I would have said Lanny. Plus I think it’s weird you’re husband likes it more only because of popularity? I think you should pick the name you love regardless of rank.
The one suggestion I had was Brogan. Very similar rank to his brothers & is of Irish origin. Nn include: Brogy, Gun, Bran, Bro
I love the suggestion of Griffin (nn Finn). It fits really well in the subset.
I meant sibset.
Also, I see that you already rejected Griffin as a name for your son. I suggest reconsidering it.
I like Finnian, Sullivan, and Griffin. What about William? Lloyd?
I think your concerns about popularity of Finnian are unfounded. Its not even in the top 1000 names for 2012. Even if it gains popularity it will be rare. Compare that to Everett that is at 214 in 2012.
I might be bias though because I think Finnian is adorable and perfect for your sibset for all the reasons you listed.
I vote Lachlan! “Lock” is a great nickname and I know far too many Finns — mostly dogs. :-( It might not be as popular in your area though so if you love Finnian, go for it!
My main reason against Finnian is that when I try to write it out in cursive, all the i’s and n’s run together, and you also have double m’s in your last name… just feels like endless hills of cursive that blend together, making it hard to read/write. Lachlan looks much more dynamic on paper.
Finnian Hammond
Lachlan Hammond
Of course, according to my friends with school-age children they’re not even teaching kids to write cursive anymore, so it’s just a thought. Congrats & good luck!
What about Fintan? Have always loved this name. Love Griffin too.
What about Ramsay nn Ram?
Everett, Callum and Ramsay. Love it!
I know two brothers Braydon and Callum nn Bray and Cal. I’ve always thought they sound great together.
Good luck!
To me, Finnian & Lachlan are so similar in style that you could just flip a coin and come out happy. They fit equally well with Everett & Callum, they’re pretty equal in style & popularity, they’ve got the double consonant thing. You’re in the enviable position having two names you both like–why not wait until the birth and see which one “feels” like his name?
So, splitting hairs: Doesn’t Lach Hammond sound a wee bit like the “bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond?”
Because of all the little girls being named Finlay/Finley, are you prepared for Finn being a unisex nickname by the time these kids are teenagers, and would you be OK with that? And last, a little extra credit to Finnian in light of your ancestry–that’s pretty cool.
Oh–forgot to add that I’m one of the Griffin fans……I’d put that back on the short list.
I too prefer Finnian over Lachlan, which has always sounded feminine to me…
What about Tannen? Everett, Callum & Tannen?
So interesting to me, the number of comments saying that Lachlan sounds feminine. I’ve always thought of it as a very masculine name, I picture a Scottish warrior when I hear the name! Anyway Lachlan is more my personal style and if it were me, I would choose Lachlan over Finnian… but then, with all the good reasons you give for Finnian, I definitely think Finnian is the better choice for you. I had no idea it was a name on Glee and I expect that by the time your baby grows up, Glee will be a thing of the past so it probably won’t have a huge effect. Finn is a pretty common nickname now due to all the iterations of “Finn” names out there (Finley, Finnigan, etc) but I like that Finnian is the unexpectedly less common full name. I think it’s great, go with it! (But if you don’t, I love Lachlan, or the suggestions of Sullivan or Seamus).
I think all the pros of Finnian outweigh the popularity/connection to Glee. Finnian is actually not in the top 1000 names on the SSA Baby Names website. The nickname Finn probably ranks higher because there are multiple ways to get to it, but I still don’t think it’s that high. FWIW, I’ve personally never met a Finn.
Some other suggestions (consider any repeat suggestions seconded) Brennan, Riordan, Declan, Sullivan, Rowan, Graham & Garrett
Ooh Declan sounds wonderful with Everett & Callum!
Lachlan is a very popular boys name in Australia at the moment. My first son is Lachlan and I like nick naming him ‘Lach’ pronounced ‘Lock’. I think it’s a very manly strong name. I believe Lachlan is of Scottish origin meaning land of the lakes..
Finnian is nice and had an Irish ring to it, what about Finn, Finlay or Findlay for something a bit different?
Good luck!
Sounds to me like your heart is with Finnian – you’ve given quite a detailed rundown on why you love it. But you’re having doubts because you’re husband isn’t as keen as you. You’re possibly only thinking of potential problems because you don’t want to dismiss his feelings (and I’m not saying you should), but if you were both fully on board with it the popularity of Finn or links to Glee likely wouldn’t be an issue for you.
So maybe the question is do you use the name you really love but your husband doesn’t, or do you keep searching for something you both love? Maybe once you decide on a middle that would help.
Some brainstorming for new alternatives:
Griffith (since you already ruled out Griffin)
Connor
Brannon
Malcolm
Rafferty
Keiffer
Lorcan
Killian
Breccan
Niall
Tristan
Mitchell
Laird
Eamonn
Finnick
Forrest
Marshall
Trennan
Romulus Winter? Or Romulus Windsor? (looking for cognates for Romilly Wynn–it’s tough to find an equivalent to that stroke of inspiration…..)