Hi Swistle!
Hubby (P) and I are expecting baby #1 in 4 weeks or less and still have not agreed on a boy’s name! Our last name is Kennedy, yep, like JFK. We plan on having 2-4 children.
Up until a week ago I thought we had a name picked, Henry David, but P isn’t crazy about the name Henry anymore. Henry (or Hank) is my #1 choice, hands down. P likes the idea of having family names somewhere in the name, that’s where the middle name of David came from. P was named after his grandfather and likes the idea of naming our boy after his dad to carry on tradition. I’m not convinced. I am fine with family names for middle names but I just can’t wrap my head around calling our son by my father-in-laws name. P does not want to use David as a middle name because our nephew has the middle name David, after my FIL. P would only be happy with David as a first name. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. We have decided to discuss options other than David. We tend to like more traditional names and nothing too “soft” sounding. Names that can be shortened or have nick-names are fine. Here is a list of first names that we have discussed:
Henry (Hank) – my choice, P isn’t crazy about it
Mickey- P’s choice, I’m not crazy about it
Charles
Colt
Finn
Jack – we both really like this name, however my brother and sister-in-law told us that when they have kids their little boy will be named Jack- what do you do in this situation? They are not currently pregnant and won’t likely have children for a few yearsMiddle Name options:
Peter
Paul
John
WilliamAt this point we are both panicking because we just haven’t found “the name” yet. Do you have any suggestions of names like these? Or any other advice?
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I was relieved to get to this part: “We have decided to discuss options other than David.” Without that sentence, that would have been the aim of my first three paragraphs. It does sound to me as if the name David is out of the running: you are not happy with it as the first name, and your husband is not happy with it as the middle name. Plus, your father-in-law has already been honored, and perhaps it would be nice to honor someone else. The baby has another grandfather: would his first name work, or would that feel just as odd as calling the baby by your father-in-law’s name?
Let’s also take Henry and Mickey off the list. It is the worst and hardest moment in list-cutting, I think: when one parent’s first choice is somewhere near the bottom of the other person’s list. It helps when there is one such name for each parent, so at least it feels fair, if painful.
Colt and Finn don’t feel to me as if they meet your general preferences. They also seem a little awkward to me with your surname: Colt Kennedy is so abruptly alliterative, and Finn Kennedy has the repeating double-N. But if you were in love with either choice and were worried about those surname issues, I’d be talking you out of it because neither issue seems like a big enough deal to cross a name off the list. And, because both are a matter of preference, another person could find both issues to be pros rather than cons. The bigger concern to me is whether or not they fit your style, which is hard to tell from the letter but could be something for the two of you to discuss.
Now that your brother and sister-in-law have announced their intention to use the name Jack, it’s an issue that would need to be addressed. There’s no calling dibs in baby naming, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a good idea to discuss the matter before proceeding. Even if you had already decided for sure on the name Jack before their announcement, I’d suggest at least giving them a warning so that the birth of your baby wouldn’t be associated with a strong disappointment.
However, in your case, I would take Jack off the list. Telling us your surname, your very first remark was that it was “like JFK.” That’s my very first association with that surname, too. Naming a child Jack Kennedy feels similar to naming a child James Bond: the names Jack/John and James are so common their associations are vast and dilute—but pair them with those very distinctive surnames, and it’s another story. The associations could be considered highly positive, but strong to the point that I would even suggest avoiding names that SOUND like Jack or John or Jacqueline.
This leaves Charles. Or rather, Charles is the stand-out, next to which all the other names fell away without protest. It meets your preference for a more traditional name. It’s a solid choice with a great nickname. It’s very similar in style to Henry, the previous finalist. It’s great with the surname. I like it with any of the middle name options, though personally would prefer to avoid John/Jack even as a middle name. (I might reconsider if the namesake were a particularly wonderful one.)
I also like all the non-John middle name options as first name options. Paul Kennedy is great. William Kennedy. Peter Kennedy. All terrific. But perhaps as first names they have the same issues as David.
To add more names to your list, I’d suggest seeing if you can pinpoint your style. A list with Charles, Mickey, and Colt on it is a list I don’t feel confident trying to build on. Charles and Henry are traditional, timeless classics. Colt and Finn are snappy choices; Colt feels modern and cowboyish, while Finn feels Celtic. Mickey is a nickname name, seldom used as a given name in the United States and strongly associated with the Disney mouse. (I also think of the phrase “slipping someone a Mickey,” especially when I see the related name Finn.) Jack is a combination: snappy like Colt and Finn, traditional/timeless like Charles and Henry; nickname name like Mickey.
Because Jack seems like it covers all the categories of the finalist list, I might look for more names like that. Or I might look for more names like Charles and Henry: traditional choices with good nicknames in the Jack category.
One exercise I’ve found helpful is to think ahead to future sibling names. If you choose Charles, do you feel like you could still choose Colt? If you choose Colt, do you feel like you could still choose Mickey? Which names on your boy-name list do you like best with the names on your girl-name list? Do any names on your list rule out using other names on your list? (For example, using Finn may rule out using Mickey, or perhaps you don’t want to repeat an initial, or perhaps you don’t want to use a name/nickname combination for one child and a nickname name for another.)
Picturing the future sibling group as a whole can also be useful. Imagine your 2-4 children around the table, or watching TV. Imagine them having one set of names, then another; which feels more like Your Family? Do you find you prefer the names to have similar styles, or do you find you prefer an assortment?
I wonder if you’d like Nicholas with the nickname Cole. It gives you a more traditional first name with a nickname that’s more like Colt.
Or Clark has the snappy sound of Jack, without the associations.
More nicknames that come to mind when I think of Jack: Max, Sam, Gus, Dan.
A few more short options: Grant, Reid, Luke, Dean.
Have you considered using David as the first name but calling him by his middle name? For example, David Colt (K)ennedy nicknamed Colt.
I do see at least two distinct naming styles on your list –
Traditional – Henry, Charles, Jack
Snappy/Nicknamey – Mickey, Finn, Colt
With your 3 syllable last name, I do like short, one ortwo syllable first names that are snapy and strong.
Instead of Henry, would you consider Hugo?
Instead of Charles, what about Chet, Chad, or Chase?
Instead of Jack, what about Joel or Jay?
Instead of Mickey, would you consider Mark or Max?
Instead of Colt, what Clark or Craig?
Instead of Finn, would you consider Floyd, Frank or Fred?
It is a stylistically diverse list. But I agree Charles is left standing when everything else falls. You could go with Charlie or Chase as a nickname. Or if you used John as a middle, maybe C.J. That’s cute and has some of the spunk of your less traditional names.
I do know Michael nicknamed Mickey, and it works for him. And I love Charles/Charlie, so I think you should strop right there… But, if you want more options:
I agree that Finn and Colt are not the “traditional” names you say you prefer… Maybe traditional names with more modern nicknames would work for you…
Malcolm/Mac/Max
Calvin/Cal
Isaac/Ike
Alexander/Zander
Nicholas/Cole (maybe even Colt?)
All of these would sound good with at least one of your middle choices.
Also — maybe this is totally out of left field, but I’m feeling Evan for you.
Other possibilities that remind me of Jack (other than what’s already been suggested):
Miles
Luke
James
Eli (or Elijah)
Oscar (you could do nickname Oz)
Ha! Swistle already suggested Nicholas/Cole! Oops! Great minds!
What about Colton instead of Colt? You might end up calling him Colt most of the time anyway, but the full name would be a nice fallback if you agree with Swistle about the abrupt feeling of Colt Kennedy.
Instead of Henry, how about Harris, which you could shorten to the nickname Harry or even Hank?
Charles nn Chuck.
Michael nn Mick or Mickey
James nn Jim
Jake?
Richard nn Rick?
Malcolm nn Mack?
One thing I picked up from your joint and individual favorites of Henry (Hank), Mickey, and Jack is the strong “K” sound. Even Colt has this sound, although at the beginning. How about going with the strongest remaining contender of Charles and using “Chuck” as a nickname? It seems to me like one of those nicknames you don’t hear on little boys these days (the youngest one I know is in his early 30s), but it’s pretty classic and I don’t see why it isn’t due for a comeback like Henry/Hank. Plus, there’s all the other Charles nicknames others have mentioned if Chuck doesn’t feel right on a little kid to you, but it seems no more “adult” than Hank to me.
Swistles sugestion of Clark reminds me too much of superman with your last name. When I said it out loud I heard “Clark Kent” ady. Just an FYI.
I was trying to put my finger on why this sounded familiar. You nailed it. Too close to Superman! Shame, I really like Clark but I wouldn’t do it with the surname Kennedy.
I totally agree with this. Clark Kennedy sounds too much like Clark Kent. It was the first think I thought of.
I was going to make this same comment.. so another vote against Clark in this situation, unfortunately! (Not that superman is a bad association ..but perhaps a bit much when the sounds are that similar).
Ian
Isaac, nn Ike
Nathan, nn Nate
Russell, nn Russ
Good luck. :)
Your husband sounds very similar to my husband when we discuss baby names; he thinks honor names should be used in the first name slot, which would result in close family members having the exact same first and last names, which is a weird pet peeve of mine. He also wanted to honor his dad as well, even though his father has already been honored multiple times by other families. It’s frustrating but you guys will come up with a great name for this little guy.
I love some previous suggestions (Nicholas/Cole, Charles/Charlie/Chuck, Evan, Calvin/Cal, James/Jamie/Jimmy) and here are some more to add to the list:
Michael/Mike/Mickey
Samuel/Sam
William/Will
Franklin/Frank
Edward/Eddie
Oliver/Ollie
I like the name category for you that is somewhat traditional/established but kind of snappy. A few more suggestions in this vein:
Anders/Andrew (nn Andy or Drew)
Spencer
Cedric
Cyrus
Desmond (nn Dez – love this!!)
Alec
Gavin
Julian
Miles
Owen
Ross
Wilbur
Jack Kennedy is how my grandparents’ generation (parents of the baby boomers) referred to JFK here in New England, so I agree with Swistle that it should be crossed off the list. William Kennedy brings to mind the William Kennedy Smith scandal, so I would cross that off, too.
Jack Kennedy, no no no! JFK was commonly called Jack and my parents’ generation (and older) know him as such. It’s sort of like naming your child Abe if your last name is Lincoln. Not recommended.
I also agree that Mickey should be cut, for reasons Swistle explains. And though it didn’t come up as a possibility, I also want to point out that you probably shouldn’t pick Mickey’s full form, Michael– Michael Kennedy is also (in)famous, and was one of the “bad Kennedys”. (Google him for details.)
I think Charles is the best compromise, and Charlie Kennedy would be cute.
Some other suggestions that came to mind:
Declan
Silas
Andrew
Martin
Davis (it’s derived from David, but sounds distinct from it and a bit fresher)
Samuel/Sam
Grant
Louis
Leo
Cyrus
Nolan
George
Wyatt
Vaughan
Vance
Nicholas
I would avoid Jack due to the JFK association (I’m Canadian and even I know he went by Jack). To me it would be like naming your kid Donald Reagan. I would also shy away from Mickey- there’s just too much association with the cartoon mouse.
Charles seems like a good fit for you but I also really like the suggestions of Nicholas and Grant. I think they match well with your surname.
I like Charles the best of your options, BUT, I might revisit the Henry David conversation with your husband. I wonder if it’s just cold feet on his part since it seems like you guys were settled up until recently. There is no issue with having cousins who have matching middle names – in my family often cousins have the same first name due Italian naming traditions and naming the kids after the paternal then maternal grandparents. There are a ton of Marias and Ritas, and so forth, some with the same last name even.
Otherwise, I like the name suggestions above. I particularly like Samuel (nn Sam) and Isaac (nn Ike) for you. Good luck!
I keep thinking Nathanial ( Nate) Kennedy. It has a classic feel but fresh at the same time. I also feel like it keeps many doors open for naming styles of future kids.
I will fourth? the suggestion of Isaac.
Also thought Alec was a neat suggestion.
My suggestion is Blake.
My suggestion is Mitchell, nicknamed Mick or Mitch. I think either Mick Kennedy or Mitch Kennedy is pretty cool. I’d avoid Mickey, though, even on a little guy–too mousey. My main association with Mick is Mick Jagger; I have no way of knowing if you two like that association, but I do think Mick is a cooler name than Jagger, which is increasingly being used on baby boys. If you like Hank and Mick, I also like the suggestion of using Chuck as a nickname for Charles.
Good luck, let us know.
I’d avoid any names from the famous Kennedy family.
What about Daniel? It’s similar to David in that it’s another strong Old Testament name with a D. Dan Kennedy.
I know an Ethan Kennedy and I think it flows well.
Other suggestions:
Nathan
Andrew
Ian
Michael (I’m not a big fan of Mike Kennedy, though)
Owen
Harrison
Saul
Matthew
Christopher
Justin (maybe too 80s/90s)
Jason
Jacob
Bobby Kennedy (RFK) had sons named Michael, Christopher, and Matthew. (As well as Joseph, Robert, David, and Douglas).
Love Swistle’s suggestion of the nick name Cole – Colin is another way to get to this.
WOW! Thank you Swistle and everyone else for your suggestions! P and I talked about it last night and we have the list narrowed down to Charles (Chuck), Nicholas (Cole) and Jacob (Jake). We know that Jake sounds like Jack, but it really is one of our favourites. I told P that I would be fine with going to the hospital with those three names and seeing what the baby looks like and then deciding, IF we cannot make a final decision before that time comes. What are everyone’s thoughts on this idea?
Once again, thank you so much, all your suggestions have made this a much more enjoyable process for us!