Hello Swistle! We are having a major name dilemma for our third boy coming this thanksgiving. Our first is named Jude, our second Jonah. We didn’t set out to name them both with the same initial, we just liked the names. My name also starts with a j, however my husbands does not. We would like a biblical name, as our other boys. We also would like to stay away from very common names (Jacob, James, John).
Can we pick a name that doesn’t start with a j? I go back and forth, I don’t want him go feel left out, but I don’t want to settle on a name we don’t love. We probably will have one more child. If we were to have a girl we had Lucia picked out. Our last name is Cabrera.Some names we have considered:
Gideon
Titus
Jacoby (same meaning as Jacob)
Luca (Italian for Luke)We just haven’t found “the one”. Please help us! Thank you!
Julie
Certainly you can name him a name that doesn’t start with J. And if you’re already out of J names, and you’re planning a fourth child, this is definitely the moment to stop: after two it’s still easy to say “Oh, we didn’t match the initial on purpose, it was coincidence,” but after three it’s much more difficult. And if you do have four children, two children out of four with matching initials is much less noticeable/excluding than three children out of four; I don’t see any reason he’d feel left out if he and the fourth child both had names that didn’t start with J.
Since your name starts with a J, one option is to use your husband’s initial for the next child. This gives you an easy explanation for the few people who notice, and also give you an explanation in case the child requests one. But I don’t think you NEED anything beyond, “No, we just chose our favorite name each time.” For children, you can also play the same/different game: “Jude and Jonah both start with J; Gideon and Jude both have a -de-; Gideon and Jonah both have an -on-; Jude has 4 letters and Jonah has 5 letters and Gideon has 6 letters; Jude has 1 syllable and Jonah has 2 syllables and Gideon has 3 syllables…” and so on. The idea is to point out that a matching initial is not the only way in which names can be similar/different.
From your list, my strong favorite is Gideon. Luca would rule out Lucia if you had a girl, and neither Luca nor Jacoby reads biblical to me. Gideon is underused and decisively biblical.
Keeping in mind that I am consulting the Biblical section of The Baby Name Wizard and not looking up what type of Bible story each of these names is associated with, here are a few more I like with Jude and Jonah and with Cabrera:
Cyrus
Eli
Levi
Silas
Simon
If you do decide to stick with J names, I like Joel.
I also like Jared, which I see on the list of biblical names but which doesn’t sound biblical to me.
I was surprised to read that Jared is a Biblical name, so I looked it up:
Jared, or Jered (Hebrew: ירד, ‘descent’ or ‘to descend’), in Judeo-Christian religious belief, was a fifth-generation descendant of Adam and Eve.
However, I don’t think most people would hear Jared as a biblical match with the better known as -biblical- names Jude and Jonah. I find Joel too close to Jonah. I agree with Swistle’s advice that this would be a good time to move on from biblical J-names, especially since you can’t find one you strongly like.
I love the way Swistle pointed out the coordinating qualities of Gideon with Jude and Jonah. Since Gideon is already on your list of possibilities, it seems to be an excellent choice for Jude and Jonah’s little brother.
Jude
Jonah
Gideon
Best wishes!
If you’re going to have a fourth, I think now is definitely time to ditch the J pattern.
I know a Jude, Esther, and Levi sibset -if Levi interests you.
Less used biblical names: Boaz (nn. Bo), Abram (nn. Abe), Tobias (nn. Toby).
If you’re really set on using Lucia for a girl (should there be one), I would nix Luca. Maybe the fourth could be either Luca or Lucia so you get to use some form of the name?
My brother has a student named Boaz. I know the Bible story with Boaz, but had never even considered it as a name. But when I heard of a real Boaz, I thought, How did I miss it?! Love it!
I love love love Gideon!!! I wouldn’t look any further if I were you, fantastic name!!
I, too, would stay away from J names if you’re planning on a 4th and you’re reaching the limit of J names you like. I like Gideon best from your list. Silas and Simon were good suggestions, too. How about Benjamin, Elijah, Ezra, Isaiah, Micah, or Theodore?
I meant to say husband’s initial is a good idea, too.
Another idea: Nathaniel
A slightly more unusual Biblical name is Javan. He was one of Noah’s grandsons. I like the sound of Javan with your last name and your other two sons’ names.
When I compare Jude and Jonah, what I hear is lovely long vowels and a softer ending sound. I think Gideon is an excellent complement. Not so much Titus. The double T makes it a different sound to my ear. I also don’t like the R in Cyrus, but I quite like Silas or Simon. Abram, Eli, Elijah, Levi all seem like good choices.
I also think you should move away from the J names.. Although I like Gideon, I don’t think you are sold on it.
With Jude and Jonah, I like:
Darius, Isaac, Elias, Phineas, Aaron, Caleb, Reuben, Zebulon
The Biblical connection is what I’d stick with. The third name will make it a pattern: J’s or Bible name.
I love Gideon and Silus too. I’d use either of those names in a heartbeat.
*Silas
Other ideas:
Isaac
Aaron
Caleb
You don’t have to do another J name. At this point, I think it’s better to give a name you really love as opposed to a J name you’re just OK with.
From your list, Titus & Gideon are my favorites. With the popularity of Jacob/Jake, I suspect people might be tempted to shorten Jacoby. Luca is nice, but it does read less Biblical than the others. As Swistle pointed out, it also rules out Lucia if you have a girl later.
I’ll suggest Solomon, Ezra, Abel, Abram & Ira.
If you do use another J name Josiah is a good one. But like the others have said I don’t think it is necessary to keep with the J names. Gideon is a great name.
I don’t think you have to stick with J, especially since your husband isn’t a J. I like the idea of using his initial.
I like Ezra or Micah; they both end in the same sound as Jonah so you could have two matching endings as well as two matching initials. Or Isaiah.
Other favorite biblical names:
Raphael
Naphtali
Eli
Aaron
I think Zebulon would be a pretty hard name to go through life with.
I like Titus. It’s my uncle’s name (actually, it’s one of his middle names, but he has exclusively been called it since birth), and I also know a college-aged guy with the name. It’s a good, strong name, very, for lack of a better word, manly? So if that’s what you’re going for, it’s great. Although, it might be only good, strong, and manly in my head because of the associations: my uncle is a tall, built guy who rides motorcycles, and the other dude I know named Titus is a college football player in an SEC school. So.
I also like Gideon. And Silas. And Levi. And Samuel.
I love the suggestion of Caleb for you. Caleb Cabrera has a nice ring to it and fits well within the sibset – Jude, Jonah, and Caleb.
Disclaimer: I always feel like an alien when this question comes up, because the dissenting voice is so strong in my head on this topic, but no one else seems to agree with it! So feel free to disregard my opinion, since I’m always in the minority. Obviously you know you’re allowed to name your child whatever you want–including some biblical J name, some non-biblical J name, some biblical non-J name, or Megatron Skywalker. But since the whole purpose of your question is to find out how it’s going to sound to others, I’ll say that I think that some people (like me) might interpret an initial switch as your having run out of names in a letter you intended to use. To me, two names within a pattern establish the pattern, especially when they share multiple similarities. A sibling set of Ella/Emily/Claire only registers to me as about 5% less pattern-breaky than Ella/Emily/Evelyn/Claire. But, minority! I just assume there are others like me.
For example, when I see that Will Ferrell’s three sons are named Magnus, Mattias, and Axel, I know there’s a chance Will and his wife just picked the name they liked best each time; but my much stronger suspicion is that they either (1) intended to use a third M name of Latin origin, but couldn’t find one they liked, so went with something different; (2) went for intentional shock value by departing from the clear pattern; or (3) meant to do matching names, and didn’t think they’d have a third kid at the time when they named Mattias. I’d put my money on one of those three scenarios in most cases like this one.
To me, the pattern only feels established when the first two kids share the name. Magnus/Mattias/Axel definitely feels like the pattern is being broken with the third kid. Magnus/Axel/Mattias feels like no pattern was established and the parents liked the name Mattias in a vacuum. Axel/Magnus/Mattias feels like the parents’ tastes crystallized a bit more at some point during their childrearing years. I’m probably nuts, but the three scenarios all seem very different to me!
That’s not to say that I think you have to use a J name now–I think that would be difficult to do if you truly don’t want to use something super traditional (like Joseph, John, or Jacob), but also don’t want to reach too far outside the box. Gideon is a great name and works in all the ways that have been pointed out here! Using Dad’s initial is also a great idea. I think the effect would feel quite stark if you took away both the initial and biblical connections (e.g., Jude, Jonah, and Ryker), but if you want the names to have a flow that works for most people, then ditching one of them is totally fine.
I agree with everything you say here, Shannon, and I appreciate the way you took the time to explain it. Fortunately, starting with a “J” pattern leaves quite a few options whereas having brothers named say, “Ian” and “Issac” might really make a person want to throw in the towel on the third child’s initial. On a personal note, I broke a pattern due to family pressure to name my youngest child after a certain relative. I always feel the need to explain this to people when telling naming stories in real life. I like my son’s name but I was really attached to the pattern, too, and sad to give that up.
I must be an alien from the same planet. :) My mind works this way too. I agree you totally can choose a non-J name, but unless there is a fourth child with a non-J name it does seem like “one of these things is not like the other”. It only matters how it makes you and your husband feel though.
Oops. I didn’t mean for that comment to be so lengthy; I also wanted to say I love the sound of Levi with both of the brother names. Jude, Jonah, and Levi.
Plus, this satisfies my neurotic need for there to be a working system if you later have a Lucia. Jude, Jonah, Levi, and Lucia. Two Js, two Ls, two 4s, and two 5s.
What about Tobias?
Jude, Jonah and Tobias.
I know a Tobias nn Tobes and I love it!
Elias nn Eli is great too. Jude, Jonah and Elias.
All the best!
I like most others LOVE Gideon. That would easily be my pick. But you also have to love it.
Raphael. Ira (above poster) is always my other Raphael/Raphaella supporter!!! Hehe… I think this name is so underused and is so fabulous!
I also love love love Abram. Such a great name. Plus Abe or Bram are just too cute.
I also really like Isaiah and Ezekiel. I like Ezra but don’t think it really flows well with your lat name. I would also stay away from Luca if you guys are both thinking lucia for a potential future girl name, but that is a decision you have to make otherwise I really like Luca. Similar to Luca is Micah.
Oh, I also really like Simon off your list. Solomon is also pretty cute. Saul/Sol is such a great nm as well.
Good luck! Make sure you keep us updated.
If you do go with another J name, there is Josias and the possibility of using the more common names you weren’t interested in differently. Maybe a double first name, John Mark? I also think if you were to choose a J name and then have another boy a fourth J name would make more sense. If though you were to have a fourth and it was a girl I wouldn’t feel the same pressure for a J name.
I LOVE Gideon, both for you and also just in general. We’re in the same situation right now, initial-wise. My oldest two children both have names that start with M. We’re expecting baby #3 right now, but we aren’t planning to use another M name. I really think it won’t be a problem at all.
Officially my vote is to break with J names- lots of good options already given here!
But… My two cents would be to add that Jem is a great nn for James (Anne of Green Gables ref.- her first son in book 4 or 5 was James/Jem!)
Plus a suggestion from the left field of Biblical Js- what about Jericho? I think it’s totally unique and goes with a few of your mn picks, my faves:
Jericho Robert (nn JR?)
Jericho Hughes
Another vote for Gideon! I love it…..our surname is Grade and both my husband and I think Gideon Grade is cute, but not sure if we think the alliteration is too cutesy. Anyways, it’s a great name!
I also would break away from J if you’re planning a 4th child who probably won’t be a J. I really like the suggestions Naphtali and Ezekiel. Some of my other Bible favorites: Abel, Hezekiah, Malachi and Uriah. And probably my favorite boy name of all time: the classic David!
I think if you are hoping to have more then 3 children its probably a good idea to move away from j names!
Some other biblical suggestions:
Malachi
Isaiah
Samson
Gabriel (nn Gabe)
Elijah
Moses
I also love suggest ions of Levi and Noah! Best of luck
I think sticking to the biblical theme is much more important than sticking to the letter theme, as that is what is meaningful to you. However, if you like the idea of all siblings having biblical/religious names also starting with J, here are some others that I have thought of:
Jerome – saint, translated the Bible into Latin.
Joel – old testament prophet
Justinian – saint and Roman emperor
Jordan – river in the Bible
Jesse – from the Hebrew for “gift”
Jethro – father-in-law to Moses
If you like at least two of these, go for the theme!
Another possibility is to choose a biblical name with a “j” like Elijah or Benjamin to ease the transition.
I have a Joel, a Jasper and baby girl Tabitha. Tabitha is biblical so she is linked to her brothers but not the same. But then, she is a girl so it also seemed a natural place to make the break. Her brothers get tonnes of compliments on their names. Her too, but hers is very unusual where we live.
Good luck! I once knew a family with Zadok, Gideon, Nathan, Ezra, and the girls lucked out with Elizabeth and Abigail. All bibles names!