Dear Swistle,
My husband and I are so excited to welcome baby boy #3 into our family this February, but we are in desperate need of help with his name. You (and your readers’ comments) were a tremendous help to me in naming our second child back when I wrote to you in June 2012 (“Baby girl or boy Fable, sibling to Sawyer Benjamin“) that I decided to write again.
My name is Jocelyn and my husband’s name is Brian, last name rhymes with Fable. We currently have two sweet and silly boys, Sawyer Benjamin and Reed Wheeler. I have a strong sense to continue the surname/not-very-common naming trend as with Sawyer and Reed, but can’t seem to find anything that we both agree on… and trust me, I’ve read ALL the lists in the Baby Name Wizard book! Also not sure if I want another -er name, in order to not leave out Reed. Hudson is super cute, but is my nephew’s name (as is Fletcher).
We both almost agreed on the name Brooks, but discovered the sad connection to the character Brooks from the movie Shawshank Redemption, unfortunately ruling out that name. Other names I am somewhat drawn to are Brennan, Beckett, Brady, Grant, Parker, and ones that my husband has suggested include Hunter, Forrest, Henry, and Jack. Neither of us are crazy about the other’s list, however, leaving us stumped. If the baby were to be a girl, we would hands down agree on Madeline… but of course, this was not meant to be easy :) Any suggestions are MUCH appreciated!
Thank you,
Jocelyn
I will be gone most of the day today (Edward has an appointment with a specialist, so I will spend a big part of the day clenching my hands on the steering wheel and trying not to panic about all the Big City Drivers driving crazily around me), so this is the perfect day to do a letter I originally planned not to choose because my answer was going to be so short I wasn’t sure it was worth it.
My answer is this: that even though I’ve seen The Shawshank Redemption several times and have also re-read several times the short story it’s based on, the Brooks connection didn’t occur to me—and hasn’t occurred to me even though the name Brooks has come up fairly regularly around here. Even once the connection was pointed out, it seems like a very weak one, and also a positive one (albeit sad). The movie is 20 years old now and the short story it was based on is over 30 years old, and surname names are popular; so even though Stephen King remains a current cultural figure and his books remain popular for re-reading, I don’t think anyone would think you intended the connection to that particular character. If I DID have reason to think the connection was deliberate, I’d think, “Oh, yes—that sweet, sweet man.”
So my advice is to go with Brooks if you love it. But I’ll also post this in case Brooks would have been out anyway and you’d like more suggestions.
Name update!
Hi Swistle!
A much postponed name update to my 11/6/14 post “Baby Boy Fable, Brother to Sawyer and Reed.” We have happy and healthy baby brother #3 named Beckett Henry “Fable”.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my two requests. I found it so helpful and exciting to hear from you and your thoughtful readers!
Thanks again!!
Jocelyn
I agree with Swistle, Brooks seems perfect!
I agree with Swistle that Brooks is usable. I haven’t seen the movie, but I have read the story and the connection would not occur to me. And I am always in favor of using the name you agree on/like best.
However, if you really are dissuaded by the character connection, I like Grant best from your list (with Brady and Brennan as a close second and third) and Forrest best from your husband’s list. Henry would make a nice middle with many of them as well. Grant Henry is very nice, as is Parker Henry.
If this is your last child maybe you could use something that sounds like Madeline–Madden or Malcolm, for example. If you think you might have a chance to use Madeline in the future I wouldn’t do it, but if not, I think Madden Brooks Fable is nice!
I really like Madden.
I’d also point out that Reed wouldn’t be completely left out if you picked another -er name, since he has -er in his middle name. With three kids, I think you could get a really nicely subtle circular pattern…Sawyer Benjamin, Reed Wheeler, and Mercer Wade…or something. (I picked Wade because it’s a classic name like Benjamin and starts with a W like Wheeler).
I think the Forrest Gump association may be too strong for me to support Forrest (and of course, Gump was named for the Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest, which is another association I’d rather avoid). LOVE Grant though.
Other options: Landon? Or from http://names.mongabay.com/data/1000.html, other surnames that could be first names:
Davis
Taylor (too girly with Taylor Swift? Maybe Tyler?)
Wilson
Martin
Jackson
Anderson
Lee
Clark
Lewis
Allen
There are tons more on there that could work.
My husband’s favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption, so I casually asked him what he thought of the name, without mentioning the movie. He likes the name, but more importantly, it did not remind him of the movie. He made no mention of it at all.
Regardless, my husband’s name associations are not your own, so I think if it *you* associate it too strongly with the movie, you should consider other names. But if you’re concerned with the public’s association with the name, I agree with Swistle and think you should put it back on the list!
Either way, you have already picked beautiful, strong, distinctive names for your sons. I’m sure your third son’s name will be too!
What about Grady?
Other suggestions are:
Blaise, Weston, Carlen/Carlin, Britton, Kasen, Carden, Candler, Colin, Coy, London, Dayton, Drake, Chason, Christian, Ryken, Peyton, Parker, Grayson, Rylan, Ryland, Braxton, Jackson, Zeke, Harrison, Easton, Kalen, Kingston, Hadley, Brock, Bryson, Talon, Blaze/Blaise, Maverick, Reid, Cale, Graham, Weston, Leighton/Layton, Slade, Kaylan, Tallon, Brighton, Kinsley, Brooks, Garriso, Harlan, Harland, Blakely, Harlan, Ryton, Breck, Tayson, Chess, Graden, Daylan, Ridge, Baylen, Randon, Pearson, Hartley, Dagan, Laken, Bracken, Blaken, Barrington, Bastian, Brayton, Brier!!, Brack, Bronson, Bryson, Brasen, Breckin, Brogan, Conley, Duncan, Finley, Forrester, Griffin, Jadon, Jase, Keaton, Kennedy, Keelin, , Maddox, Presley, Lance, Rendor, River, Tameron, Titus, Talen, Tayton, Saylor, Dawson
To me “Until we discovered” the connection means you didn’t think about it automatically, it wasn’t like you were personally turned off by the name by that connection Someone or something had to point it out. I don’t think I’d ever think of the Shawshank Redemption when meeting a baby/child/man named Brooks.
Other ideas to bounce: Atticus, Everett, Callum, Watson, Austen, Ellis or Ellison, Whitman, Graham.
If you like Brooks, which I love and think would suit perfectly, maybe you would like Brock? I went to school with a Brock and he was adorable.
Or perhaps Tate, Deacon, Dean or Beck?
Oooh, I really like Dean here! Surname-y and not terribly common but also not unheard of.
Brooks is great – I didn’t immediately make the Shawshank connection, either.
Grant is also great, and a bit presidential. Wonder if you’d consider Truman? I think the nickname True is sweet =) Or Harrison, as previously suggested – maybe you’d like the idea of all the boys having surnames but a different number of syllables?
Another cute one with three syllables would be Sullivan – the nickname Sully is cute!
How about Lachlan or Fletcher or Flynn? Maybe Landon or Pierce? Anders or Coleman? Is Knox too far out there?
The previously suggested Madden is also cool, if you’re good with the football connection? And Watson is great – the Sherlock Holmes and Edison connections are positive ones, I think!
Good luck! Can’t wait to see what you guys pick =)
I went to college with a guy who went by Brooks (I’m 30) and I always thought that was such a different and interesting name. I think his actual name was Hasbrook, but I cannot remember. I just knew him as Brooks! I wouldn’t rule it out because of the reference.
If your concern is the public association with the name Brooks, I don’t think you need to be concerned.
If it is a personal association that you find yourself stuck on, then let’s suggest! Jemison (Jameson), Harrison, Sullivan, Hudson, Lincoln, Paxton (I’m listing -on endings so you have three different ending-types for your surname names)
We have very similar naming styles! Our son is Jack, and we also considered Parker, Reid, Grant, Henry. I agree with others that Brooks definitely works, but here are a few others we considered: Owen, Graham, Chase, Charlie. Good luck!
Another suggestion– Anderson.
Brooks is great! I don’t make the shawshank association at first. Maybe the association wouldn’t be so strong if it was in the middle spot since the middle name doesn’t get used every day. Some suggestions:
Holden
Grady
Everett
Emmett
Cormac
Callan
Davis
Isaac
Penn
Grant
Jude
Marshall
What about Ford? Chase? Forrest? Wright (or is that too close to Reed)? Learned?
I really enjoy the name Brooks (like a lot) and I did not make the Shawshank Redemption connection at all (I had to look on IMDB to remember who Brooks was in the movie) so I don’t think that other people will make the connection to that movie, especially when there are so many other positive people with the name Brooks (for example, Herb Brooks and Brooks Robinson). That being said, I completely understand that sometimes once you’ve made a connection to a name, you can’t forget it.
Here are some other names you might enjoy (I’m sure there are repeats from above):
Walker
Harrison
Carver
Pierce
Lincoln
Cormac
Davis
Everett
Jude
Isaac
Sullivan
Callum
Atticus
I have an 18 month old Brooks and I have to say I love it and I get so many positive remarks on it. His older brother is Carter, which is probably too popular for you but we also had Grant on our short list. I’m trying to remember the others. I think they were Pierce, Vaughn, and Sebastian.
I would go for Brooks. I have not once regretted it and I was hesitant to use it but it was my husbands favorite. So glad he won that one!
I saw the title if this post and immediately thought of “Thatcher” for a perfect brother name. I was so excited that I almost didn’t read anything else. ;) However, I agree with all the responses that say I never would have thought of Shawdhank Redemption. I do think of the movie Mr. Brooks right away, though. Sorry if that complicates things.
I have a Thatcher and agree – it’s perfect!
What about Cooper? It’s popular but not too popular (84 on the SSA baby names list). I think the having a second -er ending is okay. It seems like a nice way to tie the first and last child’s names together.
Another vote for Brooks! I DO think of the movie when I hear the name but have no negative association. If it’s completely ruled out some other surnamey names:
Maxwell nn wells
Sullivan
Griffin
Spencer
Graham
I personally like Sawyer, Reed and Graham!
Good luck!
Oh, I love the suggestions here! Spencer, Graham, and Maxwell–never though to nn that to Wells, but would fit well with your boys. I was also going to suggest Sullivan and Grant.
I know someone with a Reid and a West. Weston?
I know I’m the odd duck here on the Brooks train, but I’ve never cared for it (knew a little girl Brooke/Brookie who ruined it for me so not sure that it’s the name specifically so don’t weigh this heavily and if you love it, go for it!)
What about:
Merritt
Thayer
Blake
Grant
Grayson
Tucker
Tate
Keegan
My daughter has a new friend in school named Hart. I think its wonderful and fresh and goes beautifully with your other boys. AND its a great meaning (male deer).
I really love Brooks. For me it’s all Brooks Robinson (Baseball Hall of Famer). I’ve seen the movie several times, but if someone asked me what the old man’s name was I’m not sure I could have given the answer. It’s a sad story, but it’s not like saying we were going to name our baby Rosemary until we found out about the horror movie.
Sawyer, Reed and….
Marshall
Truman
Lindell
Wallace (nn Wally! Love it)
Mitchell
Hayes
Abbott
Carson
Darcy
Ellis/Ellison
I was coming here to suggest Grady or Welles or Hartley and I see great minds! :-)
Don’t give up Brooks so easily. It seems like a great compliment to your sibset and even fans don’t get the immediate connection as it has been (very occasionally) used as a first name for years now.
Sawyer, Reed & Grady
Sawyer, Reed & Welles
Sawyer, Reed & Hartley
I vote for Grant, if Brooks is really out. (I’ve never seen the movie or read the story, so the only Brooks I could think if was country singers Brooks and Dunn.)
All my other suggestions have already been mentioned but what about Whittaker? Sawyer, Reed, and Whittaker. Seems like a fabulous match to me!!
I do really like Grady as well.
Good luck!
I really like Whittaker, and especially love the nn “Whit”! Sadly, it did not sound good with our last name. Our naming styles are similar (surname-y). We had Grant on our short list too. We ended up going with Vaughn (love). I also like someone else’s suggestion of Briggs – someone I know has a 2-year-old named Briggs, and he’s just the cutest thing.
I say use Brooks if you love it. My stepmom is named Brooks, and I’ve known her all my life basically…and never have I made the Shawshank association. If it’s your favorite, use it!
Oooh what about Marshall?
I’ve seen that movie several times, and the Brooks connection didn’t even occur to me.
I love your boys names and your naming style as we have used the same style for our children.
Our Daughter is Emerson and our son is Baxter…I wonder if you would like Baxter too? Emerson is also unisex.
I quite like the suggestion above of Maxwell with the nn Wells rather than Max.
And I do also really like Brooks and the only thought I had when hearing it for the first time was ‘Brooks was a guy on The Bachelorette a few years back’…which isn’t negative.
Some other options:
Jones
Smithson
Davis
Wilson
Ewen
Tucker
Tanner
Weston
One note…someone above mention Abbott as a suggestion…please don’t use it…the Australian Prime minister is Tony Abbott at the moment and he is a complete idiot and I cringe everytime I hear it.
Good luck for your pregnancy and arrival of your little man. I’m sure his big brothers are getting excited about his arrival too x
I was about to suggest Baxter. Awesome name! Love the nickname Bax.
The warning about Abbott can’t be overstated, especially as he gets worse by the minute. It’s not an association I imagine anyone will enjoy.
I wanted to add Huxley and Calloway to the already great suggestions.
I love Brooks and don’t at all think the connection is too strong!
Also:
Walden
Wallace
Lachlan (top choice!)
Griffin (other top choice)
Rowan
I’ve also seen the movie and didn’t make the connection! I really don’t think it’s an issue, especially once you meet your beautiful baby boy and form new associations with the name. But other names you might like:
Anderson; Anderson Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Anderson
Weston; Weston Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Weston
Nolan; Nolan Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Nolan
Wyatt; Wyatt Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Wyatt
Vaughn; Vaughn Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Vaughn
Everett; Everett Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Everett
Bennett; Bennett Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Bennett
Harrison; Harrison Fable; Sawyer, Reed, and Harrison
I think Harrison is my favorite for your family! I love the rhythm of every boy’s name having a different number of syllables.
Names I thought of on the way home while sweating in traffic: Crosby and Wilson.
What about Thompson? I know a little boy with the name and it’s surprisingly rare as a first name.
So many great names here my own list is going to be getting some new additions…Deacon, Wells, Hart…
My own suggestions are inspired by two names I saw in yearbooks way back when you’d dive into your crosstown crush’s yearbook to swoon over the athletic, mop haired heart throbs… Galen and Kain.
Sawyer, Reed, and Galen
Sawyer, Reed and Kain
If you like Brooks… but just can’t use it, how about Fields? Sawyer, Reed, and Fields. As long as your last name isn’t ACTUALLY Fable, it could sound pretty great.
No Fields?
Then how about Briggs? Sawyer, Reed, and Briggs. Everyone gets their own first initial, own ending sound, and Briggs has six letters like Sawyer but only one syllable like Reed.
Best wishes as you welcome another charming son! Please let us know what you and your husband decide!
Brooks, Brennan, Brady, and Beckett make me think of Barrett. It’s probably my favorite surname-type name, especially since you want to avoid the -er ending, but it doesn’t seem to pop up on lists very often. I love the bonus of getting to use a nickname like Buddy Bear/Baby Bear/Bear Cub for the baby.
Brooks is a great name and goes so well with your other boys!
I love your naming style it is very much like mine, most names I would have suggested have been said but I wanted to suggest Gannon & Lawson two names we are currently considering for our bub due next year, Tate is also on our list but has already been suggested.
Congratulations and good luck
Like so many readers, I absolutely adore the name Brooks… And although even I have not seen the movie, it does bring up a personal connection that definitively rules out the name for us :( Sorry to not have mentioned that in my original post.
Fortunately there are so many great suggestions above that will help me to do some more thinking. I was next super excited for the name Beckett, but my 4 year old has a friend with that name in preschool and he is (surprisingly) strongly opposed to naming the baby after anyone else he knows with the same name!! So while I admire his style, it does make it extra difficult.
My husband suggested Brenton and my son agrees. However, I’m not completely sold and think it sounds more like Brendan when you hear it. Clearly, we like the B names with a surnamey/baseball player sounding feel!
How about:
Whitby
Hartley (there was an Australian judge with this name)
Jensen
Linden
Robin
Wolford
Wolfe
Jett
Clarke
Allen
Rockwell
Rushford
Storey
Weston
Good luck!
In addition to being surnames, your boys’ names make me think of nature (Tom Sawyer being outdoorsy and Reed the plant). So your question made me think of Linden/Lyndon, which is a firstname, but also a type of tree and a surname. It also has a different ending to the other two names and is not too common. Good luck!
Have you considered Brogan or Brennan? I agree with you about Brenton sounding like Brendan, you could always simply go with Brent. Or use Brendan, which would simplify everything. But in your shoes, I think I’d go with Beckett in spite of your 4-yr-old’s thoughts/feelings–I think they’d change very quickly, even immediately, upon meeting his new brother.
good luck!
I like Brooks with Sawyer & Reed. How about Breccan, Madden, or Maddox? Or Cormac?
If you decide not to use Brooks, perhaps you’d like Gordon? I love it and would use it myself, but it is the last name of someone I know and it doesn’t go with my last name.
Sawyer, Reed, and Gordon
I agree that Brooks is still very usable, and in fact I’ve met several little boys named Brooks in the past few years and never made the connection. Here are some names that remind me of Brooks or are real-life brothers of Brooks or another name on you or your husband’s lists. Sorry for repeats:
Boyd
Duncan
Nelson
Cole/Coleman
Davis
Grady
Brock
Bennett
Bryce/Bryson
Lincoln
Lucas
Marshall
Tobin
Clay/Clayton
I have seen the movie multiple times, and consider it a favorite, although I haven’t seen it in awhile. I don’t even know for sure who Brooks is in the movie, though, although I have some suspicions about which character you’re referring to.
I know it’s hard to put a connection out of your mind, but let me tell you the story of my sister. She and her husband were all set on a particular name, only to be told by someone that (with the baby’s last name) it sounded like a certain medical term. So they nixed it and names the baby something else. Before they’d even left the hospital, they went back to their original choice — they just loved it too much. They have no regrets and I can’t imagine my niece with any other name. I know that sometimes it feels like once you have an association, you can’t “un-hear” it, but I think this it is totally possible to get past this and stick with this name that you love if you just open your mind and give it some time. Once that baby is here, you won’t associate the name with anyone but your darling baby boy!