Hi Swistle,
My husband and I are expecting our baby boy in December. My first name is Alleigh and my husbands name is Cole and our last name is Strattman. We have planned on using my husbands middle name Shepard since before we got pregnant but now that we’re nearing our due date were both second guessing our choice. I think mostly because we can’t find a middle name that doesn’t sound biblical next to Shepard. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but not for us. We plan on using Shep as a nickname.
We don’t really have many other names since we thought Shep was our name but some middle names we have tossed around are Oliver, Wolfe,or Occy. The O names are throwing us because of the initials being S.O.S. Weird? We came up with Wolf because it’s the Gaelic translation for my pasted brothers name Whalen.
I need some reassurance that were making the right choice with first name and some suggestions for middle names. Please help!
One of the issues I run into with occupational names is that they do seem to make middle names tricky. For example, I like the name Miller. But many of the middle names I pair it with make it sound as if Miller is the occupation and the middle name is the first name: e.g., Miller John sounds like he should be friends with Farmer James and Baker Joseph. The spelling Shepard should seem more like a surname than an occupation, and it does help, but I still get the Farmer James effect.
I think older, traditional names tend to have more of this effect (and also more of the biblical effect), and modern names tend to have less. For example, Shepard Braden Strattman seems neither biblical nor “Farmer James” to me. Shepard Luke sounds biblical; Shepard Bryce does not.
Another possibility is to use a surname as the middle name. Some people don’t like three surnames in a row, but I don’t mind it, especially if the surnames are also sometimes used as first names. Do you have any nice surnames in the family? Perhaps your maiden name, or your mother’s maiden name? I’m picturing something like Shepard Harris Strattman, or Shepard Phillips Strattman.
Another possibility is to reverse your husband’s first and middle: Shepard Cole Strattman doesn’t give me either a biblical or Farmer James issue. But perhaps that would end up being confusing, or perhaps that is just a little too much of the dad’s name.
I do think I’d avoid the O. initial for the middle. I don’t think it would be impossible to have the initials S.O.S., but if you don’t have a strong reason to use an O. name, I think it would be better to start by seeing if you can find a non-O. name you like.
I would avoid Wolfe with Shepard. The sheep/shepherd/wolf thing starts to seem like a theme.
I assume we have an autocorrect issue going on with “pasted brothers,” but I think the name Whalen has great potential. I wouldn’t translate it into Gaelic; I’d just use Whalen. Shepard Whalen Strattman.
If you’re both having doubts about the first-name choice, I don’t see anything wrong with spending some time exploring other possibilities: saying, “Okay, Shepard is still our frontrunner, but let’s see if we can find other candidates to consider.” Maybe you’ll find other names you like just as much, and Shepard can be the middle name. Or maybe when you look for other options, you will find yourselves increasingly certain that the name Shepard is your definite first choice.
I wouldn’t discard it only because of the trouble finding a middle name; if worst came to worst, you could even skip a middle name altogether. Even if you ended up choosing something biblical or Farmer-Jamesy, the middle name is not likely to come up very often; mostly he will just be Shepard/Shep Strattman.
Name update!
I am happy to introduce Shepard Jack Strattman. Who we call Shep. Your guidance and readers advice was very helpful. Even though we didn’t go with our original middle name idea and love the short more common name of Jack as a middle name behind Shepard.
Thank you Swistle!
How about Shepard Alan, Shepard Albert, or Shepard Lee? (Shepard Leon?) All three are low on the “Farmer John” scale in my opinion, none are biblical, and it’d be a way to incorporate your name in addition to your husband’s.
I also agree that Shepard Whalen works.
Alan Shepard is a famous astronaut. Just something I noticed. But I live in Houston AKA Space City so maybe other people wouldn’t have that association?
Nope, I have it too… although I wouldn’t say it’s a negative association, but it’s a strong one. (I’m from Canada, for reference). The Astronaut Wives Club show that aired this summer is not helping reduce this connotation but the association with the name may be reduced by time as the baby is growing up?
I love Shepard with Whalen – such a cool name and a great way to honor two people you love!
Agree! Shepard Whlan is a great name.
*Whalen
I love the idea of double surnames! Shepard was on our short list for a while, but both of us were worried that the biblical associations would be too strong in the small town we recently moved to. I also love it with your last name!
I agree with Swistle, I’d avoid a middle name starting with O if you can find one you like. It seems that if you look within very modern style names for ideas, you probably won’t have too much of a Biblical theme. I actually really like the suggestion of Bryce! A few others: Drew, Kendall, Larson, Clark, Jory, Lewis, Meyer, Carson, Milton, Felix, Tyler, Logan, Gavin, Callum, Austin, Chase, Blake, Brody / Brady, Damian, Ashton, Wyatt.
Or also maybe some turn-of-the-century names that sound very business-y and no-nonsense. Such as Winston, Franklin, Walter, Harry, Arthur, Roy, Theodore, Keith, Russell, Cecil, Harvey, Vincent / Vince/ Vance.
On reading your letter I immediately thought, Use Shepard Whalen!!! Use it!! I am glad to see everyone else seems to think so as well. If not, I would look at using other names that are meaningful… Any surnames or maiden name that could work? Grandparents or someone special (such as an important teacher or coach that made an impact on one of your lives?)
Unless you are planning on calling him by his first and middle name (although doesn’t sound like it) then the flow doesn’t really matter that much as he’ll be called mostly by his first or his first and last name, but rarely all three.
Suggestions:
Shepard Austin
Shepard Quincy
Shepard Joseph
Shepard Jonesy
Shepard Cael
Shepard Cole
Shepard Rockwell
Shepard Alton
Shepard Colby
Shepard Adam
I think there are many middle names that would work..
Avoid O middle names. I would also avoid Wolf with Shepard, it really does seem like too much. Whalen would be fine by itself, or perhaps another name that means wolf. Conan, Conor, Fallon & Lowell all have meanings related to wolf.
Since Shepard is from your husband’s name, have you considered something related to your first name as the middle name? I like the balance this would give & I admit to a soft-spot for cross-gender honor names. To honor Alleigh you could do something like Allen, Alistair, Alex/Alexander or Lee. I actually really like the sound of Shepard Lee S_. Or perhaps you could find a way to use your middle name.
My first thought was use Cole for the middle but after reading this I agree that Shepard Lee sound good and I like that it’s a nod to your name.
I also would not use Wolfe as a middle with Shepard.
Shep is so cute!
I don’t understand why there is even a discussion: Shepard Whalen is amazing. Hello, cool name plus deep meaning, I can’t believe anyone would suggest anything else!
If for whatever reason you choose another name I would avoid all vowels not just “O”
Shepard Whalen is definitely the best option!
I absolutely love the name Shepherd and would use it if we have another son. Middle names I have considered with Shepherd are:
Shepherd Oliver ( I wouldn’t be too concerned with the initials, but that’s just me)
Shepherd Thomas
Shepherd Davis
Shepherd Hayes
Shepherd Harris
Shepherd Warren
I may be in the minority but I do not care for Shepherd Whalen. Personally, Shepherd needs a more common name to balance it out.
My nephew’s name is Shepard and he has his dad’s first name as his middle -Nikolas. I also think Alexander sounds good.
I was going to say Shepherd Thomas, I have a friend who has a Shepherd Thomas and I think it’s just perfect. I also thought why not use Whalen? when I read your letter. I always get a little nutty toward the end and my perfect name sounds so WEIRD to me. I feel lucky I have my husband, who has always gently reminded me about how it’s kind of common for me to doubt the name. I’ve always stuck with mine and 10, 7, 6 and almost 4 years later, I’m happy, if that helps. Best of luck, I love the idea of a little baby named Shep. Baby Shep. Delicious!
I want to jump on the Shepard Whalen bandwagon. I’m not even going to suggest anything else.
I’m in the same place.
Ditto.
I agree!
Shepard Whalen! Unless there’s a compelling family reason not to use it–it is fantastic.
I also thought, if you have any non-British heritage, a non-English middle name could dispell the “Farmer John” effect. Shepard Antonio, Shepard Erik, Shepard Joaquin, Shepard Giovanni, Shepard Mateo, Shepard Willem… just thinking of random European heritage names… none of these have quite the biblical/folk tale/old time-y feel as say, Shepard James.
Shepherd Allec
Letters used from both parents name
Alle- moms name
lec-from dads name too
I also think Whalen works and is very special name.
I’m in the minority but I always think an unusual first name needs a more common middle, I like Alan.
I think a Z name could sound neat in this situation. Shephard Zeus Strattman, Shephard Zane Strattman., Shephard Alexander Strattman.
Love Shep!…don’t know if you are thinking of more kids or not, but if you are, don’t forget to give them a thought here…is Whalen worth “saving?” Do you other awesome names to balance how cool this one is?
I like…
Shephard James
Shephard Thomas
Shephard Dean
Shephard Lee
shephard Joseph
Shepard Whalen was my first thought, as well!