Hi Swistle & readers –
I’ve been a long-time fan of your site and now need some help with naming my own child. My husband and I are expecting a baby boy in about 7 weeks, he will be little brother to Adrienne (pronounced the masculine Adrian). Honestly I think a lot of the trouble we have with finding names to agree upon is our last name — it’s very common, particularly in our area — rhymes with Donson but starts with J.
We lean towards the traditional side vs. trendy and want to stay out of the top 10, preferably top 50 if we can (although you’ll see some of our favorites cross the latter list). The challenge with traditional though is it can be almost too boring with the last name.
Top contender for a middle name is James, followed by Ryan or Timothy. All family names but none that we “have to use”. Our daughter’s middle name (Louise) has family ties, but it’s something we picked because we liked it with her first name, not so much because of the family history.
I should add that our top boy names the first time around were Wesley or Cameron. Not super wild about them this time around — I don’t really like “Wes” or “Cam” with Adrienne. The first time around my husband really wanted a longer name with a nickname we would primarily use — he still likes that concept but isn’t as set on it this time around. My husband is a Caleb who has always gone by Cal, and I’m Elizabeth who’s always gone by my full name — so we have very different perspectives on nicknames :)
So here is our current list so you can see our trends — additional ideas and insight are very welcome! Help us not be boring!
Aaron — husband’s current favorite if I force him to vote. I like how it sounds, but am not wild about both kids having “A” names and I’m also not a huge fan of the double “a” and how it looks when spelled. Weird, I know.
Carter — has been a boy favorite of mine for a long time, but I am slowly coming off of it due to popularity and husband isn’t a fan.
Bennett (Ben) – my current favorite
Charles (Charlie)
Cole
Jack (we both love, but aren’t sure about Jack “Donson” and we know it’s quite popular)
James (same as Jack — not sure about pairing it with “Donson”)
Clayton — inspired from a friend who passed away, so we both love the meaning but neither are super wild about the potential nickname of Clay (and I’m not sure I like paired with our daughter’s name)Names that have been vetoed by one or the other, either because we don’t like or we know too many people with the name:
Campbell
Soren
Michael
Henry
Thomas
Robert
William/Liam
OwenThank you for helping us not be boring and think outside of the box!
Elizabeth
I would like to put in a word for reconsidering Wesley. Wes is my favorite of all boy-name nicknames. I think it’s darling/sweet on a little boy and friendly/professional on a grown man, and I think it works just as well on an intellectual, an athlete, a manager, a clerk, a serious guy, a funny guy, and so on. Wesley is traditional but not boring, and a little different without seeming like you’re choosing something different just to be different. And I like it with Adrienne.
But I know how sometimes a name can just feel Not Right no matter how much someone else tries to boss you, so if we must move on, we will move on. (Are you SURE, though? Okay, I will stop.)
Nothing from the list is grabbing my attention. If I had to choose one, I’d choose Bennett: it hits that same nice “a little different but not just to be different” spot, and the nickname Ben is another really good one.
Aaron seems like it hits too many of the same notes as Adrienne: same beginning letter, both end in an N-sound, both have an R in the middle.
I wanted to recommend Ian instead, especially since you’ve considered Owen and Liam, but when I said it with Adrienne I realized it’s the last two syllables of her name.
Simon, maybe? Traditional but not boring or overused. Adrienne and Simon.
Or Oliver? Adrienne and Oliver.
Edward is a classic I haven’t heard enough of lately, with cute nickname possibilities such as Ned and Ted. Or Edmund is similar, and I might like that even better.
I’m ready to hear more Karls, too. Adrienne and Karl.
And more Pauls. Adrienne and Paul.
Louis is on my sad-I-can’t-use list, and feels similar to Wesley. Adrienne and Louis.
Elliot is in that same category for me. Adrienne and Elliot.
George with your surname has the pleasing alliteration of Jack or James, but it’s less common. Adrienne and George.
I have a soft spot for the name Alfred and would love to see it around more. Adrienne and Alfred.
I am also fond of the name Frederick. Nice old name but not as out-and-about as it used to be. Adrienne and Frederick.
I wonder if you might want to consider Timothy as a first name. It’s familiar, but not high in current usage. Maybe Timothy Jack, or Timothy James, or Timothy Clayton. Adrienne and Timothy.
Just a heads up on using Jack with your last name- there is a pretty popular singer by the name of Jack (J)ohns0n and a hockey player in the NHL as well with the same name
Suggestions
Zachary nn Zac – this name’a popularity has been falling but it still feels like a modern classic choice for a boy. Nickname Zac/Zack is similar to Jack but without the connection to the singer or hockey player. Plus if this is your last baby it’s kinda cute that their initials are A to Z. A subtle but sweet sibling connection
Alexander nn Zane – Alexander may be more popular than what you prefer but the unexpected but totally usable nickname of Zane really makes it stand out from other Alexanders/Alex/Zanders. Plus it still has that A to Z connection. And I gotta say that Zane definitely spices up the common surname of (D)onson.
Nathaniel or Nathan nn Nate – Nathaniel ranks lower in popularity than Nathan but either are good solid names for a boy. You can’t beat the friendly nickname of Nate! Or you could even use Nat
Maxwell nn Max – handsome full name with great nickname
I would suggest both Wesley and Cameron as well but you’ve already considered those. I have to say they are both super handsome! I love the nicknames of Cam and Wes!
I came here to second Swistle’s recommendation for moving Timothy to the first name position. It’s classic, familiar, but currently rare (at least in my son’s schools. He’s 15 and never had a Tim or Timothy in his class.)
And A’s suggestion of Zachary is terrific!
Bennett is my favorite from your list but I think you may find Ben with your last name pretty common. I also am a fan of Wesley with Adrienne.
I rather like double letter names as a subtle theme. Have you considered Emmett, Marshall, Russell, or Garrett?
Also, I also like three syllable names with Adrienne? Have you thought about Theodore, Gregory, Xavier, Dominic, or Jeremy?
Malcolm, Mac? May hit some of the same notes as Jack and Wes and Cam? I do love Wesley though.
Graham also comes to mind.
Ah, that was my suggestion! Ian, Owen, Simon – Graham fits right in, and Gray makes a great nickname.
I have always like the name Callum. I think it fits with your name style. Callum James.
If all you need is a little pressure to come back around to Cameron and Wesley, I gladly add my “oooh I love both but especially Wesley!” to the mix.
A few names that occured to me, in addition to all the great suggestions:
Josiah
Christopher (nickname Kit if Chris is too common?)
Sebastian (sort of French-adjacent, like Adrienne)
Joel
I agree Bennett checks a lot of your boxes. It seems like a good choice. I also liked the idea of moving Timothy into the first name pool.
Other ideas: Isaac, Nathaniel, Nicholas, Patrick, Theodore, Zane
I agree that Wesley is a really nice fit, if you are open to reconsidering it.
Adrienne feels just a wee bit dated to me, which might be why it hits the sweet spot for you of familiar/not common. Along those lines, I think the suggestions of Paul and Timothy work well. I knew a few growing up but don’t know of any little ones with those names now. Along similar lines I’ll also suggest Christopher, Terrance, Russell, Vincent, Patrick & Lawrence
I can’t decide if Aaron is perfect or too much with Adrienne. In addition to the shared sounds, they both sound like names also used for the opposite gender, you’d have to see Aaron written out to know it’s not Erin, just like you have to see Adrienne to know it’s not Adrian. Is that a fun sib set or just confusing?
Anyway, other ideas: Silas was the first thing I thought of, nickname could be Si/ Cy. Arlo would be a nice quirky classic. Philip? Carson? I love swistle’s suggestions of George and Timothy and agree Wesley is still an excellent choice! Good luck.
I was going to suggest Oliver nn Ollie but Swistle beat me to it. We have a Richard nn Ricky and he tends to be the only one in his class. We know a lot of adult Rick’s but no other kid ones. I do like Wesley. What about Josiah? You seem to like the alteration and it’s not super common. If he wants a more common name he can always go by Joe.
Ooh, I love the suggestions of George and Frederick!
If you don’t like Oliver, what about Oscar?
Elliott made me think of Elias.
Jacob is another name I think of in this grouping.
I also liked the suggestions above of Malcom –> Mac and Graham.
What about Tobias nn Toby? Adrienne and Tobias
Tobias Donson sounds great and Toby Donson is adorable!
Love the suggestions of Edmund, Marcus and David. The nn Davey is sweet.
I really like Bennett. What about Beckett, Spencer or Dominic? Quite like Dominic Donson!
Good luck!
I loved many of Swistle’s suggestions, especially Wesley. I also like Edward/Edmund nn Ted. What about Jeremy? I haven’t seen it mentioned yet. To me it is nicer than Jack, and definitely less common, but you could still have the JJ initials. In my world (kids 7, 3, and 1; West Coast city) we have many Jacks–I think I know 5 the ages of my various kids.
I also love Wesley for you. Other ideas that don’t feel boring or too weird: Parker, Sawyer, Maxwell, Everett, Theodore, Gabriel and Wyatt.
I especially like Everett Ryan “Donson” and Wyatt Timothy “Donson” with Adrienne Louise.
I LOVE Timothy for you. You almost never hear it anymore and it is lovely. I feel the same about Peter. If you are looking for a little something different, I recommend Gage. I love that name and it certainly adds sparkle to your last name.
Daniel
Lachlan
Both have a good grown man nickname (Dan, Lach) and work well in full form.
My name is Adrian Elizabeth (my parents spelled it the boy way!). My Dad’s name is Timothy, so I like the way it sounds with Adrienne. I would try to choose a very obvious masculine name for your son since Adrienne/Adrian is easily confused. I love Wesley too! I think Aaron is too close to Adrienne and could also be confused as Aaron/Erin. Congratulations on your second child!
Love suggestions of Maxwell, Marshall, and Phillip.
Wesley is a personal favorite but to my ear reads too “New American” to Adrienne’s “Classic Feminine.”
I think the 3 above fit into that classic and underused category. Also maybe:
David
Nicholas
Mitchell (maybe? Maybe not? I’d vote Marshall over this)
Ross
Gregor (maybe less likely to default to just Greg)
And from the masculine but romantic column:
Brooks
Noel
Cain/Kane
Dalton
Here to put in another plug for Timothy! It is my nephew’s name (he is about 18mo) and it is ADORABLE! Seriously, think about him pronouncing his name as “Timmafee” — so cute.
What about Jacob nn Jack? With your husband’s name / nickname I think it could work.
My other thought was Marcus. Lucas seems to be getting more popular, but I haven’t heard much of Marcus.
Adrienne and Jacob “Jack”
Adrienne and Marcus
Just posted a comment and couldn’t see it until I realised it’s about eight posts back. Weird!
Thank you all for the great input so far! I will admit that reading many of your favorable comments on Wesley is intriguing and causing me to reconsider (it’s still a fave of my husband’s). I think it’s the ‘lee’ sound ending that I have a hard time with but I’m going to keep noodling on it. A few of the comments mentioned names that were on the list awhile ago and I’m going to resurface, and there are some great new ones. Interesting that there a lot of votes for Timothy — and I do like it — but it’s my BIL so probably too close of a connection for us to be a first name. All is great food for thought — thank you!
I had many of the same thoughts as other commenters:
Simon
Malcolm
Tobias
But here are a few more that would be good with Adrienne:
Isaiah (Adrienne and Isaiah)
Gabriel (Adrienne and Gabriel)
Wes for Wesley and Cam for Cameron are the usual nicknames, but couldn’t one also go with Lee for the former and Ron or even Merry (Like the hobbit) if it fit his personality for the latter? Granted Ron Donson might be too close to Don Johnson the actor for your taste.
Personally, I like Timothy Ryan Donson, Timothy James Donson, Wesley Ryan Donson, Gabriel James Donson, and, if you don’t mind alliteration, Jason Timothy Donson. Might be too much J-son but it strikes my ear in a pleasant way.