Hi Swistle,
I am due on Oct 23, and we don’t know the gender of the baby. We are dead set on a girl name, but nothing feels quite right for a boy! Our last name is @lexander, and we have a daughter- Echo Marie.
If we have another little girl she will be Lorelai Catherine. Lorelai seems unique, feminine, and tied to Echo in maybe a mythylogical sense (that theme isn’t important) and Catherine is a very special family name (like Marie).
For a boy, originally our choices were Harrison or Henry, but now these choices seem way way to popular and basic? I didn’t name my daughter Echo to be weird, I just liked the name! But I’d like to stay out of the top 100. I also want to avoid my children sounding like a group of military call signs! Echo Foxtrot Alpha! We heavily considered Adler which feels like a good fit, but I keep thinking Adler @lexander sounds like a total tongue twister. Another boy name we really liked but now seems too out there is Indiana. I would also like to use the middle name Manning (my maiden name), with Bayer as a secondary option.
Please help!
You may already know about my extreme soft spot for maiden names used as children’s names, and so perhaps you anticipate my immediate, eager question: Would you consider using Manning as the first name? Manning @lexander. Echo and Manning. Well, if not, I love it as the middle.
Henry feels common to me with Echo, but I think Harrison is great. I don’t know a single kid named Harrison—though of course that will vary tremendously by area of the country. It’s a more common name than Echo, but it isn’t so common as to be a surprise. I like it, and I think Harrison @lexander sounds very nice.
Harris is even less common—more along the lines of Echo’s popularity. Harris @lexander; Echo and Harris.
Or Davis. Davis @lexander; Echo and Davis.
Or Rufus. Rufus @lexander; Echo and Rufus.
Or Gus. Gus @lexander; Echo and Gus.
I agree about Adler @lexander. I wonder if you’d like the name Aidric? Aidric @lexander; Echo and Aidric.
One of my favorites of the -son names is Lawson, certainly not influenced by a cute lanky funny boy in high school. Lawson @lexander; Echo and Lawson.
Every so often, usually when Paul is re-reading the Narnia books to the littler kids, I wonder if the name Caspian will ever come into common usage. I see it was given to 158 new baby boys in 2016, so it’s in the range of the usage of the name Echo. Caspian @lexander; Echo and Caspian.
Poking around in the Social Security database in that same area, I see Boaz. This is a name I’m surprised hasn’t joined the popularity of Noah and Isaiah and Ezra and Elijah. Boaz @lexander; Echo and Boaz. Bo for short.
And Smith! That’s a fun one. Smith @lexander; Echo and Smith.
And Murphy! I would love to see a Murphy on a class list. Murphy @lexander; Echo and Murphy.
And Garrison! Similar to Harrison, but definitely less common. Garrison @lexander; Echo and Garrison.
Name update:
Hi Swistle! Our beautiful baby girl was born Oct 30. Lorelai Catherine is so sweet and fits her name, and her nickname- Cubby – perfectly.
We got so many awesome suggestions for boy names from your readers and in your post, looks like we will have to try for a boy in a few years :).
Manning as a first! Wow! It’s a great name. And unique enough that it sounds perfect with Echo!
Caspian is a great suggestion. I’d like to suggest Archer – cool surname turned cooler first name, sounds great with your last name. Echo and Archer.
I came to suggest continuing the soft mythological theme with Atlas. You really can’t get more memorable than Atlas A—–er as a name, and it doesn’t have the tongue-twister issues that Adler does. Manning or Bayer both work seamlessly for the middle. The only problem with Atlas is that like Atticus, for example, it feels maybe a little trendy/”now.” (Archer, also a great suggestion, maybe has the same issue.)
Which makes me think of Thor, which is more like Echo in that it is NOT very trendy. I know a (grown-up, successful) Thor who makes it seem like a completely normal yet fresh and unexpected option. Thor A—-er is great. It feels much less “out there” than Indiana, for example.
Also, the Thor I know isn’t Scandinavian and it never seems to come up. (Unlike Leif, which maybe feels more ethnic.)
I also know a grown-up Orion. It feels more wild than Thor but still a great option and goes so well with Echo.
Or Griffin? Or Wolfgang, nickname Wolf?
Swistle’s suggestion of Caspian (I love Narnia) made me think of Balian, a rare medieval name. There was a famous knight from the Crusades with the name, subject of a recent film. Or Casper, though that one may still belong singularly to the Friendly Ghost.
Please do update us! Even if you have a girl. And good luck.
I’m the poster here! I actually have a very unusual name myself – Kipin. I am called “Ms. Kipin” or “Alexandra” all the time, so i get the mix up thing; however, it doesn’t bother me to correct.
Atlas is actually really high on my list but my husband doesn’t dig it as much :/ He keeps saying “How often will you say Adler @lexander, the tongue twister part won’t mater.” I think thats just fundamentally wrong and it will happen quite a bit. Thanks for all these suggestions, these comments are wonderful.
another rare medieval name with similar sounds to Caspian is Crispin. Crispin Alex@nder
Or Casper?
I would be concerned with some of the more last name type names (it particularly came up for me when Swistle suggested Smith) that your son’s first and last names will often get reversed. I know if I saw Smith Alexander show up in a queue, I would assume someone had made a data entry mistake (and potentially swap it ‘back’ to Alexander Smith). For this reason, it might be worthwhile to consider some more first name first kind of names, more like the Aidric or Gus that Swistle suggested.
I also like the idea of a soft mythological name as was suggested by the previous poster. I like Atlas and Griffin, and would add Hector, Dylan, and Finn.
I was so surprised the first name/last name confusion didn’t get mentioned and came here to mention it! Something like Adler, Harrison, or Manning Alexander would always look backwards at first glance. Whether that’s a deal breaker or a minor annoyance is totally your call, but it’s something to be aware of. Personally I’d stick to something very obviously first namey, or at least not last namey (Echo’s a good example of that–not a common first name, but doesn’t sound like a last name either).
I would be cautious using a surname as a first name with your last name which is more well known as a first name. I knew someone named something along the lines of Winston Scott and it was constantly mixed up on forms, documents, in doctors offices and on college applications as Scott Winston. I expect if you choose Manning that your sons name will often be mixed up and turned into Alexander Manners mg. That would probably convince me to put Manning in the middle spot but it is a lovely name if you want to use it.
I really like alliterative names so Atlas Alexander really appeals to me. I also like the suggestion of Caspian with Echo.
You may want to consider:
Silas
Ethan
Jethro
Otis
Hugh
Leo
I like the following suggestions Swistle and others have made: Archer, Atlas, Caspian, Orion.
How about Jasper or Percival (Percy)?
What about Ford @lexander?
I do wonder if people will switch the first name and last name as others have suggested.
Other suggestions:
Bowman
Barrett
Reid
Breck
Thane <<<—– I really like this!
Gage
Creed
Hollis
Stanley
Blaine
I’m lying in bed about to go to sleep and Lane popped in my head! I’m apparently drawn to the long “a” sound with your last name!
I cannot tell you how much I am loving the ideas of Caspian or Boaz. BOAZ. Love.
Along the lines of the mythology theme… What about Ajax? Cool. Unusual. Mythic.
That makes me think of another favorite: Axel. Which is of course much more popular.
And I keep thinking Ramsey, as well… although the whole Game of Thrones connection might be unsavory enough to detract from it.
Other names that pop into mind: Alistair (maybe too many repeating sounds?), Ambrose, Argo, Cadmus.
Congratulations! Can’t wait to learn what you decide for your baby!
I’m going to go against the grain…. I can see the mix-up between first and last names happening often in my own generation, however in my children’s generation I wouldn’t assume Alexander would be the first name. I have 4.5 and 1 year old girls and their classroom cubbies read like a baby naming blog, not like the top 10 or even top 100 list (and I live in your typical Midwestern suburb). Echo is similar in popularity to one of my daughter’s names, so it is likely you have to clarify her name on occasion as you may have to with a Manning or Smith Alexander.
I love Manning as a first name! Our boy name was my maiden name and it makes me so happy to daydream about.
Which leads to my runner up vote, my maiden name was Smith. I was happily reading this blog entry when all of the sudden…. Smith! Swistle recommended “my” boy name! And then wistful as I’ll never use it. There is a grown man named Smith at my office and it works as well in a professional environment as I imagine it works on a little boy chasing frogs.
I have a last name that is an extremely common first name. 3 of my 4 kids have obvious surnames for their first names (One of which is a very very common surname but hardly used as a first name). That all was very confusing. Anyway if you get my point – In 7 years it has only been mixed up one time (on a doctor form) and I pointed it out, it was corrected, and that was the end. Don’t let this remote possibility stop you from picking a surname for a first name if that’s what you like.
Also another vote for Manning here.
Homer!!!! Love Homer.
And honestly I loved every one of Swistle’s suggestions. Very excited to read what you pick.
Hmm, as much as I like the maiden as first thing, I would personally hesitate with the surname Manning. Unless you are prepared to have people assume/ask questions about you being a fan of the football player.
FWIW, I know next to nothing about football, but I do know who Peyton Manning is.
However, Manning makes me think of Manny, which was Laura’s nickname for Almanzo. I think I like it with Echo, though it might be more unusual than you are looking for. Like Manning, it also has a Very Prominent Namesake, which could be a drawback.
What about Orion, Everett, Everest, Leander, Matthias, Rowan
We just named our daughter Lorelai in January, so we are a big fan of that for a girl! Since we may have similar naming styles, I thought I would throw some of our boy name options out there for you to consider. Not all of these were husband approved but I loved: Sebastian, Gideon, Silas, and Cormac (“Mac”). I think that Echo and Gideon or Silas would make an excellent sibling pair!
Oh, I love Gideon, great suggestion! Solomon is another one that might interest the poster (or you).
Trying to split the difference between Atlas and Adler gives me…Ansel. Ansel Adams is a great namesake, it’s still German like Adler.
I like both Harris and Manning for the first name, and second the suggestions of Ansel and Orion.
I love the suggestion of Orion.
Echo & Tristan
Echo & Rowan
Echo & Orestes
Echo & Nestor
Someone mentioned Eli and Payton Manning references as a possible negative association if you use Manning in the first name spot. Two v popular football names. There’s also Chelsea Manning. I think it could work well as the middle name.
Rufus is one of my favorite names. I also like Drake. Drake Alexander. Or Rhys.
There’s a band named Echosmith, which may take Smith out of the running. I am loving a lot of these other suggestions, particularly Orion, Caspian, Thane, and Atlas.
How about Hugo? I think that would pair very nicely with Echo and may be similar to Henry and Harrison but less common?
As for other people’s suggeations I really like Gideon and Silas! Someone had suggested Ansel which I’m not familiar with as a name, but how about Hans or Hansel?
Echoing (sorry) the suggestions of Jasper, Tristan, and Leander. Adding (I think) Conall, Darius, and Lugh.
Your daughter’s name (and her potential sister’s name) are lovely!
I think swistle knocked it out of the park this time. I LOVE Caspian. Also all her other suggestions.
The Manning/Football connection has already been brought up but I want to point out that Peyton Manning spent nearly his entire career in Indianapolis, IN and did a ton of work in the community there. The children’s hospital is named after him. Indiana Manning is almost painful in that context.
India is the I in the military phonetic alphabet (which you said you don’t want) so may knock out Indiana, though it could be a fun connection if you’re also interested in Charlie, Juliet, Mike, Oscar, Romeo, Sierra, or Victor.
Echo can go so many different ways (Greek, Mythology, Nature, Word, Military Alphabet) you may have to be especially careful not to accidentally back yourself into a theme corner if you’re planning to have more children.Using Lorelai as a theoretical third, I like the names that are uncommon but not way out there and keep your future options open.
Ian: Echo, Ian, Lorelai
Gideon: Echo, Gideon, Lorelai
Ansel: Echo, Ansel, Lorelai
Finn: Echo, Finn, Lorelai
Tobin: Echo, Tobin, Lorelai
Jude: Echo, Jude, Lorelai
Soren: Echo, Soren, Lorelai