Hi Swistle!
I am expecting my third child late summer. It’s going to be our last! We aren’t going to find out the sex beforehand, but are having some serious issues with either boy or girl names – help!
Our last name starts with a “Shm” sound and rhymes with Pitt. I am really not a fan of first names that end in “S” in general because of how it pairs with our last name.
We have two boys:
Broderick Anderson (Brody)
Thompson Abraham (Tommy)As you can see, we are a fan of last names as first names. This third baby will have the middle Dean no matter what (in honor of my Grandma whose name was Willa Dean).
We have considered Theodore for a boy, but recently nixed it because between the two of us, we can’t get on board with either Theo or Teddy as a nickname. I’ve always loved Cameron, but my husband is not a fan.
If it’s a girl, i want her to have a really feminine first name since her last name isn’t so much. The one name we can both agree on is Adeline, although my one reservation is that we have a niece Madeline, and is that too similar even though ours will have the long “i” sound?
I have also always liked Amelia, but my husband isn’t a fan.
I appreciate any help you can provide – We are just at a loss!
It would be fun to see if we could find another boy name that was an unusual/fresh surname-name with a familiar nickname. No reason we MUST—just, it would be fun to look. I’m leaning heavily here on the Last Names First section of The Baby Name Wizard:
Callahan/Cal
Callister/Cal
Corrigan/Cory
Cortland/Cory
Davison/Davy
Finnegan/Finn
Maxfield/Max
Nicholson/Nick
Robinson/Rob
Robertson/Rob
I find the ones that end in -son a little hard to say with the surname—not to a deal-breaking point, but enough to notice. Plus, those repeat the ending of Thompson—again, doesn’t have to rule them out, especially if you mostly call him Tommy.
More possibilities:
Carter
Crosby
Griffin
Keaton
Lawson
Meyer
Redford
Sullivan
Wesley
If your husband isn’t interested in Cameron, I wonder if he’d like Camden? Broderick, Thompson, and Camden; Brody, Tommy, and Cam.
I don’t think Adeline is too close to Madeline for cousins, especially if I’m assuming correctly that your niece uses the -linn pronunciation.
The first step with girl names, I think, is to figure out your general style. Adeline and Amelia make me think of classic/vintage girl names such as Abigail, Annabel, Audrey, Clara, Claudia, Cordelia, Eliza, Eloise, Emeline, Flora, Josephine, Lillian, Lydia, Margaret, Molly, Olivia, Sylvia, Victoria.
But if you’re looking over that list and thinking, “Hm, no, no, nope, hm, no, meh, no,” then it might be that I’m way off and your style is actually Names that Start with A, or French Names, or Still Surname-Names But with Good Feminine Nicknames, or any number of other categories. This is one reason I’m so fond of The Baby Name Wizard: names are sorted by category, so you can look over a whole group of names and think, “Yes, we like a LOT of those” (and then spend more time evaluating all the other names in the category) or “Nope, that is DEFINITELY not us.”
Kipling nn Kip
Ooh–great suggestion.
Love Swistle’s suggestions — especially Callahan, Callister, and Corrigan.
What about Harrington or Harris (although ends with S), nickname Harry?
Weston, nickname Wes?
Rafferty, nickname Ray?
I love swistle’s suggestion of Callahan nn Cal, so adorable and I feel like it suites your sibset really really well.
Broderick, Thompson and Callahan
Brody, Tommy and Cal <3
I also like Sullivan nn Sully, which fits nicely with your set.
Or Harrison nn Harry
or Everett nn Rhett
I love the nn Fitz, though Fitzgerald is a bit much for me for a first name, it fits the last as first with cute nickname pattern though!
I’m going to offer up my own son’s name, Fordon (like Gordon with an F), nn Ford. It’s an Irish surname.
Or what about Thornton nn Thorn or Tony?
For a girl, what about Camille? Or what about naming her directly after your Grandmother and go for Willa?
Oh yes, Willa would be spectacular!
Willow might work, too, as it would be close to Grandma’s name and be closer in style to the boys’ names to my ear.
And Willa could be a nickname for Willow
I’m obsessed with the name Edison lately–nicknames Eddie, Ned, etc. I also love Baxter nn Bax but that’s a little more out there.
For a girl–Clementine, Elodie, Anastasia? Just for jumping off points.
I love Edison! Great suggestion!
My first thought was Wilson for a boy. Fits with the surname style you like and provides a stronger/more direct homage to Willa Dean.
From swistles list, I especially like callahan, Corrigan and Sullivan for you. I’ll add Solomon (Sol), Gideon (Gil) and Donovan (Don/Donnie/Van/Vinnie).
I like Adeline and think it’d be fine with a cousin Madeline. But not if the call names are Addy & Maddie. Maybe som other “Line” names? Emmeline, Caroline, Coraline?
I think I would steer clear of a second ‘son’ name. Do you like Campbell? Or Logan?
Franklin nn Frank?
For girls, how about trying to find a -y nickname to match the boys?
Alexa nn Lexie
Minerva nn Minnie
Or even Willa nn Willie/Billie if you like the boyish nickname
Maxwell!
I think Sullivan, nn Sully would be really great with your sibset. Instead of Adeline, WDYTO Adelaide (nn Ada or Addie). Or Annabel, nn Annie?
I also wanted to suggest Margaret Dean, nn Maisie, Maggie, Margot, Meg, etc.
I thin Adeline is a fine choice though you may not want to call her Addy is her cousin goes by Maddy. I love the suggestion of Annabel. If you like Amelia and Adeline, the suggestion of Emmaline is worth considering.
I really like the suggestions of Callahan and Sullivan with your other son’s names. Other suggestions:
Kendrick – Kenny
Bennett-Benny
Carmichael-Cam
You could use Mike with Carmichael, too.
I think Adeline would be fine for a daughter with a cousin named Ma-de-lynn. Sure they’re similar, but if you love it, go with it. I have a cousin named Elisabeth, called Liz and I’m called E in the family. Willa Dean would be fitting, too.
Or what about:
Isabella
Olympia
Eloise (more of a z sound than an s to me, and therefore less blurry with schm-)
Louisa
Amanda
Evelyn
Susanna
As for boys, surname-names aren’t my strong suit, though I rather like Bennett and Kipling with your older boys. And Fitz is a son-of surname, so you can easily have Fitzjohn, Fitzgeorge, Fitzroy, etc. King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son was Henry Fitzroi, as son of the king
A few more:
Charleston/Charlton nn Charlie
Montgomery/Montague nn Monty
Williamson nn Billy
Prescott nn Scotty
I think Adeline is a lovely name and not too similar to Madeline at all.
If you’re worried about the Addy/Maddy nicknames, Della, Adele or Ada are other options.
Others:
Miranda
Arabella
Araminta
Larissa
Clarissa
Ophelia
Love the suggestion of Susanna!
Good luck!
Ok I’m supe late to commenting on this, but I could really picture a W name with this set! Wallace, nn Wally? Or Walton, Wilton (Will), or Wagner, Whitaker, Winslow, etc.
Boy:
Jackson (Jack)
Beckman (Beck)
Carlisle (Carl)
Bradford (Brad) (Ford)
Bradshaw (Brad)
Wilson (Will)
Henderson (Henry)
What about the name Mabel Dean for a little girl. :) Or perhaps Penelope, Penny Dean.