Hello,
I’m due with our second child in March. We do not know the gender yet. My husband and I have a girl’s name picked out but we are struggling to pick a boy’s name. Our first child is a boy so I think that’s why it’s been harder to decide on a baby boy name for our second.
Our son’s name is Judah Thomas. Judah holds significant meaning for us as it means “praise.” And Thomas is my husband’s middle name as well as a family name on my side.
We want our children to have names with significant meaning to us. We plan to have at least three children. And I want our children’s names to sound good when said together.
I also don’t like nicknames. I don’t want to name them something and then hope they will go by a shorter name.
The girl name we have decided on is Mae Elise. My birthday month is May and the Hebrew meaning of May is “gift from God or wished-for child.” My husband chose the middle name Elise and I like the flow of the name Mae Elise Beadle.
For boy names, I like strong but shorter, two-syllable names. I also prefer names with a “soft” sound like Judah as opposed to a name like Zeke. The middle name will be James (after my grandfather). Here is the list we are considering:
Milo- This is my husband’s favorite and while I like it, I’m afraid it’s becoming too popular. I’m also not sure of the combo of Judah and Milo.
Ezra- A Biblical name that means “helper.” I’m concerned the pair of Ezr(a) and Jud(ah) sounds alike but the endings are spelled differently which bothers me. Also, will our third child need the -a or -ah ending?
Asher- Another Biblical name meaning “blessed, happy.” No concerns about the name I’m just not sure if I’m sold on it.
Boden- Both my husband & father-in-law have the double B (first & last). My husband’s name is Benjamin Beadle. We like the idea of having a double B name to keep the tradition.
Lennon- My father’s name is Leonard (called Lenny) so we like the idea of honoring my dad with the first name. My concern is people may associated Lennon Beadle with John Lennon from the Beatles (which sounds like our last name). We were a bit worried about this with our first son also with Judah being close to Jude (“Hey Jude” by the Beatles) but no one has made that connection.
Thank you for your help! I look forward to your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Sadie Beadle
Generally I don’t turn my hand to questions that emphasize the meanings of names: it’s not a subject I know much about. But I realized this morning that then commenters who DO know a lot about name meanings hardly ever get to talk about them.
I did want to say that Mae Beadle sounds in my head like May Beetle—similar to June Bug. It’s a whimsical connection and perhaps not one that would be common for people to make, but it’s a potential hazard with noun names.
Name update:
Hello,
Just a follow up!
Asher James was born March 22, 2019 at 4:01 am. Thank you for submitting my original post. The feedback was helpful & we think Asher is the perfect name for our second son.
I love all of these choices but especially Asher. Lennon is the only one I would cross off; I feel the same as you do.
I like the double B. Bram seems like a good option
I also like Leo for you.
Ooh, I really like Bram for you! Great suggestion Marie.
Asher is beautiful with Judah. So is Ezra, but I know exactly what you mean–I’d feel itchy about the non-matching spellings of the matching endings too. What about Elijah? If you were to have a third boy, there would be others (Jonah, Noah, Jeremiah, etc.) to continue the theme.
I too would cross of Lennon. Whenever I hear of a kid named Lennon, I immediately assume it’s for John Lennon no matter what else is going on. If I knew he had an older brother named Judah (who might answer to Jude someday, if he’s into that), I’d be SURE of it. If you don’t like the idea that some people would think you’d used your sons’ names to honor the Beatles, I think you have to cross off Lennon.
Does Leonard itself not appeal to you? If not, what about Leo? Judah and Leo are nice.
It’s not two syllable but what about Malachi (meaning my messenger or my angel). It has a different ending to Judah but still sounds like his brother. For a girl if you want two syllables you could do Mabel (although that is maybe a little sing songs with your last name). If you want to avoid the May Beetle connection you could call her Mary or Margot.
On a side note are you aware that a commonly understood meaning for Mae is “bitter”? I’m not sure if that would change your decision but better to know now!
Reading your names list made me smile thinking about how much an accent can change how a name is said – here in New Zealand Asher would often be said Ash-a giving it the same ending as Judah.
Would you consider Benaiah? It means “Yahweh builds up” so great meaning. I think it goes well with Judah, it has the same ending but that is a coincidence. It gives you the double B. I know a little Benaiah and his brother is Josiah which is so close to your Judah. I thought it was an odd name at first but it has really grown on everyone. Benaiah and Judah, Benaiah James Beadle.
I absolutely love Asher and think it has a great meaning and sounds awesome with Judah and your last name.
What about Ariel, which means lion (just like Leonard does?). It’s not a direct honor name but would be a meaningful connection.
What about Leon instead of Lennon? It is also a variant of Leonard, an elegant and classic name like Judah, but without that The Beatles vibe. I really like it: Judah and Leon Beadle.
From your list my frontrunner would be Asher. It sound great with Judah too.
I would also suggest Adam: a wonderful classic, and Adam Beadle sounds good.
Or maybe Eli? Judah and Eli, Eli James Beadle.
(But that may also set a pattern of using boys names that end with vowels…)
Some other options I like (in no particular order):
Jericho
Brandon/Brendan
Daniel
Gabriel
Nathan
Emmett
Theo
Owen
Victor
Ian
Leon is a great suggestion!
I would like to put in Simon (he who hears) as a possible option. Other non-nicknamey names include James, Silas, Cyrus, Isaac, and Isaiah
I like Asher from your list, and Adam from another commenter
I was surprised to see Mae/May being described as having a Hebrew meaning. If it does, it’s most likely from Maya or Miriam by way of centuries of Germanic or English influence. And if it comes from Maya or Miriam or Mary means it may actually be rooted in the meanings “water” (Maya) or “bitter” (Miriam, Mary). I’m seeing it listed on only one baby name website. I am deep into Hebrew baby names, and I work in a Jewish school with children and adults who speak modern Hebrew and have biblical/old Hebrew/modern Hebrew names. Now, I adore the name Mae, I love it, it’s got that classic but fresh sound. I just wouldn’t rely very heavily on a Hebrew meaning for the name Mae, if the meaning is critically important to you.
I was a bit surprised when I saw that, too. I did not comment on this because I don’t know much about names meanings and/or origins (with one exception being my own name, which actually is derived from Hebrew phrase meaning “God is gracious”). So I second the thought that if name’s meaning is the most important thing in this case, then Mae may be a bit of a stretch. (But I’ve just checked Mae on Behind the Name, and learned that Mae West’s actual name was Mary, so maybe that’s it – Mae as a variant of Mary.) Nonetheless, it’s a very pretty and cute name, whether it has some deep religious meaning or not.
I was also assuming that the meaning was coming from Mary. I have a daughter named Miriam and I just tell her it means “wished for child” because that is listed as a possible name meaning as often as “bitter.” It is all in how you spin it since these things are best guesses anyway. I love Mae and would definitely use it.
I really love the suggestion of Leon. I would add Leander as another possibility. I love the name Lennon and would say use it if you want. Most people don’t go through life as walking advertisements of the reasons they were named. If you like the name Lennon and want to use it and know that it is an honor name, then I don’t think it matters much what other people assume.
I was startled too. I very seriously considered May or Mary for my last child and looked at the meanings. I thought Mary meant bitter or perhaps rebellion with ‘wished for child’ being more of a folk etymology due to the Mother of Christ not being allowed a negative association. May is a reference to the month which was named for a roman goddess.
Don’t get me wrong! I love the name and would jump to use it. It has plenty of positive associations but I would want to know before baby is born if meaning was super important.
Ok, so apparently it bugged me a little:) – especially since Maria is my own middle name – so I checked it out in my most trustworthy name book, and here’s what it says about Maria’s etymology (I translated it from Polish): “the name Maria is most probably of a Hebrew origin, derived from the phrase that means ‘to bring joy’, or from Egyptian phrase ‘meri-yam’ which means ‘someone who is loved by the God'”. And zero mentions about “bitter” or any other possibly negative meaning! So it seems that every book says something different… So basically everyone can just pick the meaning he/she likes best:)
For what it’s worth, I speak Hebrew. The word “mar” means “bitter”; “yam” (pronounced yahm) means “sea.” The wished-for-child meaning doesn’t check out to this Hebrew-speaker.
Hm. I’m starting to suspect that maybe the authors of all those baby name books are just making these meanings/origins up:)
(But, I’m wondering: why would someone – I mean, in those ancient times when the common word/phrase became a name – name their daughter “bitter sea”?
Maybe at that time this phrase had more meanings? Or a different context that is lost on contemporary folks? And I’m talking about names in general, not only Miriam/Maria/Mary… That’s probably why I personally don’t care much about supposed name meanings. So my advice would be: if you like a name, just go for it regardless of its etymology. Because, does that really matter what it may or may not have meant some 2000 years ago, most probably in a different country or culture?)
I heard a folk etymology that “wished for child” comes from the idea that Mariam’s “bitter + sea” meant the sea of tears wept while wishing for a child.
I have seen some etymological analysis of the name that suggests it’s an Egyptian name, rather than Hebrew, and the meaning is nicer in Egyptian than it is in Hebrew. (“Moses” is also Egyptian rather than Hebrew, apparently.)
Ephraim is a wonderful boy name. Means “fruitful” and is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
We have an Ephraim and it wears really well!
Best wishes.
I like Asher and Ezra best with Judah. I actually feel the fact that the ending is not spelled the same could make it easier to go with a non-a/ah ending if you did have a third boy. I think Milo works in the sibling set, too, it just takes it in a less strictly Biblical direction and that might be good if you eventually have girl and want to use Mae. I also think the name Leonard is usable and it would bypass the Beatles connection.
Where I live Asher is so much more popular than Milo. But, popularly is very regional so perhaps Milo being too popular is a legitimate concern… either way I love both those options with Judah.
As the mother of a Lennon I am not going to encourage you to use the name. Obviously I love it but we do often get asked if he’s named “after the Beatle” so with your last name… it’s too much.
Other ideas (didn’t read through comments so sorry for repeats):
Leon (still a nod to Leonard?)
Simon “he has heard”
Silas “prayed for”
Hugo “heart, mind, spirit”
Levi “attached”
Arlo
Carlisle
Cassius
Mae Elise is perfection! I like a lot of the boys’ names your are considering. Others I also like for you:
Adam
Joel
Seth
Nathan
Miles
Raphael
Tobias
Luke
Please, not Ariel. I know it’s a boy name too, but after the Disney Princess it makes for a rough time at school. I know one – he’s a teen now but I think he suffered.
Asher is super popular here too. All kinds of them, and nary a Milo in sight.
Have you considered Micah? Sounds cute with Judah and has a matching ending.
Unless you personally know multiple Milos, I wouldn’t worry about the popularity issue. Liam’s a top ten name, and I think I know of one in my child’s elementary school. OTOH, Hudson is waaay down on the list, and I know 3 of them born in the same year. Don’t think any of them know each other, though.
I would cross off Lennon – it’s just too close with that sib set and your surname. Lennox might be better, but I love the Leon and Leo suggestions. I know you don’t like nicknames, but you could go the full honor name route and use either of those for everyday.
I like the idea of carrying on the double B tradition, but Boden Beadle repeats a lot of sounds…would you like Boaz?
Boaz is a good one! Nice and fresh also.
Lots of great choices here. I’d cross Boden off your list though – it’s a well known British clothing brand which is also very popular in the US. Gorgeous clothes though, especially for kids!
I know a little Judah who’s brother is Matthias. That is three syllables but nickname proof. The meaning is a variation on God’s Gift.
The only downside is if you would want to save Mae for a hypothetical future girl and you wouldn’t want to repeat the first initial. Not sure if that is a dealbreaker or not for you?
I don’t think any name is necessarily nickname-proof. Couldn’t Matthias easily go by Matt? You can set your expectation to your child and others when he’s very young, but once he’s off to kindergarten (or earlier), you’re not there to police what others call him and what he calls himself. Still, a name like Asher or Ezra is a lot more likely to be used in full than a name like Matt(hew) or Jeff(rey) or Steve(n).
How about Micah?
Just want to throw in my opinion on the meaning of Mae. I’m assuming it’s a short form of Mary, which is derived from Miriam. I have a little Miriam too so I’ve looked into this a bit. If it is derived from the Hebrew, it seems to mean something like bitter or rebellious. (The rebellious meaning is sort of interesting to me, because rebellious usually feels negative, but rebelling against something bad is of course good!) I’m more convinced that Miriam might actually come from ancient Egyptian with the Miri part meaning beloved and the whole thing possibly beloved of a particular god. But in general I just think it’s such an ancient, lovely name that the meaning got lost along the way.
But for the record, I think May or Mae is a great name.
For the boy’s name I like Ezra best. Simon too.
How about Reuben? We have a little Reuben and I love the name. It has a soft sweet sound to it. I like the repeating B sound with your last name. And it means “behold, a boy!” which cracked us up since he’s our last child in an all boy sibling group. He does get called Ruby or Reubs at times, but I like nicknames. I also like Ezra.
I heard a folk etymology that “wished for child” comes from the idea that Mariam’s “bitter + sea” meant the sea of tears wept while wishing for a child.
That would actually make a lot of sense!
On a side note, I find names with controversial or non-obvious meanings kind of fascinating.
One of my favourite examples is Mściwoj – an old (medieval) Slavic name that literally means “Vengeful Warrior” (derived from “mścić” = to take revenge, and “woj” being and old-fashioned form of the word “wojownik” = warrior). It always cracks me up a bit when I picture a young parents in, let’s say AD 1100, and proud daddy holding their newborn and saying to his wife something like this: “Aww, look how cute he is! Our sweet little Vengeful Warrior!”:)
Lovely name! Congratulations!!