We are expecting our third and last child and just found out we are having yet another boy. His older brothers are called Michael Oliver and Adrian Thomas, last name Building with a G. My husband and I have had trouble agreeing on names before, but this time we both thought Benjamin would make a perfect name for our last baby, as it is traditionally given to the youngest of a family. We can’t think of a middle name though, and although middle names are not particularly used in the US, maybe just an initial, we have a lot of family from south america and they usually refer to children by both first and middle names. So we want something that goes well (does not have to be latino). Please help us!
I am wondering if we should take into account the nickname Ben as we search. For example, I thought Benjamin John would be a nice combination, and nice with the brother names—but would he ever be called Ben John? Or would it always be the full first name plus middle?
I notice both brother names are five syllables for the first + middle. I don’t see any need to do the same for the third brother, but games like that can help start a list.
Benjamin Charles
Benjamin Daniel
Benjamin David
Benjamin Davis
Benjamin Jacob
Benjamin Joseph
Benjamin Leo
Benjamin Louis
Benjamin Matthew
Benjamin Maxwell
Benjamin Milo
Benjamin Patrick
Benjamin Robert
But I also like the sound/rhythm of a one-syllable middle:
Benjamin George
Benjamin James (uncertain about the repeating -jam-/Jam-)
Benjamin Luke
Benjamin Paul
Your older boys’ names are great and there’s plenty of nice options for a middle name for little Benjamin, so it’s really hard to suggest what name would be best…
I really like Switle’s list, particularly Louis and Daniel.
And since I happen to have a nephew named Adrian Artur, I would also suggest Arthur as middle name for Benjamin:
Benjamin Arthur Building
Michael Oliver, Adrian Thomas and Benjamin Arthur
I really like it:)
My first thought was Benjamin Carlos. Good luck.
I really like the sound of a one syllable middle for Benjamin. I love Benjamin George. Charles is nice too. Myles, Jack, Rhys, Dean, Reid?
My son’s middle name is Louis. I think it’s one of those names that sounds good with everything. Or how about Benjamin Nathaniel?
Each of your older sons has a vowel name (Adrian, Oliver) so maybe that is a place to start. Benjamin Edward, Benjamin Isaiah, Benjamin Ethan, Benjamin Isaac,
Michael Oliver, Adrian Thomas and Benjamin Edward.
That’s really my favorite.
And Edward has six letters like Oliver and Thomas as well.
Just as a stray comment if this guy is ever going to be Ben something. In Hebrew Ben blank means son of blank (Ben David would be son of David for example). With that in mind it might be fun to have the middle name be a male variant of the Mother’s name or a maiden or family name or the father’s name if naming for a living relative isn’t taboo in your family
Oh, I like Benjamin Lewis. It was on my shortlist. :)
What about Benjamin Felix?
Michael Oliver
Adrian Thomas
Benjamin Felix
The pattern I noticed was that the older boys each have one name of Hebrew origin and one name from another culture. That makes me want to suggest something like Benjamin Henry or Benjamin Oscar.
Or, to get an even closer pattern, a name with a Latin connection of some sort (Adrian has a Latin origin. Oliver’s background is more complicated, but has some Latin connections). The previous suggestions of Felix & Milo would fit here. Or Hugo? Victor? Vincent? Rufus? Hector? Leo? Arthur? Marcus?
I don’t think you need to worry about a pattern, but sometimes I find it helpful to make up some rules just to narrow things down. Then, when I’ve thought of a few options that I like, I throw out the rules and consider exactly what it is I like about those names (and what I dislike about the others that fit the pattern).
Good luck!, and congratulations!
I rather like Benjamin Charles or Benjamin Carlos, and being called Ben Carl.
Benjamin Henry, Benjamin Lucas, Benjamin Felix or Benjamin Wyatt are my favorite options.
First, congratulations on your third boy! Three boys have so much fun together- I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy mine.
For my third boy, it felt like time to use my wild card name- the less “safe” choice I hadn’t picked before. I love, love, love the name Benjamin- especially for your youngest. Is there a name that you love or a tribute you’d like to pay that might work for middle name?
Benjamin Luke
Benjamin Finn
Benjamin Fox
Benjamin Theodore
Benjamin Wilder
Benjamin Grant
Benjamin Flynn
Benjamin Augustus
After reading the above I loved Benjamin Arthur and Benjamin Edward. But then realized that you may have to consider initials …. They are BAG and BEG respectively. U middle names would also problematic and O and I aren’t optimal either! (Of course intials are supposed to go first – last – middle but often they go list in sequence instead.)
Anyway, just a point to consider.
If you go with Benjamin, which is an awesome name, maybe a consonant for the middle name makes sense. Oooh, and then be wary of BJ initials too. Goodness, this gets hard!
Congratulations on your newest little boy!
My fave listed is Benjamin Joseph (unless initials bother you?). I also like Benjamin Graham or Benjamin Francis.
My favorite one syllable is Benjamin Paul. I even like Ben Paul. For two syllables, I like Benjamin Louis (and I also like Lucius). And for three, I like Benjamin Theodore.
I also briefly thought Benjamin Wyatt and couldn’t figure out why it sounded so familiar—and then I realized that Ben Wyatt is the character on Parks and Rec that becomes Leslie Knopes’ husband. That may only confirm that it’s a great name (he’s a great character on a great show) but maybe you wouldn’t want to use—all depending on your preferences.
My youngest is named Benjamin Xavier (pronounced ZAVE-ier) and as another person with South American in-laws, I can attest they were all super-enthusiastic. BXG is kind of a cool monogram, too!