Hi Swistle!
I am due November 16 with our second boy! Our first son’s name is Leo Iolani (pronounced e-o-lani) Pangan (sounds like penguin without the “w” sound). He shares a middle name with my husband, who is part Hawaiian. If this child were a girl, we were pretty set on using the name Eloise and calling her Ellie or Elle. However, we are pretty stumped when it comes to boy names. It is especially hard because I am a teacher and associate a lot of great names with certain students (and they’re not always positive associations!).
We have narrowed down the middle name to three possible options—all honor names. We would use Joseph after my maternal grandfather, William after my paternal grandfather, or Rey to honor my husband’s maternal grandparents whose last name was Reyes. I’m happy with all of those choices and would just choose based on what flows best with the first name.
We want a name that is semi short (or has a shorter nickname), sweet yet still strong, and unique but not too trendy. My personal favorite is Jude, but my husband has vetoed it because it’s his boss’s son’s name and he feels like he already knows Jude. I also love Henry and Will, but I feel like every kid at the park has one of those names right now. We considered Finn and Lincoln for Leo, but decided against both. The ending of Lincoln did not sound right with our last name, and Leo ended up totally being a Leo.
Below are some names with both like:
1. Arlo nn Arie/Ari (my mother responded with the puking emoji when I shared this one—she later apologized)
2. Otis (does it sound too much like a dog’s name? I’m thinking yes)
3. Kai (this is more of my husband’s choice—he likes that Leo has an Italian first name and a Hawaiian middle name and thinks it would be great if this boy was named Kai Joseph to have the opposite)
4. Xander (my husband’s new favorite)
5. Silas (I like better than my husband)
6. Ellis (my mom’s choice—if we ever did have a girl, this is a bit close to Eloise)We are not totally sold on any of those options, but we haven’t heard anything else that pops out to us.
We may try for one more child down the road, but this could potentially be our last! We appreciate any advice or suggestions you may have! Thank you!!
1. I love the name Arlo (*reproachful look in your mother’s direction*) and wouldn’t try to get Ari out of it (though would allow it to happen naturally, if it did). Since you may have one more child, I’d think ahead of time about whether two -o endings would make you feel pressured to think of a third -o name.
2. Otis does not strike me as dog-name-ish, but I remember when I was considering the name Milo for my last child, there were a LOT of people who thought of that as a cat name, so I understand if that same segment of the population has Otis filed firmly under Dog. Still, my recurring wish is that having a name used in a movie didn’t have to rule it out for all other uses: movies often choose names that are just on the cusp of being popular again, and it’s such a shame to see good names seemingly ruined indefinitely for so many people. The movie Milo and Otis came out 33 years ago, and I feel like it shouldn’t still have dibs on those names.
3. I find Kai Pangan a little difficult to say; not enough to rule it out, but enough to think twice. I like your husband’s thinking on the symmetry, though Joseph doesn’t leap out to me as an Italian name.
4. I don’t like Xander with Pangan: it’s the repeating -an- in the first syllables, I think. But this sort of thing is extremely subjective: one person can dislike a sound for the exact reason someone else loves it.
5. I like Silas. The -s blends a little with the P- of the surname, but it doesn’t make an unpleasant or awkward sound/word. Or maybe the -s/Pangan sounds a little like “spankin’,” but on the other hand I have said it dozens of times in a row and that would not be typical usage.
6. Ellis blends quite a bit more than Silas for me, and I’m not sure why; probably it’s that the name starts with a vowel so the sounds are already softer and more blendy. I get Ella Spangan, especially since the name Ella is so much more common than the name Ellis.
From your list, then, my own clear personal favorite is Arlo, as long as it will not make you feel pressured to continue an -o theme. [Edited to add: @monabenach pointed out that Arlo and Leo are not great together. I don’t think I’d said them together; as soon as she mentioned it, I agreed. They’re tongue-tangley.]
More possibilities:
Ari (just Ari, without starting at Arlo; eliminates the repeating -o issue)
Casey
Clark
Drew
Eli
Ezra
Felix
Finley
Frank
Ford
George
Harvey
Isaac
Joel
Max
Reid
Wade
Name update:
On November 17, at 11:34pm, our sweet Silas Rey Pangan made us a family of four. Thank you so much for your wonderful comments—I read every single one! Throughout my pregnancy, we grew more and more attached to the name Silas, as our other top contender, Kai, just didn’t seem to fit the feisty little mover in my belly. When he made his grand appearance after only four pushes, we knew it was the right decision. To continue the theme of royalty, our little Leo was joined by his “King of the Forest” (Silas means “of the forest” and Rey means “king”). We couldn’t be more in love!
I like Arlo, Kai, and Silas for you. Also Henry, if the popularity starts to bother you less. It seems like a good sibling name for Leo. From Swistle’s suggestions, I like Ezra, Felix, Isaac, & Joel best.
How about Arthur? nn Art or Artie.
I would ignore vomiting emojis from your mother. Mine wasn’t sold on any of our name choices either, and she has gotten over it. Arlo is nice with Leo. I know two baby Arlo’s…one has a brother called Eliot, which is also nice although too close to Eloise.
From your list, my favourite is Silas. I think it shares sounds and style with Leo without being too similar.
My four boys are Silas, Calvin, Thaddeus Finn, and Otis—so we have very similar name styles! Only one person has mentioned Milo and Otis to me, and she has a Milo, so I say go for it—it’s a great name.
I don’t think Otis is a dog’s name, it would be my top pick from your list, followed by Arlo.
I’m wondering whether Judd could be an alternative for Jude? It sounds close to Jude, but not exactly the same, so maybe your husband would not consider it a copy of his boss’ son’s name?
A few more names that I like paired with Leo and your last name:
Gabriel Rey Pangan (Leo & Gabe)
Zane William Pangan (Leo & Zane)
Noah Rey Pangan (Leo & Noah; possible downside: it’s 2nd on the list of most popular baby names right now…)
Owen William/Rey Pangan (Leo & Owen; could be an option if you’re not 100% sold on Otis)
And as for Hawaiian names, I’ve checked a list on Behind the Name, and 3 names caught my eye as a possible alternatives for Kai:
Koa (“warrior”)
Kale (apparently a Hawaiian version of Charles)
Keanu (“cool breeze”)
I particularly like Keanu, but wonder whether the association with the actor is too strong and if it would be a deal breaker? It sounds nice with both Leo and your surname:
Keanu William/Joseph/Rey Pangan, Leo & Keanu
Like Arlo, I once went to school with an Arno.
Joseph as a first name instead of as a middle name? Nickname Joe or no nickname? Leo and Joseph (Joe)?
I really like all the names on your list and I kinda feel like Swistle has to nitpick a bit to come up with negatives. I probably like Silas “Si” the best, but Xander, Otis, or Arlo are great too! Xander is growing in me. If you know you like Eloise, you’re probably safe using another O-name now (Otis or Arlo). And I like the suggestions of Koa and Keanu too, probably better than Kai. I also know a Kekoa, which might be an intriguing choice.
I’m STRONGLY team Otis. I have an Arlo so I’m a big Arlo fan as well but only if you don’t think it’s going to lock you into ‘o’ endings. Since I have an Arlo, his brothers are Everett and Gabriel. We also considered Jasper, Felix, Robert, Forrest.
I like the idea of Kai. Perhaps another Hawaiian name if you aren’t sol on Kai? Or what about Rey as a first name?
I agree Arlo and Leo don’t work together, but I like the idea of Ari.
Arlo and Otis together made me think of Hugo for some reason. Maybe you’d like Hugo.
I also though if Felix, but it honestly seems more cat to me than Milo does (or Otis as a dog name). Which I guess shows just how subjective the whole “pet name” thing is.
I love Jude. Perhaps Judah (too close) or Jules or Julian?
Alonzo nn Zo? Or Lonnie
Your suggestion made me think of Lorenzo. Lorenzo Pangan hits my ear like the name of a man who gets things done. Like a world leader or a super hero!
I’m team Kai. It somehow feels important to me that your kids all have a connection to their Hawaiian heritage.
I like Kai too!
Short, Strong but sweet boy names are my favorite too! How about:
Rhys
Saul
Rory
Dean
Wyatt
Miles
Louis
Asa
Nolan
Logan
I also really like the Hawaiian suggestion of Kale!
I love Kai! I think it’s a nice balance with the softer vowel-ier sounds of Leo. And I wonder if that’s what your husband is into right now since Xander has the same zing. What do you think of Xavier? Same idea, but Italian. Since the boys get a Hawaiian last name I don’t know if the second boy NEEDS a Hawaiian first. Xavier Reye!
Xavier is not an Italian name. It’s Basque.
Well…never mind then. Thanks Jenny Grace!
It’s a great name though!
I have a Leo Gideon whose big brother is an Elijah John nn Eli, so I’m all for Leo and Eli!
I know someone with children called Henry, Jude and Wilf, so suggesting Wilf for you as you’ve said you like Henry and Jude!
I’m team Kai also! Love your husband idea of switching the names order.
Love love love Kai for you!!!
Ari! I desperately wanted to use this name with my second son but my husband was not on board.
I also want to point out that Ari means “Lion” in Hebrew, so it’s a nice parallel to Leo!
I like Reyes for the first name
I also love Reyes for a first name. I saw it in a book and thought it was awesome.
I think a Hawaiian first or middle would be cool: Reyes Kai
Keanu Joseph
Also Joe and Leo go great together: Joseph Kai or Joseph Reyes.
Lastly the suggestion of Lorenzo was inspired.
We named our youngest son Makai and use the nickname Kai frequently. Our older son is Griffin, nickname Finn.
My nephew’s legal name is Aaron, after his great grandfather, but we call him Ari!
I like the one syllable strong boy names with your last name.
Have you considered these?
Rex
Tate
Nash
Knox
Cole
Any chance you like Otto?
Lucas (ends in s like Otis and Silas)
Titus or Atlas (similar to Silas)
Finn
Also what about Judah? If you are Christian Christ was called the Lion of Judah which is a cool tie in with Leo. And Ari was already suggested but I want to second it because it is cool with Leo also.
I’m here to second Koa. It’s smooth with your surname. He sounds strong with Leo. AND he has the long ‘o’ sound that clearly draws you. (Ooh! Plus, he goes well with Eloise.)
I think that the main reason that “Otis” sounds like a dog’s name is the movie Milo and Otis. Also, Garfield and Odie.
I had this ABSOLUTE FLASH OF GENIUS this weekend that there’s a perfect old man name that I haven’t heard anywhere yet–and that doesn’t have any famous canine namesakes: Otto! Where are all the Ottos? Everyone is naming their babies Gus, but the little Guses don’t have any Ottos to hang out with, which is a TRAVESTY! Let’s be the first/only on the Otto train.
And your list sounds a lot like my list, and on my list, Elliot has always been right up there with Leo–and Otto makes a perfect Elliot nickname! Leo and Elliot nn Otto! Oh my goodness I love it so much.
It does disallow a future Ellis or Eloise. But it’s better!! <3
This is funny. I actually know someone who had her baby this year and named him Otto.
Edit: Let’s you, and me, and Heidi J’s acquaintance, and the commenter Maree who got the same name in a few minutes before I did, be the first/only on the Otto train! <3
I know two baby Ottos! (And no baby Gus)
Foiled!!! Time for me to break out the SS data and start drawing up graphs.
I know a 10yo Otto. His brother is Reggie which is just the best :)
I like Leo and Arlo together. Part of that reason is Eloise—such a great name—but it sounds an awful lot like Leo too. But with an Arlo in there the “L” and “O” sounds intentional and fun. Leo, Arlo and Eloise sound like a perfect sibset to me.
I think Kai works as well.
I also love Oscar. Leo and Oscar. Leo, Oscar and Eloise. Or if not Oscar, maybe Asher. Or Miles?
Kai Joseph – 100%
I was hoping Kai was on your list before I even read that far into your letter. Leo and Kai are fantastic! I think Leo and Joseph harken to the Italian culture. Love the imagery in their names, too — Lion and Ocean! Strong names.
Also, Eloise Rey would be a lovely girl’s name.
That is exactly the name we would have given a baby girl!
Wanted to add suggestions of:
Amos
Eli
Beau
Enzo
West
Cole
Grant
Otherwise, I like Ari or Arlo. Too bad you can’t get your husband on board with Jude! You could also just name him Rey or Reyes, nn Rey. Rey Joseph? Rey William?
I love Kai and Leo together. I have an affinity for short names.
I was coming to suggest Nolan. I love the O sound connection with Leo (and possible future Eloise) without it feeling too similar or matchy. I also like William (nn Will) with Kai as a middle name. Then all the names would have an L sound in common! I have a strong affinity for sibling names having some commonality :) Silas and Henry would be my next choices.
If not Jude then maybe Jonah? Leo and Jonah sound nice together but Jonah is also very handsome on its own. I’m personally not a fan of Arlo; the -O ending sounds too similar to Leo for me.
Silas Rey Pangan is a great name, congrats!