Hi Swistle,
I love your blog and am desperately hoping you can help with naming our baby boy due in early March. We have a 3 year old daughter who was easily named when I was 20 weeks pregnant. My grandmother’s name was Edith Virginia and we named our daughter Eden Virginia. My grandma went by Virginia so changing the first name a bit didn’t dilute the specialness at all for me. I love love the name we chose and it gave me so much joy and comfort to name her after my grandma who had passed away shortly before we found out about Eden.
Anyway fast forward to now we are expecting baby #2 and the naming process is SO SO much harder this time. Our last name is spelled very differently but sounds like Slickter. Maybe I’m overthinking it but I keep hearing “licker” with certain names we try… I also feel like part of the problem is that I’m still adjusting to the idea of having a boy (and to the knowledge that we’re responsible for raising him to be a good person in our current society). I feel like most boy names I come across I have some sort of negative association with from people I’ve known from growing up/school/life. Or the name means something like FIGHTER CONQUEROR TOUGH GUY which I know is probably a silly thing to care about but always turns me off.
Other helpful info: We aren’t sure yet if we’ll try for a third baby or not. I haven’t let myself think about what girls names we would have considered if this baby was a girl because it makes me a little sad (so many fun pretty names!!!) but other options for Eden were Florence and Winifred (Winnie). I really like nature names for girls but haven’t loved any of the boy options I’ve seen.
Boy names we like but can’t use for various reasons: Benjamin/Ben, Arlo, Adam (I feel like I can’t use this with already having an Eden- too bible-y), Gideon (also too bible-y with Eden? I’m not religious enough to know but my mom says yes). At the start of my pregnancy I had my heart set on Etienne but my husband gently pointed out I probably liked it because it’s so similar to Eden which seems obvious now but I genuinely didn’t notice before he brought it up.
Names we are semi considering: Elliot (probably the front runner but since we might try for baby #3 I don’t really want to repeat the E first initial and feel locked in), Jude, Avery, Winston (I still like the nickname Winnie but don’t think I love Winston on it’s own). The baby’s middle name will probably be Michael (husband’s middle name) although we’re flexible if it doesn’t go with the first name we pick.
I really really have been trying to internalize your advice about not having to feel sparkly magical feelings for a name and that picking a fine name is good enough but I feel so blah about all of our options. I’m hoping maybe hearing a few suggestions from someone whose name tastes I really trust will help something stand out vs just reading through lists in the baby name book. I feel like time is running out and I’m starting to panic! I know some people can go to the hospital with a list and see what fits once the baby is born but I know if I tried to do that we would either leave the hospital with a nameless baby or I would spend the next few months second guessing whatever our last minute pick was. Any help or advice is appreciated!
Thank you,
Amanda
My own clear favorite of your options is Elliot. When I was expecting our second baby, the name we liked best if he’d been a girl started with the same letter as our firstborn’s name. I would have preferred not to repeat initials at all within the sibling group—but we liked the name enough that it hit the “Are we actually going to give up the name we love and agree on, just because of the initial?? NO!” point. But I too was concerned that we would feel like we had to keep going with the same initial for future kids—or, more accurately, concerned that OTHER PEOPLE would feel that way. So what I’d decided to do (before we found out I was expecting a boy and so the repeating-initial was a non-issue), was take PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. I was going to REPEATEDLY MENTION that the repeating initial was a coincidence we would have preferred to avoid, and that we were not going to keep going with that. I was going to make it so NO ONE could expect it. Possibly I was going to OVERDO IT, considering how little I think most people care about such things. But even just having a PLAN was helpful to me: I would PLAN to not feel pressured; we would DECIDE to not feel pressured.
I think Avery is really nice, too. I like the way a future Winifred/Florence would tip the name’s style more old-fashioned, like in Charlotte’s Web.
I grew up in a Christian environment, and Eden and Gideon seem biblical to me but not TOO biblical the way Eden and Adam do. (And with Eden and Adam, it’s not even so much that it’s too biblical, but more that they come from the same story but one is a place and one is a person, and that feels weird.) But they do seem like kind of a lot of N and D and long-E, so combined with the Kinda Biblical issue I agree I probably wouldn’t use it.
I like Winston, but of the “we can only use one” pairing of Winston and Winifred, I love Winifred so much more. I am also EXTREMELY KEEN on the name Florence, so I don’t feel complete despair about losing Winifred if you find you are getting happy sparks from the name Winston.
All right, let’s see if we can find a few more options.
When I think of Elliot, I also think of Everett and Emmett. For some reason I am finding I don’t like the sound of Emmett Slickter, but I do like Everett Slickter.
Because Elliot was on my own name list (I think the only reason we didn’t use it is that Paul and I could not agree on spelling), it also makes me think of other names from my own list (which is now at least 14 years out of date, so at some point I am going to have to stop suggesting these names, lest I be the equivalent of the grandmother asking why people aren’t considering Normal Names such as Ashley and Brian):
Charles/Charlie
George
Henry
Leo
Milo
Oliver
Simon
Well, most of those are a bust with your surname. I do like Henry Slickter. And I like that “Eden and Henry” has a subtle repeating -en- sound. (If you have another baby and it’s a girl, you could name her Florence! Not that you should feel locked in to something as small and silly as a repeating -en- sound! But if it would be fun! Eden, Henry, and Florence.)
Or Harvey? Harvey Slickter; Eden and Harvey.
Or Calvin? Calvin Slickter; Eden and Calvin.
Frederick Slickter has an interesting repeating sound, and I can’t tell if I like it or not. Also, it would probably rule out using Winifred. Eden and Frederick.
The eye tends to skip right past it in the name book, so I will draw your attention to the name John. John Slickter; Eden and John. It FEELS so overused, and yet I don’t know any kids named John. When I imagine encountering the name on a baby, it feels like a fresh surprise.
Name update:
Thank you so much for your help! Elliot Michael was born 3/3. 9lbs 11.5 oz! We went to the birth center still not quite sure about a name but decided pretty quickly after he was born that he was an Elliot (although he’s been here two weeks now and his 3 year old sister still insists his name is Spinny). Thank you again!
OLIVER. It’s popular now but the great thing is there are no preconceived notions on it.
Simon is also a possibility. Ian is good. Although Ian and Eden might go too well together.
I seem to keep thinking of four-letter names for you. Toby, Hugh, Owen? I also like the suggestion of Oliver and Henry. For boy nature names I was thinking Hunter (too violent?) and River. Asher? Might bee too much with last name.
From your list I really like Jude. Jude Michael Slicker sounds great and Eden and Jude sound like siblings.
My other suggestion is Isaac although I’m not sure if it’s too biblical for you along with Eden. Isaac means laughter and is a happy meaning which seems to be an added bonus for you so just wanted to throw it out there!
Other ideas of names with nice meanings or a nature connection:
Jonas or Jonah: means “dove”
Callum: also means dove
Nolan: I’ve seen meanings listed as Noble or Champion
David/Davis: beloved
Asher: happy
Felix: lucky
Oscar: friend of deer
Gavin: white hawk
Morgan: sea circle
Lionel/Leo: lion
Orson: bear cub
Lucas: bringer of light
Since you’re bothered by the conquerer meanings of a lot of boy names, and like Winnie, you might like to know that boy names ending in -win tend to mean something-friend. My favorite for you might be Corwin, which means heart’s friend.
I also think Elliot is a solid choice for you. Three kids is exactly the right number of kids to have two shared initials and one not and for it to be perfectly fine. I think there’s actually some principle from poetry or music for why that feeling of maybe a pattern is emerging, but the third note is a surprise, is especially pleasing. You wouldn’t want the third name to be shocking, but just fresh. And Elliot is a great name on its own.
What about Wynn? It has that sound, you could call him Winnie, and I think it matches beautifully with Eden.
I also think Elliot is great. I have two kids with M names and one without and it has never been an issue.
Your daughter’s name is so nice! I know a LOT of Elliot(t)s. It’s not overly-common, I just know a disproportionate number. Common sibling names for them are Miles (by a long shot), Theodore, Oliver and Henry. I wonder if those do anything for you?
You have a lot of gentle, softer boy names in your list. They remind me of Aubrey, Asher, Ellery, Emory, Jules, Jordan, Sage, Jasper, Shiloh, Dashiell. Not sure if Jordan and Shiloh lean too far into Biblical place-names.
I share an initial with one sibling. My other siblings have different initials. I don’t think my parents put much/any thought into that, but I can confirm that it has been a total non-issue if Elliot is your favorite.
I immediately thought of Jude and was so glad to see it was already on your list. That’s my vote!
I love the suggestion of John, it feels like such a calm name. I also LOVE the suggestion of Toby. I understand the sentiment completely of being a bit intimidated of naming a boy in our society and would also try to steer clear of tough guy associations and I think both of those do that nicely and so does Elliott. A few other suggestions that seem calm and pair well with Eden:
Paul
Heath
Clive
Neal
Russell
Gene (I have such a soft spot for this name!)
I heard the name Joel in the car today and thought of this post..
Oh boy I feel like we have a lot in common. My daughter’s name is also Eden. And our older son is Jackson, but we almost exclusively call him Jack. When she was born, people pointed out that both their names ended with an -n sound, and it honestly had never occurred to me because in my mind they were Jack and Eden (not JacksoN and EdeN). We did end up going with an -n name for our third and last, but most people don’t notice as much we think.
I love Jude, Henry, and Oliver. I also really love Asher, but that might be too much -er with your last name. Miles/Milo is great too, but it does mean soldier. Similar to Everett, what about Beckett or Bennett?
I know a little boy named Winslow NN Winnie. That might fit for you!
Good luck!!
Love all of Swistle’s advice above!
I would add: I feel like Eden is actually a quite modern name. I personally would look at names like River, Jasper, Onyx, Lennox, Indigo, Jett, Orson, Zuma. I feel like a more traditional boys name doesn’t match the contemporary flair of Eden.
I also thought of Atticus randomly and feel like it sounds good with Eden ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I have two sons – raising sons is an honor and a joy, just like raising daughters. I want to really emphasize this point as I feel grief/fear peeking through your naming question – boyhood is so different now than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago, at least in the communities we are part of. And the world needs good men, and boys need good parents who will help them develop emotional understanding, learn how to be brave and kind, who will love them for who they are, authentically. Your son will bring you so much joy!
Names of gentle boys I know –
Raphael
Owen
Lucas/Luca
Francis
Elliot
Eli
Jacob
Mason
Jude
Joseph
Edward
Orson
Henry
Max
Paul
Regarding Eden and Gideon sounding too biblical together: yes, Eden is in the bible, but it doesn’t strike me as particularly biblical/religious. I think it has more of a modern vibe… perhaps even a bit natureish (it is the name of a garden after all) so I don’t think it’s too “themed” if paired with another biblical name as long as it’s from a different story. (Eden and Ezra? Sure! Eden and Adam? A bit too much)
Yeah, I have to think a moment to remember there is a Gideon in the Bible, and I’m in the freaking choir. Neither has quite the same in-you-face quality as several of the others do
Good meaning, pleasing with surname and middle name (IMHO):
Kai
Luca
Theo
Will
Ambrose (tie-in to your name!)
Since you liked Etienne, which is the French form of Stephen, I wonder if you’d like another variant, like Stefan? I like the alliteration with the surname.
I do really like Jude on your list. And I love the suggestion of Toby and CORWIN! Yesssss.
I thought the same thing about picking another Stephen name. You’re right, Stefan Slickter sounds amazing!!
You said you liked Benjamin but cannot use it. What about Bennett instead? Or Benson? Benton? Benedict?
If you can’t use Arlo, what about Milo? Leo? Nico? Otto? Hugo?
What about these other gentle sounding names: Owen, Ian, Ethan, Rowan, Cedric, Ellis, Grady, Hadley, Bradley, Finley, Sebastian, Nigel, Tobias, Bellamy.
Out of your list of names, Avery stood out to me: Eden and Avery. It flows very nicely together without repeating the first letter so you aren’t trapped in a pattern.
I get what you’re saying about avoonding though guy names
I, too, prefer soft/gentle sounding names for boys:
Emmett
Leo
Finn
Henry
Noah
Jonah
Benjamin
James
Micah
Ian
Liam
I looove the name Winnie, and want to try to find a name that would work to have this as a nickname! I would suggest “Winter”, but maybe not with your last name? I do have to say that my friend’s little boy (about 7) is called Winston, and it is adorable on a child! :)
I’m also due with a boy in March and our boy name ideas are similar. I also hate macho tough guy names so we lean towards soft, gentle male names. Our 2 year old son is Eli and this baby will be Asher. If you look them up online you’ll get many similar name suggestions as well. Don’t be afraid of having a boy, they are the SWEETEST!
Names to Consider. Sorry if duplicated
Clay
Knox
Ari
Corbin
Cole
Hutton
I have all boys and tried for softer names as well. If you like Benjamin, you might like Reuben. It’s barely biblical :) But it has soft sweet sound to it (to my ear) with lots of nickname possibilities. Our kiddo goes mostly by Reubs and Reuben. But he’s been called Ben, Ruby, and Reub. He calls himself Reuben only :)
I really like Elliot too! I know little girl and boy Elliots (different spellings), so I definitely hear it as a soft name too. Best of luck!
I love the suggestion of Henry, it sounds just right with Eden.
What about Evan? It’s a softer sounding boy name. We know a new baby Ezra, and while it is a bit on the Biblical side, there are other connotations, and it is a lovely name to say in that singsong talking-to-a-baby voice. Plus it starts with a short E, so a different sound from Eden’s long E. It was not a name I ever considered, and so I was surprised how charming it was in person.
Ezra! The name means “helper” and that is such a nice meaning. The world needs helpers.
Any chance you like Wyn or Brynn?
I see them both as unisex but don’t know American usage.
How about Merritt? I’ve know exactly one boy and one girl with the name and they both wear it equally well. Eden and Merritt.
or maybe
Abel
Arthur
August
Finn
Foster
Philip (Pip!)
Quinn
When I saw that you liked Gideon but felt it might be too biblical, I thought you might like Gilbert? I’ve had a soft spot for Gilbert since I read Anne of Green Gables as a kiddo
Eden Virginia and Gilbert Michael
Best of luck! My MIL told me she hoped I’d have a boy because the bond between moms and boys is such a sweet one. I have one girl and she’s our blessing, but I’m on the edge of my seat as we enter middle school next year…
Raphael was the first name that came to mind, but Quentin, Nathaniel, and Julian come to mind as well, and I think Julian is my favorite. Julian Michael Slickter sounds pretty great. Eden and Julian.
I just wanted to make a comment about Avery. It seems to be more solidly a girl name than a boy name at the moment, although I think it works well for either boy or girl.
According to the SSA data, Avery has been a top 20 name for girls since 2011 and was ranked #19 in 2020. In the same time period, Avery for boys has been ranked from 181 to 212. In 2020 it was #212.
Elliot pares nicely with Eden; I also like Ezra with Eden. As someone mentioned previously, the difference in the E sounds makes each name stand out. Ezra is a biblical name, but when I hear it I also think of author Ezra Jack Keats (The Snowy Day) and the band Better Than Ezra.
Fielding.
Eden and Fielding.
Great subtle nature-y boy name, we have one and he loves his name.
Sorry, this comment is not relevant to this sweet baby’s name. Celebrities are requesting help naming their baby which might be a fun activity on this blog.
https://people.com/parents/morgan-miller-asks-followers-to-choose-daughter-name/
I quite like Elliot, it was high on my list, too. (After the author of Silas Marner), and I don’t see E, E, & W (or what have you) as a problem.
Other favs: Stefan, Miles (maybe not with Michael), Andrew (just means “masculine” but how you define _that_ is up to you), Edwin
I like Elliot and Avery best for you. I think Adam probably is a bit much paired with Eden. Gideon might not be.
Oh, I think you should push Gideon back onto your still considering list. I am religious, but I would not default to assuming someone who named their kids Eden and Gideon would be religious.
I also like Cyrus. It is another biblical name that has def gone mainstream so it dilutes the context. Or Remy?
I like the suggestion of Gilbert and Emmett.
I work with kids and these are some of the names of particularly kind-hearted boys I’ve had in my classes over a few years. I’m sure you will find a good name for this son of yours – can’t wait to hear what you and your partner decide upon!
Otis
Baxter
Luca
Sebastian
Greyson
Grant
Sam/Samuel
Arthur
Finn
Thomas/Tom
Owen
Finlay
Anton
Toby
Asher
Felix
Oscar
Tasman
Matthew
Joshua
Leo
Evander
Evan
Bryn
Morgan
Alwyn
George
Alfred
Alan
Alistair
Already on some lists above, but If you want a non-fighter name, how about Felix or Hugo?