Swistle –
We are expecting our fourth and *probably* final baby (I have to stop at some point š). We have three boys: Brady Mills, Walker Lee and Davis Blake. Last name sounds like Kershmen. Middle names of all the boys are family names (my maiden, my middle, husbandās middle).
We have a girl name picked out, but are kind of stuck on a boy name, and letās be honest: after three boys we are fully expecting one more! We both really like Rex but are worried itās tooā¦ something. Maybe too dog-name? Too country? Too ānot a nameā? Too T-Rex? I like that it has the āMaxā sound but is not as popular, but Iām wondering if our name vision is clouded and it actually is a ridiculous name. Middle name would probably be Ellis (itās a distant family name but weāve run out of closer family names that we like). So top contenders as of now:
Rex Ellis (initials would be REK and I like that it kind of sounds like the name)
Reid Ellis
Jenkins Drew (Drew is both of our brothersā names, and we like the nn Jenks but Iām worried about the āJaynkinsā pronunciation)
Cal (not sure on a middle, and it would just be cal – Iām not a fan of any of the longer versions)Other names we like:
Jett
Mack
Rowan (Row)We donāt want to repeat initials with any of our other boys. What do you think of Rex, and do you have any other suggestions that go with our naming style??
Thank you!!
P.s. your readers helped us with Bradyās name and I wrote in for help with a girl name on our 3rd baby, who obviously turned out to be a boy!
I don’t think Rex is a ridiculous option (I think of Rex Harrison, though I see in that case it was a nickname for Reginald), but I find that when I say “Brady, Walker, Davis, and Rex,” something about it hits an odd note. Whereas when I say “Brady, Walker, Davis, and Reid,” everything feels like it clicks together. I wonder if you could name him Reid Ellis and then get Rex/Reks as an nickname from the initials. (This is less of an issue, but also I find “Rex Ellis” a little uncomfortable to say.)
I get a similar odd note if I try the group with Jett and Mack, so I wonder if it’s that those names don’t seem like the same style as the other boys’ names—especially coming so close after the somewhat formal-sounding Davis. That is, Brady and Mack seems like an okay combination to me, but Davis and Mack hits the odd note. I should say, though, that after three or so kids, I definitely stopped worrying so much about the names Going Together, even though it continued to be one of my highest preferences: it just gets harder and harder to DO, and also the parents’ naming style may subtly shift over the sheer amount of TIME it takes to have a bunch of kids.
Similar to Reid: Rhys. Rhys Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Rhys. I am slightly disinclined to do an -s ending right after another sibling with an -s ending, but on the other hand in my own situation it turned out that those kinds of considerations faded significantly after I was out of the naming process. Still, in this case I prefer Reid.
Wait–what about Rhett? It’s interesting how close in sound it is to Rex, while being entirely different in style. Brady, Walker, Davis, and Rhett.
Or Redford, nicknamed Red.
I find the name Jenkins very appealing. I don’t have any experience with the name in real life, so I don’t know if the Jaynkins pronunciation would be an issue or not, and am hoping others can weigh in.
I wonder if you’d want to consider Jennings? Jennings Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Jennings.
I think Rowan works very well in this group: Brady, Walker, Davis, and Rowan. I like the way everyone gets their own initial and their own ending, and it’s a nice assortment of sounds.
I’m VERY KEEN on the idea of using the name Drew for the middle if at all possible, since it’s such a fun coincidence that it would be after TWO of his uncles! To me that is NEARLY as much of a treat as when one parent’s surname is used for the children, but the OTHER parent’s surname is a usable baby name.
Let’s look for some more first names to consider.
Aidric; Aidric Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Aidric
Cormac; Cormac Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Cormac
Crosby; Crosby Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Crosby
Everett; Everett Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Everett
Felix; Felix Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Felix
Fletcher; Fletcher Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Fletcher
Flynn; Flynn Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Flynn
Franklin; Franklin Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Franklin
Frederick; Frederick Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Frederick
Gage; Gage Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Gage
Holland; Holland Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Holland
Isaac; Isaac Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Isaac
Keaton; Keaton Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Keaton
Lennox; Lennox Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Lennox
Merritt; Merritt Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Merritt
Milo; Milo Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Milo
Mitchell; Mitchell Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Mitchell
Russell; Russell Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Russell
Sawyer; Sawyer Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Sawyer
Sullivan; Sullivan Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Sullivan
Thatcher; Thatcher Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Thatcher
Vance; Vance Kershmen; Brady, Walker, Davis, and Vance
I put Isaac in there because it has some snap, and I feel like you may be looking for some snap—but I am not sure about it style-wise. I went to take it out and found myself reluctant, so I will leave it in.
Name update:
Dear Swistle-
Bub came a few weeks early, so sadly the timing of our letter to you did not work out! However – Iām happy to see that some of your readers like the name we picked.
We went to the hospital with the names narrowed down to Rex and Jenkins. We liked Reid through the whole pregnancy but it just started to not feel right. Rhett would have been top of our list but we have good friends with a son named Rhett so we never considered it – so when my husband brought up Rex, I thought it was a fun twist on Rhett mixed with Max and I liked that! Simple yet a little spunky.
When he was born, we put his Rex hat on him and started calling him Rex, and it worked! His brothers love his name and have fully embraced the T-Rex association, giving him dinosaur stuffed animals and drawing dinosaurs on every card they write him. Itās very cute and we feel that he is definitely a Rex!
We went with Ellis as a middle name as I just couldnāt make Rex Drew sound right in my head (although it looks fine written out like that). So here he is, Rex Ellis! Thanks for your feedback – I will refer to it when weāre on our 5th boy (ha!).
I really like the idea of Reid nicknamed Rex (Reks) from the initials. I think Rex is a very cool name but it might be hard to wear for a shy or slightly awkward child. The nick name gives Rex some flexibility.
Surname Jenkins here, reporting in :)
After 34 years of hearing Jenkins I can say it is most commonly pronounced Jangkins (or Jaynkins? Wow spelling phonetically is hard!) from my worldview of west coast CA ā long āAā sound for sure similar to James.
Sometimes when Iām on work calls with people around the country I hear Jeenkins (or I guess Jingkins) and less commonly an intentional N sound of JeNkins like Jennifer.
I hope my rambling is making sense!
For what its worth, I just love Jenkins. Kept it when I married, and its now my upgraded my middle name! My family pronounces it with a JeN/Jayng hybrid like Jengkins with the E sound from elephant, but its only detectable to us I’m sure and is such a specific pronunciation. Regional pronunciation is quite intriguing, but I digress!
Names inspired by your letter in no order:
Landon, Jensen, Graham, Grant, Jordan and Clark.
Congrats on your soon to be new little one.
I love Rex for your family. I have known exactly one person named Rex in my life. He is quirky and interesting and kind, and the name fits him perfectly. I think you should go for it.
I like Reid best from your top contenders, and Rowan best from the second string (it’s actually my favorite of all the names under consideration). I think the Rex nickname from any name starting with R is an intriguing idea. But I don’t think Rex is a ridiculous name if that’s what holding you back.
I read the title of the post and thought āReid,ā and was very happy to see it as one of the contenders. I love it with the last name and with the brothers. Such a handsome name. I vote Reid!
And maybe go with Reid Drew? I have found that rhythm and flow becomes not as important to me as significance, and I regret not going with more meaningful middles that I nixed because I didnāt think they flowed well.
Or do a double middle? Reid Jenkins Drew? Reid Ellis Drew?
Other options I like for you are Jenkins, Bennett, Emmett.
Best of luck!
Not a fan of Rex as a stand-alone name, but itās a super cute nickname. Would definitely give the baby an R-name and with the initial REK, Rex is a great nickname. Rhett, Reid, and Rowan are all great options.
I also think Everett would work well with this sibling group, and Rex could work well enough as a nickname too I think?
I actually know a kid whose nickname is TRex and itās kind of adorable, though Iām not sure if it will stick when he is olderā¦
Would you consider Rexford, nn Rex? I agree that Rex sounds a little jarring with the sibling set, but Rexford I think is more in the same world/feel. (I know a Rexford, who goes by Rex or by his initials RJ, depending on the situation.)
Your boys have names that read spunky surname to me. Rex is a fantastic name, but perhaps he could be Rexford (means kingās crossing ) nn Rex? Iād guess the next boy to be Everett or Holden or Twain or Pierce? I totally want you to choose Drew for a middle – donāt pass up an opportunity like that for a distant honour name (Are they both Drew on paper or could you do Andrew to work with the one syllable names you like? Although Drew fits with the one syllable middle theme you have going!) Rexford Drew sounds lovely.
I love Swistleās recommendation of Cormac!! Slam dunk to get you to āMackā. And I can attest that Keaton wears quite well – and Keats is a great nickname.
Reid Ellis nn Rex is the perfect solution IMO.
Brady, Walker, Davis…
Nolan Drew
Raymond Drew (Ray) or Raymond Ellis (REK)
Jameson Drew (Jay)
Fraser Drew
Chester Drew (nn Chet)
Malcolm Drew (nn Mack)
I DO like Rex. Jett and Mack are fantastic, too. Excellent names!
Your other sons all have two-syllable names, so another one seems balanced.
Congratulations and best wishes! Please let us know what y’all choose!
Rhett made me swoon! I think itās perfect.
I love Rhys and Rowan!
Really loving Reid Ellis K; Reks as a nn.
Let us know what you decide!
To me (as a native of the southeast US, if that matters), Jaynkins and Jennkins don’t feel so much like two separate pronunciations as they do like different accents – I can hear and say the difference, but I don’t think it would occur to me to pay attention to which pronunciation someone used. I think I would default to Jaynkins, and I think many people with a southern accent would use that pronunciation and struggle to say it any other way.
FWIW, I feel the same about Graham (Gray-um to me sounds exclusively like you have a southern accent, and I have such a hard time taking it seriously as an intended pronunciation) and the whole Laur- family of names, which I know is unusual, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But I do think this is an issue you’ll run into at least some of the time, and one that will be harder to correct than someone who just guesses the wrong pronunciation on the first try.
Is there a reason you’re no longer considering Anderson or Carter? I think those would make great middles, and keep up the family connection which you’ve had so strongly thus far.
I also agree that Rex is a feasible nickname with any REK initials (or honestly, just with any R name, or especially an Re- name – it’s whimsical enough that it feels reasonable to apply just as an alliterative pet name).
Wait! Gray-um sounds southern to you? I am Canadian and only ever hear this name pronounced Gray-um, except on tv I have heard it Gram, so I assumed that was an American thing. Or am I reading what youāre saying backwards? I am so intrigued.
Yes, Gram is my default pronunciation, and Grayum sounds like the way someone with a heavy southern accent would pronounce Gram.
To be fair, I’ve only ever heard the name pronounced Gram, so it’s possible it would click if I actually heard someone saying it without an accent.
Ok I can see that, I think! If you really drawl it it does sound southern. Our accent up here is a lot more clipped and casual, so I think itās almost more one syllable but with a long a instead of a short a ā like Grayām.
Beautiful Rex! Congratulations!