Hi Swistle!
You and your readers helped us name our son in 2017 {Baby Boy Sepas – Brother to Evelyn}.
After 3 years of fertility struggles, 2 miscarriages, and 5 failed rounds of fertility treatments, I am due this Fall with the sweetest surprise! I find it odd that I’ve been trying for 3 years for this babe, yet am struggling so much to find a name for him or her! We are not finding out the gender.
My name is Bridgett, my husband is Evan, and we have two children – Evelyn Claire and Luke Thomas. Our last name is Sepas with a silent T in the front, pronounced See-pas.
I am finding that I am drawn to surnames as first names this time. In my mind, I have decided on a name if it’s a boy – Baker Lawrence. Lawrence was my beloved Grandpa’s name. I just can’t fully commit because I don’t know if it goes with the sibling names, and it’s definitely more unique than the sibling names. Other names we like are Reid, Baylor, Wade, and Rowan. Rowan is still my favorite name (it was my favorite when my son was born 5 years ago as well), but we have since had a close family member use a very similar name, so I don’t know that I want to use it now. I also love other surnames like Hayes, Brooks, or Davis, but don’t like the ending “s” with the starting “s” of our last name.
My real struggle comes with names for a girl. I am drawn to surnames for a girl too, but so many that I like also end in “s” – Ellis, Collins, Hollis – and it just doesn’t flow with the last name. Our short list includes Harper, Emelia, and Hallie. We will use Wren as a middle name for a girl – taken from the middle of Lawrence – to still honor my Grandpa. Any other girl suggestions that are in my style? Or maybe this style doesn’t go at all with the siblings and I need to figure out my actual style?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for considering!
Something I think you’ve got going for you here is that Evelyn and Luke are already adjacent/compatible styles rather than a matched style. This gives you more room to add a third adjacent style, without it being as surprising a style shift as it would be if you had two of the same style and then changed course.
Baker is quite a different style from Luke; the matched K-sound helps to bring them a little closer together, I think, but you’re right that it’s a bit of a jump, and Baker Sepas feels a little awkward. But I further think that by the time parents get to the third child, no one can blame them for branching out a little. And since Luke was a family name, that gives an easy explanation for why you might change styles. Not that you have to explain yourself. I’m just working through it for you the way I have to work through it for myself: i.e., imagining I have been called before The Naming Board and must justify my decision.
My own vote from the boy name list is Reid. Evelyn, Luke, and Reid.
For a girl name, I think the style shift is more readily accommodated because the name Evelyn used to be a prep-school boy name. Sure, NOW it’s used almost exclusively for girls and doesn’t feel particularly preppy—but our multigenerational hive mind can still tap into that old feeling where Ashley and Evelyn were chums at their all-male boarding school. Here are some surname names (or surname-sounding names) I think might work in the sibling group and with the surname:
Ainsley; Ainsley Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Ainsley
Aubrey; Aubrey Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Aubrey
Brennan; Brennan Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Brennan
Darby; Darby Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Darby
Darcy; Darcy Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Darcy
Delaney; Delaney Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Delaney
Hadley; Hadley Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Hadley (similar in sound to Hallie)
Hillary; Hillary Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Hillary (I know it’s too soon but it’s so perfect)
Holland; Holland Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Holland (similar to Hollis but no -s)
Kerrigan; Kerrigan Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Kerrigan
Lane; Lane Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Lane (maybe too much)
Leighton; Leighton Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Leighton
Linden; Linden Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Linden (maybe too much)
Mallory; Mallory Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Mallory
Meredith; Meredith Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Meredith
Merritt; Merritt Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Merritt
Sloane; Sloane Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Sloane
Winslow; Winslow Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Winslow
I wanted to suggest Ellison (Ellis but doesn’t end in -s!) but it seems too close to Evelyn.
Or I am interested in your willingness to change Lawrence to Wren to honor your grandfather, and I wonder if Florence (Lawrence-with-an-F) would also feel like an honor name? If so, this sibling set makes me want to faint with love: Evelyn, Luke, and Florence. Granted, Florence Sepas requires some effort to say, and I agree it’s not ideal—but FLORENCE.
Or of course there is the name Lauren, which is even more obvious a connection. Lauren Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Lauren. I remember there was a fairly famous (that is, I know about it despite not watching soap operas) “Luke and Laura” plot on a soap opera in the 1980s, and it went on for years; I don’t know if that’s something that needs to interfere with names for this current generation of babies, but it’s nice to consider such things ahead of time rather than afterward. Lauren could still work as a middle name.
Or I think Lawrence makes a nice middle name for a girl, if Wren doesn’t end up working with the first name you like best. It’s so close to Lauren and Florence, and the current generation of boys doesn’t seem to be using it much.
More options that came to mind even though they’re nothing like what you said you were looking for:
Claire; Claire Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Claire
Claudia; Claudia Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Claudia
Fiona; Fiona Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Fiona
Harriet; Harriet Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Harriet
Hazel; Hazel Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Hazel (similar in sound to Hayes)
Lydia; Lydia Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Lydia
Margo; Margo Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Margo
Pearl; Pearl Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Pearl
Polly; Polly Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Polly
Rosemary; Rosemary Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Rosemary
Veronica; Veronica Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Veronica
As always, Swistle is right on the money! She should start a naming advice blog, amirite? :)
For some reason, Baker isn’t working for me. It clashes too much with Evelyn and Luke, as you’ve noted. This may just be personal preference, as I don’t think there’s anything *wrong* per se. I do agree that Reid is a phenomenal choice! I also want to plug my own son’s name, Bennett. It’s worn so well for him and I think goes marvelously with your sibset.
The name that kept popping in my head for you for a girl is Blair. You might want to go two syllables for middle in that case and I love Lauren/Loren here. Also love Lydia. Lydia Wren sounds so cute!
I think Blair and Lydia are beautiful choices because they both have strong L sounds like OP’s other children. Can I suggest Bellamy too? It’s a surname and has strong L sounds
Emily is right — Swistle has hit it out of the park with her suggestions.
I like Reid for a boy.
I also like Hugo and Griffin.
Hugo Lawrence Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Hugo
Griffin Lawrence Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Griffin
For a girl I agree that, with some first names, Lawrence or Lauren might work better as a middle than Wren.
From Swistle’s suggestions I like Claire, Hadley, Holland, Meredith, Merritt, and Sloane.
I also like Annika, Grace, Juliet, Robin, and Tessa.
Annika Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Annika
Grace Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Grace
Juliet Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Juliet
Robin Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Robin
Tessa Sepas; Evelyn, Luke, and Tessa
Best wishes to you!
I am absolutely loving Hallie Wren from your list. Evelyn, Luke, and Hallie. I love that all 3 names have an L sound and each name ends in a different sound as well.
For a boy, I wonder if you would like Nolan? It is similar to Rowan in sound and still a surname as well. Evelyn, Luke, and Nolan sound so lovely together and again, all 3 names are subtly connected with that L sound. Reid is also a great choice! Or maybe Grant?
I actually really like Lawrence as a first name for you, perhaps with Wren as a nickname?
And I love Swistle’s suggestion of Florence! OMG. It seems perfect.
I’m really not crazy for Baker as a first name. It is a surname name but also an occuption name that’s still in common usage, so it feels weird as compared to something like Cooper or Fletcher with the occuption part isn’t still in common use. I think since Lawrence can also be a surname, something like Baker Lawrence Seepas starts to sound a little like a law firm. Of your list, I really like Reid, Rowan and Wade. I want to say go ahead and use Rowan, but without knowing the other name I hesitate a bit.
Boy suggestions: Roland, Cole, Bryce, Lawrence as a first name.
Girl suggestions: Florence! Wren as a first name, Holland, Piper,
Came to say that I like Lawrence as a first name! I know a small Lawrence who is called both Lawrence and Lolo (mostly by his immediate family members) and it is darling and very distinguished!
I LOVE that Lauren, with your last name, turns it into Laurence. And I love using Wren to honour a Lawrence. I actually know a young boy named Wren who was named for a Lawrence grandpa. Love it all!!
My absolute hands down favourite name that I wish I had used bc it was a family surname is……. Sloane. It’s SO pretty. Yet classy and sleek and elegant and surname.
I am a person who is obsessed with matching sibsets, but the practical side of me says that in reality it doesn’t really matter. I remember Crosby in a TV show with siblings that didn’t match, and I loved (love) the name anyway. Would Crosby be a contender? But if it’s Baker that’s making your heart sing – go Baker!! I’m behind that choice!! Hearts don’t always sing – don’t let matchiness get in the way of your heart. 😊
Miller! A good solid first name for any gender & good with Wren & Lawrence
How about Helena? I think it sits somewhere between the Evelyn/Emilia names and Hallie/Hollis/Harper …. and it has the light/bright meaning shared by Luke and (Evelyn) Claire – Evelyn, Luke & Helena? (Eleanor, Nora or Nell would also work, but I think Helena works best).
A comment above about Baker seeming different from Cooper and Fletcher as occupation names made me think that Archer would fit well with your crew and be less of a style jump – Evelyn, Luke & Archer?
And this, coupled with thinking about meanings, made me wonder about Asher … you’d have light and happiness. Evelyn, Luke & Asher.
And of course, names meaning happiness make me think of Felix and Felicity – Evelyn, Luke & Felix or Evelyn, Luke & Felicity.
I’ll stop now (at least until I think of something else) … All the very, very best!
Evelyn, Luke and Darcy sound DREAMY together. Totally ties the group togather, and I probably wouldn’t pick any of those names out of the baby book individually. My vote’s for Darcy. ( :
That being said, how often do you see this friend? Does the thought of your two kids not quite sharing a name make you uncomfortable, or is it more like it might be slightly confusing a couple times a year? Would you regret not using Rowan if those friends moved away, or is it more of a ‘would’ve been nice if it worked out.’ feeling? I want you to use your favorite name if you think it would be worth it, is what I’m saying.
I noticed you did naming for your dads and your husband and you are planning for a grandfather. What about some of the women on either side? It sounds like yhe naming honor was a persistently happy thing for you and the family members. Any good maternal surnames or first names to reuse
What if you used Wren as the first name? Evelyn, Luke, and Wren are a nice bunch.
Or would it make it any easier to use Rowan for a girl? That might further differentiate things.
I rather like Evelyn, Luke, & Baker. A little eclectic, but not too bad to my ear. I also like Reid & that’s a little less startling. Griffin’s rather fun, too. And it *is* a surname, though a fairly rare one.
I like everybody’s suggestions for girl names so far, particularly Amelia, Wren, Merritt, Meredith, & Claudia
A few others
Haylee Wren, Hayley Lawrence- Evelyn, Luke, and Haylee. Haylee sounds surname-y to me, maybe because I sometimes hear Halley’s Comet pronounced Haylee’s Comet. It’s got several of the same sounds but ordered in a way that makes it a bit different.
Gracelynn Lawrence. A classmate of my 7yo’s is named Gracelynn, Its cute on her now but feels like it can grow with her. Ends the same as Evelyn, of course; is that charming or a deal breaker for you?
Esme- Evelyn, Luke, & Esme
I just wanted to mention that Laurence is a female name in French — the equivalent male name is Laurent. I’m in Canada, and currently my daughter’s female swimming instructor is named Laurence. I just checked and Laurence was #53 most popular girls baby name in Quebec last year. I do think most English speakers would think of it as a male name first, but I wanted to offer that in case you’d like to consider Laurence as an honour name for your grandfather Lawrence.
There is a female Laurence on Project Runway this season! La-‘raaaw'[ts] is how we pronounce it. (The N is that go-away-French-N, like in Henri or vacances, and then the C is hit as the softest combo of s, ts, tz, etc.