Dear Swistle, Please help!
I am due with my fourth boy in just two weeks, and we still haven’t found a name that we completely love. Our last name is Berns, spelled differently. Our current boys’ names are Brighton, Rockwell, and Sundance. All three of these names are names that we thought of before each of my respective pregnancies with the older boys, and loved them so much that we just knew that they would be our next boy’s name. We haven’t had a similar name or feeling about this one. We’ve gone around and around, and now we’re really running out of time. We tend to like nature names, Western/cowboy names, and surnames as first names. Also, our first three boys coincidentally ended up with names that have 8 letters, so I would love to continue that tie, if we can. Popularity is also very important to us – we tend to like very uncommon names, preferably out of the top 1000. I would also prefer to not repeat sibling initials (no B, R, or S names). The only name we both like is Jasper. However, I don’t know that that fits, stylistically, with our other boys’ names. It’s a lot more popular than our other names, as well. It also doesn’t have eight letters, which isn’t essential, but I do think it would help me feel like a name was *the one*. There’s also the Twilight association, which My husband really feels like Jasper is the name, and I like it, but I remain unconvinced. Also, we both like Lachlan, but feel like it sounds too similar to Rockwell. Names that I love that my husband has turned down: – Riggins – Finnegan – Sullivan – Calloway – Ledger – Hartford – Woodward We would love your help, if you’re able! I really think that I’m going to have this baby early, and am panicking on what we are going to name him.
Thank you!
If I had access and consent to tamper benevolently with your mind, I would start by removing the feeling that the fourth boy’s name ought to have eight letters—even though I would have felt the same as you about it at this stage of pregnancy/naming. I remember learning in Psych 101 that the human brain can easily count…was it seven items, or was it five? Anyway, if we see a little group of, say, candies, and the group is a certain number of items or less, we can count them without counting them: we can just SEE that it is five pieces of candy, without going one-two-three-four-five. If it is MORE than five (seven?), we can’t: we have to count, or else visually separate it into groups of five or fewer (for example, I am verifying eight letters by splitting each name into two groups of four letters).
Even if your first three children’s names all had only five letters, I doubt anyone would notice (or consider it significant); with eight letters, we are almost incapable of noticing. When I briefly wondered if Twilight would be a good name possibility, I had to sit there counting the letters—and I had to do it twice to be sure.
I see the list of candidates you’ve suggested and your husband has shot down, and don’t see a parallel list of names he’s suggested and you’ve shot down. This could easily be narrative choice (if I were you, I would not want the group to latch onto one of my husband’s suggestions that I didn’t like), but we have had so many experiences here of husbands who slip into the lazy “You bring names to me, and I will give my ruling on each one” mode (or, even worse: “I have decided on a favorite name, and now it is your job to find me a name I like better than my favorite or else we have to use my favorite”), that I want to make sure that’s not the case here. This is a difficult and complicated task you have set yourselves, and you should both be putting in effort to complete it.
The trouble with the task of looking for names outside the Top 1000 is that this likely means you don’t want any of the names in the baby-name books most of us have stacked on our desks. Let me start by reminding everyone How To Find Baby Name Data Outside the Top 1000. My plan is to pull open the list for 2022, scroll wayyyyy to the bottom, and see what catches my eye.
I see what you mean about the similarity of Lachlan and Rockwell, but my own opinion is that the sound is not close enough to be a problem, especially in a sibling group of four or more.
For me, the Twilight association of Jasper has faded completely; I no longer think of it at all. But the name Jasper was #130 in 2022, and that does seem much too popular for this sibling group.
The name I would like your husband to reconsider is Calloway. It meets all the preferences AND has the available nickname Cal. Calloway Berns; Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance, and Calloway.
More options to consider:
Barnaby
Broderick (probably too close to Brighton/Rockwell but I can’t make myself delete it)
Callahan
Canyon
Casper
Channing
Clifford
Connery
Conway
Cormac
Crawford
Crockett (probably too close to Rockwell but I can’t make myself delete it)
Crosby
Cypress
Decker
Fielding
Gibson
Granger
Harrison
Haven
Holland
Hollis
Huxley
Langston
Malone
Merritt
Mordecai
Morrison
Nicholson
Noble
Oakland
Percival
Ranger
Ridley
Robinson
Roscoe (probably too close to Rockwell)
Shepherd
Sherwood
Slater
Stellan
Thompson
Truman
Warner
Winslow
Zealand
LOVE Callahan for you! It’s a top favorite of mine but was abandoned for being too long with my 13 character last name. Also Fielding & Shepherd, while maybe too popular, sounds great with your other names.
Caspian instead of Jasper? (Can’t find a way to spell it with an extra letter, though ;) )
I love the idea of Callahan as a gentle alternative to Calloway. It still feels like it fits your style but might be enough of a tweak that your husband would respond more positively.
I really like Thompson or Campbell here. I’m dying to know if the letter writer uses nicknames or full names for her boys! (Bright, Rocky, and Sunny is so 😍😍 to me. Thom or Cam (Bell?) fits right in.)
I love Jasper here. I wouldn’t let your own self-set rules throw you off a good name. I have a Lachlan and do think I’d trip over Rockwell + Lachlan (Rocklan? Lackwell?) since I often mix my boys up and the other name isn’t even that close. I love the suggestion of Langston! Granger and Cormac jump out too. What about Hawthorn? Micater/Macateer? Tiernan? Griffith?
I love Swistle’s suggestion of putting Calloway back in the table. But if it’s really a nonstarter, I absolutely love the last poster’a suggestion of Hawthorn!!! Meets all the criteria and is really great in the sibset. Crawford is aso good!
My first thought was that Calloway is great. Shepherd and Hawthorn are really nice too.
OMG, Hawthorn is such a good suggestion here.
I also like Thompson and know an older teenage Thompson – it is a fun name!
What about Rafferty, Zephyr, Banyan, or Phoenix?
I have a friend named Freeland. It’s such a great name and seems to fit the vibe of your other names. Plus it’s 8 letters.
Such a cool name!
Clifford
Crawford
Hendrick
Whitaker
Alternatives to Jasper could be Jupiter or Jade, which are both out of the top 1000 for boys.
A name I like for you is Elwood. It’s vintage, out of the top 1000, feels both nature-y and cowboy-ish.
Speaking of cowboy names, I’m currently reading a biography on dog actor(s) Rin Tin Tin. In the 1950s show, Rin Tin Tin’s owner is played by actor Lee Aaker (pronounced like ‘acre’). Any chance you like Aaker? Any chance reading this paragraph made you think of names of cowboys, real or imaginary, that you can picture on your son?
Can you think of any places of significance to you that might make good names? What about surnames in your own family history?
I can think of one other, fairly unique wildcard: name him Ocean-Wave. Ocean is probably slightly too popular for your tastes, but Ocean Wave (not hyphenated) is a name a handful of people in different eras have carried, and I’ve been a bit enamored with the idea ever since I stumbled across that fact on findagrave. On that note, are there any historic/older cemeteries close to where you live? A historic cemetery is where I found the name Ashby, which I quite like. And, have you considered a double barrel name? Maybe one that could get you to eight letters? It seems you like names that come in distinct parts.
There is a book with a character Jupiter nicknamed Jove. So cool!
First, your subset is amazing! I am positive that whatever name you decide on will be “the one” the moment you speak it to your little one and it becomes him.
From your list, I think Sullivan and Calloway jumps out me as great contenders.
From Swistle’s list, these seem to flow well without repeating first letters: Calahan, Connery, Merritt, Percival
Not from either list but may be worth considering:
Archibald, Ambrose, Juniper, Orville, Willoughby
I’m going to suggest Maverick. Bridger is probably too close to Brighton but I’ll throw it out there too. Also Livingston, Palisade, Kirkwood and Charleston.
Heathcliff is my suggestion- romantic, cowboy and nature all rolled in one.
Indigo
Orion
Calder
Cypress
Everest
Griffin
Leopold
Casler
Names that have already been suggested that I really like:
Callahan
Granger
Griffith
Maverick — preceded by Sundance, Maverick is perfection, although likely way too popular.
Whitaker
Oher names you might consider:
Aldridge
Anderson
Collins
Chandler
Crispin — if there is any chance your son might have curly hair, Crispin would be awesome!
Emerson
Everest
Fitzgerald
Gallagher
Hastings
Justice
Marshall
McAdam
McKinley
Truett
Woodrow
Best wishes to you!
I know you’d prefer not to repeat initials, but Beaumont ticks all the other boxes and would be pretty cool.
Torrance
Tennyson
Thurgood
Cantrell
Waylon
Vedder
Virgil
Dutch
Dutton
Hutton
Hatcher
I love Tennyson. : )
Fisher and Fletcher came to mind. I like Casper, Callahan and Collins from the others. For what it’s worth, Lachlan made me think of the Murdocks; but I wouldn’t assume you’re a Fox News fan based on the name.
I’m gonna suggest Meridian. 8 letters, not popular, and I feel like it splits the difference between more formal sounding Brighton and Rockwell and more adventurous Sundance.
Ooh, I really like Ree Ree’s suggestion of Fletcher!
Chandler.
Tiernan
Kieran
Elsworth
Herschel
Dorian
Cashiell (I think it’s pronounced Cash-el) (nickname Cash)
Dashiell
Augustin (Uh-gus-tin) (nickname Gus)
Dominick
Peregrine (pear-a-grin) (it’s a type of falcon)
Everest
Forrest
Alistair
THATCHER!
Is Montford a name? Seems like it might work … Ashford doesn’t have enough letters.
Also loving Hawthorn.
Eight-letter names from my own list include Octavian, Arcadian, Arboreal, Leocadio, and Maxfield.
I also love Colebrook, Coleridge, and Masefield, but they are 9 letters.
Maybe you could find a Mc, Mac, or Fitz name with the right number of letters after it to make 8. My own favorites MacMurray, McLean, and MacQuillan don’t quite do it, but something like Fitzhugh does.
Some other unncommon favorites that only make it to 7 letters: Marinus, Ilarion, Aneirin, Horatio, and Wolfrey.
McLaren or MacLaren
Also love seeing Channing on Swistle’s list. I have one and it’s a great name. ☺️
Cordovan
Donovan
Gulliver
Halcyon
November
Odysseus (Ody/Odie for short?)
Ridgeley (although, repeat initial)
Valerian
Wolfram
I love Hawthorne here and the nn of Thor will make him so happy one day! Thornton misses the mark on letters but also seems really great with Brighton, Rockwell and Sundance.
Callahan or Donovan are perfect too. Other options may be..
Morrisey – Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance and Morrisey. Together this makes your boys names feel more rock and roll. Technically it is two s-es but with one you hit 8 letters.
McCartney – Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance and McCartney. Rock and roll again…
Montgomery – Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance and Montgomery. Together these names feel more like they come from Newport, RI than the rock and roll hall of fame. Established family vibe, confident, refined and yet somehow still vaguely beachy. Both relaxed and buttoned up.
Winthrop – Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance and Winthrop… Another Newport-style option. Nn of Win is awesome especially if you do already have a Bright, Rocky, Sunny (and Win!).
Not Montgomery Burns. He’s the boss (villain) on The Simpsons.
Oaken
Phoenix
Griffin
Ambrose
Bromley
Cyprus
Hawthorne
Linden
Good luck and congratulations 🎉
I have not read the other comments yet. Please forgive me if these are repeats.
Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance, and…
Stetson (yes, another ‘s’ name)
McCoy
Redmond (another ‘r’)
Wilshire (eight letters!)
Kavanaugh
Royceton (eight letters!)
Statler (another ‘s’)
Fenton
Gilbertson
MacAllister
Travers
Wellington
Hollister
Fennec
Or Finnick
Wolfgang (Wolfie for a nickname)
Rainier (pronounced Rain-eer) like the mountain
Gulliver
Merrick
Maverick
Donovan
Are you from Utah, by chance? Brighton and Sundance are names of ski resorts in Salt Lake City so I wonder if thinking about nature/landscapes in the southwest would help.
Draper
Alpine
Traverse
Swistle’s advice to abandon the 8-letter search is a wise one. And Swistle and so many commenters before me have already made so many great suggestions.
But before I’d even finished reading your letter, a name popped into my head and I felt so excited to share it. Even since hearing about the Novogrtaz family years ago, I have loved one of their middle son’s name: Holleder.
It’s unusual, it has 8-letters, it doesn’t repeat an initial and it gives off a bit of a western/gentlemanly vibe.
Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance, and Holleder.
Their other boys’ names, if they may be helpful are Wolfgang (8 letters again!), Five (their fifth child), Breaker, and Major.
I like Wolfgang for you, too: Brighton, Rockwell, Sundance, and Wolfgang.
Sympathies for your plight (I love baby names, but really struggle when naming my babies…. It’s stressful!). All the best!
Arlington
Arlo
Boone
Booth
Brogan
Carlyle
Cassidy
Clanton
Clark
Dallas
Denver
Dolan
Garrett
Garrison
Gilbert
Guthrie
Holden
Jesse
Kessler
Ketchum
Kincaide
Nash
Montrose*
Morgan
Pickett
Pike
Ringo
Roosevelt
Rushmore
Rutherford
Sutherland
Virgil
Wesley
Whitaker*
Wyatt
Caldwell
Holliday
Sundance made me think of (and look up) national park names for you – I’m aware Sundance *isn’t* a park, my brain just led me that way.
Redwood?
Rainier?
Denison for Mount Denison?
I’m sure there are other places that have ties to your family history and special memories?
Tolliver. Jamieson. Davidson. Carson. Carlton. Hollister. Remington. Francisco/Cisco. Denver. Wyoming.
Just saw Webster, which fits the 2 syllable, lots of consonants style.
Could any name be more cowboy than Waylon??? Also, suggesting Calder instead of Calloway or Callahan.
Or Caulder, Cauldron, Calderon.
Tallen
Lyndreth
Dutch
Lawson
I like Gibson and Kincaide from others’ suggestions.
I agree that the 8-letter preference is very limiting. I do like Finnegan if that comes back into play, though.
I think once you have several kids a little sound repetition (Lachlan) or popularity difference (Jasper) might have to be the price you pay for using a name you really like. Casper is an interesting Jasper substitute from Swistle’s suggestions. Sundance makes me want to suggest nature names. How about Cedar? It’s not in the top 1,000.
Here are a few ideas, some repeats from others comments. A few are more popular than you wanted:
Wagoner
Ambrose
Mortimer
Journey
Cyrrus
Horatio
Zodiac
Weston
Wyoming
Dakota
Coyote
Bobcat
Wesley
Levi
Wilder
What about Holloway?
Campbell
Eastwood
Love Langston too!
Since you both like Jasper but not the Twilight association, I wanted to suggest the Scandinavian version Jesper.
Sundance, Brighton, Rockwell and Jesper.
Jesper also makes me think of the name Vesper, which is from Greek mythology and has a beautiful meaning: “Evening”. I also really like the first letter V along with your other boys names.
Another name that came to my mind when I read that you consider Woodward was Westwood or Eastwood.
All the best to you and your family. x
Wolfgang
Chadwick
I also love Holliday and Wolfgang!
Stockton is a cute option but I know it’s a repeat initial.
It really has to be either Phoenix or Winslow!