Hello! We have two boys. [name_m]Orson[/name_m] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m] parker [name_m]Luck[/name_m]. We’re expecting a third boy in [name_f]October[/name_f]. We’re thinking about [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] or shepherd. What about [name_m]Charles[/name_m] or [name_m]William[/name_m] as the middle name? [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m] were given mine and my mothers maiden names as middle. [name_m]William[/name_m] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m] are the names of our grandfathers. What are your thoughts on hearing these sets of names?
Nice names, [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m]! I prefer [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] to [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] personally. I would probably go with [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] if it were me, since [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m] are slightly similar… gives them all unique initials.
Exactly my feelings! Thank you for the response and baby name love 
Another vote for [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. I love [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m]!
I think [name_m]Orson[/name_m], [name_m]Amias[/name_m], and [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] are adorable together! I personally prefer [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_m]William[/name_m], but I think [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] is adorable, too. I love [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] a lot, too, but when paired with [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m], I just liked [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] more.
Good luck!
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] / [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], and it would be an amazing combo with your sons!
Yes, absolutely, [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m] are amazing. So the real question is, which lives up to the standard more, [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] or [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]? Interesting, two occupational names. I think I like [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] more…but maybe only more than [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], not necessarily more than [name_m]Shepard[/name_m]. [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] to me is just too redolent of… sheep. I mean, I really feel the herding happening in there, and in this modern world I may not want to!!
So, if we’re talking about [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] and [name_m]Shepard[/name_m], I feel kind of even. I like [name_u]Merce[/name_u]. I like [name_m]Shep[/name_m]. Both go equally well with [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m]. I like them both equally! Does that help? ; )
I definitely like [name_m]William[/name_m] as a middle name better. [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] and [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] are tied. Although, I think I prefer [name_u]Mercer[/name_u]. Both really good names though. Original but, not too out there.
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is handsome.
[name_m]Orson[/name_m], [name_m]Amias[/name_m] and [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] would be amazing! I am biased, since [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is one of my favourite names, but they do should lovely together. I would go with [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]- [name_m]Charles[/name_m] is quite similar to [name_u]Chandler[/name_u], and [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] rolls so beautifully off the tongue.
I agree with [name_f]Pam[/name_f] re [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] vs [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]. I like that the former does not actually have the word ‘herd’ in it, and I like the [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] Fairey namesake. It’s also more compact/sleeker looking like your other boys’ names.
I’m not fond of the fact that the spelling of [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]/[name_m]Shepard[/name_m] isn’t immediately obvious. I can’t think of another way to spell [name_u]Mercer[/name_u].
Both are nice but with [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m] I’d personally pick [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_m]William[/name_m]
I like [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] usually but with [name_m]Orson[/name_m] and [name_m]Amias[/name_m] I think [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_m]William[/name_m] is great!
Great! Thank you for the post!
Thank you guys so much for the response. Really great. I have some of the same feelings about these two names. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t love the question of spelling on shepherd/ [name_m]Shepard[/name_m]… I do love the way, [name_m]Orson[/name_m], [name_m]Amias[/name_m], and mercer sound together, but prefer [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] as a stand alone name which is probably more important when naming a human
What do you guys think of the name Hoben? Hoben is a traditional Chamorro name. My husband’s family came from Guam. I was thinking Hoben roosevelt. [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m] is a family name on my side. Or maybe Hoben [name_u]Grey[/name_u]. I’m open to ideas for the middle name. [name_m]How[/name_m] does Hoben sound with his brothers? What do you think of it as a stand alone? THANKS!
I really like Hoben I think I prefer that to both [name_m]Shepard[/name_m] and [name_u]Mercer[/name_u].
nn [name_m]Hobie[/name_m] would be so cute!
And it sounds well with [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m], very classy.
Hoben [name_m]William[/name_m] also flows nicely.
Hoben is great! I’m reading a book right now where one if the main characters is [name_m]Hobart[/name_m] called [name_m]Hobie[/name_m] (The Goldfinch). I’m surprised how much I like it! I also really love the NN [name_m]Hobbes[/name_m]! Hoben Rooseveltt gets my vote - really charming! [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] reminds me of a dog’s name, although it is cute. But I know so many dogs called [name_m]Shep[/name_m]. [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] is great, too. That would be my second choice - [name_u]Mercer[/name_u] [name_u]Grey[/name_u]. I think you should stick with the family names in the middle - it’s cute and distinguished!
I read that too!
He was a charming character–to match his name
Really nice input! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. My husband vetoed shepherd last night. we’ve been talking more about Mercer and Hoben today. My thought on Hoben today is that I love the significance of the name, but I don’t love the sound of the name. It makes me think of hoe and and its literally one sound away from hobo… Also, I Worry that when Introducing himself people will automatically assign another name that is more familiar, think Holden, Hayden, Tobin, Owen…