I am expecting baby number 4 in [name_u]August[/name_u], and as baby number 3 still did not have a name when he was born, I thought i’d better get a head start. We obviously do not know what we are having yet, but if it’s a girl, her name will be [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Kate[/name_f]. Our surname is [name_m]Shey[/name_m].
Our other children are [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Harvey[/name_m], and [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m].
We would like to use [name_m]William[/name_m] as a middle name, but that’s not set in stone. Names that we have considered previously are:
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m] - uber popular where we live, the number one name for a decade
[name_m]George[/name_m] - love but sounds like one word with our last name
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] - Husband loves, i’m so-so.
[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] - love but I think the X in [name_u]Alex[/name_u] clashes with the Sh in [name_m]Shey[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] - not sure about [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] together
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - I love, husband so-so
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - husband does not like [name_u]Theo[/name_u] or Ted as a nickname
We clearly go for fairly classic names. Any suggestions?
First of all, I love [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] to death. And congratulations on your pregnancy You have a very classic style, which I love.
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m] - too popular for my tastes, but sounds so nice with [name_m]William[/name_m].
[name_m]George[/name_m] - I like this name, although it’s a little too kingly for me, on the border of being stuffy.
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] - I can see the appeal, and I love [name_u]Freddie[/name_u], but I don’t love [name_m]Fred[/name_m].
[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] - Unless you’ll call him [name_u]Alex[/name_u], I wouldn’t worry about the X and Sh. In fact, it sounds rather poetic when said together. Like somebody famous.
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] - may be a bit too close to [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], although I still really like it. Sort of feel the same way about it as I do [name_m]George[/name_m].
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - [name_m]Artie[/name_m]!! I love this name. [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] is really cool.
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - it’s a pity your SO doesn’t like [name_u]Theo[/name_u], bc it’s a huge seller for me on [name_m]Theodore[/name_m].
My favorite with [name_m]William[/name_m] would be [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m], but I think [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] sounds best with your last name. [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] [name_m]George[/name_m] is also a really nice combination.
You have a great list, with my favs being [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] with the existing kid’s names.
I thought of [name_m]Robert[/name_m] for you - I know it seems like it’s overused in older generations, but is anyone really naming their kid [name_m]Robert[/name_m] these days?
What about the [name_m]Ed[/name_m] names? [name_m]Edward[/name_m]/[name_m]Edwin[/name_m]/[name_m]Edmund[/name_m]?
I’d scroll through a list of Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] characters for some inspiration as that era seems to be your style. [name_m]Thomas[/name_m]? [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]?
I don’t think you can go wrong with a single one of these names. I love your style.
Penelope Claire, Jack Harvey, Hugo Patrick and …
Oliver - widely used, but so classic, and a great match both in sound and style with your other kids
George - handsome and classic, but feels very formal
Frederick - love this choice, would you use a nickname? a bit of a mouthful next to your boys shorter names
Alexander - I actually like the sound of it w your surname, but I find the nickname Alex to feel a bit dated
Henry - love this name, but agree w it sounding off next to Hugo
Arthur - this is such a great choice, fresh and classic and a great match with your other kids
Theodore - such a great name, but it seems like it would easily become nicknamed to Theo
With your family, my top three favorites are Oliver, Frederick and Arthur
Other suggestions:
August
Brooks
Bennett
Edward
Elliott
Graham
Leo
Ralph
Also, have you considered William as a first name? It would be a great match w your other kiddos.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! The suggestion of [name_m]Robert[/name_m] is funny, as my son suggested we call the baby [name_u]Bobby[/name_u]. My husbands best friend is called [name_m]Robert[/name_m], and his son’s name is [name_m]William[/name_m], which is why we wrote those 2 off. I should also say that we are Australian, so everyone gets a nickname here. [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] would 100% be called [name_u]Alex[/name_u]. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is called [name_u]Penny[/name_u]. It’s virtually unavoidable here. One of the reasons I don’t like [name_m]Ed[/name_m]- beginning names, is because they all get called [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] here.
My husband really likes [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] with the nickname [name_u]Freddie[/name_u]. I don’t mind [name_u]Freddie[/name_u], I hate [name_m]Fred[/name_m]. Similarly, I love [name_u]Alfie[/name_u], but I hate [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]. We are avoiding [name_m]Ben[/name_m] - starting names, as we often call [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] - [name_u]Pen[/name_u] or [name_u]Pen[/name_u] [name_m]Bear[/name_m].
I love [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m], [name_u]Elliot[/name_u], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_u]August[/name_u], but can’t use them for various reasons.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] nn [name_m]Xander[/name_m]? I think [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] sounds fab with your last name. There’s also [name_m]Alec[/name_m] or [name_u]Sandy[/name_u] but I’d go [name_m]Xander[/name_m]. [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] sounds good too - and [name_u]Freddy[/name_u] is cute!
I’m less keen on [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (don’t like the nn’s) and I met another little Ted today at an [name_m]Oz[/name_m] BBQ - [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] is just so popular among the under 4s. I meet more of them than Olivers, though I get the stats are the overall picture.
(Also, [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is beautiful. Can I advocate for [name_f]Evvy[/name_f] over [name_f]Evie[/name_f] for the nn?! Makes sense with how it is pronounced in Australia and again so many [name_f]Evie[/name_f]’s, this is a way to stand out!)
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] is my favorite with your children’s names, which are gorgeous, by the way! I don’t mind [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] together; I think since they have different sounds, they go nicely together.
You have a very classic style, which I love.