A Wildcard - Zebedee

Boy Names
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We’ve been attending family weddings this weekend so we’ve had more chances than usual to discuss names. I think my husband has decided he wants to cross [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] off the list, which I think was one of the more favored options on here. :joy: As of last night, I think our top contenders are [name_m]Linus[/name_m] and [name_m]Morris[/name_m], keeping [name_m]Samson[/name_m] and [name_m]Grover[/name_m] on there just because, though they are less likely to be used at this point. As much as I still love [name_m]Grover[/name_m]. :joy:

However, last night we mutually agreed on a total wildcard name- [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] nn [name_m]Zeb[/name_m].

I know I’ve thrown it out way in the past and I think my husband laughed out loud at it, but he was very much into yesterday and today. We both really like the meaning of it and there’s something drawing both of us to it, however… definitely not as cohesive as [name_m]Linus[/name_m] or [name_m]Morris[/name_m] would be with our older two boys, [name_m]Warren[/name_m] and [name_m]Clyde[/name_m]. [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is… a lot to say, though my husband really likes the nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]. I’m sure it would require a lot of explanations and clarifications as it’s so uncommon and unusual, whereas [name_m]Morris[/name_m] and [name_m]Linus[/name_m] are pretty straightforward. Which is something I’ve said I really like about Clyde’s name- if you call the pediatrician’s office and they ask for the patient’s name, I don’t have to answer twenty questions for them to get the name correct.

So logically I know [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] would not be a very practical choice, but the fact that we we’re both drawn to it and the fact that we’ve been so iffy on our list thus far, I wanted to do a little pulse check on how out there and impractical everyone thinks Zebedee/Zeb would be. Or any middle name options you like with it.

And if we take [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] and some of our other former contenders off the table for now, do you have a strong #1 out of [name_m]Linus[/name_m], [name_m]Morris[/name_m], or… [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m]. lol

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r > [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Dale[/name_m] (husband’s grandpa’s name)

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Dean[/name_m]

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] (also family name)

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Benedict[/name_m]

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] - the three syllable middles are a lot with Zebedee….

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Wilder[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Alistair[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Augustus[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Augustin[/name_m]

[name_m]Morris[/name_m] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]

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My ranking would be

  1. Linus (love! 100% a strong favourite for me)
  2. Zebedee (because I like the nickname Zed)
  3. Morris

(Edit to say: if we’re including Samson and Grover, my ranking would be 1. Samson 2. Linus 3. Grover 4. Zebedee 5. Morris!)

My favourite combo would be Linus Maxwell I think!

I’m not a fan of Zebedee, personally. Like I mentioned, I like the nickname Zed (Zeb less so, but it’s still a fine choice) but as a full name… I can’t lie, it sounds silly to me? It’s sort of giving “word that a magician would shout out before doing a trick”, like, abracadabra and zebedee? :sweat_smile: But I definitely don’t think it’s unusable, especially with an easy 3-letter nickname like you’re intending it to have. I simply don’t like it (and it feels rather unusual and extravagant next to Clyde and Warren - I personally care quite a bit about sibset cohesiveness, but it’s subjective!)

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Zebedee would certainly be a wild card, but at the same time it also works?? Warren and Clyde are definitely more vintage grandpa/western (to me) but they are also a little offbeat (they’re more surprising than say, Winston and Clay). I think Zebedee accelerates and enhances the uniqueness of your set, and makes it a bit more fun, unexpected and eclectic, rather than clashing with your sons names or being anticlimactic. I also think Zeb is so wearable with Warren and Clyde (would Zeb on its own be a contender?)

I still love Grover the best for you, but I’m all in for Zebedee too!

I forgot to mention the others - I do think Linus and Morris fit seamlessly with your sibset and are fantastic options - but if they’re not as exciting to you as Zebedee I don’t know if I would go for them.

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So I’m going to knock Morris off for my part merely because the middle combo you have for him is very “s” heavy with your last name.

So of these, I would probably pick Zebedee Wilder or Linus Oliver to break up the “s”/ “z” heaviness.

I would honestly probably go with Zebedee Wilder to avoid the final “s” on Linus running into the initial “s” on the surname.

My second and third picks are Zebedee Oliver and Zebedee Benedict

I might would even go with Benedict Zebedee and call him “Buzz” for a solid nickname that will grow well and puts him more on par with bros’ names!

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I can see the appeal of Zebedee - he brings something exciting and spunky to your set while still having the old soul feel of your others. It also has a great nickname - Morris and Linus not so much. I guess Line or Morrie - but not quite as cool options as Zeb.

But I do see why it’s can also be a little magician’s/ wizard’s spell - zibbity zabbity! And it will need to be spelt out for people.

So even though it’s slightly harsh in my (Australian) context, I think Linus is the pick of the three - it’s the sweet spot, I think, between Morris - which to me gets a little lost in the other two (as almost a smoosh of their names) and the more sprightly Zebedee. That said, if I had to choose, I personally would pick Zebedee of the three because I don’t like how Linus and Morris both end in S and your last name starts with S (and I prefer Zeb to the possible nicknames for Morris and Linus).

Of the combos you’re thinking, and with your last name, I like:

Linus Alexander (because longer than St0r3r the Er works!)
Linus Maxwell
Linus Augustin
Linus Benedict
Zebedee James
Zebedee Dale

Zebedee Maxwell also flows to your last name.

I wouldn’t go for a two syllable Er ending middle with your last name, it doesn’t flow as well (eg Wilder). Too jumpy.

Other names you might like:

Sebastian “Seb” (or Bash)
Zachary “Zach” - think this goes really well! And is easier to say and spell than Zebedee generally and with your last name.
Redmond “Red”
Bingham
Edwin
Harvey
Tobias
James nn Jem (or Jeremiah nn Jem)
Hugh
Leon
Dean
Felix (or slightly tricky with last name?)
Hugo
Reggie
Hamish
Gideon
Gulliver
Patrick
Conrad
Barnaby
Malcolm
Sullivan
Beaumont
Solomon
Tennyson
Rafferty “Raff”, “Rafe”
Maxwell / Maxfield
Benedict - love this name and the suggestion of Zebedee as a middle (if you don’t want honour twice, otherwise Benedict Ambrose).
Ignatius “Iggy”
Marshall
Roscoe
Ambrose - “Brosy” or “Bo” or “Brody” (Brody esp with Dale or Benedict as a middle (though not sure about flow to last name? It goes so well with your other two!)

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[name_m]Not[/name_m] taking surname into account, I’d like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] and [name_m]Morris[/name_m] best with the sibset. But I don’t think the -s endings sound good with an S- surname. I would particularly avoid Morris with that repeated or sound, and the fact that one of the more instinctive nicknames is Mo and Mo $t0r3r makes the word ‘most’ (even if you don’t give him this nickname, he may end up using it at some point).

For me, the surname would also rule out Grover and Samson.

So…Zebedee is great! No surname clash at all, and whilst he’s perhaps less instinctive with his brothers than some other choices I don’t think he doesn’t match? Especially with nn [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] which is totally wearable and has a similar clunky retro charm.

I also think this is a cute option!

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Definitely does not feel cohesive with [name_m]Warren[/name_m] and [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] the way other old man names do. And I can totally see the magician-y issue. It does sort of bring the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo scene from [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f] to mind for me. :joy::magic_wand::fairy:

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I’m still team [name_m]Grover[/name_m], too. :joy: My husband says he is trying to come around to it but has not yet.

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[name_m]Just[/name_m] last night we were talking about names with a family member and we were all discussing Benedict!! We all worried/overthought that Be edict could be turned into “you-been-a-dick” jokes… not that [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] would actually be more prone to jokes than any of our other options we’re down to, though. :joy:
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] nn [name_m]Buzz[/name_m] is actually brilliant, I’ll run it by my husband.

I also remember at one point I was all about boy names ending in -by and had come across Busby/Buzby and we had considered it for a brief second, but it didn’t seem like a full name for us. [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] > [name_m]Buzz[/name_m] would totally work, though!

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I know, some of our original name “rules” were that a) we don’t like names ending in -s because of our last name and just because people tend to struggle with the possessive form of them, and b) easy to spell and understand without having to make a big explanation about it. I don’t know how we’ve whittled our list down to nothing but names that break those rules. :joy:

A lot of names we like to some degree but one or the other doesn’t “love”- [name_m]Edwin[/name_m], [name_m]Harvey[/name_m], [name_m]Hugh[/name_m], [name_m]Leon[/name_m], [name_m]Dean[/name_m], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], [name_m]Conrad[/name_m], [name_m]Malcom[/name_m], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Sullivan[/name_m], [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]. I personally LOVE [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], LOVE [name_m]Gulliver[/name_m], [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m], [name_m]Tennyson[/name_m], and [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m]!

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I know, some of our original name “rules” were that a) we don’t like names ending in -s because of our last name and just because people tend to struggle with the possessive form of them, and b) easy to spell and understand without having to make a big explanation about it. I don’t know how we’ve whittled our list down to nothing but names that break those rules. :sweat_smile:
I am also really digging the suggestion of [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] > [name_m]Buzz[/name_m], I’m interested to see what my husband thinks of it!

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:joy: it’s a hard process and brains and hearts don’t always agree!!

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I’ve seen the late wildcard come out on top many times. Often because lists can feel stale after a while or because inspiration suddenly strikes. We had two late additions ourselves in the third trimester and those ended up being the names we chose between once our son was born. So you never know.

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is an exciting option for you. I definitely think it’s worth consideration, especially, as you say, it’s been a struggle to find agreeable options you feel good about. I quite enjoy the unexpected style switch from your older sons names to [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m]. It’s traditional but with clunky hipster energy, and the Z always adds some lightness and fun.

[name_m]The[/name_m] brevity of [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] makes [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] feel more approachable, and since it’s the most intuitive nickname I think that helps smooth out some of the pain points you’ve mentioned. @auroradawn has a [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m], perhaps she could weigh in on the practical side of things?

I would actually put [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] slightly ahead of [name_m]Linus[/name_m] and [name_m]Morris[/name_m] because I enjoy the variety and interest it adds. I like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] a lot but it’s a little too repetitive for my liking after [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] (but that’s just me). [name_m]Morris[/name_m] is one that I blow hot and cold on. It also shares sounds with [name_m]Warren[/name_m], but with [name_m]Moss[/name_m] and [name_m]Morrie[/name_m] that lessens the similarity.

Favourite combinations:

[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m]
[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Dale[/name_m]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]

[name_m]Morris[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_m]Morris[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m]

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Do it! :joy:

I am biased since we have a [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] and love his name. We call him Zebby and Zeb-Zeb a lot, which I imagine will probably shorten to [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] as he gets older. We also use the full name a good portion of the time.

Practicality: his name is probably the hardest to introduce of my four kids. Two of the others have very unusual names, but they’re word names, so people usually know what they’re hearing. [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is unusual and not a word name, so I think people struggle a bit to know what they just heard. When he was an infant, someone thought we said [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] :joy: A correction or two, maybe with “Like the father of [name_m]James[/name_m] and John” usually does the trick.

I also like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] and [name_m]Morris[/name_m] with your set, fwiw

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Okay so hands down my favourite name from all the names I’ve seen you repeatedly discuss (I’ve been following your journey) is [name_m]Samson[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Samson[/name_m] is gorgeous such a handsome, joyful, choice that feels warm and upbeat. I love the meaning of [name_m]Samson[/name_m] and how he sounds with your boys. Finally I adore the nickname Sonny/Sammy too. Honestly [name_m]Samson[/name_m] is just fab!
I would use [name_m]Samson[/name_m] in a heartbeat :sun_with_face:

After [name_m]Samson[/name_m] my favourite is [name_m]Linus[/name_m] I like the vintage feel of this name he feels approachable, handsome and I like the floral association through the meaning. I think [name_m]Linus[/name_m] works well with your boys and in particular I love [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] + [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Oliver[/name_m].

Now onto [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] I actually love this name! I think [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is such a fun, zippy, distinguished choice that feels surprisingly awesome within your sibling set. I think [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] has the same vintage eclectic feel of Clyd3 + W@rren and similarly love the meaning along with the nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]. From your combinations I love [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] and [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]Dean[/name_m].

[name_m]The[/name_m] names I’m not overly keen on are [name_m]Morris[/name_m] + [name_m]Grover[/name_m] I can see the appeal in both however I just feel the other names on your list (Samson, [name_m]Linus[/name_m] + [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m]) are just way sparklier!

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I do like [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] – energetic, bold and playful. While it is unusual, I do think it’s reasonably easy to say and interpret from seeing it. And if [name_m]Jedidiah[/name_m], [name_m]Hezekiah[/name_m], and [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] are in use, I don’t think it’s too extreme.

Do I think your other options go better with C and W? Admittedly, yes – and I do think it wouldn’t have the same “ease” of introduction as C, W, [name_m]Linus[/name_m] or [name_m]Morris[/name_m] would. Nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] does provide a grounding elegant :slight_smile:

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] would still be my number one pick for you though :person_shrugging:

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[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is a cool contender! I love the zippy sound & the nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] is great. Definitely much different vibes than your boys: sing-songy, adventurous, & unusual vs. solid, familiar, & vintage… but I actually don’t mind it!

Out of the three, I’d rank:

  1. [name_m]Morris[/name_m] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] (such a handsome clunky cute pick, and so very underrated!)
  2. [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]
  3. [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] (I think he needs a classic/familiar middle to balance out the combo)

So… all in all, I do like [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m], but I adore [name_m]Morris[/name_m] & [name_m]Linus[/name_m] so I ranked them higher. :joy: [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helped nonetheless!

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[name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] is my favourite, although I’m not brave enough to use it so I’d use it as a middle but it could be done as a first! I also like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Augustus[/name_m] from your combinations for [name_m]Linus[/name_m], and think [name_m]Linus[/name_m] goes wonderfully with [name_m]Morris[/name_m], so he’s probably my favourite out of the two :slight_smile:

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I think [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] still works with your older boys, especially with the nickname [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]! [name_m]Linus[/name_m] is my personal favourite, but you can’t go wrong with any of them imo!

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@may.rose @orangeblossom @daisydarcy @Greyblue @tori101 @kachenka

thanks for the feedback! My husband suggested Linus Zebedee and I kind of dig it?!? Maybe? The -s into a Z- into an S- surname might be a lot. But I think it might make me more excited about Linus again because I’ve been struggling to get super jazzed about him lately. Part of me worries that if we used Zebedee as a middle name we’d go on to have a fourth boy in the future and regret not getting to use it as a first name, but that’s a lot of what ifs.

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