[name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I are expecting identical twin boys in about 9 weeks. I felt like we were getting close to having names and got some great advice on a previous post! One member suggested the combination of [name_u]Elias[/name_u] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m]. ([name_m]Eli[/name_m] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u]). I fell in love with the combo and have convinced my husband of [name_m]Graham[/name_m] but not of [name_u]Elias[/name_u].( apparently he is not fond of names that start with e)
[name_f]My[/name_f] husband wants to name one of the boys Ryken (his grandmother’s maiden name). I can’t decide if it is interesting or to far fetched. We would nickname the boys [name_m]Ry[/name_m] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u]. What are your thoughts on using this surname? We have also tossed around [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] and [name_u]Dean[/name_u] with [name_m]Graham[/name_m].
Any other suggestions with [name_m]Graham[/name_m]?
I really like [name_u]Elias[/name_u] with [name_m]Graham[/name_m], it’s a shame your husband doesn’t. I really dislike Ryken; it sounds trendy and made-up (sorry, I mean no offence!). [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] is cute, but I really like [name_m]Calvin[/name_m] and [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] with [name_m]Graham[/name_m] - [name_u]Cal[/name_u] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u] or [name_m]Mac[/name_m] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u], very cute!
I appreciate your honesty! Exactly what I wanted. Hard to say to hubby when it is a family name. I do like [name_u]Cal[/name_u] and [name_m]Mac[/name_m] with [name_m]Graham[/name_m] as well! Thanks for your help!
I agree with @psg007 ryken sounds like [name_m]Ryder[/name_m] and Kraken together not trying to be rude it would be a cute middle name and is a really cool honour name also cal and gray is 2 cute and I really like [name_u]Elias[/name_u] with graham
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Congrats on the twins!
I adore [name_m]Graham[/name_m] ([name_u]Gray[/name_u].) What a lovely name.
I don’t think Ryken is too much of a stretch… it’s much the same as [name_m]Ryker[/name_m]/[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]/[name_m]Ken[/name_m]. Many people may think you created the name, but it’s cool that it’s a part of your family history. What a good story behind a unique name!
That said, I don’t think Ryken and [name_m]Graham[/name_m] sound good together. [name_m]Graham[/name_m] is so soft and classic; Ryken is so sharp and trendy. They just don’t sound like twins.
Could you use Ryken as a middle name for one of the boys? [name_u]Elias[/name_u] Ryken sounds pretty amazing! [name_m]Graham[/name_m] Ryken works, too.
If you choose to stick with Ryken as a first name, I’d consider [name_m]Grayson[/name_m] as his twin, in place of [name_m]Graham[/name_m]. It just flows better with Ryken, having more of the same feel. Yet you still get your “[name_u]Gray[/name_u]” nickname!
Ryken & [name_m]Grayson[/name_m]
Other “[name_u]Gray[/name_u]” combos with Ryken:
Ryken & [name_u]Grady[/name_u]
Ryken & [name_m]Granger[/name_m]/ [name_m]Grainger[/name_m]
Ryken & [name_m]Graves[/name_m]
Ryken & [name_m]Ingram[/name_m]/[name_m]Ingraham[/name_m] ([name_u]Gray[/name_u]/ [name_m]Gram[/name_m]/ [name_m]Graham[/name_m])
Ryken & [name_m]Granville[/name_m] ([name_u]Gray[/name_u])
I think [name_u]Elias[/name_u] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m] is so cute! [name_f]My[/name_f] brothers name is [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m], so maybe [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m]? I also like [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_u]Owen[/name_u] or [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] nn [name_m]Will[/name_m].
If you are prepared to embrace the explanation that Ryken is not made up, but a family name, I say go for it. If you aren’t, I mean, dealing with that over and over for the entirety of his life is not for the faint of heart…
I like [name_u]Dean[/name_u], but not sure about it with [name_m]Graham[/name_m] - they are both 1 syllable.
Or even [name_m]Harrison[/name_m] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m]? or [name_m]Jackson[/name_m] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m]? [name_m]Timothy[/name_m] and [name_u]Dean[/name_u]? [name_m]Marcus[/name_m] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m]?
Thanks for all the great ideas and advice. Hubby would go for Ryken as a middle which may help the situation and I wouldn’t worry about my son having to explain his name his whole life!
I live some of the name combos such as [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] but I can’t use [name_m]Henry[/name_m] as it was just used by a close family member. I have also tried for [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and nolan and [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] but no go. I also like [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] and [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]! Thanks everyone!
I think it’s lovely to pass down family surnames as first names, especially when there’s a good nn option. like [name_m]Ry[/name_m]. And it doesn’t matter how others perceive it, if the name is legitimate. However, if you sincerely detest the name…talk to him about putting it in the middle spot and pick something you both like.
[name_u]Elias[/name_u] and [name_m]Graham[/name_m] are so great together but since hubby doesn’t like [name_u]Elias[/name_u], then what about [name_m]Jonas[/name_m] or [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]? the only nn for those would be [name_m]Joe[/name_m] though and [name_m]Joe[/name_m] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u] sound odd together. What about [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_m]Isaac[/name_m]. [name_u]Gray[/name_u] and [name_m]Zac[/name_m], [name_u]Gray[/name_u] and [name_m]Ike[/name_m], [name_u]Gray[/name_u] and [name_m]Zeke[/name_m]. Or [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] nn [name_m]Eli[/name_m]. I would try to convince hubby to use Ryken as a middle name for one twin and choose another family name for the other twin’s middle.
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] & [name_m]Bryson[/name_m]/Bryce
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] & [name_u]Brady[/name_u]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] & [name_m]Brodie[/name_m] OR
Graham & Duncan
Graham & Dudley OR
Graham & Rowan
Graham & Ronan
Graham & Russell
Graham & Randall OR
Graham & Winston
Graham & Willis
Graham & Weston (nn Wes)
Graham & Wesley (same)
And it might be tacky, but I think Gregor & Graham sound amazingly sharp too
Ryken reminds me of the name [name_m]Ryker[/name_m] (#164 in the US in 2013)… so similar that Ryken really doesn’t sound made-up to me. I just checked, & the name Ryken is recognized on multiple other baby naming sites. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it. But this poster said exactly what I was thinking…
