And so it begins - help?

Boy Names
1

Hello!I have been waiting to make this post for a long time – actually, not that long. Only about seven or eight months, but when you’re trying to conceive, the wait seems to last forever. It happened much more quickly than we expected, and we are feeling fortunate and blessed!

My issue with boy names is that I love so many of them. Like, my boys list goes on for PAGES, compared to my girls list, which has about 10 names on it.

Help me weed? Hep me make decisions?

Here is where we are at now.

[name_f]Love[/name_f], but are afraid too Biblical and Rednecky:

[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] (trippy prophecies, beautiful imagery and mythology, favourite book of the Hebrew Scriptures, but destined to be [name_m]Zeke[/name_m]? and carry a rifle and knock on people’s doors witnessing??)
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] (I think this name is funky and cool, but sounds super country??? A poor man’s [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]?)
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] (I actually prefer [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] sound-wise, but wayyyyyyyyyy too popular for us. But [name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] is okay?)
[name_m]Joachim[/name_m] (too minor a figure? pronunciation issues? we pronounce: [name_f]YO[/name_f]-a-keem)
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] (long and unwieldy? destined to be called [name_u]Nick[/name_u] or [name_u]Nico[/name_u]?)
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m] (too soft?)
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m] (hipstery?)

[name_f]Love[/name_f], but are afraid conflict with siblings:

[name_m]Booker[/name_m] (we have another son with an occupation name that starts with a B. [name_u]Jules[/name_u] ([name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]) left out?)
[name_m]Baxter[/name_m] (see above concerns…but I love this name. [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] IT. There’s an X in it. AN X.)
[name_m]Homer[/name_m] (too matchy with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] ([name_m]Odysseus[/name_m]?))
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] (too close to [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]? also, too common compared to our other names?)
[name_m]Aldous[/name_m] (the s ending too close to [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]?)
[name_m]Otis[/name_m] (see above - also, too hipster?)

Could work, like, but don’t necessarily love. Help me love them.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_m]Hector[/name_m]
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u]
[name_m]Augusten[/name_m]
[name_m]Cecil[/name_m]
[name_m]Bartholome[/name_m] (matching first letter, pronunciation issues? destined to be [name_m]Bart[/name_m]?)
[name_m]Ramsay[/name_m]

Or suggestions? I like both names to have religious and/or mythological resonance. At least one of them a saint’s name. I like rare but not unheard of. Funky but wearable?

Current kids’ names are in sig.

Thank you and warm wishes

2

[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] - I like it, and I think [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] is less hillbilly than some others
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] - This one clearly shouts ‘i married my cousin’ to me
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] - All I can hear is Lemming, which isn’t a nice association.
[name_m]Joachim[/name_m] - Tricky pronunciation, a little too unheard of compared to your others.
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m] - I like this with your others. [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] and [name_m]Bishop[/name_m] are solid yet a little soft, just like [name_m]Simeon[/name_m].
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m] - [name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_m]Gideon[/name_m]. Maybe hipster-y. Not terribly so, though.
[name_m]Booker[/name_m] - I agree, leave out B occupation names.
[name_m]Baxter[/name_m] - see above.
[name_m]Homer[/name_m] - hm, it is Odyssey a little bit with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]. Also I can’t get away from the D’OH
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] - I adore [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], but it does seem to ordinary for your set.
[name_m]Aldous[/name_m] - I’d avoid s endings, if possible.
[name_m]Otis[/name_m] - same as above.
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] - this is nice. Nice three-syllable solid name with some softer sounds. This might be my favorite actually for you.
[name_m]Hector[/name_m] - I have bad associations, not necessarily relevant for everyone :slight_smile:
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] - This could be nice for you.
[name_m]Augusten[/name_m] - Not really a fan.
[name_m]Cecil[/name_m] - This one DOES seem to soft.
[name_m]Bartholome[/name_m] - Definitely a [name_m]Bart[/name_m] issue, if you aren’t a fan of that.
[name_m]Ramsay[/name_m] - My husband loves this one. Maybe a bit too… energetically strong?

My favorites: [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] and [name_m]Solomon[/name_m].

3

I’m not exactly sure what people are picturing when they ask if a name is “redneck.” None of the names you listed are redneck. They’re far too classy. [name_m]Jethro[/name_m] and [name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] definitely have a country twang to them, but they aren’t redneck.

I absolutely love these with your kids’ names:

[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_m]Hector[/name_m]
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u]
[name_m]Augusten[/name_m]

I’m having a hard time identifying what it is about those five names and your kids’ names that I like. There’s a very specific feel to them, but I can’t describe it. I’ll come back and tell you when it hits me.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] or [name_m]Balthazar[/name_m]?

4

[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], and [name_m]Jethro[/name_m] are my favorites from your list. I think they’re awesome. You have very cool taste!

Other suggestions:
Zibeon
[name_m]Zebulon[/name_m]
[name_m]Silvanus[/name_m]
[name_m]Rufus[/name_m]
Oshea
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m] - I love [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] but if you aren’t loving [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] maybe something with a nickname you prefer
[name_m]Justus[/name_m]
Bartimeus
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]
[name_m]Orson[/name_m]

5

[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] pairs perfectly with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] and [name_m]Bishop[/name_m]. [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] is so Welsh, green, watery and wonderful that it mitigates the danger of a “redneck” theme. [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] is bad I agree… could you do [name_m]Zed[/name_m], as in the letter, or just insist on the full name?
[name_m]Booker[/name_m] is warm and beautiful. It’s great with [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] and [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], AND there’s a connection to [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] too because of the abolitionist namesakes. I think the occupation theme between B & B is subtle and fun.
[name_m]Aldous[/name_m] - gorgeous, unusual name, fascinating namesake. I love this. But is it epic enough next to your other three fiercely-named kids?

[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] definitely plays a banjo… not in a bad way :slight_smile: I like it a lot.
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m] is a hipster name, but not overtly so. It’s both hobnail Biblical and kind of reminiscent of seedy hotels. I feel like [name_m]Johnny[/name_m] Depp might name a son [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], on a good day.

[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] - I don’t like how relaxed my tongue gets when I say this. And it makes me think “le mule” …the donkey part of the name comes to the fore. [name_m]Zamiel[/name_m] maybe?
[name_m]Joachim[/name_m] is intriguing. At first I thought it was an alternate spelling of [name_m]Joaquin[/name_m]. Handsome, but it doesn’t knock my socks off.
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] is really scrumptious and Christmasy, but sooo Dickensian… I do think he’d be nicknamed [name_u]Nick[/name_u].
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m] makes me think of monkeys.
[name_m]Homer[/name_m] - no way with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m].
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] - too normal.
[name_m]Baxter[/name_m] - What do you envision when you think of [name_m]Baxter[/name_m]? I get nothing, but I do like the X.
[name_m]Otis[/name_m] - cool, but hipstery in my neck of the woods. It’s a little… humble in your sibset.

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Hector[/name_m], and [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] are my favorites of the others. All powerful names. [name_m]Ramsay[/name_m] is lovely, but more of a middle, [name_m]Cecil[/name_m] is darling, but I fear he’d get beaten up by his three badassedly-named siblings.

Random list:

[name_m]Lazarus[/name_m]
[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Caradoc[/name_m]
[name_m]Conrad[/name_m]
[name_m]Elwood[/name_m]
[name_m]Ishmael[/name_m]
[name_u]Sterling[/name_u]
Makepeace (mn material)
[name_m]Theophilus[/name_m]
[name_m]Moses[/name_m]
[name_m]Beauregard[/name_m]
[name_u]Quincy[/name_u]

Also, forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS!! Nice to see you again Cosmo. Mona? Autumn? Cosmonaut.

6

[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] - I like it. I do think the nickname [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] is cool. For some reason, it doesn’t seem to “fit” with your other children’s names. At least not to me.
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] - [name_m]Tull[/name_m].
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m] - I agree that it makes me think of lemming. And it’s just a poor man’s [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], to be honest. I love [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], though.
[name_m]Joachim[/name_m] - Pronunciation confusion. A little too “out there” for your other children’s names.
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] - I find this name so awkward and it makes me think of dermis. Yes, it would be destined to be [name_u]Nick[/name_u] or [name_u]Nico[/name_u] ([name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_u]Nico[/name_u], though).
[name_m]Simeon[/name_m] - I actually really like this one. I don’t think it’s too soft. I think it works well with your other children’s names.
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m] - Perhaps a little hipstery, but I love it.

[name_m]Booker[/name_m], [name_m]Baxter[/name_m] and [name_m]Homer[/name_m] should go. The B occupation names are just too much with [name_m]Bishop[/name_m]. [name_m]Homer[/name_m] and [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] should be a no-go. Oh, and [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] should go as well - too close to [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]. I also don’t like [name_m]Aldous[/name_m] or [name_m]Otis[/name_m] with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m].

[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] - a little too biblical for me, but to each their own.
[name_m]Hector[/name_m] - Feels left field with [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f].
[name_u]Lionel[/name_u] - [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] this name and it sounds so awesome with your other children’s names!
[name_m]Augusten[/name_m] - I’m not a big fan of the “en” on the end - makes it feel soft to me, but [name_u]August[/name_u] is perfect.
[name_m]Cecil[/name_m] - Definitely too soft.
[name_m]Bartholomew[/name_m] - I like it, but he will be [name_m]Bart[/name_m].
[name_m]Ramsay[/name_m] - It’s kind of cool, but a little underwhelming at the same time.

My top choices:

  1. [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] and [name_u]Lionel[/name_u]
  2. [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] and [name_m]Simeon[/name_m]
  3. [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] and [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]

Other suggestions:
[name_u]Dexter[/name_u]
[name_m]Barnaby[/name_m]
[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]
[name_m]Rufus[/name_m]
[name_m]Milo[/name_m]
[name_m]Basil[/name_m]
[name_m]Felix[/name_m]
[name_m]Atlas[/name_m]
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m]
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]
[name_u]Lyle[/name_u]
[name_m]Leon[/name_m]
[name_m]Casper[/name_m]
[name_m]Louis[/name_m] (LOO-ee)
[name_m]Bernard[/name_m]
[name_m]Levi[/name_m]
[name_m]Abraham[/name_m]
[name_m]Bertram[/name_m]
[name_m]Forrest[/name_m]
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]
[name_m]Rafferty[/name_m]/[name_u]Rafe[/name_u]
[name_m]Harvey[/name_m]
[name_m]Tobin[/name_m]
[name_m]Crispin[/name_m]
[name_m]Ivan[/name_m]
[name_m]Hugh[/name_m]
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m]
[name_m]Wesley[/name_m]
[name_m]Conrad[/name_m]
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]
[name_u]Alfie[/name_u]

7

I seriously [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_m]Hector[/name_m], [name_m]Jethro[/name_m], and [name_m]Ramsay[/name_m].

I like [name_m]Baxter[/name_m], [name_m]Aldous[/name_m], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Augusten[/name_m], and [name_m]Simeon[/name_m].

The others I either don’t care for by themselves or with your sibset.

[name_m]Hector[/name_m] is the clear winner for me. [name_m]Hector[/name_m] [name_m]Augusten[/name_m] is perfect!

8

You like [name_m]Aldous[/name_m], what about [name_m]Huxley[/name_m]? It’s got the “x” in it like [name_m]Baxter[/name_m] does.

9

[name_f]Love[/name_f] your kiddos names (if my #2 is a boy, I’ll get my [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m]!)

I love [name_u]Lionel[/name_u] best from your list, with your others.

Please please consider [name_m]Linus[/name_m], too! It’s got mythological and religious history, and is just amazing!

I absolutely love [name_m]Booker[/name_m] but agree it is too similar to [name_m]Bishop[/name_m].

What do you think about [name_m]Sayer[/name_m]?

10

Congratulations!

Fun names.

Best fits with [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] and [name_m]Bishop[/name_m]:

[name_m]Augustin[/name_m], [name_m]Bartholomew[/name_m], [name_m]Cecil[/name_m], [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m], [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], [name_m]Hector[/name_m], [name_u]Lionel[/name_u], [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], [name_m]Ramsay[/name_m], [name_m]Solomon[/name_m]