Apparently I have a thing for -sby names…

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Thank you to everyone who pointed out the blatant “harm on” in Harmon on my last post. I don’t know how I didn’t see that before, but that would have been horrible to bestow upon a child. I still love Eamon, my husband thinks it’s too hard to spell (??), yet is fine spelling Macaulay? Going to keep it on the list for now.

Last night I came across a bunch of very similar names (though I think most are invented or nickname-y) and am wondering if they all sound too cutesy or if any could work as a formal name? I apparently have a thing for names containing -sby sounds.

My husband actually likes Elden and is not opposed to Elwyn/Elwin, so those are on the table. Not sure either of us love them, though.

Elsby

Welsby - I inexplicably like Elsby and Welsby, but they probably aren’t practical as formal names?

Winsby - probably sounds too much like Whimsy to use

Dansby - same as Elsby and Welsby. Like it but probably not a legit name?

Digby - same as Dansby

Duff - I think my childhood friend’s grandpa went by Duff?

Cauley - means “cherished which is sweet and my husband likes Macaulay, so maybe similar?)

Varen

Elzie - my husband surprisingly was not opposed to this for a boy, I think it was in his family tree as a. Ick Mae for Eleazar. But with how popular Elsie has become for girls, it just feels almost identical.

Elbie

Ebbie -I think these last two were recommended for girls, but could they be used for a boy? I’ve only ever seen Ebbie as a nickname for girls.

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I also like [name_m]Elden[/name_m], [name_m]Elwin[/name_m], and Elywn!

[name_f][/name_f]

Of the -by names the most usable I think is [name_m]Digby[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- it’s really cute imo! It’s just inside the top 1000 in [name_f]England[/name_f] so possibly more familiar/usable here (not sure where you are based). Less keen on the -sby sound because it’s a little lispy for me, especially when there’s an L involved like Elsby.

[name_f][/name_f]

You might like [name_m]Ashby[/name_m], [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m], [name_m]Colby[/name_m], [name_m]Ellerby[/name_m], [name_m]Jacoby[/name_m], or [name_m]Toby[/name_m]?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Elzie[/name_m], Elbie and [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] are cute but do pull feminine, if that bothers you. Varen is interesting, I think I like it? Cauley is okay, spelled Caulay it could just be a nickname if you use [name_m]Macaulay[/name_m]?

[name_f][/name_f]

Would very much avoid [name_m]Duff[/name_m] personally [name_f][/name_f]- in the UK it means broken/rubbish (i.e. a duff battery is one that doesn’t work), a ‘duffer’ is an idiot, being ‘up the duff’ is pregnant, plus it’s the beer from the Simpsons. There’s also that movie in which it stands for ‘designated ugly fat friend’ which, idk if anyone uses that irl but it’s not encouraging.

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I like [name_m]Elwyn[/name_m] / [name_m]Elwin[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- gentle / old fashioned vibes but with the contemporary appeal of [name_m]Elian[/name_m], [name_m]Elias[/name_m], [name_m]Elliot[/name_m] etc.

[name_f][/name_f]

I think [name_m]Digby[/name_m] is usable [name_f][/name_f]- it ranks in the england and wales top 1000 and has a similar feel to [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m], [name_m]Wilbur[/name_m], [name_m]Albie[/name_m], and [name_m]Rupert[/name_m], while also sounding a bit like [name_m]Riggs[/name_m] and [name_m]Briggs[/name_m]? It has a slightly nerdy vibe but it is kind of cool too!

[name_f][/name_f]

Cauley is cool [name_f][/name_f]- I do prefer [name_m]Macauley[/name_m] but the meaning is super charming.

[name_f][/name_f]

Varen is sharp and intriguing [name_f][/name_f]- I don’t mind it. I feel [name_m]Verne[/name_m] has a similar feel?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- zippy and cute [name_f][/name_f]- I’ve heard it for [name_m]Eben[/name_m] but I guess it could work for [name_m]Esben[/name_m] too

[name_f][/name_f]

Not sure on [name_m]Duff[/name_m] (‘up the duff’ is still occasionally used here?)

[ashthedreamer]

-by names are so fun! [name_f][/name_f] I’m intrigued by [name_m]Dansby[/name_m] a LOT but wonder if it’s too tied to [name_m]Dansby[/name_m] [name_m]Swanson[/name_m]. [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Digby[/name_m] reminds me of [name_m]Digory[/name_m] from the [name_f]Narnia[/name_f] books and also Digger Digwillow (if you’re familiar with Adventures in Odyssey), but I sort of like him? [name_f][/name_f] I’m so fond of [name_m]Crosby[/name_m], [name_m]Catesby[/name_m] (though I generally prefer this for a girl for the nn options of [name_f]Cate[/name_f] and Bea), [name_m]Ashby[/name_m], and [name_m]Darby[/name_m] (which may be my favorite, I love[name_f][/name_f] Darby!).

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Duff[/name_m] is interesting but is probably better as a nn—also don’t love what it was an abbreviation for in the novel/film (designated ugly fat friend I believe).

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Elden[/name_m] and [name_m]Elwin[/name_m] are both lovely—also like [name_m]Alder[/name_m], [name_m]Alden[/name_m], [name_m]Adler[/name_m], and [name_m]Adlai[/name_m] which feel similar.

[name_f][/name_f]

Cauley has a sweet meaning, though I prefer [name_m]Macaulay[/name_m], and even then I would prefer [name_f]Mackenzie[/name_f] or McAllister or even [name_m]Maccabee[/name_m] to Macaulay—don’t love that I just think of the actor, but it’s a fine name otherwise. [name_f][/name_f] Cauley reminds me of caulk for some reason

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Eleazar[/name_m] nn [name_m]Elzie[/name_m] is interesting—it does feel a little unusable with Elsie’s popularity, but I do like [name_m]Eliezer[/name_m] nn [name_m]Elie[/name_m], and I’m not sure [name_m]Elzie[/name_m] is any worse than [name_m]Elie[/name_m]!

[name_f][/name_f]

I think [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] could work for a boy! [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Like[/name_m] [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] (or Ibby), [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] or [name_m]Eben[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Webster[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] or [name_m]Zebulun[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m]? [name_f][/name_f] I’m minorly obsessed with Sebby for [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] so if he works surely just [name_m]Ebby[/name_m] does!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Varen[/name_m] I’m not sure about, but I know a family with a [name_m]Valen[/name_m] which I find super cool.

[name_f][/name_f]

Good luck!

[EloiseT]

I like Elwyn/Elwin! [name_m]Not[/name_m] as keen on [name_m]Elden[/name_m] but it works (it’s maybe a little too square somehow for me).

[name_f][/name_f]

Re -by/-sby ending names, I like [name_m]Ashby[/name_m], Whitby, Igby, Rainsby, [name_m]Colby[/name_m], [name_m]Toby[/name_m], [name_m]Darby[/name_m]. I like Welsby of those you’re considering. [name_m]Digby[/name_m] is a real name but it feels a little too stylised and intense.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Duff[/name_m] is a definite [name_m]No[/name_m] in the Australian context for all reasons outlined above [name_f][/name_f]- you can call someone a big “duff” to mean stupid/ foolish, and it gets used for other meanings as above.

[name_f][/name_f]

As others have said, would go [name_m]Macauley[/name_m] nn Cauley. Cauley on its own is quite sweet but also call-ee. [name_m]Not[/name_m] sure…

[name_f][/name_f]

I wouldn’t choose [name_m]Varen[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- it’s very harsh to me. Meanwhile the other names seem quite cutesy and might be better as nicknames.

[name_f][/name_f]

And I’d find longer names for the -ie names. [name_m]Elby[/name_m] might get a lot of “Alby?” queries. [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] could be cool but for a longer, masc name.