We have a beautiful baby boy named Ender [name_u]Grey[/name_u], and are looking for a name to give his future baby brother! We are TTC so there is no baby to name yet, but seeing how obsessed with names I am, we’re already brainstorming. Our first daughter will be named [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f], and our son (born 6-30-2016) is named Ender [name_u]Grey[/name_u].
Our name “rules” are:
We would love to stick with a literary theme (all of the names we have used/picked already are literary)
We love science fiction, mythology, and fantasy, but we are not limiting our name search to those genres.
We only want unique or unusual names, but nothing too crazy. We are trying to pick names that aren’t on the top 500.
Our last name starts with an S, so we are trying to find a name without too many S’s in it.
No C, K, E, or L names. We want all of our family member’s first initials to be different. So C (my name is [name_f]Claire[/name_f]), K (my husband is [name_u]Kyle[/name_u]), E (our son Ender), and L (for future daughter [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]) names are out. But I would still love to hear them because they could be great inspiration or direct us towards another name.
A list of names we love but cannot use are here:
[name_u]Orion[/name_u] (my brother-in-law is [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], and we fear it would be too confusing since we see them very often)
[name_u]Langley[/name_u] (We already have an L name picked out)
[name_m]Dex[/name_m] (too popular for our taste, but we are willing to use it as a nickname!)
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] (my husband’s favorite, but it rhymes with Ender and is fairly popular, so I said no)
Elyan (Already have an E name)
I will update our current favorites here:
[name_m]Doyle[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] (call him DX or [name_m]Dex[/name_m])
Our son Ender [name_u]Grey[/name_u] was named after Ender Wiggins from Ender’s Game, and Gandalf the [name_u]Grey[/name_u] from [name_m]Lord[/name_m] of the Rings. Both strong male characters and good role models. Our girl’s name, [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f], comes from characters from The [name_u]Golden[/name_u] Compass series, and [name_f]Star[/name_f] Dust. Both strong female protagonists who are good role models, and are also related to stars. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is the name of a small constellation, and [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f]'s character is a star who has fallen to [name_f]Earth[/name_f].
My current favorite name is [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m]. [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] is family surname, and I would love to honor my grandpa by naming a son [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] (he had 4 girls and was bummed that the family name was going to “die out”). It would also be literary for Sir [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Conan[/name_m] [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] ([name_m]Author[/name_m] of [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m]). [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] would be for Professor [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] from the X-Men comic books (super nerdy, but I loooooove that comic, and the movies). My husband isnt a big fan of either, but we would/could call him DX or [name_m]Dex[/name_m] and he loves both of those.
We also like Fawkes, named after the [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] in [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], but are worried that the S at the end would slur into our last name, which also starts with an S.
Aero was a favorite of ours when trying to name our first. My husband was in the [name_f]Air[/name_f] Force for years and was an Aero/Astro engineer. Our family thought it was far too “out there” but we [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] it, and it was in our top 3 picks.
[name_u]Murphy[/name_u] was our second choice, after a character in one of my husbands favorite series. Now I’m not as fond of it as I was at the time.
My husband’s favorite name last time was [name_m]Ryker[/name_m], but now its out because it rhymes with Ender. Plus it was a little too popular for our taste. We both love [name_u]Orion[/name_u], but it sounds like my [name_m]BIL[/name_m]'s name, [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. We also loved Elyan, a [name_m]Knight[/name_m] of the Round Table, but since it starts with an E we can’t use it.
Ender [name_u]Grey[/name_u] is a gorgeous name. Awesome choice!
From your list, I like [name_u]Orion[/name_u] the most. I don’t think the fact it’s similar to [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] is all that big of a deal, but it does seem a tad matchy with [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] because of the astrological connection they share.
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]
[name_m]Finnick[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_u]Theo[/name_u]
Trevelyan
[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]
[name_u]Mercer[/name_u]
[name_m]Atlas[/name_m]
[name_m]Arrow[/name_m]
[name_m]Dominic[/name_m]
[name_m]Ares[/name_m]
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u]
Farron
[name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]
ETA Fox might be a good alternative for Fawkes
Also, I wouldn’t let my [name_m]BIL[/name_m]'s name stop me from using something similar. I love [name_u]Orion[/name_u] but never really liked [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] so to me they feel very different despite the similar sound. For example [name_f]Olive[/name_f] and [name_m]Oliver[/name_m].
[name_m]Doyle[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] is very cool and could give you the nickname [name_m]Dex[/name_m] that you mentioned before.
Fawkes is a total guilty pleasure of mine and you could put it in the middle if it doesn’t flow so well with your last name. [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] Fawkes, [name_u]Orion[/name_u] [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] Fawkes or [name_u]Orion[/name_u] Fawkes all work well.
Thanks so much!! I really love some of the names you suggested. [name_m]Thorin[/name_m] is one of my favorites!! And we both really liked [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] when thinking of names for our first. [name_m]Quill[/name_m] is adorable!! I hadn’t heard/thought of that. I’ll have to look into that one
[name_m]Orson[/name_m] is adorable and I would [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] to name a little boy [name_u]Poe[/name_u]. [name_m]Talon[/name_m] is one of my husband’s favorites and I love the idea of [name_u]Falcon[/name_u]!
Yeah, as much as I love [name_u]Orion[/name_u], I think it is too closely connected with [name_f]Lyra[/name_f].
But I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], [name_m]Finnick[/name_m] (I hadn’t thought of that one!), [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] (which we can’t use - our best friends are using it), [name_m]Arrow[/name_m], and [name_m]Fox[/name_m]!!
I love [name_m]Merlin[/name_m]! My husband won’t get on board with it, though. [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and [name_m]Ron[/name_m] are too popular for us, but I like [name_m]Boyd[/name_m] a lot. Thank you so much!!
[name_u]Love[/name_u] your taste in names! And fabulous suggestions above. Of your shortlist, I like [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] and Aero best with Ender and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] nn. [name_m]Dex[/name_m] has so much class and pizzazz!
Other out-of-the-ordinary, sci-fi/fantasy, mythological and/or literary ideas:
[name_m]Aldous[/name_m]/[name_m]Aldo[/name_m]
[name_u]Arlen[/name_u]
[name_m]Bram[/name_m]
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] (I’m reading the Maltese [name_u]Falcon[/name_u] right now, ha)
[name_m]Harlan[/name_m]
[name_u]Onyx[/name_u]
[name_m]Ransom[/name_m]
[name_m]Remus[/name_m]
[name_u]Rigel[/name_u]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]
[name_m]Theon[/name_m]
[name_m]Walden[/name_m]
Thanks! [name_m]Doyle[/name_m] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] ([name_m]Dex[/name_m]) is still my favorite. I just have to talk my husband into it. He’s not so sure about the name [name_m]Doyle[/name_m].
I really like the name [name_m]Aldo[/name_m]! I think I’m going to add that to my list and see what the hubby thinks I also like [name_u]Onyx[/name_u] (which he will reject), [name_m]Theon[/name_m] (cute!!! And sounds classic, too), and [name_m]Walden[/name_m].
Thank you so much for all the great ideas. I really love them!!
[name_m]Just[/name_m] my opinion, but - the pairing of Ender and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] shout literary sci-fi/fantasy really strongly. I haven’t read Ender’s Game OR The [name_u]Golden[/name_u] Compass and I still know those associations immediately. I do really like both names, on their own merits.
Adding a third name is going to be tricky, though. I only suggest adding another sci-fi/fantasy name if you have no problem being seen as huge fans of the genre. Like, HUGE fans. My recommendation is that if you’re going to name all of your kids after literary characters, you should definitely pick characters who mean a lot to you and your husband, personally. I would start there for inspiration!
I’m a Tolkien buff myself, so I immediately got excited. I’ll list some suggestions, trying very hard not to break any of your rules, but apologise in advance if I do. I think I’ll have to curb my enthusiasm though because names like Thorongil, Celeborn and Eldarion can be a bit too unusual (as well as a mouthful!) and names like [name_m]Frodo[/name_m] and [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] are probably too well-known. Both [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] and Ender are wonderful and somewhat subtle nods to fantasy and sci-fi, so I guess you wouldn’t want something too out there either. SO many thoughts!
[name_u]Percy[/name_u]
[name_u]Murphy[/name_u]
[name_m]Aragon[/name_m]/Aragorn
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]/[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]/[name_u]Rohan[/name_u]
[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]
Benjen
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
Renly
[name_m]Luke[/name_m]
[name_m]Merlin[/name_m]
[name_m]Clarke[/name_m]
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m]
[name_m]Anakin[/name_m]
Faramir (long shot, bit too different I guess?)
[name_m]Newt[/name_m]/[name_m]Newton[/name_m]
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m]
[name_m]Remus[/name_m]
[name_m]Orson[/name_m]
Orwell
[name_m]Theon[/name_m]
Caspian
Edmund
I really like Ender and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]! I actually love fantasy/sci-fi, but did not make the connection as I have not read either of those books. haha Tried to read The [name_u]Golden[/name_u] Compass, but not my thing. Anyway, suggestions–
[name_u]Puck[/name_u]
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u]
[name_m]Gawain[/name_m]
[name_m]Aramis[/name_m]
[name_u]Dorian[/name_u]
[name_m]Holden[/name_m]
[name_m]Milo[/name_m]
[name_m]Quillen[/name_m]
[name_m]Quinlen[/name_m]
[name_m]Beckett[/name_m]
[name_m]Huxley[/name_m]
Dartagnan (this one is a bit out there, but I love the sound. Guilty pleasure haha)
[name_u]Mercer[/name_u]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]
Taran
Bahhhh I love those names! [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] was ALMOST what we named our son! It was between that and Ender, and my husband made the final call. And I’ve always loved [name_u]Percy[/name_u] (my husband is not a fan).
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]/[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] might be right up his ally! I don’t think I’ve pitched that one to him, so I’ll add it to our list.
I have [name_m]Newt[/name_m] on our list, too!! Its the name of our neighbor’s little boy (about 2, I think), and he is the CUTEST. They spell it differently, but I love the idea of the name [name_m]Newt[/name_m]/[name_m]Newton[/name_m]. Absolutely love it.
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] and [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] ([name_m]Cas[/name_m]) were both ones we liked, but since my name is [name_f]Claire[/name_f] we cut them. And [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] has been on my baby name list since I was a little girl!! ([name_f]Narnia[/name_f] was my favorite) But now we have an E already, and my husband thinks its too popular.
I’m also adding [name_m]Orson[/name_m], Orwell, and [name_m]Theon[/name_m] to our list. ([name_m]Thorin[/name_m] is one of my top favorites, another LotR classic name)
Thank you so much! If you think of any others, let me know.
The website just deleted my almost completed post, so I’ll try to remember as much as I can. lol
I am straight up in [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] with the name Taran. My husband worked with a woman who had a similar name, so he sees it as too feminine, but I love it. Prydain has always been one of my favorites, and I have the name [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] on our list of possible middle names, as a nod to the author.
I love [name_u]Puck[/name_u], too. I’ve always wanted a little boy named puck I think its cute, classic, strong, masculine, unique, and versatile. Can’t sell my husband on it, though.
[name_m]Gawain[/name_m]… that’s one of the Knights of the Round Table, correct? We really liked the name Elyan, also a member of the Round Table, but ended up cutting it for some reason. [name_m]Gawain[/name_m] however… that might be a real winner! I like it!
And [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is on my list for a girl. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is one of my favorite girl’s names [name_u]EVER[/name_u] and I would love to call her [name_f]Rora[/name_f] or [name_u]Rory[/name_u].
I think its cute, classic, strong, masculine, unique, and versatile. Can’t sell my husband on it, though.