Brother to Henry 🦕

Name Advice
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I have a friend due with baby boy #2[name_f][/name_f] in a couple months :blue_heart::light_blue_heart:[name_f][/name_f] She really wants his name finalized before he is born, so before hormones and fatigue are high :zany_face:[name_f][/name_f] She wants thoughts and opinions from you on her last three contenders!

[name_f][/name_f]

Last name is [name_m]Brooks[/name_m]. Big brother is [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! Popularity is not a priority.

[name_f][/name_f]

Her contenders:

[name_f][/name_f]
    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. [name_m]Milo[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- This name hasn’t always been at the top 3 of her list, but she has especially come to love it during this pregnancy. Her husband is obsessed with the name, and he also likes the [name_m]Milo[/name_m] character in [name_m]Atlantis[/name_m] (which she is totally fine with). However, she is nervous that the name [name_m]Milo[/name_m] may be too cutesy, but she does feel like it sounds more professional with their last name. She also has wondered if it goes with her other son Henry’s name since [name_m]Milo[/name_m] feels more modern.
    2. [name_f][/name_f]
  2. [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- This one has been a top name on her and her husband’s list for years. She loves that it’s such a classic choice. Her biggest concern is that people will call him [name_m]Nick[/name_m] or [name_m]Nicky[/name_m], which she doesn’t really like either of those, especially [name_m]Nicky[/name_m] (anyone else think of [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] Blake’s pet name for the dad in Parent Trap? :laughing:)[name_f][/name_f]. Would one of these nicknames be inevitable? She loves the nickname [name_m]Nico[/name_m], but her husband isn’t a fan.
    3. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. [name_m]Colin[/name_m]/[name_m]Collin[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- She has said that she really loves the sounds and vibe of this name. She said it sounds solid, classic, and professional, but also adorable. Her main concern with this name is how the [name_m]Colin[/name_m] and [name_m]Collin[/name_m] spellings are both similarly as common as each other. This means his name would frequently be misspelled no matter which spelling she chooses, which could be a pain for him to deal with. [name_f]My[/name_f] friend herself has a name that is spelled non-traditionally, so she has faced a similar situation. She likes the look of the [name_m]Collin[/name_m] spelling better, but feels like it’s more the last name version, and that the [name_m]Colin[/name_m] spelling is more the first name version.
    4. [name_f][/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]

She also really loves [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] and [name_m]William[/name_m][name_f][/name_f], and both have been top contenders throughout her pregnancy! She doesn’t really have concerns about these names.

[name_f][/name_f]

Which do you like best for her? Any thoughts to address any of her concerns?

[name_f][/name_f]

Thanks for your help! :heart:

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[name_m]Milo[/name_m] → This is my number 1 choice for them. I do understand the concern about cutesy-ness, but I think this is somewhat of a non-issue. There are plenty of adult [name_m]Milos[/name_m] (Milo Ventimiglia comes to mind) who wear it well. I actually think it fits very well with [name_m]Henry[/name_m].

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] → [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is a personal favorite, but I do think [name_m]Nick[/name_m] in particular is almost inevitable at some point.

[name_f][/name_f]

Colin/Collin → [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is my favorite spelling, but I’ve known more people with the [name_m]Collin[/name_m] spelling. I definitely think Colin-with-one-l or Collin-with-two-ls will be a common refrain, so I’d avoid if that’s a serious concern.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] → Great name! I do think [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] is probably the Nick-equivalent, so I would confirm that she likes it at least as an occasional nickname.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m] → Feels very well-matched with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. Ditto again for people trying for [name_m]Will[/name_m] at some point.

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[name_m]Milo[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- This name has such a sweet, energetic feel! It pairs nicely with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- they’re different styles, but I think that contrast actually works really well. It gives each boy his own identity while still sounding like a cohesive sibset. I get the concern about it being “cutesy,” but [name_m]Milo[/name_m] is rising in visibility and totally works on an adult.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- Timeless and strong. [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is a classic that pairs beautifully with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. The nickname concern is real [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Nick[/name_m] or [name_m]Nicky[/name_m] might be hard to avoid unless she and her husband are really consistent with using the full name or a different nickname from the start. If [name_m]Nico[/name_m] isn’t on the table for her husband, that might be something to consider. Still, [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] in full is elegant and handsome.

[name_f][/name_f]

Colin/Collin [name_f][/name_f]- This name feels smart and grounded. It goes well with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and has a nice professional feel, too. I totally understand the hesitation about the spelling. [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is generally the more traditional first name spelling in my opinion, while [name_m]Collin[/name_m] has a slightly softer look. If she prefers the [name_m]Collin[/name_m] spelling, it’s still widely accepted [name_f][/name_f]- it might just come with the occasional need to clarify.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] is warm, classic, and rich with gentle strength. It contrasts nicely with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] in sound, while still feeling stylistically aligned—they both have timeless, slightly Biblical roots. One small thing to check, as @VEL[name_f][/name_f] said, is she comfortable with the nickname [name_m]Gabe[/name_m]? It’s very likely people will default to that over time, especially in school or sports settings, so it’s worth thinking through.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- Of all the options, [name_m]William[/name_m] is probably the most stylistically similar to [name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- both are classic, common, and have long histories of steady use. [name_m]William[/name_m] is strong, dignified, and versatile, with tons of nickname options (Will, [name_m]Liam[/name_m], [name_m]Billy[/name_m], etc.). It’s a beautiful name, but just a quick note [name_f][/name_f]- it’s worth checking if she’s comfortable with the most likely short forms, especially [name_m]Will[/name_m], which may be hard to avoid over time.

[name_f][/name_f]

If [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] have been long-time favourites, that’s also a great sign [name_f][/name_f]- they’ve stood the test of time through all the name discussions, which says a lot.Overall, she truly can’t go wrong [name_f][/name_f]- each of these names pairs beautifully with [name_m]Brooks[/name_m], sounds great alongside [name_m]Henry[/name_m], and have their own special strengths. It’s a win-win no matter which direction they go!

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This is a great list!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Milo[/name_m] is definitely my favorite of them – he’s friendly & down-to-earth, familiar but not too popular, and sounds absolutely lovely with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! I don’t think [name_m]Milo[/name_m] would be too cutesy at all, I know of plenty of adults who wear the name wonderfully (Milo Manheim, [name_m]Milo[/name_m] Ventimiglia, [name_m]Milo[/name_m] [name_m]Gibson[/name_m], etc).

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Colin[/name_m] would be my second favorite! Such a lovely choice, and actually my cousin’s name! He spells it with one L, and as far as I know has never had any issues. One L would be my instinctual spelling, as I also had a friend in middle school who spelled it that way.

[name_f][/name_f]

With [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], & [name_m]William[/name_m], there’s always the chance of people using a nickname, especially the obvious ones such as [name_m]Nick[/name_m], [name_m]Gabe[/name_m], & [name_m]Will[/name_m] / [name_m]Liam[/name_m], or even the child deciding to go by these names as a teen or adult. Definitely keep that in mind!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helped, best of luck!

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With the surname, I’d definitely go with [name_m]Milo[/name_m] or [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] personally.

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I love [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] for her! I like [name_m]William[/name_m], but it is at risk of seeming like a [name_m]Royal[/name_m] sibset, which, depending on where she lives, could be an issue or not. [name_m]Milo[/name_m] is another I like! [name_f]My[/name_f] top 2 would definitely be [name_m]Milo[/name_m] & [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m].

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I love [name_m]Milo[/name_m] for them [name_f][/name_f]- it’s playful and fresh, but also perfectly grounded and fits just fine with the versatile Henry!! [name_m]Milo[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] are great together :slight_smile:[name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] is also very charming [name_f][/name_f]- arty but down-to-earth.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m] is a solid choice [name_f][/name_f]- I’ve known multiple brother sets called [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m], so it’s a tried and tested / can’t go wrong with it, option. I just think [name_m]Milo[/name_m] and [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] are more pleasant names.

[name_f][/name_f]

On Collin/Colin: not sure where you/your friend live, but in the US, [name_m]Colin[/name_m] ranks about 150 places above [name_m]Collin[/name_m] and was given to around 1000 babies compared to 613, so I think he’d most likely get it spelled right if she chooses [name_m]Colin[/name_m]. She could test it out, ask people around her what they’re intuitive spelling would be if they only heard the name?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is a solid, classic choice, but [name_m]Nick[/name_m] is such a standard nickname for it, I do think it would be hard to avoid.

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Milo - would fall in the common trap of sensible first boy/kid, more adventurous and cute, second/last. It’s def a spunky & charismatic name though, esp with Brooks, and I wouldn’t worry about professionalism - his generation will be the Gen of cool names and Milo is well-known and liked. Seems like this is the one they both adore so should choose?
Nicholas - would ditch if they can’t agree on nicknames. Good for a middle if an honour?
Colin - Colin has a special spot in my heart as my late mentor’s name. I prefer this spelling. It’s very Bridgerton cool and I think it goes really well with Henry. Note in Australia there is only one pronunciation of Colin which is the fast Co not Colin Powell slow Co. if you h to be a big risk of latter being the default, go Collin,
Gabriel - I love the name Gabriel but it is a little stylised with the last name Brooks and not quite as easy to say (including Gabe Brooks)
William - maybe “too” Royal (with Harry’s name being Henry) and Bill/Billy Brooks isn’t my fave. But it’s definitely a lovely, distinguished pair!

Milo, Colin & William would be my choices

(Others:

Charles “Charlie” / “Arlo” - debonair like Henry and some cool nicknames
Julian - “Jules”
Edmund - “Eddy”, “Teddy”, “Ted” (less popular than Theodore - there are so many Henry and Rheodore brother combos!)
Sebastian - “Seb”, “Bashy”, “Bastian”
Benedict - “Ben”, “Benny” (super swish with last name, immediately handsome, lol)
Alexander - “Xander”
Simon - “Si”
Thomas - “Tommy”
Jonathan - “Jonty”
Walter
Oliver
Elio
Casper
Winston)

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[name_m]Milo[/name_m] goes great with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]

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[name_m]Milo[/name_m] and [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] are my favorites and sound great with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] :light_blue_heart:

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[name_m]Collin[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] both seem perfect with a brother named [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. I like the [name_m]Collin[/name_m] spelling best, because the other spelling could be pronounced “colon”, like [name_m]Colin[/name_m] [name_m]Powell[/name_m]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] saying “Collin, 2 Ls” is pretty simple, when needed.

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I think [name_m]Milo[/name_m] fits really well with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! The names look great together and have a similar feel to me. Seems like a lot of positives they have for it too!

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    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. [name_f][/name_f]

    [name_m]Milo[/name_m] isn’t especially cutesy or modern, I wouldn’t think twice about it on an adult, except to notice I love their name. This is my favorite of her options and I think it goes great with [name_m]Henry[/name_m].

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    2. [name_f][/name_f]
  2. [name_f][/name_f]

    I’ve never met a [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] that didn’t go exclusively by a nickname, and there isn’t one they both like. So I wouldn’t recommend that one.

    [name_f][/name_f]
    3. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. [name_f][/name_f]

    If [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] are the ones with no real downsides… she should use one of those. [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] both go with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and are nice names.

    [name_f][/name_f]
    4. [name_f][/name_f]
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[name_f]Love[/name_f] H3nry Br00ks!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] thoughts

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Milo[/name_m] ~ he’s lovely, soft and sweet. I think [name_m]Milo[/name_m] would be stylish paired with HB. Personally names are so varied and different nowadays so the professional aspect I think is a non issue. If you can find [name_m]River[/name_m] in the boardroom why not [name_m]Milo[/name_m]? Your friend may prefer [name_m]Miles[/name_m] which feels slightly more professional or alternatively [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Arlo[/name_m] or [name_m]Theo[/name_m]?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] ~ stoic, classic, reliable, has Christmassy imagery for me but personally despite me seeing the appeal he isn’t my absolute favourite. Still I think if you persist with [name_m]Nico[/name_m] nickname wise it would work. However as husband isn’t overly keen I wouldn’t use. I think names need to work as a whole including liking the nicknames used.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Colin[/name_m] ~ this is my preferred spelling. I think [name_m]Colin[/name_m] feels more intuitive. [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is handsome in a nerdy cool way and I think would make a classic reliable choice with HB.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] ~ I love [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] he’s handsome, angelic, has a gorgeous meaning. He would feel soft, wholesome and absolutely adorable with HB. I would consider whether you like [name_m]Gabe[/name_m]. Personally I love [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] but I would just see if your friend does.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m] ~ Personally I think this is the most intuitive choice for your friend. He’s classic, has an obvious spelling that is universal, feels in keeping with H3nry and sounds great with Br00ks. [name_m]William[/name_m] has a range of well established nicknames which feel intuitive too. I think if I was your friend I would go with [name_m]William[/name_m]!

[name_f][/name_f]

Wishing them all the best

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I love [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] the best with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] (and just overall!)
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] go great together but I do think the nickname [name_m]Nick[/name_m] (maybe not [name_m]Nicky[/name_m] though) would be inevitable at some point. However, if you picked a preferred nickname from the start, that would very likely deter most people (at least until he’s an adult) from using [name_m]Nick[/name_m]- [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is actually a short form of [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] so could definitely work as a nickname (as could Cole)!

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Thanks for all of your input so far!! I’ve shared the link to this with her so she can keep checking in. She is appreciative of all your thoughtful responses! I’m sure she’s experienced what I have just asking around, that most people outside of Nameberry give very short responses about whether they like it don’t like the name, so additional and deeper insight for Nameberry is always nice!

[name_f][/name_f]

Some additional information:

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    [name_f][/name_f]
  • [name_f][/name_f]

    [name_m]Milo[/name_m] is fairly common in the US state we live in [name_f][/name_f]- Top 50! So he would be growing up with enough other [name_m]Milos[/name_m] that it should get over any cutesy humps, I would think! Other Top 50 names here that he would be growing up with (that could also be perceived as cutesy) would be [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Luca[/name_m], and [name_m]Beau[/name_m].

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    • [name_f][/name_f]
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    [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] has been on their list for years, and it was one of the two names they had picked out for [name_m]Henry[/name_m], so it has been a longtime favorite! And I guess it’s more that she doesn’t love[name_f][/name_f] the nickname of [name_m]Nick[/name_m], but [name_m]Nicky[/name_m] is one that she definitely does not like at all..

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    • [name_f][/name_f]
  • [name_f][/name_f]

    They do love the nickname [name_m]Will[/name_m], so luckily that wouldn’t be a problem! She said she is perhaps not as fond of [name_m]Will[/name_m] [name_m]Brooks[/name_m] though, so that could be a factor now for her. Luckily, I don’t think [name_m]Bill[/name_m] or [name_m]Billy[/name_m] are natural nicknames for little kids anymore in our area.

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    She said they also like the nickname [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] for [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], so she would be fine with that. Although, she hadn’t thought about how [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] [name_m]Brooks[/name_m] sounds before, so that does add another factor to consider for that name.

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[name_m]Milo[/name_m] strikes me as either forever “little boy” energy or a pet, dog, cat, hamster etc.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is sophisticated, timeless, works well with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. [name_m]Nico[/name_m] is an adorable nickname and gives better vibes than “Nicky”, if he were to have a middle name beginning with J his nickname could be “NJ” for example. I wouldn’t fully rule out a name for a lack of nickname options. [name_m]Or[/name_m] she herself could nickname him [name_m]Nico[/name_m] and her husband nickname him [name_m]Nicky[/name_m]. It won’t matter once he’s earthside, they’ll be besotted with him.

[name_f][/name_f]

Colin/Collin is a cute option, [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Colin[/name_m] sound like two little old men, it’s adorable. I would say don’t stress about spelling. At some point in your life you have to correct at least someone, it’s no big deal. If she’s that concerned, she should name him [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. You can’t misspell that name.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] is one of the names I’ve always just really not connected with. It screams gospel and religious to me, as well as the nickname [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] which just is not my thing.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m] is a classic, timeless gorgeous name. [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] are adorable together, but as I’m sure people will point out, it’s like the [name_f]British[/name_f] Prince’s. (Harry’s real name is Henry) This wouldn’t sour the names together for me at all. Not many people would make the correlation because most know [name_m]Harry[/name_m] as [name_m]Harry[/name_m]. Also the nickname [name_m]Will[/name_m] is like [name_m]Jack[/name_m] for me, effortlessly chill.

[name_f][/name_f]

I would choose [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] “Nico, [name_m]Cole[/name_m], Ollie”, [name_m]Colin[/name_m] (with one l because two L’s gives me last name vibes) or [name_m]William[/name_m] “Will, [name_m]Liam[/name_m], Billie”.

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[name_m]Renard[/name_m], [name_f]Madigan[/name_f]