So, long story short, I am changing my name pretty much completely and would love some opinions and suggestions for my middle name. I’m shortening my first name to [name_m]Alex[/name_m] and completely changing my middle name. I am non-binary and would love some unisex suggestions. [name_f]My[/name_f] last name is two syllables and starts with M.
I love a lot of names that start with B but I am wary of the initials ABM. Am I overthinking that?
Current favorites:
[name_f]Raine[/name_f] (my wife’s favorite for me)
Blair/Blaise (but again with the ABM initials)
[name_f]Emery[/name_f]
[name_m]Kieran[/name_m]
I like something a little unique and different so any suggestions welcome! Thanks!
[name_m]Alex[/name_m] [name_f]Raine[/name_f] works well! [name_f]Raine[/name_f] does feel a little more on the feminine side though, so I’m not sure if that’s something you are looking for, or something more strictly unisex. I do like [name_m]Alex[/name_m] [name_m]Blaise[/name_m] too!
I honestly have no idea what the issue with ABM is! But either way, I don’t think initials are used all that often, so I don’t personally think some slightly unfortunate initials should be a dealbreaker.
I think all of your ideas sound nice with [name_m]Alex[/name_m]! [name_m]Kieran[/name_m] is strictly masculine to me, not unisex, and the [name_f]Raine[/name_f] spelling leans feminine to me (whereas [name_f]Rain[/name_f] I’d see as more gender neutral), if those are things that bother you.
Wow, very exciting! This is your chance to choose something really resonant and meaningful to you. And as we all know, you can pick something much more adventurous for the middle name than you might want for the first.
In terms of flow, I’d say just NOT two syllable and not beginning with S or ending with M – [name_m]Alex[/name_m] [name_m]Sam[/name_m] M… runs together too much. I wouldn’t rule out a B initial, but if it’s bothering you now, why go there? This is your chance to be not only accepting of but really excited about your new name.
Everyone has great suggestions, but for conventional names even unisex ones so often skew masculine or feminine in terms of statistics and/or feel.
Why not move beyond traditional gender markers completely and gather ideas for a middle name that’s a word, a place, something from nature, a surname, something with real deep meaning for you.
If you’re up for that, maybe you can tell us some of your favorite things and we can brainstorm creative options for you to consider!
Thank you, Pam! I love these suggestions. I definitely want something meaningful to my life, but was having a hard time connecting those things to names.
trigger warning, brief mention of loss in last paragraph
My wife and I got engaged in San Diego and we both LOVE California- it’s a special place to us in our relationship.
I love trees- I was really trying to find a tree name I loved for myself but couldnt find that perfect fit.
Also, I’m an opera singer so I don’t mind something on the dramatic side.
As far as syllables, I do like 3 syllables best for the flow- I liked the name Meridian but my wife didn’t love it, and it is important to me that she does. But I am open to other syllable counts.
My best friend, Tiffany, passed away 2 years ago. Her middle name was Krystal, and my wife’s name is Diamond, so a gem name or something starting with K would be nice as well.
I really like [name_m]Alex[/name_m] [name_m]Kieran[/name_m]!
In terms of initials, I feel like that really never comes up post-childhood. I changed my last name when I got married and other than initialing a few legal docs/contracts (and I’m not even sure I used my middle initial?) I’ve never written, or even mentioned, my new initials. [name_m]Just[/name_m] something to keep in mind!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] – Here’s a list of ideas to start with. I’m sure the Berries can come up with more creative choices!
[name_f]Madrigal[/name_f] – singing related
Monterey – [name_f]California[/name_f] city
[name_m]Makana[/name_m] or [name_f]Makani[/name_f] – gift or wind in Hawaiian
[name_m]Marinell[/name_m] – literary name, king of the sea. Look this one up – has interesting symbols attached
Merryweather or [name_m]Meriwether[/name_m] – Total wild card, one of the Sleeping Beauty’s fairy godmothers.
[name_m]Mercury[/name_m] – not a gem but a mineraloid, messenger of the gods. I like the idea of the name being or bearing a message.
[name_m]Mica[/name_m] – a mineral
[name_f]Marlowe[/name_f] – means driftwood
[name_f]Mariposa[/name_f] or Monarch – butterfly, symbolizing change
this next group may historically be male names but feel nonbinary and have interesting associations:
[name_m]Cymbeline[/name_m] – [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] hero, means “sun lord”
[name_m]Endymion[/name_m] – interesting legend, means dive into or enter
[name_m]Korbinian[/name_m] – means crow or raven, a symbol of death but also regeneration
[name_f]Kinvara[/name_f] – [name_f]Irish[/name_f] place name sometimes used as a first, means “head of the sea”
[name_m]Sylvain[/name_m] – [name_m]French[/name_m] form of the name of the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god of the forest.
I would not do a name starting with a B since it is already noticeable to you (I get the reference since you mentioned it). [name_f]Rain[/name_f] or [name_f]Reign[/name_f] are lovely and more neutral if you guys would like that?
Neutral jem names to me:
[name_f]Jade[/name_f]
[name_m]Onyx[/name_m] (too close to Alex)
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_m]Morgan[/name_m] (from morganite)