🌈 Choose Which Names Are Added to My List

Boy Names
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Hello there!

As some of you may know, I’ve been working for months on my boy name list. [name_f]My[/name_f] goal has been to cultivate a list of combos that are completely “usable,” as in not likely to ruffle too many feathers, as well as still being a bit whimsical and/or interesting. I’m also trying to mostly stay away from names that would cause people to assume the religion of my sons. (Except for my die-hard favorites, like [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]. And Biblical names are fine as long as they’re mainstreamed in secular culture, like Ezra.)

As such, I’ve come up with a handful of names that fit this new vibe, and I need help deciding which deserve places on my current list of favorites.

Here are my current favorites:

[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]
[name_f]Haven[/name_f]
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m]
[name_f]Sage[/name_f]
[name_f]Sage[/name_f]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m]
[name_m]River[/name_m]
[name_m]Asa[/name_m]
[name_m]Jude[/name_m]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]

And here are the new possibilities:

[name_m]Silas[/name_m] / [name_m]Levi[/name_m] / [name_m]Oakley[/name_m] / [name_f]Merit[/name_f] / [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] / [name_m]Iver[/name_m] / [name_m]Bram[/name_m] / [name_m]Forest[/name_m] / Emerett / [name_m]Morrison[/name_m] / [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] / [name_m]Leo[/name_m] / [name_m]Raylan[/name_m] / [name_m]Everson[/name_m] / [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] / [name_m]Lennox[/name_m] / [name_m]Auden[/name_m] / [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] / [name_m]Whitman[/name_m]

So, which of these names would you add to my list? [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to choose as many or as few as you want! If you have any particular reasoning behind your choices and feel like sharing, that would be wonderful, but please don’t feel pressured to do so. :slight_smile:

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Yes for you:

[name_m]Silas[/name_m] – such a cool biblical name! It gives me the same feeling as [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], but feels more usable. The [name_m]Silas[/name_m] Marner connection is also great for a literary buff like yourself!.

[name_f]Merit[/name_f] – this feels like exactly what you are looking for! A virtue name, but not overwhelmingly so to the point where I would assume religious affiliation. Such a sweet sound, too!

[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] – this very much works on your list! Soft and outdoorsy, but still grounded.

[name_m]Bram[/name_m] – yes, yes, yes! I’ve been loving this ever since I fell in love with [name_m]Bram[/name_m] Stoker’s [name_m]Dracula[/name_m]! Feels historical and literary, but has a real warm and cozy sound to it at the same time! I love it with the rest of your list!

[name_m]Forest[/name_m] – very much in the same vein as [name_m]Wilder[/name_m]! I like that even though it is a nature name, it is also well established in its own right!

[name_m]Auden[/name_m] – this fits right in with your favorites! The feel of the name is strong and naturey, but the sound is gentle

[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] – definitely reaching the overtly biblical territory, but I just love it so much! It’s one that I’ve always wished worked on my own list (along with Hosea). [name_m]Just[/name_m] such a lovely name all around.

Maybe for you:

[name_m]Oakley[/name_m] – a bit too cutesy compared to the other nature names on your list. It also just seems a bit trendy (not necessarily a bad thing. It just stood out to me)

[name_m]Everson[/name_m] – a bit too out there next to your other names (I think it would turn some heads). But somehow it works for you…? The vibes are definitely there.

[name_m]Whitman[/name_m] – very surnamey compared with others on your list, but the [name_m]Walt[/name_m] [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] association is nice, and [name_m]Whit[/name_m] is cute!

Too common for you: [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
Too out-there for this list: Emerett
Too modern for you: [name_m]Raylan[/name_m], [name_m]Lennox[/name_m]
The vibes are a bit off: [name_m]Iver[/name_m], [name_m]Morrison[/name_m]

I wanted to say, these are just my impressions of the name and how they match your style! Our tastes in names change, so even if I thought your style wasn’t modern enough to accommodate [name_m]Raylan[/name_m], that doesn’t make it true!

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Based off the modern leaning style and gentle, outdoorsy vibes of your list I would add:
[name_m]Silas[/name_m]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_m]Bram[/name_m]
[name_m]Forest[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_m]Everson[/name_m]
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Lennox[/name_m]
[name_m]Auden[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]

The ones I didn’t include:

[name_m]Levi[/name_m] - It’s a good style match for [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] but it feels like a ubiquitous modern choice and when I make brother pairs with the names on your list, I’m underwhelmed.

[name_m]Oakley[/name_m] - It matches some names from your list like [name_f]Haven[/name_f] and [name_m]River[/name_m] but overall I feel like it goes in a different style direction. [name_m]Oaklen[/name_m] fits a little better.

[name_f]Merit[/name_f] - It could work but l ultimately decided not to include it because it feels preppy and buttoned-up to me and your list feels a lot more breezy and friendly.

[name_m]Iver[/name_m] - The different origin really stands out. It could work with a few names on your list but ultimately seems out of place. I’m also not keen on [name_m]River[/name_m] and [name_m]Iver[/name_m] on the same list even if they don’t sound too similar.

Emerett - This has the disadvantage of being unfamiliar to me so I’m unsure how to place it. It’s also similar to [name_m]Everson[/name_m] and I much prefer the ease and sound of [name_m]Everson[/name_m]. [name_m]Emory[/name_m] could be an alternative.

[name_m]Morrison[/name_m] - This is still a surname for me. I keep thinking ‘Jim Morrison’ and [name_m]Morris[/name_m] is generally in old man territory so I struggle to see this working. [name_m]Moss[/name_m] would be a good fit though.

[name_m]Raylan[/name_m] - This is also new to me. The sounds work however all the other names on your list feel established so I can’t help but feel it’s out of place. Reminds me of [name_m]Waylon[/name_m].

[name_m]Whitman[/name_m] - This is still firmly in surname territory for me. I also think ‘Dick Whitman’ from Mad Men. [name_m]Truman[/name_m] and [name_f]Whitley[/name_f] might work.

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If it helps, I wouldn’t assume the religion of a [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] - it feels occupational, surname-y and outdoorsy (along with the Biblical ties) :slight_smile:

Anyhow, of the new names, I’d consider adding:

[name_m]Forest[/name_m] → gives me the warm, rugged vibes of [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], the outdoorsy feel of [name_m]River[/name_m] and [name_m]Asher[/name_m] and is just all round lovely

[name_m]Jonah[/name_m] → gentle but strong, and gives me slightly whimsical, sea imagery

[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] → sleek with lovely imagery - it feels special but familiar.

[name_m]Silas[/name_m] → sharp, woodsy and cool

[name_m]Auden[/name_m] → poetic and whimsical but cool too

[name_m]Bram[/name_m] → cool, literary and distinctive

[name_m]Everson[/name_m] → I like the flair of this, that ‘ever’, infinite feeling, but the grounded, surname-y vibe too

[name_f]Merit[/name_f] → gentle but snappy, bolder, like [name_f]Haven[/name_f], but I’ve encountered a boy called [name_f]Merit[/name_f]

[name_m]Lennox[/name_m] → lovely meaning, cool sound and slightly whimsical and charming vibe

[name_m]Oakley[/name_m] → it’s got that gender neutral, soft and woodsy feel, while also feeling familiar and grounded

Some I still need to think on, but think could work: [name_m]Morrison[/name_m] (cool literary association), [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] (literary, surnamey and witty), [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] (literary, gentle and classic) and [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] (sharp and bright). Not quite sure what’s holding me back, but as I say, I will think on them.

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definitely add: [name_m]Silas[/name_m], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], [name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_m]Auden[/name_m], [name_m]Lennox[/name_m]

maybe: [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m], [name_f]Merit[/name_f] (Jonah/Isaiah feel particularly biblical to me, but this might just be me, [name_f]Merit[/name_f] doesn’t have the same sparkle that your other names have imo)

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Such beautiful names all around. Based on your current loves, I would add [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_m]Auden[/name_m], [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m], [name_f]Merit[/name_f], [name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_m]Forest[/name_m] and [name_m]Silas[/name_m] in a heartbeat.

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@may.rose, @kachenka, @Greyblue, @highhippogriff, @Demoiselle, thank you all so, so much! Each and every one of these responses has been invaluable. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

I’ve decided to add [name_m]Silas[/name_m], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], [name_f]Merit[/name_f], [name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_m]Forest[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Levi[/name_m], and [name_m]Auden[/name_m] to my list!

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Top 5 faves:
[name_m]Levi[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m]
[name_m]River[/name_m]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]

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