Cold Feet: Verne? Cecil? Clifford? Linus?

[CMV2254]

I’ve been trying to stay off of the forums because I’ve been so repetitive this entire pregnancy. But we are at the “could have a baby tomorrow or three weeks from now” point and I am feeling very angsty about how little we’ve agreed on names this time around.

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The two we most mutually approve of at this point are Clifford and Cecil. We both like both options, but haven’t felt “this is the one” for sure.

The seemingly inevitable nickname Cliff used to be a major hangup for me, but now I could honestly see myself using it occasionally. Still prefer Clifford in full, but it isn’t something that would deter me from using the name. Not that their opinions really matter, but my side of the family thinks Clifford is fairly cute, but doesn’t like Cliff. My husband’s family outright laughed at Clifford. But they also suggested Maverick which is not remotely our style, so…

Cecil we like, worry it might be too hissy with our S- last name? And it maybe feels a bit random because we threw it around when naming our second son but haven’t really discussed it much this time around until a few weeks ago. I’ve spent more time simmering on Clifford for this baby, so it feels a little more connected to him. But it feels odd to be so close to meeting him and not really having any idea what we’ll go with. I’ve been so preoccupied with some health issues our toddler has been going through that I feel like I haven’t spent much time meditating on this baby we’re about to meet and who he might be.

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Linus I’m leaving on the hospital list because my husband is still a fan and I always really like it on paper. But anytime we start to consider it again, I get very angsty and uneasy about it. I don’t know if it’s just a “this doesn’t feel like this baby’s name” instinct or what.

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Two that I’m simmering on and would love to get some feedback for- Cosmo and Verne.

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Cosmo we are both intrigued by, but think we probably couldn’t pull it off as a first name or that it would feel too out of place with siblings Warren and Clyde. I also LOVE the nickname Mo. my husband does NOT. I once worked with a Cosmo in one of my college classes and have always had a very space-related perception of it because I’m pretty sure both of his parents were like astrophysicists or something. But looking at flowers the other day made me love it.

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Verne - we loosely considered Vernon/Verne before. I don’t think I would use Vernon in full because it always makes me think of vermin. But I’m kind of digging just Verne? Maybe because we had Fern on our girls list and it gives me a similar vibe? It feels like a combination of clunky grandpa and nature to me, but I’d be interested to hear what the general consensus is on it. Do you think Verne would be usable on a 2026 boy? What kind of child do you picture a Verne being? Do you have strong opinions on the way it sounds/looks? Any middle suggestions, because I haven’t really come up with any combos to consider with it.

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Said toddler is back awake so I’ll abruptly cut my novel ramble here.

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Clifford

Clifford Dale

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Cecil

Cecil Zebedee

Cecil August Storer

Cecil Augustine

Cecil Francis

Cecil James

Cecil Maxwell

Cecil Wilder

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Verne

Verne Revere

Verne Benjamin

Verne Devereaux

Verne Augustine

Verne Willoughby

Verne Zebedee

Verne Wilder

Verne William

Verne Wilhelm

Verne Wilfred

Verne Winfred

Verne Alexander
Verne Oliver
Verne Franklin
Verne Benedict
Verne August
Verne Alden

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Cosmo “Mo”

Cosmo Maxwell

Cosmo Benjamin

Cosmo James

Cosmo Solomon

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Linus

Linus Alexander

Linus Zebedee

Linus Ambrose

Linus Augustine

Linus Benjamin

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———

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A non-exhaustive list of things we’ve thrown around at some point:

Olsen

Morris

Morrison

Augustine “Gus”

Francis

Verne

Virgil

Webster

Dexter

Wilbur

Lyle

Gilbert

Elmer

Walter

Simon

Solomon

Ralph/ralphie

Rufus

Eugene

Seymour

Sanford

Ansel

Ambrose

Nelson

Melvin

Milton

Woodrow

Aldrich

Rudy

Gilmore

Gulliver

Absalom

Ernest

Alden

Arden

Arthur

Abner

Ira

Clarence

Benedict

Murray

Murphy

Willoughby

Douglas

Franklin

Francis

Clement

Caspar

Phillip

Samson

Humphrey

Herschel

Albert Willoughby

Grover

[somemelodioussonnet]

I’m still an enormous fan of [name_m]Linus[/name_m] for you. [name_m]Warren[/name_m], [name_m]Clyde[/name_m], & [name_m]Linus[/name_m] just sound like an awesome set of brothers. But if you won’t be able to shake the feeling that it’s not his name when you meet him, then that’s not worth it.

Clifford/Cliff is quite handsome. (Did you ever see [name_m]The[/name_m] Rocketeer? That was a film I saw in childhood, in the hero is [name_m]Clifford[/name_m]. He definitely made it seem cool.) I do think it’s really close to [name_m]Clyde[/name_m], though. [name_m]Like[/name_m], if people saw your family only on paper, they might think you had twins after [name_m]Warren[/name_m] and did the match twin thing.

[name_m]Cecil[/name_m] is less close. It’s not a favorite of mine, but you should certainly use it if it’s the one you love. (Three times in a row while I tried to type it on my phone, it autocorrected to Devil. Obviously, you can fix that, but something to be aware of when you’re rushing through a text to someone about Cecil.)

[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] does feel a little out of place to me, like you said. I think there are other more cohesive ways to get the nickname Mo, if your husband could come around to that. I think you considered [name_m]Morris[/name_m] at one point…?

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] introduces a new initial into the set, which I’m in favor of, and he certainly seems like he’s from the same “era” as your other boys’ names.

Others from your discarded list that I just love with [name_m]Warren[/name_m] & [name_m]Clyde[/name_m], in case you feel like resurrecting some:

[name_m]Albert[/name_m]
[name_m]Ansel[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m]
[name_m]Phillip[/name_m]
[name_m]Murray[/name_m]

[The_Bookwyrm]

I really like [name_m]Cecil[/name] for you - [name_m]Warren[/name], [name_m]Clyde[/name] and [name_m]Cecil[/name] feel like such a debonair, well-matched set. I like it with your last name as well. I think it skews more cool comic character than hissy.

I think that [name_m]Cliff[/name] is probably somewhat avoidable with [name_m]Clifford[/name] because it’s a relatively short name. However, it is the most obvious nickname, so it’s definitely a risk. I also think that having two “Cl-” names might get confusing.

I think [name_m]Linus[/name] is a good style match, but if you’re not feeling it, you have a lot of other great options.

I love [name_m]Verne[/name] with your boys’ names! I think [name_m]Verne[/name] feels very elegant but still has the clunky, old-fashioned feel of your other boys’ names. I have it on my own list, I think it’s a really lovely name. Out of your combos, I think [name_m]Verne[/name] [name_m]Willoughby[/name] (), [name_m]Verne[/name] [name_m]Augustine[/name] and [name_m]Verne[/name] [name_m]Benedict[/name] are my favourites.

I agree that [name_m]Cosmo[/name] is a different style from [name_m]Warren[/name] and [name_m]Clyde[/name], but I don’t think it’s unusable. They all have a kind of sweet, old-soul energy to them. And [name_m]Cosmo[/name] “[name_m]Mo[/name]” is super cute (maybe biased as I was always team [name_m]Morris[/name] ) and helps to tie them together. I think it feels spacey, but not overpoweringly so.

Overall, I think my favourite is [name_m]Verne[/name], followed by [name_m]Cecil[/name]. Good luck deciding and I’m sure whatever you choose will be wonderful!

[Greyblue]

I actually love [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] for you - a little clunky cool, a bit like [name_m]Clifford[/name_m] and [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] and [name_m]Cormac[/name_m], but with a touch of british telegraph vibes too.

I totally like [name_m]Verne[/name_m] too; strong but sharp, remincisent of [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] and [name_m]Warren[/name_m]. It’s got a hint of literary charm and rough and tumble at the same time.

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]August[/name_m] / [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] are so cool
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Franklin[/name_m] and [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m] are charming!!

[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] is solid, while [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] is lovely

A few other middles for Verne…

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Malachi[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Leander[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Elliott[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_f]Sasha[/name_f]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Cecil[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Aurelius[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Apollo[/name_m]
[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]

[namer_gamer]

I like [name_m]Clifford[/name_m] (but I also like Cliff). Though as others have noted, it is very similar to [name_m]Clyde[/name_m].

[name_m]Cecil[/name_m] [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] is very, very cool.

I am not a fan of [name_m]Verne[/name_m] personally. But of your [name_m]Verne[/name_m] names, I would choose [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Devereaux[/name_m] or [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Wilder[/name_m].

[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] is an awesome name. I don’t have a favorite middle name here, but I laughed a bit because [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] sounds a lot like cosmopolitan.

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] is a name I’ve never loved, but it does go very nicely with your sibset. I like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] of your combos.

[CMV2254]

Oh my gosh, that basically is cosmopolitan.

[CMV2254]

Uh, I love [name_m]Cormac[/name_m].
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear [name_m]Verne[/name_m] sounds like it could be a mix of literary and rough and tumble. I was worried it might feel too stuffy to some people and not jive with the amount of chaotic play energy in our house.

[CMV2254]

Yes, [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m]. I’d love [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m] as a first name, too, if I could . [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear [name_m]Cecil[/name_m] get some positive feedback, too!

[CMV2254]

Uh, I don’t know what my deal is with [name_m]Linus[/name_m]. [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I see it next to their names I feel the same way and think it looks like a solid sibling set. But every time I start walking around envisioning actually using it in real life I end up feeling unsettled by it for some reason. Yet always come back to it again and again.

I still adore [name_m]Grover[/name_m]. I will probably still be vouching for [name_m]Grover[/name_m] in the delivery room.

I hope this baby just comes out really looking like one name or the other and we feel an “ah-ha” moment when we see him. But we might just have to have nurses vote every time they come into the room at the hospital.

[whatchamacallit]

Big fan of [name_m]Cecil[/name_m] [name_m]Zebedee[/name_m] and [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m]! Both are so aborable.

[CMV2254]

Sometimes the right first+middle combo pushes one name over another for me, and I love both of those combos very much.

[EpitomeofGrace]

I like both [name_m]Clifford[/name_m] and [name_m]Cecil[/name_m], they are lovely names that sound good with the siblings but I have this hang-up about siblings each having their own letter, so if I were looking for an easy way to narrow, those both would be out.

I really like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] for you but it feels like unless he comes out looking like a [name_m]Linus[/name_m] its not the right call for you. Because if it were right you would be all in, its perfect, and you aren’t so its not the one.

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] though - I really like [name_m]Verne[/name_m]. I think it flows well with the siblings. I think its both strong and gentle, vintage but modern. I see the nature connection to [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. Overall I really like it and think it would be a great option. I really like these combos:

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Wilder[/name_m]

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m]

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]August[/name_m]

[name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Alden[/name_m]

[xomolls]

I absolutely love [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Wilder[/name_m]. It fits with the brothers’ names, with similar letters to [name_m]Warren[/name_m] and a similar format to [name_m]Clyde[/name_m]. [name_m]Verne[/name_m] [name_m]Alden[/name_m] is also really cute. I’d steer clear of [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] because of [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls, [name_m]Woodrow[/name_m] unless you’re considering [name_m]Woods[/name_m] as a nn, but might make [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] feel left out not having a W. [name_m]Sanford[/name_m] is going to get TONS of older folks thinking [name_m]Sanford[/name_m] and [name_m]Son[/name_m], so I don’t recommend that. [name_m]Elmer[/name_m] = Glue. [name_m]Lyle[/name_m] = Crocodile (also very similar to Clyde). [name_m]Wilbur[/name_m] = Pig. [name_m]Webster[/name_m] = Dictionary. [name_m]Virgil[/name_m] = Change the L to an N and middle school will suck. [name_m]Franklin[/name_m] = [name_m]Turtle[/name_m] but could work. [name_m]Grover[/name_m] = Muppet.

That being said:

[name_m]Phillip[/name_m] “Pip”
[name_m]Franklin[/name_m] “Frankie”
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (could work even with the aardvark)
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] would have to always be [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and never [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] otherwise you get [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] Street…

Honestly? I just really like [name_m]Verne[/name_m], [name_m]Warren[/name_m], and [name_m]Clyde[/name_m] as a set. [name_m]Linus[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] is nice too.

How about [name_m]Clifton[/name_m]?

[orangeblossom]

[name_m]Linus[/name_m] for me, but [name_m]Verne[/name_m] is also lovely for you - however [name_m]Linus[/name_m] is still my favourite. I’m not a huge fan of the others, but [name_m]Clifford[/name_m] would fit well!