I love unusual names for both genders, but would always make sure there was one ‘normal’ name in there (I will use two middles) for them to fall back on. For girls, I have my combinations pretty much totally sorted (for now) already, ‘normal’ names and all. But I have a much harder time falling in love with any boys’ names, let alone more classic ones - I am hoping that a future husband will have family members he wants to honour, or classic favourites of his own. But for now, I would love some suggestions!
The one ‘normal’ name I adore is [name]Joseph[/name]. For classics like these, what really makes me like them is associations - for this one, it is [name]Saint[/name] [name]Joseph[/name] (the kind of person I would want a son to look up to/emulate) and I also rather like the ‘average [name]Joe[/name]’ association, oddly.
So, go on, pick a classic name and convince me! I am in [name]England[/name], popularity doesn’t matter as it would be a middle, and I especially like literary, religious and mythological connotations.
Hey, fellow name-nutty teen! I am in [name]England[/name] as well
I don’t love many classic boys names but here are a couple that I do:
[name]Christopher[/name] - I especially like this if you would use it as middle name, because I am not a fan of nn [name]Chris[/name] and you don’t really have have to worry about that if it was in the middle. I know you probably can’t count this as very literary but i always think of [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Robin[/name], which always makes me smile
[name]Theodore[/name] - I’m not sure if everyone sees this as a classic but I do, it means ‘Gift of God’ so there’s a religious connation. I think [name]Theodore[/name] is so handsome and I think it flows really well with most first names. I think there is also a [name]Saint[/name] [name]Theodore[/name].
[name]Alexander[/name]: I’m a sucker for any name with an ‘x’. And [name]Alexander[/name] has several nn options ([name]Alex[/name], [name]Xan[/name], [name]Xander[/name]).
[name]Arthur[/name]: [name]Love[/name] the meaning (noble one, bear man) and the reference to the Round Table.
[name]Alfred[/name]: Not sure this can be considered a classic, but I do love it. I like [name]Frederick[/name] as well, but [name]Alfred[/name] seems a little more stately for some reason.
[name]Charles[/name]: My son’s middle name, so I’m partial. I just love everything about it. It’s been around forever, which I love, and it works as a mn with almost anything.
[name]Nathaniel[/name]: I could just say this name forever. Beautiful…but in a manly way, of course
[name]Thomas[/name]: As the NB entry says, [name]Thomas[/name] is simple, straightforward, and strong. What more could you want?
I love the name [name]Joseph[/name] for a middle name…classic, but handsome. I also love [name]William[/name]! [name]William[/name] is a classic, strong name that goes well with any unusual name. I also consider [name]Ryan[/name] a classic name that would make a great middle name.
So far I love [name]Arthur[/name], and like, but not enough to use (yet) [name]Theodore[/name]. I would use [name]Charles[/name] possibly, and maybe even [name]Christopher[/name], if they weren’t already used in my family.
I prefer softer names, and if they were related to the theatre that would be an absolute bonus.
Thank you all, and I’m looking forward to hearing more ideas! [name]Auburn[/name]
[name]Francis[/name] - There’s a few st. [name]Francis[/name]'s I believe and it has a soft sound.
[name]Samuel[/name]
[name]Casper[/name] - More unusual but one of the wise men
[name]Frederick[/name]
[name]Adam[/name]
[name]Andrew[/name]
[name]Anthony[/name]
[name]Benjamin[/name]
[name]Tobias[/name]
[name]Gerard[/name]
[name]Lucas[/name]
[name]Peter[/name]
[name]Phillip[/name]
I love the name [name]Michael[/name], I really do.
Apparently it means “like god”, which I find to be a rather disturbing meaning, but och well ;D
It just sounds good, there’s no arguing with that, it goes great with almost every name and there’s endless nicknaming possibilities, well not endless, but there are a few :3
[name]Matthew[/name] - means gift of God; one of the Gospels; also a saint
[name]Atticus[/name] - “To Kill a Mockingbird”, noble, classic, underused
[name]Edward[/name] - don’t really have an association for you. [name]Every[/name] [name]Ed[/name], [name]Eddie[/name], [name]Edward[/name] I have met is fun, handsome and has integrity.
[name]Luke[/name] - means bringer of light; one of the Gospels in the Bible; also a saint
[name]Peter[/name] - means “[name]Rock[/name]”; also a saint; one of the disciples
You can’t go wrong with [name]Joe[/name]! My 12 year old son is [name]James[/name] [name]Joseph[/name] (named for both grandfathers) and he goes by [name]Joe[/name]. It’s just such a delightful, down-to-earth name. I love it and am so glad we chose it. We liked some unusual names, but finally decided a classic would work the best. I very much wanted a name that wouldn’t hold him back or cause people to develop ideas about him before meeting him. [name]Long[/name] story short: I love the name [name]Joe[/name]!
I have a three year old nephew names [name]Joseph[/name], so I naturally think of him. He is high energy, very loving, and a total charmer, not to mention indredibly smart (and I promise I’m not being biased!).
Others:
[name]Dominic[/name]
[name]Jacob[/name]
[name]Charles[/name]
[name]Henry[/name]
[name]William[/name]
[name]Nathaniel[/name]
[name]Edward[/name]
I’ll try to convince you about [name]Henry[/name], which is my favorite boys’ name. I’m a huge classics/vintage fan, though, so this is really my genre of name…
[name]Henry[/name] is a [name]German[/name] name meaning “estate ruler,” which I take to be a strong, sturdy, masculine meaning. I think “estate ruler,” while perhaps a bit pretentious, is a positive meaning, connoting power and substance. However, I like that this strength is encased in a fairly light - as far as boy names go - package, considering [name]Henry[/name] has soft sounds like H and Y predominating in the name, grounded by the strong R sound.
[name]Henry[/name] has a great history of being used by royal families, from the [name]Henry[/name]'s of [name]England[/name], not all of which were so great, do the youngest [name]Henry[/name], [name]Prince[/name] [name]Harry[/name] of [name]England[/name]. Maybe this makes the name seem a bit upper-crust and patrician, but I think it just gives the name a fruitful history!
[name]Henry[/name] also finds favor in the literature world, which always makes me happy! [name]Henry[/name] [name]James[/name], [name]Henry[/name] [name]David[/name] [name]Thoreau[/name], and [name]Henry[/name] Wadsworth [name]Longfellow[/name] are all notable authors of old.
Finally, [name]Henry[/name] has religious significance. [name]St[/name]. [name]Henry[/name]'s feast day is [name]July[/name] 13. He is patron saint of the childless (aw!), dukes, and the handicapped, all very noble causes. He possessed a strong sense of humility and spirit of justice - how wonderful!
[name]Arthur[/name] - love [name]King[/name] [name]Arthur[/name].
[name]Nathaniel[/name] - has great rhythm. [name]Love[/name] it as a middle name because it propels the momentum of the full names pronunciation. Does that make any sense? Probably not. Let’s see, because [name]Nathaniel[/name] has an accent on the second syllable, it is easy to say it, get past it, and get on to the next name in the name combination.
[name]Peter[/name] - love it, love it so much that it isn’t popular. It is fun to say. Sounds intelligent and fun imo.
[name]Theodore[/name] - I really love names that end in “r”. They have a lot of backbone. [name]Theodore[/name] is kind of quirky, too. [name]Love[/name] those quirky names.
[name]Thomas[/name] - it is very cute, and I wonder why every boy’s name isn’t [name]Thomas[/name].
I love [name]Charles[/name] and [name]Charlie[/name].
I like [name]Jack[/name] and [name]William[/name] and [name]John[/name] (but not [name]Jonathon[/name] so much, though the short version of [name]Jonty[/name] appeals).
You know another traditional shortening for [name]Christopher[/name] is [name]Kit[/name]. That’s very sweet too.
I do know what you mean. While I like classic/vintage names, I really prefer names that aren’t overused - and while that’s EASY for girls, it’s really freaking hard for boys.
You know what else? My tastes have changed quite a bit since I was a teenager. My boy’s name when I was 16 was Soul [name]Montgomery[/name]. I thought it was the most beautiful name in the world. And I think at 16 I would have probably hated the name I gave my first daughter. So maybe by the time you have a son you won’t be able to think of a name you like better than [name]Charles[/name] [name]William[/name]. It’s strange to think what names I might like when my kids are having babies (and what names they will like - maybe [name]Sharon[/name] and [name]Justin[/name] will have a comeback).
Otherwise you are welcome to use Soul [name]Montgomery[/name]
