[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone,
I posted last week looking for suggestions for baby 4, boy 3. It feels like we’ve considered every name under the sun this time; it’s never been so hard to find a name! Our criteria are: a formal, long-established name that is unexpected and interesting. We like stuffy old gentleman names that offer a refreshing nickname with a completely different feel. It shouldn’t begin with A, S, or C and shouldn’t clash with our last name, B0wen (a lot do). We don’t name based on meaning, but a nice meaning is preferable and we’d rule out a name with an unpleasant meaning (ie [name_m]Gulliver[/name_m]). Also, it should work okay in Spanish. We are planning on this being the last kiddo and want a really great name!
Siblings are [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] “[name_u]Rory[/name_u]”, [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] “Bash”, and [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] “[name_m]Rad[/name_m]”.
Considering all that, a couple days ago we stumbled upon the name Truett.
We find it very intriguing, but we’re not completely sold. We need to try it out for a while, and I’d like some outside opinions; we’ve run it by a few family members and gotten positive feedback. Of course, most of them really didn’t like a lot of the names we’ve mentioned, so they probably find Truett comparatively mild! The only downside we see is it isn’t fantastic in Spanish, though it works okay.
Other names we’ve thought about are:
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] (most family HATES; don’t want to subject him to a life of Dickens references)
[name_m]Gerard[/name_m] (no awesome nickname; husband isn’t sold)
[name_m]Balthazar[/name_m] (again, everyone seems pretty horrified!)
[name_m]Winston[/name_m] (doesn’t sound great with surname, same with nickname [name_u]Win[/name_u])
[name_m]Zebulon[/name_m] (still in the running- sounds like we’re trying too hard? Sounds kind of sci-fi to me)
Taking all that into account, what do you all think about Truett “[name_u]True[/name_u]/Rett” _____ B0wen? We’ll use a family name in the middle.
Thanks so much!!
*We won’t let family opinion rule out a name for us, but we would prefer them to be positive about it!
I’m really not a fan of Truett. Your other kids have such beautiful, international names and Truett feels very English and surname-y. From the other names you’re considering, I think [name_m]Balthazar[/name_m] fits in best.
I agree that Truett has a different feel than my other kids’ names. But I think [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] is different than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] too, and in my opinion it still fits our criteria of “a formal, long-established name that is unexpected and interesting. We like stuffy old gentleman names that offer a refreshing nickname with a completely different feel.” So even though it’s different, I still think it’s worth seriously considering. We just haven’t heard it enough to know if it’s right, I guess.
Thanks so much for the feedback!
I like Truett nn [name_u]True[/name_u] the best of all you listed. (Actually I like [name_m]Winston[/name_m] best, but it clashes with the surname). To me, [name_m]Balthazar[/name_m] and [name_m]Zebulon[/name_m] are trying too hard.
This is a tough one. I think Truett is a nice enough name, and I’m sure it has a lot of history but-- it sounds trendy sort of to me. I’m sorry! I just feel like next to your boys names it kind of clashes in style. I think [name_m]Truman[/name_m] would work really nicely, but it doesn’t work with your last name. Maybe [name_u]Barrett[/name_u] nn Rett? [name_m]Reginald[/name_m]? [name_m]Gregor[/name_m]? [name_m]Ignatius[/name_m]? [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] or [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]? [name_m]Eleazar[/name_m]?
I just didn’t think that Truett was a long-established name since it isn’t even recognized as a first name on nameberry or behindthename, so it feels very modern, on-trend to me.
Yeah…Truett… if you’re going for “formal, long established name” then I’m not feeling it. I definitely get a modern-invented vibe from Truett/[name_u]True[/name_u]. What about:
[name_u]Everett[/name_u] nn [name_m]Rhett[/name_m]
[name_m]Riordan[/name_m] nn [name_u]Rio[/name_u]
[name_m]Dominic[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] nn [name_u]Wally[/name_u]
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] nn [name_m]Wiley[/name_m]
[name_m]Basil[/name_m] nn [name_m]Baz[/name_m]
[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] nn [name_m]Maxim[/name_m] (although, the magazine…)
[name_m]Finnian[/name_m] nn [name_u]Finn[/name_u]
[name_m]Declan[/name_m] nn [name_m]Dex[/name_m]
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m] nn [name_u]Desi[/name_u] or [name_m]Dez[/name_m]
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m] nn [name_f]Rafa[/name_f]
[name_u]Orion[/name_u] nn [name_u]Ori[/name_u]
[name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] nn [name_m]Iggy[/name_m]
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m] nn [name_u]Kai[/name_u]
[name_m]Evander[/name_m] nn [name_u]Van[/name_u]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] nn [name_u]Jaz[/name_u]
Thackery nn Thack
Well, all the men I know named Truett are really old or long dead, so it must be an older name. I’m surprised that nameberry doesn’t have it; I’ve seen it on other naming websites. I agree that it sounds more modern, but I’m okay with that because of the whole old guy thing. It’s Norse and means “dry wood meadow”. I do want to learn more about the history of the name since [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] and [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] have such rich histories.
Thanks for the input!
I’m sorry - I’m not feeling Truett as a first name. Partly this is because I hear “truite”, the [name_m]French[/name_m] word for “trout”, when I hear Truett. Also I’ve mostly heard it as a surname on a TV show and pronounced with quite an unflattering drawl that gives it fifty syllables and makes it hard for me to hear it otherwise.
I also agree that [name_m]Zebulon[/name_m] sounds like you’re trying too hard, and the “-bulon” sounds awkward with your surname.
Truett just reminded me of Avett, as in the Avett Brothers. I’m pretty sure it’s pronounced with a long “a” like [name_u]Avery[/name_u]. Maybe you’d like Avett B0wen, nn [name_f]Ave[/name_f] or [name_m]Ace[/name_m]? The more I think about it, the more I like it! (Aaaaaaand I just realized after this epiphany that you don’t want it to start with A but thought I’d mention it anyway.)
Then, Avett reminded me of [name_u]Everett[/name_u], which could be nicknamed Rett just as easily as Truett.
And THEN, I checked the Nameberry listing for [name_u]Everett[/name_u] and found that it comes from [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m]. [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m] B0wen, nn [name_m]Eb[/name_m], [name_m]Eber[/name_m], [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m], [name_m]Hardy[/name_m]?
I like Truett. It fits in nicely with your children’s name, has an awesome nickname, and has an “old man” feel.
I also like…
[name_m]Gerard[/name_m]- I had [name_m]Gerard[/name_m] on my short list. I love this name. In full it goes really well with all your kids names. I like [name_u]Gerry[/name_u], but that has a different feel than your other kids nn’s. I had someone suggest [name_u]Arden[/name_u] or Ardo as a Nn for [name_m]Gerard[/name_m] once.
[name_m]Winston[/name_m]- I know it clashes with your last name in a sing-song way. But honestly it isn’t a bad thing. Names that are sing-songy are often the most memorable. And I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Winston[/name_m] with your other children! Checks all the requirements besides the last name.
[name_m]Balthazar[/name_m]- [name_u]Love[/name_u]! Has a different feel. Not really old man to me, but I still like it with the others.
[name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m]- I like the unusual. Has the “normal like” nn of [name_m]Eben[/name_m] to fall back on.
"[name_u]Baby[/name_u] Name Predictions: [name_u]True[/name_u]
Speaking of that great oo sound, how ’bout [name_u]True[/name_u]?
The presidential [name_m]Truman[/name_m] is slipping, but reality television boosted [name_f]Truely[/name_f], and a few years ago, a short-lived [name_m]Fox[/name_m] series gave us [name_m]Tru[/name_m] as a girl’s name.
Because they’ve got the right vowel sound, and because American parents are all about virtue names, I do think we’ll hear more of [name_u]True[/name_u] and company in 2015. Keep an eye on:
[name_m]Tru[/name_m] – 36 girls and 65 boys in 2013
[name_u]True[/name_u] – 40 girls and 49 boys in 2013
[name_u]Truth[/name_u] – 14 girls and 39 boys in 2013
[name_u]Truly[/name_u] – 39 girls in 2013
Truett – 107 boys in 2013
Truett is a triple threat. Not only is Truett a member of this fashionable cluster, Truett is also a stylish ends-in-et name. And the recent passing of [name_m]Chick[/name_m]-fil-A founder Truett [name_f]Cathy[/name_f] means that plenty of people are familiar with the name, even if we’ve never heard met a Truett in real life."
Hmm, Avett is interesting, though you’re right, we want to avoid another A name. [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m] is pretty cool, though I think it’s classify it as having an unpleasant meaning! Thanks for the suggestions.
Shannagrace, thanks for your input! We must have similar naming styles; it’s so nice to hear the names we love appreciated by someone- our families were so dismayed by them! [name_m]Winston[/name_m] hasn’t been ruled out completely, we’re just not sure. Thanks!
@bjoy- you’d think after the first two it’d get easier! We do have a similar style in a way. [name_f]Every[/name_f] time you post I’m intrigued because I wish I had gone for a name my family wasn’t fond of. I did in a way, but not the one considered unusual by them. You have a good list going.
A long time love of mine is Grimsby. Or Grimley with the nn Grimm. You should have seen the looks we got… Lol! I also adore [name_m]Aloysius[/name_m] and [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m]!
I love Truett, honestly! I think [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Conrad[/name_m], and Truett are really great together, and I feel like Truett “[name_u]True[/name_u]” fits really well with [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] and [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] “Bash and [name_m]Rad[/name_m]”. It seems like perfection to me. I’ve always adored Truett/Truitt, though.
I like Truett a lot! I think it’s a neat name, one you don’t hear often, but I know it has use as a surname so it’s familiar to a lot of people. I don’t think kids’ names have to match. It wouldn’t be a name I would have guessed for your 4th, but I think it’s nice and refreshing and hits that nickname sweet spot your other kids have!
I’ve always adored Truett/Truitt, though.