Hubby and I are expecting our first little one (boy) in June. We settled on Walter Franklin early on, but we have cold feet now! We still love this name but feel that it doesn’t fit with our own names — Shannon & Bradley. Shannon, Bradley, & Walter just doesn’t sound right!
We’d like to find a first name that fits with ours better, and move Walter to the middle name. Walter was my grandfather’s name, and we feel very called to honor him. We’ve considered Grant Walter, Clint Walter, and Reeves Walter, but haven’t fallen in love with any of these options. HELP!!!
I don’t think it’s very common for parents to be concerned about matching a baby’s name with their own. Names vary so dramatically across different generations that it would be a tricky feat. Siblings, yes, but parents … I’m not sure.
[name_u]Walter[/name_u] [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] is a great name, and he’d fit in well with his contemporaries. But if it’s not right for you, how about [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]? It’s equally handsome.
I also like [name_m]Grant[/name_m] [name_u]Walter[/name_u], and I’d suggest [name_u]Reed[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u].
So funny as my FIL is [name_u]Walter[/name_u] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u]! [name_u]Walter[/name_u] is a family name on his side so I’d considered it in the middle. I think the connection and meaning trumps it fitting in with your first names. The [name_m]Walters[/name_m] I know go by Walt/Wally. And there’s the badass connection to Breaking Bad that I think makes it sound fresher than it ever has.
Very rarely do I think peoples babies names match their own, it’s so generational!
I think [name_u]Walter[/name_u] goes fine - he’s a new generation after all!
But, if it doesn’t feel right, how about switching them to [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]? [name_u]Or[/name_u] maybe [name_u]Walker[/name_u] [name_u]Flynn[/name_u]?
I agree with others that his name doesn’t necessarily need to match his parents’ names I’ve even seen so many people choose a name opposite of their own because they wished theirs was that way or whatever (e.g. they had a common name growing up, so they gave their child a more unusual name). I also don’t think Walter is all that different from your names either. We never really thought about our own names when naming our daughter, and for our next, I think we will only consider how it goes with our daughter.
If love the name, go for it! Walter is such a cute name! It’s been one of my top boy names for a while, but I am devastated that I can’t convince my husband to use it. If the only thing holding you back is that it doesn’t match your names, I say go with Walter Franklin
I slightly prefer [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] as the first name if that’s an option and really like [name_m]Reeves[/name_m] too if you come to prefer it.
How about [name_u]Rhodes[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u] [name_u]Franklin[/name_u]? And I really like the pp suggestion of [name_m]Roman[/name_m]!
I’m with everybody else–if [name_u]Walter[/name_u] is what you love (and I think it’s a wonderful name), don’t worry about it not working with yours. Siblings, yes, but not the parents. We’re all at the mercy of what our parents’ style was, and we can’t be expected to match it.
But if you really decide you want a different first name and [name_u]Walter[/name_u] as the middle, here are some ideas:
I love [name_u]Walter[/name_u]! [name_m]Walt[/name_m] is such a handsome nickname! Agree with pp’s that coherence with parents not necessary and usually parents mark out the fashion of the time. So I am on team [name_u]Walter[/name_u]. I don’t like Franklin/ [name_m]Frank[/name_m] nearly as much (and to me [name_u]Walter[/name_u] suits your names more - all friendly, happy names).
I met a guy named [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] nn [name_u]Andy[/name_u] the other day. His wife is [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and their kids are [name_u]Hudson[/name_u] and [name_u]Harper[/name_u]. Kids’ names don’t have to match their parents’ names. They don’t even necessarily have to match siblings’ names. It’s just nice when they do. All that being said, I would go with what you love! [name_u]Walter[/name_u] is an excellent name and it’s sweet to honor family. If you’re set on changing it, I’d go with [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]. [name_u]Super[/name_u] handsome!
What about switching? I like [name_u]Franklin[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u] a lot. But also:
[name_m]Albert[/name_m] [name_u]Walter[/name_u] or [name_m]Albert[/name_m] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]
[name_u]Edward[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u] or [name_m]Eugene[/name_m] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m] [name_u]Walter[/name_u] or [name_u]Finnegan[/name_u] [name_u]Walter[/name_u]
I’ve even seen so many people choose a name opposite of their own because they wished theirs was that way or whatever (e.g. they had a common name growing up, so they gave their child a more unusual name). I also don’t think Walter is all that different from your names either. We never really thought about our own names when naming our daughter, and for our next, I think we will only consider how it goes with our daughter.