Fox William or William Fox?

Boy Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Nameberries! This forum was SO helpful for me turning my top 15 girl names into a top 5 I loved…and then today, of course, we found out we’re having a boy! Haha. Well, we are thrilled, but now I am stuck in a very different naming conundrum. We had our boy name picked out since our honeymoon, but now I am second guessing the order of first and middle name.

Some details - our last name is similar to McKeely. This baby boy will have an older sister named [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_m]Quinlan[/name_m] (her middle is a family surname.)

Here are my pros and cons of each, and I’d [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] opinions!

[name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]

Big sentimental pro - my husband and I picked out this name, in this order, on our honeymoon, so I am very much attached to it. [name_m]Fox[/name_m] is a surname on both sides of our family and we just loved the idea of using it as a first name. We like that it’s a noun like our daughter’s name ([name_f]Rose[/name_f]) and we love that it’s unique but not too crazily out there and that both names have a nature connection. A side bonus is that my husband and I were also huge X Files fans growing up, so we love that connection. Also, my husband really wants to get a tattoo for each of his children and loves the idea of a rose and a fox tattoo. So in a lot of ways, it’s the perfect name. Also, I love the flow of [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m], I just think it sounds nice.

Downsides - I have brought it up to my family in the past when we were TTC and my aunt hates it, like HATES it, and insists he will be teased mercilessly. I tried to explain that names are more adventurous these days, but she is just set on hating it. Also, I know this name will be fine for Los [name_f]Angeles[/name_f], where we live now, but we may move to a more conservative area later, so I guess I worry that maybe he would be teased? And is it too different from [name_f]Rose[/name_f], which is such a classic name? I just am a little unsure.

[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m]

Big sentimental pro - [name_m]William[/name_m] was my father’s name and he died when I was very young, so it would be wonderful to have a child named for him (though having his name in the middle spot would certainly honor him as well!) I do really like the nickname [name_u]Billy[/name_u] for when he’s small (like my dad was called when he was a kid) and [name_m]Will[/name_m] McKeely sounds like a great name when he’s older. [name_u]Billy[/name_u] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] is very cute for a longer nickname type name to call him when he’s little. And it would be nice that both of our children would have family surnames in the middle spot.

Downsides - [name_m]William[/name_m] is SO popular. Like, it’s in the top 5! I really didn’t want a top 100 name for either kiddo, let alone a top 5! I just wish there were a middle ground between a top 5 name and a name in the 700’s, but these are the choices I am attached too, haha! Also, I worry that [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]William[/name_m], though totally classic and wonderful names, might sound a bit boring or stuffy together. But honestly it really comes down to the popularity issue - I just don’t know if I can get past it!

So…what do you think?

[name_m]Fox[/name_m] McKeely or
[name_m]William[/name_m] McKelly ([name_u]Billy[/name_u] McKeely) ?

Thank you SO much for any insight!

2

I am 100% in favor of [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. The pros far outweigh the cons and it has so much meaning to your family.

I actually know a little [name_m]Fox[/name_m] and he is just the sweetest little boy imaginable. No one has ever teased him over his name.

And as for your aunt, it isn’t her child and she can just go ahead and be mad about it. (Honestly though what’s most likely to happen is that she’ll come around and/or quit complaining after he arrives because the name will actually be attached to a living little person that she loves.)

3

I like [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] and I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the connection you have to when it was picked out and it’s a family name. The meaning there is so wonderful. [name_m]William[/name_m] as a middle name still honors your father and flows beautifully.

Tell your Aunt she can name her own babies! That is exactly why I don’t bring up baby names to family before it’s a done deal.

It’s a really cool name with a story. I would go with [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m].

4

Another vote for [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] sounds too FN LN instead of FN MN.

5

I must be in the minority here and vote for [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m]! [name_m]William[/name_m] is a more substantial, proper first name that ages well. Plus, I find the flow of [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] to be a bit choppy/offputting. Moreover, [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]Fox[/name_m] seem like a very “wordy” sibset and the styles don’t match, [name_f]IMO[/name_f].

6

I was thinking the same thing! I like both but prefer [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m].

7

[name_m]William[/name_m] is a more beautiful name imo so i pick [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m].

8

Thanks so much for the feedback, guys! I’m really torn! I can see the pros of both name combos, so I may have to just wait until I meet the little guy and see if he looks like a [name_m]William[/name_m] or a [name_m]Fox[/name_m]. :slight_smile: Thanks again!

9

[name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]! Who cares about the aunt who hates it?! If she loves your son, she’ll grow to love the name.

10

[name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]!
Your only negative for this name is someone else’sopinion which isn’t a very important reason [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
[name_m]Fox[/name_m] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] are super cute together.
I don’t think he would get teased, I think it’s a “cool” name.
I also think once your aunt associates [name_m]Fox[/name_m] with her great nephew she’ll stop hating it.
And [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] has great flow! :slight_smile:

11

I agree that [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] flows a lot better than [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. You can always call him [name_m]Fox[/name_m]. When he grows up he will have the option of using his first or his middle.

12

Have you thought about using [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] on the birth certificate, but to announce his name at birth as…’[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] Mckeely (to be known as [name_m]Fox[/name_m])’…that way, if your son ever wanted to revert back, or use a more formal name, he could. I really love both names regardless of order (I have used both as middles on 2 of my sons), and you could still call him [name_m]Fox[/name_m] either way. Go with your gut.

13

Hey, I remember you!

I think [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] goes better with [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. I’m very biased, though, since my second son is a [name_m]William[/name_m] “[name_m]Will[/name_m]”.

14

I’m really torn. I love the idea of [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] for you because of the story behind it (and I definitely wouldn’t dismiss it because your aunt doesn’t like it… as others have said, it’s not her child to name).

My only concern is that [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]Fox[/name_m] seem a bit mismatched somehow, even though they’re both nature word names. Not sure why it doesn’t sound right to me. Although, perhaps it’s because I currently live in [name_f]England[/name_f], and pubs often have names like [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_m]Fox[/name_m], so that might skew my thinking! :smiley:

The downside to [name_m]William[/name_m] is that it’s very popular and wouldn’t lend itself to a tattoo… plus it’s nice to put honor names in the middle if possible.

Either way, though, you can always call your son by his middle name. So [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] could still be called [name_u]Billy[/name_u], and [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] could still be called [name_m]Fox[/name_m]. I think it’s a good idea to wait until you meet him to decide which name suits him better. Best of luck!

15

Is it a possibility to call him [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m], but call him [name_m]Fox[/name_m]? I think this is the best compromise. It provides him a mature name that he can use professionally, but you still get to call him [name_m]Fox[/name_m]. It seemed from your post that if you used [name_m]William[/name_m] in the first name slot that you’d resort to [name_m]Will[/name_m] or [name_u]Billy[/name_u] as nicknames, which would only work if you loved those names. Because you like [name_m]Fox[/name_m], I think [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m], but calling him [name_m]Fox[/name_m] seems to be the best compromise.

If you are not comfortable with using his middle name as a first name, I’d go with [name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. It still honors his dad, but I think [name_m]Fox[/name_m] is too unique and wonderful to be relegated to the middle name position in favor of [name_m]Will[/name_m] or [name_u]Billy[/name_u].

16

@mill1020 Yes, I remember you too, hello! After two losses trying for a sibling for [name_f]Rose[/name_f], we are here again with our rainbow baby boy due in [name_u]December[/name_u]! <3 I remember you had a William and I do think it sounds nice with Rose! I think I will just have to wait to meet the little guy and see which suits him. :slight_smile:

@cordelia16 That is so funny you mentioned pubs with that name because my husband works in the craft beer industry and has ambitions of opening his own brewpub one day, and one of the reasons he likes Fox and Rose as our children’s names is that he could open a pub in their honor one day and name it that! Haha. So that’s actually an upside for him! (But I am still torn!)

17

Haha, that’s so great! Near us we have a [name_m]Fox[/name_m] & Hounds and a [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & Crown and also a [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & Thistle. I don’t think I’ve seen a [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_m]Fox[/name_m] (or [name_m]Fox[/name_m] & [name_f]Rose[/name_f]) specifically, but it would definitely be a sweet name for a brewpub in that naming tradition!

As I said earlier, I think both names work well… and both can get to the name [name_m]Fox[/name_m] if that’s what you want to call him :slight_smile:

18

[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] is my favorite!! I love it!

19

I’m in the [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] camp only because I prefer the flow of the names in that order. The story about [name_m]Fox[/name_m] is very sweet & I agree w/others to ignore your aunt’s opinion. If she had children, she named them what she wanted to, & you should name your children what you want to. As far as a fox being an easy tattoo, the meaning of [name_m]William[/name_m] is “resolute protector”…a knight or knight’s helmet would be a pretty cool tattoo too. :slight_smile:

20

[name_m]Fox[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]!