See the results of this poll: Which name? Help!
Respondents: 54 (This poll is closed)
- Theodore Ridley James Bell : 26 (48%)
- Alexander Ridley James Bell : 5 (9%)
- James Ridley Bell : 21 (39%)
- Other: 2 (4%)
I love all three names but I chose [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] because the Rs run together for me in [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u].
Thanks so much!
What about without the middle names? Which name would be your preference with just the first and last name?
I love that you’re going with [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]! I would choose [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]. The ending -er of [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] runs into the R of [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]. [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] runs slightly, but it’s not that bad.
I voted [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u], but I love the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], as well. I think [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] sounds better than [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u]. It flows a bit better, [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
Personally, [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u] reminds me too much of [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u]. haha That was the first thing that popped into my head when I read that, so for me [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] would be a no go.
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you picture a little [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] or [name_u]James[/name_u]?
Also my husband just threw [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] at me and says it’s his favourite now. What are your thoughts on [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u]?
Thank you all for your comments, we need all the help we can get!
I voted Theodore Ridley Bell. I love the sound of Alexander Bell, but as @chelsanne brought up it reminds me of Alexander Graham Bell. I prefer Theodore to James because both James and Bell are one syllable in length.
Edit: I like Rupert Bell, but I think that Rupert Ridley Bell may be just a tad too much. However, since Ridley is a family name I think it is ok.
Thanks!
I still can’t decide. I really like all three names, but I don’t know which one I can picture on my son.
Ahhh naming boys is hard!
I love the nickname [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] for [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and I love the way it looks, but not sure if it sounds as nice (although that may be because I’ve been saying it SO much) Is it too trendy and will it date badly (in the U.K.)? Is [name_m]Edward[/name_m] better for the [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] nn?
[name_u]James[/name_u] is timeless and is also my DH grandfathers name, but is it too plain and simple? No good nicknames?
And I’ve always had a soft spot for [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and think it’s also pretty classic. DH is a scientist so the [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u] link isn’t an issue really (I find it quite cool) but this is my DH least favourite and I’m not so keen on the nn [name_u]Alex[/name_u].
Please keep opinions coming! They are needed! Does anyone have any suggestions?
And ignore middle names for now, I think I need to find babybells first name before worrying about anything else. Getting ahead of myself as usual!
Maybe take a step back from these names for a couple days. They’re all lovely but maybe they’re wearing on you from overthinking. As for [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], he could always go by [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] or [name_u]Theo[/name_u] as he gets older. I think it’s a very sweet name! [name_u]James[/name_u] is timeless but so handsome. Is it important to you to have nickname options? [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]Bell[/name_u] has a great flow. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_u]Jem[/name_u], [name_u]Jay[/name_u] or [name_u]Jamie[/name_u]? I’d leave [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] out since it’s not your DH’s fave.
I like them all, but I particularly love the combo [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u]! My only hesitation with [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is the well-known American inventor, [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u], who invented the telephone. I am not sure I’ve ever heard him referred to as anything other than [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u], but I’m still wondering if you’ll get comments for [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u]? I don’t know how well-known he is outside of the US, but he’s a fairly familiar figure to American children in history classes, etc.
I would probably vote for [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] next, just because I love the nns [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] and [name_u]Theo[/name_u] (and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] is almost as charming as [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]!). I think just [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] is nice, too, but if you want two middles, I think my favorite between [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] vs. [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] would be [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m].
Good luck!
ETA: [name_m]Just[/name_m] noticed you’re not concerned with the [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u] thing, so [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] sounds perfect to me! I am not keen on [name_u]Alex[/name_u], either, but there are so many other great nicknames–Skandar, [name_u]Sasha[/name_u], [name_m]Xander[/name_m], etc.–so that wouldn’t put me off in the slightest. 
[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]!
[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] is fantastic!
Out of the three first name candidates, my favorite is [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], but I agree with others that the [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bell[/name_u] association is a bit strong for my taste, so my second choice would be [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]. If you do use both middle names, I suggest going in the order of [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] instead. Not only would [name_u]James[/name_u] break up the “r” sounds at the end of [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and the beginning of [name_u]Ridley[/name_u], but [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] is so surname-y that it makes the combo seem like it is made of two different peoples’ names ([name_m]Theodore[/name_m]/[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Ridley[/name_u] and [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Bell[/name_u]) instead of a cohesive whole name combo.
Since it seems like we have very similar style in boys’ names, here are a few more of my favorites: [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Dominic[/name_m], [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Gregory[/name_m], [name_m]Julian[/name_m], [name_m]Timothy[/name_m], [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m], and [name_m]Anthony[/name_m].
Thanks for all the replies!
I think we have narrowed it down to [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], and he will only have one middle name - [name_u]Ridley[/name_u]. I just feel that he needs more than a one syllable first name with the surname [name_u]Bell[/name_u] and the second middle name doesn’t add anything.
I still can’t decide between them though.
Is there anything (other than the [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] graham bell reference and that the “r’s” run slightly) that would make you choose one over the other? I love them equally and need to choose!
I would go with [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]. [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is a bit “meh” to me. I’ve known more Alexanders than I can count, but only one [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]!