Expecting baby boy #2 in a few weeks and struggling to settle on a name that we love. Our first is [name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_u]Francis[/name_u]. We like strong, classic names, literary/saintly, with a warm/friendly feel and it would be great if they are meaningful. Names we are considering:
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]- Our first was almost [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], but I felt unsure about the nicknames. I think [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] is sweet for a little boy, but hate the nickname Ted so don’t want it to get shortened to that. Not sure about [name_u]Theo[/name_u] (maybe a little too Greek for me?); we also have a nephew named [name_m]Leo[/name_m] which also feels a bit close (especially since our son loves saying “[name_m]Leo[/name_m]” and his favorite book has a [name_m]Leo[/name_m]). I like that the name means “gift of God” and [name_m]Fyodor[/name_m] Dostoevsky is a favorite author of mine so that’s special.
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]- A family name; I think [name_m]Archie[/name_m] or [name_m]Art[/name_m] is cute and has the warmness I’m going for, but I don’t think my husband is crazy about those nicknames. I’m a little concerned the name has too dorky of a feel. [name_m]Le[/name_m] Morte d’[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is a book I hope my boys will love!
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m]- The name is meaningful as the recent pope is a spiritual hero of mine and Much [name_f]Ado[/name_f] About Nothing is probably my favorite [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] play. We have a nephew with the name though so that’s a hesitation, but I think it bothers us more than it would bother his parents (he also goes by [name_m]Benny[/name_m], which we wouldn’t use). Perhaps a middle name?
[name_m]William[/name_m]- I know several [name_m]Henry[/name_m]/[name_m]William[/name_m] sibling pairs and I think the names go really well together (if it was good enough for [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Diana[/name_f]!), but I almost feel like it’s too common. [name_m]Will[/name_m] is the nickname we’d use. And [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]!
Other names we like, but might not work: [name_m]Peter[/name_m] (love it, but I worry he’d get made fun of because he’d have a first and last name that have a certain association); [name_m]Charles[/name_m]/[name_u]Charlie[/name_u] (I hesitate on this one as I know a girl with a son named [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] and the name is so popular, also not sure about the “ee” ending of [name_m]Henry[/name_m]/[name_u]Charlie[/name_u], and I suppose even [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] for that reason. We also like the name [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] for a girl); [name_m]Louis[/name_m] (perhaps as a middle name, shortly dated a guy with the name so not sure about that, but also a meaningful name to my husband as it is his godfather’s name); [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]; [name_m]Edward[/name_m]; [name_m]George[/name_m] (a great name, but I love [name_f]Kate[/name_f] and don’t want to be a copy-cat especially if we do have a [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]).
There’s our list! Grateful for thoughts and suggestions!
Suggestions: Simon, [name_m]Leon[/name_m], [name_m]Lewis[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_m]Archibald[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Julius[/name_m], [name_m]Anthony[/name_m], [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]/[name_m]Maximus[/name_m]/[name_m]Maximillian[/name_m], [name_u]August[/name_u], [name_m]Percival[/name_m], [name_m]Philip[/name_m], [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m], [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] “[name_f]Thaddie[/name_f]”, [name_m]Sigmund[/name_m], [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_m]Lars[/name_m], [name_m]Lance[/name_m], [name_m]Atticus[/name_m], [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] “[name_m]Alec[/name_m]/[name_u]Alex[/name_u]”, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], Emil(e)
I know a [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] who goes by [name_m]Todd[/name_m], one who goes by Teddo or [name_f]Dodo[/name_f] and one who goes by [name_m]Thor[/name_m]
I really like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], and I dont find it nerdy/dorky at all! I would suggest something like [name_m]Artek[/name_m] or [name_m]Arto[/name_m] or [name_m]Artair[/name_m] which have nicknames your husband might like but they don’t seem like your kind of names
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m] is nice, but I personally wouldnt use it because of your nephew
[name_m]William[/name_m] is really popular but so is [name_m]Henry[/name_m] so I think it would work. Plus, nn [name_m]Will[/name_m] is adorable!
I like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_m]Edward[/name_m], and [name_m]George[/name_m] the best. I also like [name_u]August[/name_u] as a more accessible version of [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] with nickname [name_u]Gus[/name_u]. I don’t think [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is any dorkier than [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] or [name_m]Charles[/name_m], and I don’t think it needs a nickname. [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] is cute but I wouldn’t want to repeat a nephew’s name.
Suggestions:
[name_u]August[/name_u] nn [name_u]Gus[/name_u]
[name_m]Bennett[/name_m] (for [name_m]Benedict[/name_m])
[name_m]Edmund[/name_m]
[name_u]James[/name_u] nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m]
[name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m]
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]
[name_m]Trevor[/name_m]
Thanks for the suggestions! I do feel like I’m leaning between [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], although I haven’t ruled out [name_m]William[/name_m]/[name_m]Will[/name_m].
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think the “ee” ending is too much, say if we have a [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and an [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] or “[name_m]Archie[/name_m]”, or [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and a [name_u]Teddy[/name_u]?
You have chosen most excellent name! Any would work fabulouosly with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t worry about nicknames just yet. They seem to come naturally and fittingly after the baby is born and may even change several times throughout childhood. My faves are:
If you like the nickname [name_m]Archie[/name_m], would you consider [name_m]Archer[/name_m] as a formal name? [name_m]Henry[/name_m] & [name_m]Archer[/name_m]?
In labor, still trying to settle on the name! We were/are pretty close to settling on [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m], but are thinking about [name_m]Louis[/name_m], pronounced [name_m]Louie[/name_m]…any thoughts/favorites?
Congratulations and good luck! I personally prefer [name_m]Louis[/name_m] to [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], particularly with big brother [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Louis[/name_m] are perfect as brothers.
