My husband and I found out today that our baby is a boy! We are both so excited, he’s due mid-[name_f]April[/name_f]. My husband has asked if we can name our son [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u], after my father-in-law. It’s also my husband’s first name, but he goes entirely by his middle name, [name_u]James[/name_u].
The thing is, I can’t stand the name [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]. Everything about it grates on me. I really, really hate it, so I can’t call my baby that. I’d like a name that is similar enough to [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] so that’s we’d still be honouring my father-in-law, but one I actually like, and that my husband likes too.
Boys names we already both like are;
[name_m]Archer[/name_m]
[name_u]Dorian[/name_u]
[name_m]Basil[/name_m]
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m]
[name_m]Cecil[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucian[/name_m]
[name_m]Roland[/name_m]
This is a little tough. The meaning of [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] isn’t very common, so you can’t even reach out to another name with the same meaning. The only related names I can think of are [name_u]Van[/name_u] and [name_m]Levon[/name_m], which carry different means, are different styles, and from completely different regions.
Other options include just S names. [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_m]Silas[/name_m], [name_m]Samson[/name_m], stand out right now. Another option is to honor his birth month,zodiac sign, favorite past time, etc.
Stick it in the middle! [name_m]Archer[/name_m] [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] would be amazing!! Of course, I actually like [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]…
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_u]Van[/name_u]? Only other ideas I can think of are another [name_u]Van[/name_u] name like [name_m]Donovan[/name_m], or [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m]…which you could say you got from [name_u]Van[/name_u] which comes from [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u].
Of your list of names you both like, I love [name_m]Archer[/name_m], [name_m]Lucian[/name_m], and [name_u]Dorian[/name_u]. Good luck!
I think a little [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] would be adorable! I think it honors [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] with the van part. It’s a stretch but you could do another name with van. [name_m]Donovan[/name_m], [name_m]Ivan[/name_m], [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_u]Devan[/name_u], evander, olivander, evangelo, etc. I would use [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] as a mn.
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] or [name_m]Silvan[/name_m] was my first thought.
Also [name_m]Severin[/name_m] and [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] and maybe [name_m]Stellan[/name_m]?
This might be a really big stretch and really thinking outside of the box but you could consider using the names [name_m]Saul[/name_m] [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. This would be using all of the same letters as [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] (minus 1 L). It also has a similar sound when you use both the first and middle together. [name_m]Louis[/name_m] [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] would also be an option, however you would be an “L” short and have an extra “i”. [name_m]Just[/name_m] something to think about.
I also like [name_m]Archer[/name_m] [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u], and agree that [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] has the same sound as [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]. What about [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]? It doesn’t sound a lot like [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u], but it is a long S name and ends with an. My vote goes to [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. What about [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] [name_m]Cecil[/name_m]?
In all honesty, I hate [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] so much I couldn’t even thole it in the middle spot.
We both love [name_m]Silvan[/name_m] and [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] as alternatives though, but I’d be worried about [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] being mispronounced. I also love [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], bur DH says he doesn’t see the connection.