[name]Harper[/name] has always been my top choice for a boy or girl name all my life – it’s a family name on my Grandfather’s side. However, now that it’s such a popular Girls’ name, we’ve decided we really need to take that into consideration for our boy and the current context so are looking at other favorites.
Any thoughts on the below? We are really liking [name]Archer[/name]. Not too out there, not too common. We also like the “er” sound from [name]Harper[/name] so feel like this is a good 2nd choice. If it matters, [name]Reid[/name] and [name]Wilson[/name] are family names, we just like how [name]William[/name] sounds. Our last name has 2 syllables.
[name]Archer[/name] [name]Reid[/name] is very handsome-- I like how the Rs reinforce each other-- and it’s the best option for a 2-syllable last name (you get 2-1-2 syllable flow, which is optimal).
[name]Harper[/name] would be best in the mn spot for a boy these days. [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name] sounds very nice. Very smart.
[name]Reid[/name] is really sweet. Have you considered it as a fn?
Some names you might like:
[name]Asher[/name]
[name]Decker[/name]
[name]Jagger[/name]
[name]Sawyer[/name]
[name]Ryder[/name]
[name]Casper[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Prosper[/name]
[name]Vander[/name] (means archer)
[name]Rhys[/name]/[name]Reece[/name]/[name]Reese[/name]
[name]Harding[/name]
[name]Harley[/name]
[name]Harlen[/name]
[name]Harrison[/name]
[name]Harmon[/name]
I wouldn’t let some girls scare me from using [name]Harper[/name]. It’s a great name that works for boys and has family significance. Really, how many have you met in real life? I’ve met zero. Plus [name]Archer[/name] could just as easily gain popularity with the girls. And then what? Drop it and find another? When does it stop?
I say stick with [name]Harper[/name] as the fn, or go with [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name] and call him [name]Harper[/name]
[name]Archer[/name] [name]Reid[/name] gets my vote. You could always go with the nn [name]Archie[/name]! [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name] is very strong, too.
[name]Fletcher[/name]! I keep offering [name]Fletcher[/name] as an alternative to [name]Archer[/name], but I don’t think many people (maybe even myself) see it as an option. It feels sort of trendy and [name]Fletch[/name] sounds like a dog. But a really handsome [name]Fletcher[/name] could pull it off for sure.
[name]William[/name] is fantastic. It’s a family name for me too and I would use it in a heartbeat.
I really like [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name]! Or save [name]Harper[/name] for a girl. But I think it’s great to use [name]Harper[/name] on a boy although I understand the reservation to keep it in the middle spot. The thing about [name]Archer[/name] as a fn is it rules out [name]Harper[/name] for a future girl, just something to consider (maybe you did already). I also really like [name]Reid[/name] [name]Harper[/name] if you’d consider that. Of the [name]Archer[/name] combos I like [name]Archer[/name] [name]William[/name] best.
I like [name]Archer[/name] [name]Reid[/name] best, then [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name]. I understand your hesitance to use [name]Harper[/name]…it was my favorite at the beginning of my last pregnancy and now I’m so glad I didn’t use it for our daughter. The popularity kept rising as the months went by, then the whole [name]Neil[/name] [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Harris[/name] babies came along and that was the last straw. I know of several little Harpers now so I’m extremely thankful we let go of it.
My maiden name was archer, and I will say that there are some interesting slang/social commentary that can be made from the name. Not that any name is fool proof but as someone who had the name I wanted to let you know.
Of the four you listed I prefer [name]William[/name] [name]Harper[/name]. Have you thought of using [name]William[/name] [name]Reid[/name], since you both like how [name]William[/name] sounds and [name]Reid[/name] is a family name?
My vote would be for either [name]Archer[/name] [name]Reid[/name] or [name]William[/name] [name]Archer[/name]. But then again, if you love [name]Harper[/name], stick with it!
Are you done having children after this boy? If so is using an-er name eliminating [name]Harper[/name] for any future girl…or boy once [name]Harper[/name] dies down as a girl name?
