It's the Final Countdown!

Similar to many other threads, we are nearing D-[name_u]Day[/name_u], the launch codes are imputed, almost ready to fire, but we are lacking the fuel to fire and commit to a name.

We’re a bit of an odd couple, want our kids to be one of a kind and a name to go with it.

Already have one son, [name_m]Archer[/name_m], which at the time was rare and unique. Named for a family member [name_m]Archibald[/name_m]. But we’re a little disappointed that it’s now trending.

Now a second son is on the way, we’d like a name that’s unlikely to ever be a top 100. But not hipster that’d will look too trendy at some point.

Also our last name is a female first name, so it’s important to offset with a stronger sounding first name.

The list as it stands with a month to go…

[name_u]Dane[/name_u] - safe choice, not crazy but not common

[name_m]Hardy[/name_m] - nickname first name, family ties, would prefer a name that gets us to the nn, but don’t like them. Ex. [name_m]Gerhard[/name_m], [name_m]Reinhard[/name_m], [name_m]Leonhard[/name_m].

[name_m]Anders[/name_m] - Really like it, really don’t like the nn [name_u]Andy[/name_u]. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t want to tell ppl to not call him [name_u]Andy[/name_u].

Barenger - [name_m]Uber[/name_m] unique, like nn [name_m]Bear[/name_m] and Baren, may be awkward and we get incredibly mixed opinions on it.

[name_m]Leif[/name_m] - I like a lot, She doesn’t.

[name_m]Dax[/name_m] - She likes a lot, I don’t.

Likely to choose one of these with another as a middle name. [name_m]Will[/name_m] have a second middle name, [name_m]Von[/name_m]. Last name is K.

Ex. [name_m]Anders[/name_m] [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] [name_m]Von[/name_m] K

Any of these horrible? Any combinations you’d avoid? Any you think will be a popular name in the future? [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t hold back. Won’t take Offence.

Cheers and thanks for the opinions.

[name_u]Dane[/name_u] is an awesome name. #1

Second choice [name_m]Dax[/name_m]. If what about [name_u]Rex[/name_u]?

My favourites are [name_m]Anders[/name_m] and [name_m]Dax[/name_m] and they come across as strong names to me. You like [name_m]Anders[/name_m] and I’m wondering if [name_m]Angus[/name_m] (nn [name_u]Gus[/name_u]) appeals to you as it has a similar sound? I wouldn’t want [name_u]Andy[/name_u] as a nn for [name_m]Anders[/name_m] either and I wonder if you always called him [name_m]Anders[/name_m], if you could avoid the [name_u]Andy[/name_u] nn? Not sure. I like [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] as a mn. Maybe…

[name_m]Breck[/name_m]
[name_m]Merrick[/name_m]
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u]

There’s this website that shows you a chart of how popular a name is becoming do you can gauge which ones are going to be trendy - here’s that http://rhiever.github.io/baby-name-explorer/index.html?BabyName=frank

My favorites from your list are [name_u]Dane[/name_u] and [name_m]Leif[/name_m]. I actually met a kid named [name_m]Leif[/name_m] recently and it fit him very well.

[name_m]Hardy[/name_m] - I like the name, but also prefer it as a nickname. Although they’re not obvious full names for [name_m]Hardy[/name_m], [name_m]Richard[/name_m] and [name_m]Shephard[/name_m] could work.

[name_m]Anders[/name_m] - [name_m]Anders[/name_m] is a fine name, but really not my style. There’s always the nickname Ders, which I stole from Workaholics and might actually be worse than [name_u]Andy[/name_u]. Anyways, [name_m]Anders[/name_m] is short enough that it doesn’t need a nickname, and if you told people not to call him [name_u]Andy[/name_u], they’d stop.

Barenger - I’m not completely sure how I feel about this name. The nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m] is cool. If I met a Barenger I would assume it was an old family name. I don’t see anything wrong with it, it has a good sound and the nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m] makes it familiar.

[name_m]Dax[/name_m] - [name_m]Dax[/name_m] is cool, but I personally prefer [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] or [name_m]Dex[/name_m]. X names are on trend right now, and [name_m]Dax[/name_m] is moving up fast recently, so I’d watch out for this one.

I like [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] and [name_m]Anders[/name_m] but I can see why you want to avoid them.

I think these names fit your style too:
[name_u]Calder[/name_u]
[name_m]Delmer[/name_m]
[name_m]Fletcher[/name_m]
[name_m]Abner[/name_m]
[name_m]Orson[/name_m]
[name_m]Baron[/name_m]
[name_m]Barnhard[/name_m]
[name_m]Brecken[/name_m]
[name_m]Cannon[/name_m]
[name_m]Otto[/name_m]

[name_u]Love[/name_u] your all’s choices!! [name_m]Archer[/name_m] is a very cool name, I’ve never met an [name_m]Archer[/name_m] so it’s not THAT trendy :slight_smile:
I actually totally dig Barenger. It’s a surname that I know of (though I’ve seen it spelled Barringer). I think [name_m]Archer[/name_m] and [name_m]Bear[/name_m] are great together. If that’s a little too out there for you, I’d suggest using it in the middle. My other favorites are [name_u]Dane[/name_u] (very cool!), [name_m]Leif[/name_m] and [name_m]Anders[/name_m]. I’ve only heard [name_m]Anders[/name_m] pronounced ahn-ders (first syllable sounds like “on”) so I don’t think it’s easily shortened to [name_u]Andy[/name_u] since the sounds are different.

I wouldn’t use [name_m]Lief[/name_m] or [name_m]Anders[/name_m] they sound softer than most of your other picks and you said you wanted a stronger sounding first name. I also feel like [name_m]Archer[/name_m] and [name_m]Anders[/name_m] are just too similar to one another.

[name_u]Dane[/name_u] - Solid pick, not the most exciting but if you love it than it’s a great pick
[name_m]Hardy[/name_m] - I really like this. I feel like it meets your criteria and is awesome with brother [name_m]Archer[/name_m].
Barenger - I don’t like this name but I love the nickname options. [name_m]Archer[/name_m] and [name_m]Bear[/name_m] is completely perfect.
[name_m]Dax[/name_m] - I grew up with a [name_m]Dax[/name_m] and always thought it was a cool name, his older siblings were Opie and [name_f]Mindy[/name_f] so I have always seen this in a retro light.

My top picks would be [name_m]Hardy[/name_m], [name_u]Dane[/name_u] and [name_m]Bear[/name_m].

I love [name_u]Dane[/name_u] and [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] and would love to see a [name_m]Bear[/name_m] nn in there! Have you considered names that mean bear ex [name_m]Orson[/name_m], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (too close for brother [name_m]Archer[/name_m]!), [name_m]Bernard[/name_m] etc.

You have a great list, good luck!

We greatly appreciate the well thought out and invite full feedback thus far. It has been helpful.

Also some fair alternatives listed, many that were on the longer list.

So far the learnings.

[name_m]Leif[/name_m] and [name_m]Dax[/name_m] are pretty much out. [name_m]Anders[/name_m] likely relegated to middle name consideration.

Front runners [name_u]Dane[/name_u], [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] or something that gets to the nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m].

I love [name_u]Dane[/name_u] but I do really like the idea of [name_m]Archer[/name_m] & [name_m]Bear[/name_m].

Ideas:

[name_u]Oberon[/name_u]/[name_u]Auberon[/name_u] - [name_m]German[/name_m] for “noble/bearlike”

[name_u]Barrett[/name_u] - [name_m]German[/name_m] for “bear strength”

[name_m]Berold[/name_m] - English “bear rule” - does this rhyme with [name_m]Harold[/name_m]? very unusual for sure.

I really like Barenger but I think I’d spell it differently…maybe Barringer or Berenger.

I do kindof like [name_m]Berenger[/name_m]. At least it is unique for sure!
I would suggest [name_m]Everard[/name_m]/[name_m]Everhard[/name_m] it’s way off the charts and is another way to get to [name_m]Hardy[/name_m]. The [name_u]Ever[/name_u] beginning makes it sound a little more trendy though.

Some other unusual strong boys’ names:

[name_m]Tolliver[/name_m]
[name_m]Vero[/name_m]
[name_m]Brant[/name_m]
[name_m]Brand[/name_m]
[name_m]Bard[/name_m]
[name_m]Caedmon[/name_m]
[name_m]Rosh[/name_m]
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m]
[name_m]Bruin[/name_m]
[name_m]Arye[/name_m]

Update, we are leaning towards one of [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] or [name_m]Baron[/name_m]. 3 weeks to go. We will see if we change our minds.

[name_m]Baron[/name_m] gets my vote there but I think they are both really great and unexpected options.

I would go [name_m]Baron[/name_m] out of those two. [name_m]Archer[/name_m] and [name_m]Baron[/name_m] are a strong sounding sib set!

[name_m]Hardy[/name_m] is an awesome, strong classic name. I’m not keen on [name_u]Dane[/name_u], reminds me of [name_m]Dwayne[/name_m], [name_m]Wayne[/name_m] etc…

[name_m]Baron[/name_m] ___ [name_m]Von[/name_m] K is a very strong noble sounding name.

I love [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] and Barenger

Maybe Hardrich, [name_m]Eberhard[/name_m], [name_m]Richard[/name_m], or [name_m]Shephard[/name_m]

[name_u]Dane[/name_u] [name_m]Anders[/name_m] [name_m]Von[/name_m] K
[name_m]Dax[/name_m] [name_m]Anders[/name_m] [name_m]Von[/name_m] K

[name_m]Archer[/name_m] for a brother I would avoid [name_m]Anders[/name_m] as a first so you don’t get stuck in a name trend, don’t ever choose a name for the first mom doesn’t like :wink: save her unnecessisary post partem grief. [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] & Barenger are just a bit difficult to feel namey - love [name_m]Bear[/name_m] but archer & [name_m]Bear[/name_m] :-/ avoid another clear word/profession I would say. [name_m]Anders[/name_m] [name_m]Von[/name_m] K I think is great though and a nice short one or 2 syllable name could be nice before it. We considered [name_m]Dax[/name_m] and like it but moved away from it for a few reasons, favoring [name_m]Ward[/name_m] a bit now if that helps . Congrats on a second son!

[name_m]Just[/name_m] read your update, [name_m]Baron[/name_m] __ [name_m]Von[/name_m] K reminds me of something and I’m not sure what but its like a super villain or something :wink: [name_m]Hardey[/name_m] ___[name_m]Von[/name_m] K I can be more on board with, the hardy boys are a great way to prove to people who don’t feel its so namey - [name_m]Harding[/name_m] is another idea or [name_u]Barrett[/name_u] ? Other ideas

[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]
[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m]
[name_u]Dexter[/name_u]
[name_u]Madigan[/name_u]
[name_m]Severus[/name_m]
[name_u]Clancy[/name_u]
[name_m]Benji[/name_m]
Jameis (jame-iss)
[name_m]Olaf[/name_m]
[name_u]Sonny[/name_u]
[name_m]Rogan[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonas[/name_m]/[name_m]Jonah[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]/[name_m]Judah[/name_m]
[name_m]Hyatt[/name_m]
[name_m]Milo[/name_m]
[name_u]Curtis[/name_u]