My maiden name is [name_m]Graham[/name_m]. I have always loved that last name and love that it very clearly identifies my Scottish Heritage. My new last name is [name_u]Bradley[/name_u]. Which I also love (mostly for its simplicity).
When I became pregnant with our first baby, my father’s side of the family all suggested that I use the name [name_m]Graham[/name_m] (they are ALL male and would never have the opportunity - as [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] would be a silly name). I considered it briefly but we ended up having it girl so it didn’t really matter.
Finding a boy name has recently become relevant again. And after hearing the name [name_m]Graham[/name_m] used on the playground - I have firmly decided that that’s the way I want to go.
This leads me to my dilemma. [name_m]Graham[/name_m] is a last name first name and [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] is a first name last name. I love both of these in theory ([name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u]) but I’m not sure what to put in between them.
[name_m]William[/name_m] is a family name and I love it as a middle name - but [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] sounds like I’m talking to three different boys. I have tinkered around a bit with my usual suspects of boy middle name options and have come up with nothing!
I’m concerned - at this point - that I should just go with something else.
To give you a point of reference - I like Scottish names but I also have Irish, English, Welsh, Gaelic and Norwegian names on my list too. My daughter is [name_m]Elwyn[/name_m] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (after her Welsh grandfather, [name_m]Elwyn[/name_m] [name_m]Lemuel[/name_m]).
I really hope you do not reconsider using [name_m]Graham[/name_m] as his first name! It is perfect in that it is so meaningful to you and, bonus, it’s a great name. [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] is lovely. I don’t see a problem with using [name_m]William[/name_m] in the middle. So many boy names are used both as surnames and first names, in fact I’m hard pressed to think of many that don’t do double duty so when we say all three names together (which is very seldom), we do hear three possible first names. He will just be known as [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] to everyone and the only time we typically use all of our names together is on forms, etc. Good luck!
I agree!
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] is a nice, solid name!
I also don’t think [name_m]William[/name_m] in the middle is too much of a problem… Maybe it’s just the “flow” that bothers you?
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]… 2 syllables ending in -am
Maybe something short and punchy would work?
I see what you mean about the full name; but I do think [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] is handsome and sounds great! [name_m]Just[/name_m] that pesky middle name… Maybe something more formal/surname-ish to offset the “first name feel” would make it sound like a solid name all together. (After I started to think of some names I realized that I think you just need to stay away from names ending in -m; I think when it ends in -m like [name_m]Graham[/name_m], it makes the fact that all three names could be first names more obvious)
I love [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u]. So strong and masculine. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though they are both classic names, it sounds very modern to me.
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] is perfectly handsome. Otherwise, I’d maybe choose another Welsh or Scottish name…
Or another family name… [name_u]Love[/name_u] the idea of [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]Lemuel[/name_m], or maybe there’s another relative you’d like to honor?