Name for Baby #2

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there! Nameberry helped us out a year ago when we were narrowing down our list of 40+ names for our first baby. In [name_f]October[/name_f], we welcomed a son, [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m]. Before we began ttc, we thought we might like ~4 years between kids, but as each month goes by, we feel more and more that we want [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]'s sibling closer in age. We’re now thinking seriously about ttc our second (likely last) child right around [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]'s first birthday. We’re getting ahead of ourselves here, but, just for fun, would you like to weigh in on names for [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]'s little brother or sister?

Our ideas may well change in the next seven months…not to mention the minimum nine months between when we start ttc and when we actually have another little one! However, we agreed on a few favorite names for girls before learning [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]'s sex, and those are still contenders.

My top choice is [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. I’ve loved the name since reading [name_f]Willa[/name_f] Cather’s novels as a tenth-grader, and my partner’s fondness for [name_m]William[/name_m] made him partial to this less common feminization of that ultra-traditional, ever-popular (in my opinion, somewhat vanilla) boy’s name. My partner’s number one is [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], nn [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] or [name_f]Tilda[/name_f], which I think is gentle, pretty, and spunky. We like each other’s choices but are stuck on (a) middle name(s). We gave [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] an honor name in that spot, but will likely go a different route for a girl. Family names aren’t all about style, but we’re not sure about the dated vibe of [name_u]Germaine[/name_u], [name_f]Diane[/name_f], or [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], the overused [name_f]Ann/name_f and [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], and the repeating ends-in-a sounds of either first name combined with [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], or [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]. We’re an outdoorsy bunch, so we thought a nature name might suit, but the only “maybe” we’ve got so far is [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. Suggestions are welcome!

If we have another son, we think we will use [name_m]Lowell[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] or [name_m]Griffin[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] (both following the formula we found worked with [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]: a name we like + a family mn). I’m not sure if Rub-en and [name_m]Griff[/name_m]-in sound too similar to my ear. We have not come up with half as many names or combinations for Boy #2 as we did when we were trying to name [name_m]Ruben[/name_m]. Somehow the shine’s worn off even the shortlisted names we’d tried out for him: no recycling [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_m]Jerome[/name_m], [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m], [name_m]Simon[/name_m], or [name_m]Oskar[/name_m]. We are not yet in love with either of these combinations…maybe it is just because there’s no baby carrying a name yet.

Alrighty! Let us know what you think. I’m sure we’ll go back and forth a million times before next fall, and we’d love to hear your ideas along the way!

I think [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f], and [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] and [name_m]Griffin[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] make for great siblings! I prefer [name_m]Griffin[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] over [name_m]Lowell[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] simply because it has better flow, and feels/sounds better with brother [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] imo. Both names having an -en/in ending doesn’t put me off at all, they still sound great together to me.

Girls names:
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] - I’m sure you’ve probably considered this (or at least skimmed over it) seeing as you’ve got [name_f]Willa[/name_f]…[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] and [name_f]Willow[/name_f] (or [name_f]Willa[/name_f]!) make a great outdoorsy feeling sibset
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Laurel[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] - old-fashioned like [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Fawn[/name_f]/[name_f]Fauna[/name_f], since you like [name_f]Fern[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] - classic, with a hint of nature
[name_u]Ellery[/name_u] - subtle hint of nature (means ‘island with elder trees’) [love the sound of [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] & [name_u]Ellery[/name_u] together!] I like it for a boy or a girl
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] - ‘dove’
[name_f]Jenna[/name_f] - ‘white shadow/white wave’
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f] - ‘princess/to blossom’

Boys:
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u]
[name_m]Nathan[/name_m]/[name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]
[name_m]Koda[/name_m]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_m]Cole[/name_m] (love [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] & [name_m]Cole[/name_m] for brothers!)
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m]
[name_m]Destin[/name_m]
[name_m]Stellan[/name_m] - ‘calm’
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m]
[name_u]Emmett[/name_u] - ‘universal’
[name_u]Barrett[/name_u] - ‘bear strength’
[name_m]Bennett[/name_m] (love)
[name_u]Lennox[/name_u] - ‘elm grove’
[name_m]Fabian[/name_m]
[name_u]Dallas[/name_u]

Pairs:
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_u]Ellery[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_u]Ellery[/name_u] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] [name_f]Dawn[/name_f]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_m]Cole[/name_m] [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] [name_m]Scott[/name_m]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_m]Bennett[/name_m] [name_m]George[/name_m]

Thanks, fullabeans!

I couldn’t help but note that [name_m]Reuben[/name_m] is on your guilty pleasures list - and wanted to say we actually considered Evergreen as a middle name for our little guy. My partner and I fell in love while traveling, and we stayed in a little mountain town called Evergreen for a while, almost for good! If you’re feeling bold if/when the time comes, I think [name_m]Reuben[/name_m] Evergreen deserves serious consideration!

From your suggestions, I’m digging [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], and [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], and if only I could convince my family that [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] should be revived! I love it. For boys, [name_u]Elliott[/name_u] and [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] are interesting…thanks for the food for thought!

Boys:
[name_m]Daniel[/name_m]
[name_u]Lennox[/name_u]
[name_m]Becker[/name_m]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u] (could work for a girl as well)

Girls:
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]/[name_f]Olive[/name_f]/[name_f]Olivet[/name_f]
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f]/[name_f]Valencia[/name_f]
[name_u]Haley[/name_u]

[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_f]Lila[/name_f]

[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] [name_u]Lennox[/name_u]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] & [name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_m]Becker[/name_m]