Thank you!! I wondered if [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] Townes is too surnamey? Would love your thoughts, because I enjoy that combo myself. [name_u]Asa[/name_u] [name_u]Gray[/name_u] is cool too - but I think I Would be so sad to let go of [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] that I’d at least want it as a middle.
As for [name_m]Boden[/name_m]…I considered that too but wondered if it would be too associated with the clothing brand? Not sure!
[name_m]Rafferty[/name_m] & [name_m]Archer[/name_m] I love from your list, but my husband has not ever come around to either sadly!
I know what you mean with the hesitation around [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m]. I’m currently having this exact debate in my mind, so I am so glad you posted. I will be interested to see what you eventually decide on. When are you due? (I am due early Sept.) We already have a middle name decided on, so for us it is either first name or not at all.
To me [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] feels sophisticated, a bit difficult to say (that’s the feedback I’ve gotten from a few people, especially non-native English speakers)…I like it but I’m torn! It’s still currently our top choice right now.
I also want to add that I absolutely understand your decision not to use [name_u]River[/name_u]. Since you and I have similar naming styles, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that I also considered [name_u]River[/name_u] and although I love nature-inspired gender-neutral names in theory, many are not “truly” gender-neutral. I am hesitant to give my son a name that is significantly over-represented by girls only because I don’t want him to experience any negativity. This is why I decided not to use my favourite name ([name_u]Juniper[/name_u]) for my son even though I think it would be a great name for any gender. I find that the more infrequently-used nature names (e.g. [name_u]Cedar[/name_u]) are less likely to have tipped in either direction due to the small numbers. Of course that can change in the future but for now there seem to be a relatively equal (albeit very small) number of girl and boy [name_u]Cedar[/name_u] babies.
I’m so glad I found this thread, because I totally understand your dilemma with [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m]…I am going through the same thing right now as we try to pick a name for our son due in Sept. It’s currently our top choice but I’m not feeling it 100% yet and I’m not sure why. As I mentioned, to me it feels familiar and not too “out-there” (maybe because I’m so used to hearing it as a surname), but I was surprised to see how few babies are given it as a first name. Two non-native English speakers have told me it is difficult to pronounce, and a few other friends have said it feels “harsh” our “tough” (maybe the “thorn”). Someone also told me it sounds like a name that’s “trying too hard.”
To my ears, it feels distinguished and sophisticated - but almost too much so? I suspect using one of the nicknames (e.g. [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] or [name_m]Thor[/name_m]) would help tone it down while they are young.
I look forward to seeing other comments and ultimately learning what you decide! (When are you due?)
As a side note, I totally understand not wanting to use [name_u]River[/name_u]. Given that we have similar naming styles, you won’t be surprised to hear that I considered [name_u]River[/name_u] as well. In theory I think most nature names can be used for any gender, but the fact is that there are very few names which are “actually” gender neutral in practice, and I am hesitant to place that baggage onto my son even if I personally am okay with it (especially given that the names I like are somewhat uncommon to begin with). This is why I decided not to use my favourite name for my son - [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. I find that less-frequently used names (like [name_u]Cedar[/name_u]) have yet to go one way or the other, so at least for the time being there is no clear gender assumption, which I like. (There seem to be a relatively equal, albeit small, number of boy and girl Cedars.) I do find [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] to feel more masculine.
@lubru - The first of the last two posts got blocked by the spam filter, which I approved. It appears to be similar (but not identical) to the second attempt (which was successful), so I’m leaving both posts (unless you want one deleted).
[name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] “[name_m]Hawk[/name_m]”- braver than Georiga but [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] goes well with [name_m]Wilder[/name_m]. Definitely has a southern whimsy to it.
[name_u]Asa[/name_u] “[name_m]Ace[/name_m]”- I personally dont like the sound and find it hard to pronounce. What do you think of [name_m]Axel[/name_m], [name_m]Asher[/name_m], Acer?
[name_u]Grady[/name_u] “[name_u]Gray[/name_u]”- I like this one with your sibset the best
Thanks for your insight! [name_m]Asher[/name_m] is VERY popular where we are and I’m honestly kind of over it simply because I hear it so much! [name_m]Axel[/name_m] is a bit too rock n roll for our tastes… I don’t typically go for “A” names, but I like [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] and [name_m]Archer[/name_m], though both got the hubby veto!
You’re probably right with [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] Townes . Though kid would be set for an actor or an author or something i fell like they would probably end up shortening it.
[name_u]Asa[/name_u] [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] would be just as cool as [name_u]Asa[/name_u] [name_u]Gray[/name_u]
and although I love nature-inspired gender-neutral names in theory, many are not “truly” gender-neutral. I am hesitant to give my son a name that is significantly over-represented by girls only because I don’t want him to experience any negativity. This is why I decided not to use my favourite name ([name_u]Juniper[/name_u]) for my son even though I think it would be a great name for any gender. I find that the more infrequently-used nature names (e.g. [name_u]Cedar[/name_u]) are less likely to have tipped in either direction due to the small numbers. Of course that can change in the future but for now there seem to be a relatively equal (albeit very small) number of girl and boy [name_u]Cedar[/name_u] babies.