Protector/Defender + Tricky Pronunciations + Combos

Boy Names
1

Looking for some thoughts for baby brother arriving in [name_f]September[/name_f]. I feel so restless until I have his name chosen, literally losing sleep over it.

Big brother is [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] (fortunate protector, family middle) chosen partially for literary connections, partially because it’s a less popular name/nickname potential (which we haven’t really used!). Surname is very german sounding, two syllables, starting with a K so names that end in “c” “ck” sounds are, sadly, out for me.

The meaning of names is VERY important to me, and I’d like to possibly stay with the same theme of protector/defender or maybe peace. However, I really like a boy’s name that’s “whimsical” or has some sort of “fairy tale” or legendary quality. We are about 50/50 Irish [name_m]German[/name_m] on both sides of the family. My preference would be for a name beginning with a vowel other than “e”, but as you can see, I have many other listed.

Possible firsts:
[name_m]Alistair[/name_m] (or spelling variant)… somewhat difficult pronunciation for Midwesterners. Would [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] & [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] make us sound like major anglophiles? We’re not… just like classic sounding names.
[name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] – partially because of the recent hero in the news, but was already on my radar, great meaning, but extremely difficult/controversial pronunciation. I’ve read and watched a lot of YouTube videos of how people with this name pronounce it. It’s a really special name though. My husband is hesitant but can typically be convinced. :slight_smile:
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u] not my favorite meaning but has a lot of the other things I’m looking for. Has a great background.
[name_m]Otto[/name_m] Cool name, also not my favorite meaning (wealthy)… I’m afraid it would sound excessively [name_m]German[/name_m] with our last name.
[name_m]Augustine[/name_m] Like it a lot, doesn’t quite fit with some of my other ideals, but I’m also a big fan of St.[name_m]Augustine[/name_m]
[name_m]Albert[/name_m] Possible… [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] & [name_m]Albert[/name_m] again sounds like a major anglophile trend which makes me nervous about any future children (this is probably not the last… hopefully)… it’s also my grandpa’s name and numerous cousins have it as a middle. I think this is at the bottom of our possibilities, but I do love that I know zero children with the name, and I like nn [name_m]Albie[/name_m].


Possible middles:
[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] – [name_u]Tristan[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]? [name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]? I would still have the protector of man meaning in it somewhere. [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] (too long???)
[name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] – I know may be more manageable as a middle.

Flexible on middles. If I choose something more adventurous for a first, I’d rather a more subdued middle. Or vice versa.

Back-up names
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] I like it. Like the meaning, but a little comical to my ear.
[name_m]Oscar[/name_m] I like it. But I prefer [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], which I won’t use due to its rampant popularity. And it’s nearly as popular…
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] I’m a fan of [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] combo. Husband isn’t quite so sure.
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m] I like it… just doesn’t quite feel like the name.

Can’t use:

[name_m]Oliver[/name_m] popularity… it’s a huge favorite with me, but I know soooo many little Olivers. None closely, but peripherally. Could I just suck it up and use it???
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] I guess this one is just unsure.
[name_u]Max[/name_u] Can’t come to terms with a one syllable name. Not a fan of any of the more formal versions.
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m] the ending makes it sound like an awful run-on with our surname. It’s my #1 favorite name though because it’s kind of a combo of my maiden name…
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]/[name_u]Charlie[/name_u][name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], not crazy about [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. Won’t use a nickname as a first.
[name_u]Rory[/name_u] (or variant) Rhymes with my name
[name_m]Keane[/name_m] (or variant) Too close to my husband’s name.

What would your favorite combo be or just any general feedback is welcome as I do not share possible names with friends/family? Thanks for any comments. :slight_smile:

2

I’m a Midwest gal and know an [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] who has zero problems with people saying it right. [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] [name_m]Ronan[/name_m] would be my pick off your list.

3

I think [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] is a great choice! I’ve never heard of [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u], but I looked up the YouTube for how to pronounce it and I do like it. Very original! I also really like [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]. I tried to convince DH some [name_m]Augustus[/name_m]/[name_u]August[/name_u]/[name_m]Augustine[/name_m] variant was a good idea, but no luck for me! I think [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] is a nice balance of strong and soft. Personally, I’m not a fan of [name_m]Albert[/name_m] but I couldn’t give you a reason why. I also like [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u]! Good luck!

4

You have so many great names! My favorites are [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Oscar[/name_m].

5

I like all your first name options, but particularly [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], [name_m]Otto[/name_m], and [name_u]Tristan[/name_u] paired with [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]. I also love [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] ([name_m]Art[/name_m]? [name_m]Artie[/name_m]? Both lovely nicknames imo).

Some combo ideas:

[name_m]Alistair[/name_m] [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u]
[name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]
[name_m]Otto[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u] [name_m]Albert[/name_m]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_u]Tristan[/name_u]

6

Some great choices here.

A few more ‘protector’ thoughts.
The obvious would be another -mund or -ward name. I’m guessing [name_m]Edward[/name_m] is out, but if you don’t mind surnames/occupation names there there’s [name_m]Stewart[/name_m]/[name_m]Stuart[/name_m], and [name_u]Howard[/name_u] (etymology uncertain). [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] is another possibility (though I expect it’s not your style). Or [name_m]Ward[/name_m] by itself? Siward? [name_m]Sigurd[/name_m]?
For -mund, maybe [name_m]Raymond[/name_m]? Faramund (as a middle, maybe)?
Other protection names:
[name_m]Kenelm[/name_m] - perhaps a middle contender if you don’t want the alliteration
[name_m]Anselm[/name_m]/[name_m]Ansel[/name_m] - another early saint, or a tribute to [name_m]Ansel[/name_m] [name_m]Adams[/name_m]? Plus, the -elm/-el part means protection (-helm, like helmet).
[name_u]Tarian[/name_u] - reminds me a little of [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u], but means ‘shield’
[name_m]William[/name_m] - maybe a bit plain for you? Illiam (a Manx form) reminds me of the Trojan war, which is a bit fairytale/whimsical, but it would probably get misheard as [name_m]William[/name_m] a fair bit. Maybe a middle contender? Liam is another possibility
Another thought: Lysander (liberator) - not quite ‘protection’, but a similar idea

ETA: From your list I think Albert, Tristan and Arthur all fit really well with Edmund. I don’t think of them as particularly Anglophile.

Tristan feels vaguely Welsh and French to me - the list of notable namesakes on nb is pretty international (including lots of Americans).

Arthur reminds me of King Arthur, of course (again, that’s more Welsh/Cornish to me than English), but also of Arthur Miller, Art Garfunkel and Arthur from the American-Canadian cartoon - the notable namesakes section on nb shows plenty of Americans. I have a cousin called Artur (he’s from a Western European country)

Albert feels mostly German (then equally French or British) to me, and makes me think of Einstein and Namatjira (a famous artist here in Australia), Camus and ‘Albert the 5th muskteer’ (who I suppose was a French character, but the tv show was Franco-Canadian).

I think they’re all great choices, and you could use Alexander or Alistair (or a different ‘protection’ name) for a middle to tie them to Edmund if you want. Or Alistair as a first, of course. It’s more Scottish than English to me (even though it’s the English spelling of the Scottish name).

I think my favourite is Albert - it’s got a nice meaning, family history like James, and fits well with Edmund. It would go well with a protection middle like Liam or Raymond, or possibly something like Lysander. It feels more German to me than English.

Otherwise, I like Tristan Alexander, Ronan Alexander, Otto Augustine, Arthur Tarian (Taliesin would be great, but that would be a very mythical combo).

I also really like Oscar, Ronan, Otto, Augustine and Taliesin (I would probably use this last as a middle if anything but I do know a Taliesin, so it is possible). I like most of your names, actually (Edmund is my very favourite boy’s name) - I like Celtic and Germanic names with a history of use from at least the middle ages. I think you’ll have a pair of well-named boys, whatever you choose.

All the best of luck

7

My pick for you would be [name_m]Alistair[/name_m]. I don’t think it’s too difficult to pronounce, and it goes wonderfully well with [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], having the same off-beat yet still traditional/formal style. It has the meaning you’re after, plus it starts with a vowel other than E - perfect!

I have to say though that I do love [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] and would love to see it used! I’m in the UK where it’s probably a bit more widely known (though only really in [name_m]Wales[/name_m]) and I can see that in the US there could well be pronunciation difficulties… such a cool name though!

I really like a lot of the other names on your list too - you have great taste! I think [name_m]Albert[/name_m], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] or [name_u]Tristan[/name_u] complement quirky-yet-traditional [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] particularly well of your remaining choices. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Alban[/name_m] as an alternative to [name_m]Albert[/name_m] that still retains the link to your grandfather and the “[name_m]Albie[/name_m]” nickname you love?

8

I love [name_m]Alistair[/name_m]. The pronunciation seems pretty straightforward to me.

9

I like [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] (though I’d be tempted to shorten it to [name_u]August[/name_u] for length and wearability) and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (sounds handsome and gentlemanly, not comical to me). I wish [name_m]Cormac[/name_m] would work for you because of its significance and its cool sound. Could it still be used as a middle? [name_m]Albert[/name_m] and [name_m]Alastair[/name_m] are both nice but do sound very Anglophile rather than Irish/[name_m]German[/name_m] to me.

A few other Irish names came to mind so that you wouldn’t get trapped into an Anglophile pattern:
[name_m]Dermot[/name_m] “free of envy”
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] “little, fierce”
[name_m]Declan[/name_m] “man of prayer”
[name_m]Colm[/name_m] “dove”