Shepherd, Bravery, Wilder, and . . . šŸŒˆ

Hey, Berries!

As some of you may know, Iā€™m having an extremely difficult time with my boy names right now. Iā€™ve been pouring through the Nameberry database and every boy name list I can find, but nothing is sticking. Nothing feels right.

Right now, I for sure love three names/combos:

[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], and [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m].

They seem to combine everything Iā€™ve historically loved in a boy name, even though Iā€™m not sure if my style has evolved from that. Theyā€™re words that sounds like names, theyā€™re literary, have subtle [name_u]Christian[/name_u] influences, and are fairly balanced in terms of usability (although I think many would disagree with me on the usability of [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] in particular).

[name_f]My[/name_f] other boy names donā€™t feel at all sparkly or beautiful or like my sons. Not even [name_u]Asher[/name_u] [name_f]Beloved[/name_f], [name_u]Haven[/name_u] [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m], [name_m]Prosper[/name_m] [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], or [name_m]Ransom[/name_m] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m].

As Iā€™ve been searching for new names to love, Iā€™ve found myself wanting to be drawn to more vintage-inspired boy names, ones that would feel more balanced next to sisters called [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f], and [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. However, Iā€™ve been more inclined to like [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u], [name_f]Remedy[/name_f], [name_u]Lennox[/name_u], [name_m]Knox[/name_m], and [name_m]Finnick[/name_m], although those donā€™t exactly feel right, either.

What Iā€™d love is for some brand-new name suggestions. Totally new names that feel seawillowy without being names that I feel like I should adore, like [name_u]Drummer[/name_u], [name_u]Noble[/name_u], [name_m]Simeon[/name_m], [name_u]Levi[/name_u], [name_m]Obadiah[/name_m], etc.

This may very well be an impossible task, but if you have any ideas that you feel make sense with [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u], and [name_u]Wilder[/name_u], while bridging the gap between names like [name_m]Peter[/name_m] and [name_f]Shine[/name_f], Iā€™d be ever so grateful. And if you have any reasoning at all, Iā€™d love to hear it!

Thanks, everyone!

:rainbow::rainbow::rainbow:

You probably know way more names than I do, so Iā€™m not sure if any of these will feel fresh or new.

Word names:
[name_m]Oaks[/name_m] / [name_u]Oakland[/name_u] / [name_u]Oakley[/name_u]
[name_u]Cedar[/name_u]
[name_u]Noble[/name_u]
[name_u]Valor[/name_u]
[name_m]Fielder[/name_m]

[name_f]Vintage[/name_f]:
[name_m]Edwin[/name_m]
[name_m]Lewis[/name_m]
[name_u]Walter[/name_u]
[name_m]Whitaker[/name_m]

Biblical:
[name_m]Timeo[/name_m]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Benaiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Titus[/name_m]
[name_m]Timeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m]

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Iā€™ll take a shot at it and try to hit the marks you mentioned.

[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and Roam [name_u]Viridian[/name_u] (obscure [name_u]Psalm[/name_u] 23)
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and Rove [name_m]Hannibal[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and [name_m]Adriel[/name_m] [name_u]Psalm[/name_u]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and [name_m]Iver[/name_m] [name_m]Donovan[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and [name_u]Noble[/name_u] [name_m]Apollos[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], and [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_u]Nico[/name_u] (Nicodemus)

Hopefully these help! :slight_smile:

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Now that is a challenge!

Okay, so vintage-inspired, but with the sparkly, beautiful, possibly wordy vibe of your favouritesā€¦

[name_m]Tennyson[/name_m]
(poetic and distinctive, a vintage/literary vibe, a bit of the surnamey feel of [name_u]Lennox[/name_u], [name_m]Finnick[/name_m] and [name_m]Knox[/name_m], feels nature-y, cool bright to me)

[name_m]Woodrow[/name_m]
(earthy, rugged, and with the slightly ā€˜wildā€™ and adventurous feeling of [name_u]Bravery[/name_u], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u] and [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], but it also feels vintage inspired?)

[name_m]Robinson[/name_m] / [name_u]Robin[/name_u]
(approachable and fresh, with a bit of vintage charm, ties to literature and [name_u]Christian[/name_u] symbolism)

[name_m]Boaz[/name_m]
(distinctive sound, Biblical ties, the sassy, sparky Z which reminds me of [name_u]Lennox[/name_u] and [name_m]Knox[/name_m], the ā€˜Boā€™ start which feels on par with [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] etc)

Hareton
(yeahhh, I know itā€™s a total wildcard, but itā€™s got that vintage/old fashioned vibe, a surname-y feel, literary ties to a character who learns and seeks to be kind, reminds me of that book ā€˜Guess How Much I [name_u]Love[/name_u] Youā€™ too which is sweet)

[name_m]Omri[/name_m]
(rugged but gentle, gives me the vibes of ā€˜clunkyā€™ biblical names like: [name_m]Obadiah[/name_m], [name_m]Benaiah[/name_m], [name_u]Hezekiah[/name_u], [name_m]Oziah[/name_m], but also the contemporary [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] or [name_m]Ransom[/name_m], still earthy, warm and distinctive. Also, [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] and [name_m]Omri[/name_m] together in particular are wonderful imo)

[name_m]Ferris[/name_m]
(strikes me as earthy and woodsy and rocky - it feels ā€˜word adjacentā€™ kind of, warm and adventurous, and itā€™s got links to the name [name_m]Peter[/name_m] too)

[name_m]Artan[/name_m]
(it feels name-y and while not strictly ā€˜vintageā€™, it feels adjacent to [name_u]Arthur[/name_u] or Adam; itā€™s got a creative vibe from the ā€˜artā€™ sound, and various meanings - golden, bear, and little father, which feel like they could have some christian vibes (maybe?) )

[name_u]Curtis[/name_u]
(feels vintage and established, gentlemanly but fun and sparky too. Itā€™s got a slightly literary vibe, and, if you wanted, it could have the nickname ā€˜Kitā€™)

[name_m]Hugo[/name_m]
(is it maybe a bit predictable on NB, maybe, but I love the meaning, the refinement and the bounciness too)

[name_u]Rudy[/name_u]
(sparky, rugged, fun but refined too - a hint of [name_u]Christmas[/name_u], a bit literary, slight nature-y vibes)

Donā€™t feel like Iā€™ve quite nailed it exactly, but I hope it gives you some ideas :grin:

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All I can think about when I see this name comboā€¦
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_u]Pax[/name_u]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] - Sheep and Goats
[name_u]Pax[/name_u] - Pox
= Sheep pox and Goat pox (a viral disease)

I was not actually looking for an opinion on my name choices, but I appreciate your time and input. In the future, please try to stick to the purpose of the thread you are responding to. :heart:

[name_u]Basil[/name_u] [name_m]Abraham[/name_m]
[name_m]Silas[/name_m] [name_m]Meriwether[/name_m]
[name_u]Griffin[/name_u] Erebus
[name_m]Romulus[/name_m] [name_u]Pine[/name_u]
[name_u]Amory[/name_u] [name_u]Florian[/name_u]

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Maybeā€¦

[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] / [name_m]Earnest[/name_m] ā€“ Unexpected and vintage with virtue connections. [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] is a cute nickname (if a little muppet-y :sweat_smile:) and I think you could use Ness and maybe [name_m]Ned[/name_m] too, which I think is just the sweetest. It also has literary ties with [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m] and ā€œThe Importance of Being Earnest.ā€ I think it fits well with both your boys and girls names.

[name_m]Edgar[/name_m] ā€“ [name_f]Vintage[/name_f] with literary and artistic connections (Degas, [name_u]Poe[/name_u], Burroughs). There was also a [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Edgar[/name_m] of [name_u]England[/name_u] back in the 900s, he is remembered as [name_m]Edgar[/name_m] the Peaceful, and known for reviving learning and art under his reign. I think it fits well with both your boys and girls names.

[name_m]Cyril[/name_m] ā€“ [name_f]Vintage[/name_f] with numerous religious associations. There are characters in many literary works with this name, and [name_m]Cy[/name_m] is a fantastic nickname. I especially love the idea of [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and [name_m]Cyril[/name_m].

[name_m]Fisher[/name_m] ā€“ More on the modern side, but I think it fits! Itā€™s occupational, has a nature connection, and is surname-y. It also has subtle [name_u]Christian[/name_u] ties via the fishermen Simon/Peter and [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] and [name_u]John[/name_u] all choosing to follow [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] when he asked, and the idea of being ā€œfishers of menā€. It has literary/artistic ties with the American landscape painter [name_m]Alvan[/name_m] [name_m]Fisher[/name_m], [name_u]Harlem[/name_u] Renaissance author [name_m]Rudolph[/name_m] [name_m]Fisher[/name_m], and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] Potterā€™s ā€œThe Tale of Mr. [name_m]Jeremy[/name_m] Fisherā€.

[name_u]Pascoe[/name_u] ā€“ [name_f]Vintage[/name_f] with the meaning of [name_f]Easter[/name_f]. Itā€™s unique but feels grounded and approachable. A lot of your names have the same strong O sound that [name_u]Pascoe[/name_u] has, like [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u], [name_u]Noble[/name_u], and [name_m]Obadiah[/name_m]. It especially reminds me of [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] with the ending sound, and also of [name_m]Prosper[/name_m] in the P beginning and cool ā€œs+consonantā€ in the middle. I think it fits really well with both your boys and girls names.

[name_m]Felix[/name_m] ā€“ Iā€™m sure youā€™ve seen this one a million times, but I had to make a case for it! Itā€™s vintage with a lovely meaning, and fits so well with both your boys and girls names. It has the cool X ending of [name_u]Lennox[/name_u] and [name_m]Knox[/name_m], and the starting sound and overall fresh, sharp feel of [name_m]Finnick[/name_m]. [name_m]Felix[/name_m] [name_m]Holt[/name_m] is the titular character of a [name_u]George[/name_u] [name_u]Eliot[/name_u] novel, and the main character of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] Atwoodā€™s The [name_u]Tempest[/name_u] retelling is also called [name_m]Felix[/name_m], so it has literary associations as well.

[name_u]Palmer[/name_u] ā€“ Kind of a left-field choice, but it has the occupational/surname connections of [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_u]Wilder[/name_u], and [name_u]Drummer[/name_u], with the religious significance of its meaning ā€œpilgrim (to the [name_f]Holy[/name_f] Land)ā€ and connection to palm fronds/branches, which Iā€™d say make it an ā€œalmost nature nameā€. It has a gentle feel, and is modern and unisex like [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u], and [name_u]Lennox[/name_u], while still feeling grounded in history.

And then some quick shout outs to [name_u]Virgil[/name_u], [name_m]Almanzo[/name_m], [name_u]Harbor[/name_u], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], and [name_u]Merritt[/name_u], because I donā€™t have a paragraph to write about them but I think theyā€™re worth mentioning!

Hoping I came up with some that you havenā€™t seen suggested too many times!

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Ok letā€™s see if any of these feel right for youā€¦

Iā€™m going to really try to sell you on [name_m]Thurgood[/name_m] because I think it really fills that role that youā€™re looking for. It is a Puritan compound word name of thorough and good so it has a subtle link to Christianity. It is pretty vintage since it was used by the Puritans. If you were so inclined, you could call him [name_m]Thor[/name_m] and lean into the edgier side. [name_m]Thurgood[/name_m] sounds nice with [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] and [name_u]Wilder[/name_u].

Chantry
[name_u]Cobalt[/name_u]
[name_m]Tolliver[/name_m]
[name_u]Rise[/name_u]
[name_u]Vale[/name_u]
[name_m]Thurgood[/name_m]
[name_m]Orson[/name_m]
[name_m]Orison[/name_m]

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Trying not to repeat my recommendations!! :heart_hands::heart_hands:

[name_f]Sonnet[/name_f]
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m]
Marsalis
Runner
Wyeth
Arkham
[name_m]Lovro[/name_m]
[name_m]Makaio[/name_m]
[name_m]Worth[/name_m]
[name_m]Adriel[/name_m]
Ohen
Writer
Zakova
[name_m]Fairer[/name_m]
[name_m]Priam[/name_m]
Arcaus

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Trying to think of a couple of names that donā€™t seem obviously your style but might fit your general criteria!

[name_u]Rio[/name_u] - I remember you taking about [name_u]Rivers[/name_u] before, and maybe the short and sparkly [name_u]Rio[/name_u] could make for another interesting [name_u]River[/name_u] name

[name_f]Trinity[/name_f] - I think this would be fun and unexpected on a boy (maybe with a more traditional middle like [name_u]Bravery[/name_u] [name_u]Noah[/name_u], perhaps [name_f]Trinity[/name_f] [name_m]Jonas[/name_m]? [name_f]Trinity[/name_f] James?)

St. [name_u]John[/name_u] (i.e. Sinjin) - The quirkiness of the spelling/pronunciation appeals to the language nerd in me. Not the best character in [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Eyre[/name_f] but nevertheless makes me think of [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Eyre[/name_f] so immediate positive vibes.

[name_m]Peregrin[/name_m] - Combines literary vibes via [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m] and others with a spiritually significant meaning and wild nature.

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I love your style. :blush:

I tired to find some (hopefully) undiscovered gems that fit the criteria you gaveā€¦

[name_m]Anchor[/name_m]
[name_u]Zenith[/name_u]
[name_m]Chord[/name_m]
[name_u]Indiana[/name_u]
[name_u]Cypress[/name_u]
[name_u]Marvel[/name_u]
[name_u]Rumi[/name_u]
[name_m]Stone[/name_m]
[name_u]Winslow[/name_u]
[name_m]Foster[/name_m]
[name_m]Moss[/name_m]
[name_u]Honor[/name_u] (I love this for a boy)
[name_u]Garnet[/name_u]
[name_u]Rise[/name_u]
[name_u]Adair[/name_u]
[name_u]Solace[/name_u]
[name_u]Golden[/name_u]
[name_u]Credence[/name_u] / [name_m]Creed[/name_m]
[name_u]Evren[/name_u]
[name_u]Arrow[/name_u]
[name_u]Summit[/name_u]
[name_u]Pascal[/name_u]
[name_m]Anthem[/name_m]
[name_u]Day[/name_u]
[name_u]Lowen[/name_u]
[name_u]March[/name_u]

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Youā€™ve probably considered most of these butā€¦

[name_m]Tennyson[/name_m]
[name_u]Poe[/name_u]
[name_m]Luther[/name_m]
[name_u]Keats[/name_u]
[name_u]Peregrine[/name_u]
[name_u]Merit[/name_u]
[name_u]Rise[/name_u]
[name_m]Warren[/name_m]
[name_m]Bramble[/name_m]
[name_m]Kipling[/name_m]
[name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m]
[name_u]Gideon[/name_u]
[name_m]Remus[/name_m]
[name_m]Silas[/name_m]
[name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m]
[name_m]Victor[/name_m]
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m]
[name_m]Edgar[/name_m]
[name_u]Virgil[/name_u]
[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]

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Iā€™ll give it a shot:

[name_m]Abner[/name_m]: underrated vintage plus Biblical name. You could also do [name_m]Avner[/name_m], to get closer to the Hebrew, and call him [name_u]Avi[/name_u].
[name_u]Avi[/name_u]: by itself, like the author
[name_u]Elim[/name_u]: evocative Biblical place name, similar yet different to the [name_u]Eli[/name_u] names currently popular.
[name_u]Ira[/name_u]: I always enjoy hearing this one, though Iā€™d much rather on a boy than a girl.
[name_m]Shaphan[/name_m]: I know one and donā€™t really know why it isnā€™t more popular, with its similarities to [name_m]Stephen[/name_m] and [name_m]Nathan[/name_m].
[name_m]Oren[/name_m]: peaceful Hebrew name
[name_m]Ornan[/name_m]: similar, also handsome
[name_m]Clement[/name_m]/[name_f]Clemence[/name_f]: speaking of ā€œpeacefulā€; it also has a vintage, almost Puritan vibe to me
[name_m]Silvanus[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvanus[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]: pick your favorite!
[name_m]Zaccai[/name_m]: bit of a wildcard; I know a boy Ed3n [name_m]Zaccai[/name_m], which is very cool. (Have you considered Eden?) Variation on [name_m]Zacchaeus[/name_m] without the ā€œwee little manā€ connotation :smile: [name_m]Easy[/name_m] nns [name_m]Zac[/name_m] and [name_u]Kai[/name_u], if you like either.

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@shanade213 @EagleEyes @Greyblue @bemiranda @PRSing @auroradawn @LoneStar @macy13 @Luminen @may.rose

Thank you all so, so much! Iā€™m still combing through everyoneā€™s aggressions, but so far Iā€™ve added [name_u]Arrow[/name_u], [name_m]Peregrin[/name_m], [name_m]Orison[/name_m], [name_u]Soul[/name_u], [name_u]Seren[/name_u], [name_f]Remember[/name_f], [name_u]Poet[/name_u], [name_u]Solace[/name_u], Covenant, and [name_u]Rumi[/name_u] to my list. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Also, Iā€™m so sorry if I missed someone during my tagging ā€“ I promise that it wasnā€™t intentional!

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Thackery/Thackeray, possibly?
Heathcliff/Heath
Calum/Columba/Colm/Malcolm
[name_m]Martin[/name_m]
Laurence/Lawrence/Laurel (unisex I think)
[name_u]Ariel[/name_u]
[name_u]Camille[/name_u]
Claude/Claudius
[name_m]Cassius[/name_m]
[name_m]Adriel[/name_m]
[name_m]Aurelius[/name_m]
Lucian/Lucius
[name_m]Emil[/name_m]

I love the suggestions of [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], [name_m]Felix[/name_m], [name_u]Ira[/name_u], Sylvanus/Silvanus/Sylvan/Silvan, [name_u]Seren[/name_u], and [name_m]Omri[/name_m] from other users.

After seeing your girlsā€™ list I had to come check out the boysā€™! :heartbeat:

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I really like [name_u]Lennox[/name_u] and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] from your list but I donā€™t like [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] since itā€™s so associated with these racist, misogynistic [name_f]Narnia[/name_f] books. I mean, [name_f]Susan[/name_f] [name_u]Pevensie[/name_u] goes to hell because she wears lipstickā€¦

Some ideas [name_m]Jedidiah[/name_m], Zibeon and [name_u]Gideon[/name_u].

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@Lennon.Kate have you read the books? ā€œSusan goes to hell because she wears lipstickā€ is not the case in any way. The story ends without the reader knowing how [name_f]Susan[/name_f] will finally turn out. You donā€™t have to like the stories or the name [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], but take it easy on the details if you donā€™t know them.

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Till, Canaan, Zion, Soloman, Sage, Clement, Victor, Emmanuel, Christopher, Joshua.

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What aboutā€¦

[name_u]Enzo[/name_u] [name_u]Peregrine[/name_u]

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