After a long and careful desconstruction of our baby name list, our elimination process has stalled. At the moment, we have three names that we love equally and are ready to be used. We same unable to cross two out and keep “the one”. It is clear that we need help.
[name]Hugo[/name]- it was the first name that came to mind when we knew it was a boy, however, we already have children whose names end in “o” and are four letters long ([name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name]). We may not be able to get away with another one of these in the family.
[name]Bram[/name]- my father was Dutch, I spent my childhood summers in [name]Amsterdam[/name]. I would love to use this name because it is simple, stylish and it is a user-friendly form of [name]Abraham[/name], but we are not sure if it will make an effective transition in [name]America[/name].
[name]Ruben[/name]- also a Dutch family name I would love to use. It is also a midde name possibility. It seems like the safest option on the list, but whenever we feel ready to use it, we wonder if we will miss the other two.
I like [name]Hugo[/name] and love [name]Bram[/name]! I agree, I think [name]Hugo[/name] with [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name] is a bit much. [name]Bram[/name] gets my vote for sure! I heard it recently in the book “Matched” by [name]Ally[/name] [name]Condie[/name] - it’s the name of the narrator’s little brother, and short for [name]Abraham[/name], I believe. I think you’d be fine using [name]Bram[/name], and it “fits” well with your other sons’ names.
I like [name]Hugo[/name] (how often is anyone going to say all three of your boys names together in a sentence? And they will be in different grades in school)
I think [name]Bram[/name] is the best option here. I think it will be easily transitioned into the US, I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Hugo[/name], but I think with [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name], it would be kind of cheesy / matchy.
First, let me just say that you guys have narrowed it down to a solid list of names with history and personal meaning. It doesn’t sound like you can go wrong.
I adore [name]Hugo[/name] and think it’s the best choice of the names you guys love. It does have four letters and the same ending as brothers [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name] (which are just as fantastic as [name]Hugo[/name]), but I think you can pull it off as the names are similar in style and feel (a good thing) but different enough overall. It may be a little matchy, but [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name] are already a little matchy, and a [name]Bram[/name] or [name]Ruben[/name] might feel left out, not just due to sound or number of letters (which [name]Bram[/name] shares) but also due to the fact that [name]Bram[/name] and [name]Ruben[/name] are so, so different from [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name]. If someone asked me to suggest names they might like and told me they liked the names [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name], I’d definitely suggest [name]Hugo[/name], but [name]Bram[/name] or [name]Ruben[/name] would never even cross my mind.
My second choice would be [name]Bram[/name] (though then you may be boxing yourself in with the four letter boys’ names, as you would with [name]Hugo[/name]). I’ve never heard of the name [name]Bram[/name], so you may have to explain the origin of the name to others. I know lots of little boys named after old biblical figures, though, including an [name]Abraham[/name] who goes by [name]Abe[/name], as well as several boys named [name]Silas[/name], [name]Ezra[/name], [name]Phineas[/name], [name]Isaiah[/name], [name]Isaac[/name], etc. You might even consider giving your son the name [name]Abraham[/name] but then call him [name]Bram[/name], which may help people understand the origin of the name.
[name]Ruben[/name] ([name]Reuben[/name]) is another one of those old biblical names that people are starting to use again. It is probably a bit more familiar than [name]Bram[/name].
Whichever name you choose, however much you love it, you may find yourself feeling a little wistful about the names you had to leave behind. I felt that way when naming my daughter. I wanted her middle name to be a name we loved just as much as her first, but ended up feeling sad that we kind of “lost” that name for everyday use for her or for use as a first name for another child. I guess that’s a good position to be in, though…having many special names that you’d like to use and getting to give a couple of those to your child.
I love [name]Hugo[/name] one as much as a I love [name]Bram[/name]! I would use [name]Bram[/name] htough because the rhyming with [name]Theo[/name] and [name]Milo[/name] is a bit much for me. I think [name]Bram[/name] would do fine in [name]North[/name] [name]America[/name].
I don’t care for [name]Ruben[/name]. [name]Bram[/name] [name]Ruben[/name] sounds good though!
In spite of the rhyming, I really do love [name]Hugo[/name]. I also love [name]Bram[/name]. So, if the rhyming gives you doubts, then I think you should avoid [name]Hugo[/name]. If it doesn’t, it was the first name that came to mind, you said. That’s gotta count for something, right? Also, at least [name]Milo[/name], [name]Theo[/name], and [name]Hugo[/name] have distinct first syllables, so that gives them some separation.
For [name]Bram[/name], I think that [name]Bram[/name] will be pretty well received in [name]America[/name]. I hope you don’t let that keep you from using it. It’s a wonderful choice!
When I hear [name]Bram[/name], I immediately think of [name]Bram[/name] Stoker. People are (or should be) familiar with him, so they will likely have heard it at least once before.
I understand your concern about [name]Hugo[/name], but if you truly love it use it. Since it’s the endings that are similar and not the beginnings than it shouldn’t be too confusing when you’re calling out to your kids. [name]Bram[/name] is my second favorite. It’s a good choice and fits just fine with your other two boys.
LIKE: [name]Ruben[/name], [name]LOVE[/name]: [name]Bram[/name]!
[name]Milo[/name], [name]Theo[/name] and [name]Hugo[/name] would be too matchy and sound a bitt choppy when put together.
[name]Bram[/name] settles well with the flow of [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name] really well.
My pick of your three is [name]Hugo[/name]. But as a mum of a [name]Theo[/name] I understand your concern! When naming our second son we ruled out ‘o’ names, like [name]Hugo[/name] and [name]Arlo[/name]. However, there might actually be something sweet about the ‘o’ for all of your boys. Plus, putting aside his brothers, [name]Hugo[/name] is a strong, classic name. Good luck!
I like both [name]Bram[/name] and [name]Abraham[/name]. I like [name]Abraham[/name] as both a bibilical and as [name]Lincoln[/name]'s first name. In an era of unusual first names, I don’t think [name]Abraham[/name] will get too much teasing. I would use [name]Abraham[/name] as the first name with nickname [name]Bram[/name]. Very classy. I also like [name]Hugo[/name] though and/or [name]Hugh[/name]. Good luck!
I would absolutely pick [name]Bram[/name]. Not only is it sleek and continental, it’s unknown but not odd. [name]Hugo[/name] still looks like “Huge-O” to me and frankly with two other sons named -o names you would be getting into a [name]Huey[/name], [name]Dewey[/name] and [name]Louie[/name] situation.
I think you already crossed into matchy territory with [name]Milo[/name] and [name]Theo[/name], so why not [name]Hugo[/name]? [name]Bram[/name] would be my second choice. Good luck!
Thank you for your feedback. I’m definitely taking your commentaries into account in order to make a decision.
It seems like we are going to concentrate on [name]Hugo[/name] vs. [name]Bram[/name] from now on (or until something new comes along, hopefully not!) and perhaps consider [name]Ruben[/name] as a middle name if it works with either one. WDYT?
We are bigger-than-average family, [name]Theo[/name], [name]Milo[/name] and potential [name]Hugo[/name] would not be the only children around, so that actually eases the matchy trend a little bit. There are other non-O names that are heard in our the home. Still, it could be too much.
Again, thanks and we’ll come back with more questions.
[name]Bram[/name] [name]Ruben[/name] sounds good though!
Thank you for your feedback. I’m definitely taking your commentaries into account in order to make a decision.