Surprised by baby's sex during second-trimester scan; new names needed

Boy Names
1

Hey everybody. My partner and I are expecting a little DUDE due in [name_f]September[/name_f]. We just learned his sex yesterday at our first (visual) ultrasound. Up until yesterday morning, we felt certain that this baby would be female, and have been stumped for names for a boy since that positive pregnancy test way back in [name_u]January[/name_u]. We are not trying to come up with THE NAME before the bean is born in the fall, but we want to have a few ready to go when we finally meet him face-to-face.

Our criteria for a name are as follows:

  1. It has to have significant history as a name (creative spellings are a no-go as well);
  2. Extra points if it’s a longer or more “formal” full name with potential for laid-back, uncommon nicknames;
  3. It can’t end in -a (too repetitive with our girl’s name) or -r (runs together with our surname);
  4. We’d like something that is not super-duper popular - outside the SSA Top 100 at least;
  5. No names starting with M or T, as those are our initials and we don’t want to set ourselves up for all M names or whatever.

We’re taking suggestions from now until this guy is born! My reaction when the technician told us his sex was “This baby might be nameless for a week after he comes out!”

Thanks in advance for all your ideas!

2

Congrats!

A few formal names with nicknames to get the juices flowing

[name_m]Harold[/name_m] nn [name_m]Hal[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] nn [name_m]Hank[/name_m]
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m] nn [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] nn [name_m]Walt[/name_m]
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m] nn [name_u]Si[/name_u]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] nn [name_u]Toby[/name_u]
[name_m]Christopher[/name_m] nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_m]Leonardo[/name_m] nn [name_m]Leo[/name_m]

3

[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] nn [name_m]Ford[/name_m]
[name_m]Gregory[/name_m] nn [name_u]Gus[/name_u]
[name_m]Crispin[/name_m] nn [name_m]Kip[/name_m]
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m] nn [name_u]Dean[/name_u]
[name_m]Jeremy[/name_m] nn [name_u]Jem[/name_u] or [name_u]Remy[/name_u]
[name_m]Jedidiah[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jedi[/name_m]
[name_m]Kipling[/name_m] nn [name_m]Kip[/name_m]
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] nn Solo

4

[name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_m]Derek[/name_m]
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_m]Joseph[/name_m]

5

[name_m]Dominic[/name_m]/[name_m]Dom[/name_m]
[name_m]Finnegan[/name_m]/[name_u]Finn[/name_u]
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m]/[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_u]Everett[/name_u]/Ev, [name_u]Ever[/name_u], Rett
[name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]/[name_u]Perry[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]/[name_u]Ash[/name_u]
[name_m]Lochlan[/name_m]/[name_m]Loch[/name_m]
[name_m]Dimitri[/name_m]/[name_f]Demi[/name_f]
[name_u]Valentine[/name_u]/[name_u]Val[/name_u], [name_m]Len[/name_m]
[name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]/[name_u]Neil[/name_u], [name_m]Nate[/name_m]
Emeric/[name_f]Em[/name_f], Meric, [name_m]Ric[/name_m]
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m]/[name_m]Benny[/name_m], [name_m]Ben[/name_m]
[name_m]Nikolai[/name_m]/[name_u]Niko[/name_u], [name_u]Kai[/name_u]
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m]/Raph

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!

6

[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] nn [name_u]Larkin[/name_u]

7

[name_m]Calvin[/name_m] ([name_u]Cal[/name_u])
[name_u]Everett[/name_u] (Ev or Rett)
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] ([name_u]Fee[/name_u])
[name_m]Ramsey[/name_m] (Rams or [name_f]Zee[/name_f])
[name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] ([name_u]Sully[/name_u])
[name_m]Wesley[/name_m] ([name_m]Wes[/name_m])

8

[name_m]Augustus[/name_m] - [name_u]Gus[/name_u] or [name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_m]Leonardo[/name_m] - [name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] - [name_m]Seb[/name_m]
[name_m]Jeremy[/name_m] - [name_u]Jem[/name_u]
[name_m]Christian[/name_m] - [name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_m]Benedict[/name_m] - [name_m]Ben[/name_m]
[name_m]Finnegan[/name_m] - [name_u]Finn[/name_u]

9

[name_m]Sylvester[/name_m] ([name_m]Sil[/name_m])
[name_m]Augustus[/name_m] ([name_u]Gus[/name_u])
[name_m]Robert[/name_m] ([name_u]Robbie[/name_u], [name_m]Rab[/name_m], [name_u]Bertie[/name_u])
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m] ([name_u]Sam[/name_u], [name_u]Sammy[/name_u])
[name_m]Abraham[/name_m] ([name_m]Abe[/name_m], [name_m]Bram[/name_m])
[name_m]Anthony[/name_m] ([name_u]Tony[/name_u], Ant)
[name_u]Jensen[/name_u] ([name_m]Jens[/name_m])
[name_m]Johannes[/name_m] ([name_f]Yo[/name_f], [name_m]Joe[/name_m], [name_m]Johann[/name_m])

10

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] again!

I accidentally posted this thread twice, so I’ve closed the other one and will try to respond to everyone from both versions of it here.

First off, a big thanks! My partner eagerly asked if we had any replies while we were cooking dinner tonight, and when I read off everyone’s suggestions, he said “Whoa, those are some solid suggestions…this site is cool!” So, nice work, everyone.

mumnbennett - I’m guessing your little one’s name is [name_m]Bennett[/name_m], and I think you are so sweet to suggest your own boy’s name (so many people get territorial); I love [name_m]Benny[/name_m] as a nickname and had been looking for an alternative to [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m].

kahope - this boy is our first kiddo, but if he had been a girl, we were debating [name_f]Frida[/name_f] and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], one of which will almost definitely be the name of a daughter if we have one next. I really like [name_m]Clement[/name_m] and [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], and I think [name_u]Lou[/name_u]/[name_m]Louie[/name_m] is such an endearing nickname.

bowtiful - [name_m]Conrad[/name_m], [name_m]Graham[/name_m], and [name_m]Silas[/name_m] are all names that have neared the top of our old list, only to be crossed off because of relatives or close friends using them. Great suggestions; I like [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] and [name_m]Abraham[/name_m], and my partner is feeling [name_m]Felix[/name_m].

curlyjedi - thank you for your congratulations! We are very very excited! The anatomy scan really makes this pregnancy feel real. I like [name_u]Si[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_m]Josiah[/name_m] (we’ve tossed around [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_m]Silas[/name_m], and [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m] for their nickname potential, and [name_m]Josiah[/name_m] I’d sort of given up on because I dislike [name_u]Joey[/name_u]…[name_u]Si[/name_u] brings [name_m]Josiah[/name_m] back, I think!) [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], and [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] are all lovely names we’d use if they weren’t the names of family members or friends. [name_m]Ah[/name_m], well!

shanade213 - what is it with [name_m]Crispin[/name_m]??? It’s not a common name at all and yet it keeps popping up and I can’t seem to forget it. If only I could sell my partner on it.

vestigesofsummer - [name_m]Finnegan[/name_m] is a winner for sure: I like its literary connection and my partner likes the nicknames [name_u]Finn[/name_u]/Finny; Emeric and [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] caught our eyes as well.

felicitysmoak - [name_u]Everett[/name_u]! [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]! Yeah! My sister’s sort of “claimed” [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] for her future sons, but [name_u]Everett[/name_u]…it somehow seems earthy and refined and poetic and…great!

befx217 - we’re not too keen on the long-form names for [name_u]Gus[/name_u], but love [name_u]Gus[/name_u] enough to maybe use it on its own (not our usual style); my partner loves [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] but I worry it’s too popular; [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] and [name_m]Finnegan[/name_m] again!

I am impressed with the awesome suggestions y’all came up with overnight! We feel like we have a solid list to try out over the next few months. It’s also funny to note how many of you hit our style spot-on and how many of you seconded and thirded each other’s suggestions! Nice work, and many thanks again!

11

My little guy is [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] nn [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]. :slight_smile:

12

[name_m]How[/name_m] about:
[name_m]Leonard[/name_m] / [name_m]Leonardo[/name_m] “[name_m]Leo[/name_m]”
[name_m]Vincent[/name_m] “[name_u]Vinny[/name_u]”
[name_m]Declan[/name_m]
[name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] “[name_u]Max[/name_u]”
[name_m]Greyson[/name_m]
[name_m]Harrison[/name_m] “[name_m]Harry[/name_m]”
[name_m]Wesley[/name_m] “[name_m]Wes[/name_m]”
[name_m]Maddox[/name_m]
[name_m]Timothy[/name_m] “[name_m]Tim[/name_m]”
[name_m]Maverick[/name_m] “Mav or [name_m]Mac[/name_m]”
[name_u]Elliot[/name_u] “[name_m]Eli[/name_m]”
[name_m]Donovan[/name_m] “[name_m]Don[/name_m]”
[name_m]Jonathan[/name_m] “[name_m]Jon[/name_m] or [name_m]Nathan[/name_m]”
[name_m]Edwin[/name_m] “[name_m]Eddy[/name_m]”
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m] “[name_u]Toby[/name_u]”
[name_u]Finley[/name_u] “[name_u]Finn[/name_u]”

13

[name_m]Jackson[/name_m]- nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m]
[name_m]William[/name_m]- nn [name_m]Will[/name_m]
[name_u]Charlie[/name_u] (just cause it’s adorable, lol)
[name_m]George[/name_m] (old school, but classic and timeless)
[name_m]Vincent[/name_m]- nn [name_m]Vince[/name_m]
[name_m]Victor[/name_m]- nn [name_u]Vic[/name_u]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]- nn [name_m]Gabe[/name_m]

14

@bom2014, [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] nn [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] is a great idea! We have a close friend named [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], so although we love [name_u]Ollie[/name_u], we’d ruled it out, but I like the alternative [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] provides for a full name with the same great nickname potential.

@waverly123, my mom’s pushing for [name_m]Declan[/name_m]. I like [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] and [name_m]Tobias[/name_m].

@tyrellsmama, [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] is so stinkin’ cute. It’s a family name on my partner’s side (actually his first name, but he’s gone by his middle name his whole life); I really like it but my partner wants to avoid repeating family names.

Our “short” list, some new, some old, some from everyone’s suggestions:
[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m]
[name_m]Conrad[/name_m]
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m]
[name_u]Emmett[/name_u]
[name_m]Emrys[/name_m]
[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]
[name_m]Forest[/name_m]
[name_m]Jerome[/name_m]
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m]
[name_m]Nils[/name_m]
[name_m]Oskar[/name_m]
[name_m]Quentin[/name_m]
[name_u]Reid[/name_u]
[name_m]Ruben[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]
[name_m]Thurston[/name_m]

15

If you like [name_u]Gus[/name_u], have you considered [name_m]Gustav[/name_m]/[name_m]Gustaf[/name_m]/[name_m]Gustave[/name_m]?

16

I have an [name_u]Emmett[/name_u]! He is two and I still love his name. We call him [name_f]Emme[/name_f] and [name_f]Em[/name_f] at home. My Dad finds silly nicknames for all the kids and he calls our [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], [name_m]Ernie[/name_m]… Not sure how he got from [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] to [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] but it is stinking cute!
One of the downsides to the name is that a lot of people misspell his name. They usually put [name_m]Emmitt[/name_m]. This confuses me because the [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] spelling is the most common and original spelling. I loath the idea of the word “it” being apart of the spelling of my child’s name.
All in all just love the name and am so glad we chose it. Other names we considered are [name_m]Griffin[/name_m], [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_u]Barrett[/name_u], [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] and [name_m]Fletcher[/name_m]. Nicknames would’ve been [name_m]Griff[/name_m]/[name_u]Finn[/name_u], [name_u]Dash[/name_u], [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_u]Cal[/name_u] or [name_m]Fletch[/name_m].

17

@chi1127, after considering all the long-form options for [name_u]Gus[/name_u], we decided we liked [name_f]Augusta[/name_f] nn [name_u]Gus[/name_u] or [name_u]Gussie[/name_u] or Auggie better than any of the masculine possibilities, so that’s on our list for female names for future use. I would like to meet a little [name_m]Gustav[/name_m] though.

@lnxn09, we are digging [name_u]Emmett[/name_u]; it is simple and classic but not stuffy, and it works well with either of our surnames (the debate over that half of the baby’s name is still going). The misspelling you mention is confusing to me too. From your suggestions, I’m all for [name_m]Griffin[/name_m] (though it’s the name of another close friend of mine, who jokingly told us that we could have it if we wanted it and he would be honored to be honored), and [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] is on our list. [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] is an interesting one. It reminds me of [name_m]Celadon[/name_m], which is a type of pottery or a glaze for it; as a ceramicist, I can appreciate the association, however tenuous. I do like the “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]” nickname but had nixed a couple other “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]-” names over the past months. [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] might mark a comeback for [name_u]Cal[/name_u].

18

[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_m]Oliver[/name_m]
[name_m]Joseph[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]

19

What did you name er?