Taliesin [name_m]Artair[/name_m] is the only T.A. combo surviving on my combos list for use for this third and final baby. TAM initials would honor my MIL’s side of the family who has yet to be honored by the names we have for elder two brothers, so looking to add a second middle for this combo only.
Coming back to this forgotten series of posts to specifically narrow down the options for [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] M.
Milo is the automatic contender. An absolute favorite name of my husband’s list. We both loved the Phantom Tollbooth as children so I’m pretty sure that’s where it comes from for him. Also would be nice to have the final O to match siblings’ first names but with the subtlety of the second middle name.
Malachite would probably be the choice I most gravitate to. I’ve always thought [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] was a great name. It would also serve as an honor nod to [name_f]Jade[/name_f], my childhood best friend. Bit long but I don’t see it as a dealbreaker at all.
Malo would retain much of the charm of [name_u]Milo[/name_u] to me without being so popular. I also love a good ancient name and I absolutely love the link between the “shining brow” meaning of [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] with “shining/bright pledge” of [name_m]Malo[/name_m]. It’s a [name_m]Breton[/name_m] name, so I worry the whole combo might be a bit too Celtic (I have bits of Welsh, Scottish, and [name_m]Breton[/name_m] heritage but I just worry together it’s maybe a bit overdramatic in its pipe performance…), particularly in relation to his brothers’ more Classics vibe names. Then again none of the names is too obscurely unapproachable in the US context anyway so maybe it’s fine and just a name nerd worry.
Others might be Max/Maxence, Merce, Mercutio, or Meridian, but I feel they don’t quite have something I’m hoping for here, but please convince me if I’m off-base.
I like both [name_u]Milo[/name_u] and [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] here. I love the sound of [name_m]Mercutio[/name_m] though. I guess it is a bit close to H if that bothers you.
I adore [name_u]Milo[/name_u] for this combo! I love the melodic flow it creates, and I think it adds just the right touch of levity and simplicity. [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] would be my runner-up! I’m a tiny bit put off by the length with that one, but that’s 100% just my personal preference talking–I know you said it doesn’t bother you much, and that’s what really matters! I love that it would be an extra honor name. [name_m]Malo[/name_m] is the only one I can’t quite get on board with. I know as a name it has completely different origins, so feel free to disregard this–only un-blur if you’re interested in/concerned with other meanings. Sadly, as much as I really like the sound of it, I can’t get past “bad” (Spanish). Definitely not a dealbreaker if you love it and especially since i don’t think it’s one of your languages(?), but just thought I should mention my honest reasoning as to why I can’t quite fall for it personally. Overall, I really love [name_u]Milo[/name_u] here–besides it being a favorite of mine on it’s own and the balance I think it brings to the combo, the sweet literary connection and subtle tie to his siblings’ names definitely sweeten the deal in my eyes. But as always, you have amazing options!
Taliesin [name_m]Artair[/name_m] is an awesome combo! I think [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_u]Milo[/name_u] sounds the best from your options. Some other ideas I have are [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_u]Madden[/name_u], [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m], [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_u]Milan[/name_u] and [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_u]Miles[/name_u]
I like [name_u]Milo[/name_u] but it feels out of place with your unexpected/unique first name choices. [name_u]Milo[/name_u] is obviously a reasonably common name whereas [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] and [name_m]Artair[/name_m] are not so it feels a bit mismatched.
[name_m]Mercutio[/name_m] however has me excited😍 I love most of the Shakespearean names and I think this name actually has the same vibe as H and A’s names, so to me it feels more substantial.
I would be tempted to approach this like a puzzle. The two names together achieve a lot already; two family honours, two links to your heritage, and some enchanting lore. The addition of an ‘M’ name to honour your MIL’s family line adds a significant third honour, but you can see there’s a lot built into the name before you even get to which ‘M’ name. [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] would add a fourth honour, without the family bloodline this time. [name_u]Milo[/name_u] would get you a handful of pleasing extras. [name_m]Malo[/name_m] would get you most of the same extras with a markedly different aesthetic. I don’t know what you enjoy about the others, but the style and Shakespearean link is evident with [name_m]Mercutio[/name_m], and so is the time connection for [name_u]Meridian[/name_u]. I also see there’s a link to traditional Chinese medicine.
Another idea is to simply use the ‘M’ initial. It’s not unheard of, though I understand that it might feel inadequate or incomplete. I’d see the benefits as keeping the TAM reference pure and minimising the difference from H and A’s names. I also wonder if you would consider [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] ‘M’ name as a TAM honour since [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] starts with ‘Ta’. If so, would it change your preferences toward your ‘M’ options? It changes the name aesthetic a great deal.
If I was in your position, I might be asking myself some questions. How much do I love [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] without the TAM honour? Is this what I need to love this combination above the others? Is there anything missing from [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] that I want to find in the ‘M’ name? [name_f]Do[/name_f] I feel like there is an imbalance of meaning across the sibling set, and if so, how do I feel about that for the last child I’ll be naming? I think you have great options here, it’s just the outcomes and overall feeling are so varied from one to the next. I see [name_u]Milo[/name_u] as the option of least resistance for you, the trade off being a very happy husband. I think [name_m]Mercutio[/name_m] is fantastic, also with the nice ‘k’ sound, however I feel slightly apprehensive about that strong Shakespearean link that A wouldn’t also share. There would still be many other intentional links between their names though, from letters to nicknames. Is it that all of the ‘M’ options somehow fall just short?
Milo & [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] sound equally good to me. [name_u]Milo[/name_u] makes this combo more playful and light hearted, vs [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] which gives off more of a dark, Gothic vibe. Both are intriguing, but I get a very different feeling from them.
I do speak Spanish but it is not one of our home languages as is (though one we plan to introduce bits of in the future). Not sure if it throws me off the name ([name_f]Viola[/name_f] has always been a favorite despite the Spanish associations but then again that’s a bit different as violar isn’t exactly pronounced the same in my book).
Agreed.
Something to think more on. I had previously considered Ta- M options for the TAM but hadn’t given it as much thought recently. I do find [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_u]Milo[/name_u] lacking, but [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Malo[/name_m] is an improvement. [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Malachite[/name_m] is dashing on its own. [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Mercutio[/name_m] works much better than [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_m]Artair[/name_m] [name_m]Mercutio[/name_m], I feel. But [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] [name_u]Meridian[/name_u] sounds a bit awkward here. I don’t believe there are many more M names I might consider. As always, thank you for your feedback!
Squeaked in at the last minute! I’ve been thinking it over, and I personally like [name_u]Milo[/name_u] best in the triple combo BECAUSE [name_u]Milo[/name_u] is more familiar. It grounds and balances the combination, as [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]John[/name_m] can do for a first name longer/more exotic (we’re planning on [name_m]John[/name_m] as the likely middle if ours is a boy, so I’ve given it some thought )
I guess it is a bit close to H if that bothers you.
