What is preferred in regards to the rhythm of syllables in choosing a name.
Should the first and last names have different syllables? If the last name has 2 syllables then what should the first name have? What about the middle name then?
This is almost mathematical! 
Thanks so much for the help.
Okay, Iâm going to try and explain how I envision the rhythm of naming - by the way, I love that terminology - using a few examplesâŚ
It all starts with your last name! Letâs take the last names [name]Keats[/name], [name]Winthrop[/name], and [name]Montgomery[/name], representing short, medium, and long last names, respectively.
[name]KEATS[/name]
First things first, I personally believe that a one syllable first name is never the âbestâ choice with a one syllable last name, but that doesnât mean it canât be done (e.g., [name]John[/name] [name]Keats[/name]). So, letâs say you fall in love with the first name [name]John[/name], yet your last name is the short [name]Keats[/name]. You must have a longer (3+ syllables) middle name to balance it out. In this case, something like [name]John[/name] [name]Harrison[/name] [name]Keats[/name] has a regal, elegant rhythm, whereas [name]John[/name] [name]Richard[/name] [name]Keats[/name] (or worse, [name]John[/name] [name]Rolf[/name] [name]Keats[/name]) sounds choppy and harsh.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Jane[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Keats[/name]
Next, letâs say you fall in love with a medium (2 syllable) name, [name]Henry[/name]. [name]Henry[/name] [name]Keats[/name] sounds nice, yes? Here, we can go with a two syllable or three syllable middle name to balance, such as [name]Henry[/name] [name]Landon[/name] [name]Keats[/name] or [name]Henry[/name] [name]William[/name] [name]Keats[/name]. [name]Both[/name] are good options, but the first is more straightforward whereas the latter has more of a rich sound and structure to it.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Lucy[/name] [name]Frances[/name] [name]Keats[/name]
Finally, letâs say you fall in love with a long first name, [name]Nathaniel[/name]. [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Keats[/name] sound very nice as is, which may tempt you to use a short middle name, but [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Keats[/name] sounds like something is missing. Here, a two syllable middle name is best, something like [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Joseph[/name] [name]Keats[/name] (the âreverse stair stepâ).
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Cecily[/name] [name]Frances[/name] [name]Keats[/name]
[name]WINTHROP[/name]
A one syllable first name works here, so [name]James[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name] is nice. Here, you can go with a two syllable middle name for a strong sound, [name]James[/name] [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name], or choose a longer middle name for a melodic sound, [name]James[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]. I generally prefer the first option, as it sounds clearer and gives each name its own sound and feel within the combination.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Claire[/name] [name]Elise[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]
A two syllable first name with a two syllable last name is a common occurrence, as in the case of [name]Lucas[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]. Here, I think it is best to balance the syllables so as to not create a name that is overwhelming. [name]Lucas[/name] [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name] sounds crisp, strong, and dignified. The name doesnât need to be dressed up ([name]Lucas[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]) or dressed down ([name]Lucas[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]), but the situation of a two syllable first and last name presents the most options for a middle name!
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Sarah[/name] [name]Marie[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name], but [name]Sarah[/name] [name]Paige[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name] and [name]Sarah[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name] work, too!
Finally, a longer first name pairs easily with a medium last name, as in the case of [name]Adrian[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]. Here, you can do pretty much anything with the name, but I believe the best option is to match the middle name to the last name here, as in [name]Adrian[/name] [name]Joseph[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]. You may want to glamorize the name by making it longer, as in [name]Adrian[/name] [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name], but this makes for too many syllables to say in a short period of time. A simple middle name, [name]Adrian[/name] [name]Charles[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name], works well in this situation also, but this places more emphasis on the last name than the middle name when the entire combination is said aloud.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Celia[/name] [name]Frances[/name] [name]Winthrop[/name]
[name]MONTGOMERY[/name]
Short first names are a natural choice when you have a long last name; for instance, consider [name]James[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]. Here, I think it is best to use a âstair-stepâ effect in choosing a middle name, balancing the syllables between the first and middle names, as in [name]James[/name] [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]. I say this because [name]James[/name] [name]Brett[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] lacks the elegance and rhythm that a name calls for, while [name]James[/name] [name]William[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] is overly verbose in syllables.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Claire[/name] [name]Elise[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]
You can also choose a first name of medium length when you have a longer last name, such as [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]. Here, I think the best option is to match the syllables of the middle name to those in the first name, as in [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Lucas[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]. This name sounds elegant and strong, yet it doesnât have too much in it. A one syllable middle name is equally as good, as [name]Patrick[/name] [name]Charles[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] works as well in this situation, too. Here, the main rule is to not match the syllables of the last name with those in the middle name, as [name]Patrick[/name] [name]William[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] is too much of a name. A name loses its strength and presence when it is overly full of syllables.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Anna[/name] [name]Louise[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]
If you fall in love with a long first name but have a long last name, as in the case of [name]Everett[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name], all is not lost! The rule here is, though, that you should use a one syllable middle name. [name]Everett[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] has style and presence without being too short or too long. [name]Everett[/name] [name]Lucas[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] and [name]Everett[/name] [name]William[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] are too verbose in syllables and clash with the syllables chosen for the first and last names.
IDEAL GIRL: [name]Olivia[/name] [name]Claire[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]
In short, anything is possible - you just need to balance the rhythm of the name and all is well in naming world! Best of luck!
I think the âformulaâ makes for a pleasant flow, but I like it when different people have different sounds or rhythms to their names. I think (and not statistically certain) most people have 2 syllables in their last name, and quite a lot of people choose a short middle name to bridge between a longer first name and their last name. Keep in mind for most of their life, no one will use their middle name so if the first and last name sound good, itâs good to go.
I have a 2-3-2, but mostly a 2-2 if you see what I mean, and when I hear peopleâs names, I think that is most common. If you have a huge last name or a very short-sounding name, pairing it with something shorter or longer-sounding respectively can sound a bit better than a big mouthful or a name that leaves you wanting to hear more. I think a short last name like Hahn sounds shorter to me than [name]Smith[/name] or Schultz. Someone here has a last name that sounds like Kick. That seems like a very short sound in a hard way, where Hahn sounds softer. To me, it is not just the syllables, but does the first and last name balance the hardness of the sound with a softer sounding first name or does it sound too hard or too floaty. Some sounds are hard, like T and K and hard G, J, and P sound hard, while B, V, F, L, and M sound a bit softer to a lot softer. [name]Michael[/name], [name]Jacob[/name], [name]Steven[/name], these names seem to balance a soft and hard sound really well for example, and I think they are or were very popular because they go with a lot of last names!
I think a hard name like [name]Jack[/name] sounds ok with a soft last name like [name]Vaughn[/name], where it sounds harder with a last name like [name]Tate[/name]. [name]Jack[/name] [name]Vaughn[/name], [name]Jack[/name] [name]Tate[/name]. The length of [name]Vaughn[/name] visually makes some difference in balancing as well as how much softer it sounds next to [name]Jack[/name], but [name]Jack[/name] [name]Tate[/name] has some qualities as well. He sounds like he means business and that may be something to listen for - I listen for it in the people I meet when I learn their names. I like it when everyone has an individual rhythm rather than a formulaic rhythm. Someone might say, well name him [name]Jackson[/name] formally. [name]Jackson[/name] [name]Tate[/name] sounds formulaic (and nice), but if you and everyone else are going to call him [name]Jack[/name], his name will sound like [name]Jack[/name] [name]Tate[/name] to everyone he meets. If you have a one-syllable last name and are naming a boy particularly, and you want to follow a formula, finding a name that canât be reduced to one syllable might be tricky - as examples above would be [name]Mike[/name], [name]Jake[/name], or [name]Steve[/name] [name]Tate[/name]. Some people will go by their full name for life, but some may like to or not be able to avoid their one syllable nickname. A name like [name]Ethan[/name] or [name]Oliver[/name] might be called in - they are more nickname resistant.
Thatâs just for example. I donât know if you have a long or short last name. I donât think there is anything wrong with a 2-2 kind of name, but it is very common. If you have 2 or more syllables in your last name, you may disregard a lot of what I said about short last names. If your last name has a lot of syllables, I still think a lot of long names go with it, [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name] (I think [name]Lemon[/name] used [name]Montgomery[/name] for an example) has 4+4 syllables, but sounds ok. She was an actress who was famous for playing [name]Samantha[/name] on âBewitched.â It doesnât sound like a mouthful. Consider also [name]Nicole[/name] Kidman, I was just reminded about âBewitched.â Does her 2-2 name sound heinous? No. And if you have a long last name, most long names with it will be reduced to a nickname unless you strictly forbid it.
I tend to overlook the âflowâ with the middle name as it will not often be heard, does the first and last name sound ok in full, and if you like a specific nickname, does that also sound ok with the last name - [name]Elizabeth[/name] might sound great with your last name, but there puts emphasis on the IZ primarily when you say the whole thing. [name]Say[/name] your last name is [name]Abbott[/name]. [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Abbott[/name] sounds ok, but you love to call her [name]Beth[/name], for example. [name]Beth[/name] [name]Abbott[/name] doesnât have a great ring to it without the [name]Eliza[/name]- portion of the first name to reduce the [name]Beth[/name]-BBott sound together, but thatâs what people will call her. If your last name is [name]Tate[/name], then besides watching out for [name]Jacob[/name] - [name]Jake[/name] [name]Tate[/name] is weird - also donât go with [name]Katherine[/name] or [name]Nathan[/name], etc. [name]Kate[/name] or [name]Nate[/name] [name]Tate[/name]. Also anything that will make the name sound like a verb, but I guess weâre getting into special cases.
When you are trying to do the math with the first and last name, a middle name is something a lot of people consider, but I would consider it last, unless your child is going to be called their whole name, like [name]Oliver[/name] [name]Wendell[/name] [name]Holmes[/name] or [name]James[/name] [name]Earl[/name] [name]Jones[/name] through their life and career. Mostly, how does that first and last sound, and how does it sound when you use the preferred nickname, both syllable wise and repetitive sound wise. I hope any of this makes sense to you.
[name]Karen[/name], I really liked your reply, as it addressed some things I failed to mention. I showed that you can always have variety with a name, and a short last name doesnât necessarily lock you into a long first name - you have a world of possibility. You addressed the fact that sound plays a key role, so the names I chose as ideal with my sample last names donât work with every short, medium, and long last name simply because of sound. Also, nicknames can be a challenging aspect that should definitely be considered in naming.
However, I disagree with [name]Karen[/name] in that I really love a name to flow through-and-through, with the middle name, as I believe it is a part of your identity. I have been asked countless times what my middle name is, despite the fact that it isnât a part of my normal everyday name usage - it is present in my monogram, I use it as a part of my username here ([name]Lemon[/name] incorporates my initials, L.E.M.), and I feel like my [name]Elyse[/name] sets my name apart from the sea of [name]Elizabeth[/name] middle names. Okay, that really had nothing to do with anything, but I felt like adding a personal anecdote 
Oh, [name]Karen[/name], thanks for bringing up [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name], as it is a beautiful name with great presence. However, I looked her up, and her full name was [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Victoria[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name], a 4+4+4 combination. This, in my opinion, IS a mouthful, and I believe her name would have been better as [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Montgomery[/name]. Also, I agree with you that 2+2 combinations are most common, but they seem to offer the most middle name possibility, too! For instance, your 2+3+2 combination is probably stunning, while my 2+2+2 and my sisterâs 2+1+2 also have great flow.
There is indeed a world of possibility in the rhythm of naming!
I donât exactly dismiss the middle name, but I think itâs helpful to remember most people never hear it, and to get the first and last name squared first - including if you prefer a nickname or foresee it has a chance of being unavoidable in some situations. If you have a middle name already to go, like a family name that absolutely is going to be used, thatâs an added element to build up a first name that sounds good, but Iâm not overly concerned if it doesnât sound ideal, just that it doesnât sound totally disgusting or make unfortunate puns!
I think meaning on the middle name trumps euphony in any case, but if you are starting from scratch, might as well go for euphony. A 1-syllable middle name almost always flows well with a 2-2 or 3-2 name, but some can seem bland, and I think too concerned with âflowâ to try something longer - like matching your living room to a page in a catalog because you are uncertain what else might look good but imprints more of your personality in the room. Also popular are 2-syllable names with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable - a beautiful flow can seem formulaic. [name]Louise[/name], [name]Marie[/name], [name]Michelle[/name], [name]Nicole[/name], for example - boy names in this category seem rare, but someone else might suggest some.
A 3-syllable middle name sounds fine generally with a 2-2 or 2-1, and can go with a 3-2 or 3-1, if a bit more full, [name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Donnelly[/name] [name]Barton[/name] sounds good, if like, your grandmotherâs maiden name was [name]Donnelly[/name] and you have your heart set on [name]Nicholas[/name]. [name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Donnelly[/name] [name]Broderick[/name] is 3-3-3 and doesnât sound off to me, whether he is [name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Broderick[/name] or prefers to be called [name]Nick[/name] - [name]Nick[/name] [name]Broderick[/name] - does that sound kind of cheesy? If you say [name]Daniel[/name] [name]Jonathan[/name] White sounds good - 2-3-1, he is just as likely to eventually be called [name]Dan[/name] White, so middle names are great and all, but do you like what they will actually be called?
For last names that are 2 syllables, I know plenty of people whose first name is also 2 syllables including myself and everyone in my family. 2 syllable last names are probably the easiest - they are long enough for a 1-syllable first name and not too long for a 3-4 syllable first name (and keeping in mind there, a lot of nicknames are 1 or 2 syllables), so even a long first name with a 3+ syllable last name can sound ok in full or with a nickname. It really depends on where the syllables are stressed and if they run together or rhyme too closely, can make a very good name sound, as they say, sing-songy. Not unpleasant but a little less than ideal.
[name]Say[/name] the whole name out and if you can hear any weird or dirty words and phrases between the first and middle, and the middle and last that are not evident with just first and last name - sometimes the last sound of one word and the first sound of the next word spells or sounds like some third thing you donât want - something dirty, negative, a brand name, or even just silly-sounding or corny - these can make some teasing potential you donât hear in just the first name or middle name by itself, or make someone sensitive about revealing their middle name. I think this is way more important than rhythm!
Write down the initials to see if it spells anything - some short words are neutral but some are embarrassing. [name]Say[/name] the first and last name alone, then try the first name with every nickname you can think people might use, even if you have one you prefer, just on the non-zero chance it doesnât stick and the child likes to go by something else eventually. An [name]Alexander[/name] might go by [name]Alexander[/name], [name]Alex[/name], [name]Alec[/name], [name]Al[/name], [name]Zander[/name], even [name]Andy[/name] or [name]Sandy[/name] (there used to be boys named [name]Sandy[/name], I swear). You may really like [name]Zander[/name], but make sure [name]Alex[/name] and [name]Al[/name] sound good too, directly next to the last name.
In general, if the middle name is spoken out loud, the full formal first name will go with it, so [name]Alexander[/name] [name]Maxwell[/name] [name]Thorne[/name] might go by [name]Alex[/name] [name]Thorne[/name] even if you prefer [name]Zander[/name] [name]Thorne[/name], but you donât have to worry about [name]Alex[/name] -> [name]Maxwell[/name], and too much X sound too close together - if [name]Maxwell[/name] was your last name, then Iâd be concerned how that sounds.
In any event, you can always run it by someone elseâs ears and eyes, like us. Good luck!
My brain hurts after reading all this!