My boys list needs work. I’ve posted about [name]Solomon[/name] and [name]Miles[/name] but [name]Solomon[/name] seems too solemn and [name]Miles[/name] might be getting too popular for our taste. [name]Lionel[/name] is on our list-- it feels kind of groovy to us a la [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Ritchie[/name] but I don’t think “it just seems kind of cool” is a good enough reason to give a name to our kid. What kind of person do you imagine when you hear [name]Lionel[/name]? I like that it means young lion as I love nature names but does it also seem like a belligerent name? Middles would be [name]Scott[/name], [name]Adams[/name], or [name]Theodore[/name] to honour family. Does [name]Leo[/name] work as a nickname? Are there any other classic nature names for boys like [name]Lionel[/name] that aren’t too out there?
[name]Lionel[/name] doesn’t strike me as belligerent as at all. It’s kind of for me in soft-ish British-ish territory like [name]Miles[/name], [name]Nigel[/name], [name]Simon[/name], etc. (must be that long I!). Also the Australian speech therapist character in the [name]King[/name]'s Speech (based on a historical person) is a cool namesake. I like it! I think [name]Leo[/name] works as a nickname - it’s more intuitive spelled [name]Lio[/name], but I mean, it’s totally fine to spell it [name]Leo[/name].
Other nature names that come to mind that, to me, aren’t too out there…
[name]Ash[/name]
[name]Brooks[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Niles[/name] (sort of a stretch)
Sure there are more but I am kind of blanking…although I don’t think there are a ton.
In the same vein as [name]Solomon[/name] I think [name]Absalom[/name] and [name]Abraham[/name] are great, although they are both a lot to wear in their own ways…
I knew a tough yet gentle man named [name]Lionel[/name]. He was born just before the Great Depression, so it’s definitely a name that has faded from favor, as I’ve never met another one! His family was Norwegian, and he became a homesteader, fisherman and metalworker. He and his wife raised seven children; the oldest was a son, born with Down Syndrome before much was known about the condition. The couple was told to have [name]Jimmy[/name] put in an institution, but they refused. [name]Jim[/name] had a wonderful life, growing up with his siblings on the homestead, fishing with his dad, and eventually getting a job as school janitor which he cherished till shortly before his death at 54.
[name]Lionel[/name] died a few years ago, and my community remembers him as a great example of pioneering, industry, and [name]Christian[/name] love.
I guess I said all that to tell you I knew a great namesake! Actually, as a bit of trivia, [name]Lionel[/name]'s middle name was [name]Sydney[/name], and he now has a great-granddaughter [name]Sydney[/name], named in his honor.
As an aside, I haven’t been able to figure out why, in the L.M. [name]Montgomery[/name] books, several characters react violently to [name]Lionel[/name] as a “sissy name.” I don’t know why she would have perceived it as a sissy name, but I don’t. It’s not really my style, but as I said, I knew a great namesake! Best wishes.
There’s a really cute little boy in the movie, Because I [name]Said[/name] So, with this name (probably the only saving grace for this movie) and really got me interested in this name (I also like [name]Lio[/name]/[name]Leo[/name] for it). I think other names that have a similar feel include:
Thank you everyone for the suggestions and your associations with the name. Teacherma, I will look up this movie “Because I [name]Said[/name] So” and AuroraDawn, your [name]Lionel[/name] sounded like a great man. I’m not familiar with [name]Lionel[/name] trains either but that’s cute. I was wondering why I was feeling indecisive about [name]Lionel[/name] and I think as an American I think it sounds nice and appealing but having been in South [name]Africa[/name] for 3 years and seen lions up close (from the safety of the car of course during safaris) you can see how my impression might change. The Disney image of the brave, strong hearted [name]Lion[/name] [name]King[/name], and then the ruthless predators I’ve seen. He would definitely be called [name]Lio[/name] in SA, as you can’t be calling out [name]Lion[/name] around here! Your comments have given me reassurance though and this name is high up on our list.
I love the suggestions of [name]Niles[/name], [name]Heath[/name], [name]Everett[/name], [name]Harvey[/name], [name]Albert[/name], and [name]Lyle[/name].