My husband and I both like sophisticated traditional/classic names, especially those with good nicknames. We named our daughter [name]Katherine[/name] [name]Viola[/name], and now we are expecting a boy. I’m finding boy names we might otherwise like to be extremely common to the point of being generic ([name]Michael[/name], [name]Johnathan[/name], [name]David[/name]) or newly trendy ([name]Alexander[/name], [name]Oliver[/name]). We’re not fans of names that sound like they are trying too hard to be old-fashioned ([name]Jeremiah[/name], [name]Grover[/name]). But it’s hard to find any names left! We’ve thought about a few specifics, but none is feeling like The [name]One[/name]:
[name]Calvin[/name]-right blend of a familiar name without being trendy or overused, not sure we love the actual name and can’t decide whether it’s great or dorky or too closely associated with [name]John[/name] [name]Calvin[/name] or [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name]
[name]Erik[/name]-again, not too common/trendy, we like the name, but it’s hard to make nicknames and doesn’t flow with the last name
[name]Leo[/name]-a family name, but would prefer a longer form and not a fan of [name]Leonardo[/name], [name]Leopold[/name], [name]Leonard[/name], etc.
[name]Christopher[/name]-like the name, but perhaps too many [name]Chris[/name]'s out there
We are desperately hoping that there’s some name we’ve missed that will be perfect. Any suggestions or thoughts about the names above would be appreciated!! Thanks!
I think [name]Calvin[/name] with no nn or with the nn [name]Cal[/name] is awesome. I do think of [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] and would never think of the president. My husband loves [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name], also we have an orange tabby cat named [name]Hobbes[/name]. I don’t think [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] is a bad association at all.
I like [name]Nicholas[/name] and [name]Christopher[/name].
[name]Arthur[/name] seems to be sliding below the radar, unlike [name]Archer[/name] and [name]Alexander[/name], without being a total oddity. I like [name]Alastair[/name] as well. Be careful of [name]Felix[/name] - it might be a bit trendier than you expect especially in some areas. I like it though.
[name]Joel[/name] is on Nameberry’s list of names that have hundred+ years history on the US chart yet doesn’t feel nearly as well-trod ground as [name]James[/name]/[name]Jonathan[/name]/[name]Jacob[/name] do right now. [name]Jethro[/name] would be a bolder option but offers up nicknames like [name]Jet[/name] while still having a classic backup.
I’d say [name]Hugh[/name] but that’s actually shorter than [name]Leo[/name] so nevermind.
Names that are slightly dusty but not outre: [name]George[/name], [name]Roland[/name], [name]Dominic[/name], [name]Cassius[/name] (I do prefer the [name]Cash[/name]-us pronunciation to [name]Cass[/name]-ee-us, both are valid), [name]Ephraim[/name], [name]Harvey[/name], [name]Cyrus[/name]. Names that feel classic but are kind of popular: [name]Henry[/name], [name]Nathan[/name] & [name]Nathaniel[/name]. Name that I just checked for popularity that has never been on the US Top 1000 and I’m surprised because I see it on Nameberry all the time: [name]Dashiell[/name].
I like [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Leonard[/name]! There are waaay too many Christophers out there, and i think its too matchy with [name]Katherine[/name].
[name]Love[/name] the suggestions of [name]Joel[/name], [name]Dominic[/name] & [name]Roland[/name] also, and would like to add just a few more:
[name]Nicholas[/name], [name]Christopher[/name] (but not keen on [name]Chris[/name]), [name]David[/name], and [name]Eric[/name] are all long-time favorites of mine. I also think [name]Oliver[/name] and [name]Leo[/name] are wonderful. Here are others in the same vein that you might like:
Thanks for all the suggestions. I still like [name]Calvin[/name], but are [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Katherine[/name] too similar? We usually call her [name]Kate[/name]. I also like [name]Alastair[/name], but think it’s too British for my family background. I love [name]Theodore[/name]/[name]Theo[/name], but it is quite popular in my area and I have a couple of friends with little boys named [name]Theo[/name]. We also know a [name]Dashiell[/name]/[name]Dash[/name].
I think everwaiteing and I have the same taste in names, as I like all those names. For some reason none of them really grabs me quite enough.
I love [name]Calvin[/name]! I think [name]Katherine[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] are fine, and honestly, I don’t think of [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Hobbes[/name] at all, and [name]John[/name] [name]Calvin[/name] is a good association for me. I think it’s both quirky and classic, it’s perfect. Another one along those lines imo is [name]Patrick[/name]–if you don’t like [name]Pat[/name], I think he could be [name]Paddy[/name], [name]Pax[/name], or even [name]Ricky[/name]/[name]Rick[/name]/Trick, all of which are pretty cool.
If you like [name]Leo[/name] but not [name]Leonard/name, [name]Leopold[/name], etc., have you considered [name]Elliot[/name] or [name]Leander[/name]? They’re less common ways to get to [name]Leo[/name], but I’ve heard them several times and think they work. I really like [name]Nicholas[/name] (especially if the nn was [name]Cole[/name]!) and [name]Otis[/name] (although I think it might be better as a MN. I also love [name]Oliver[/name].
What about something like [name]Daniel[/name], [name]Gabriel[/name], [name]Samuel[/name], [name]Nathaniel[/name]?
I think with [name]Christopher[/name] (or even [name]Christian[/name]) you could use the nn [name]Kit[/name] (unless [name]Katherine[/name] goes by [name]Kit[/name]/[name]Kitty[/name], of course, lol… that didn’t really cross my mind until now), or [name]Topher[/name]/[name]Ian[/name] for [name]Christopher[/name]/[name]Christian[/name] respectfully.
I like the suggestion of [name]Isaac[/name], as well. Or maybe [name]Benjamin[/name]?
I like [name]Calvin[/name]. I don’t think it’s too matchy with [name]Katherine[/name], especially since you call her [name]Kate[/name]. [name]Kate[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] sound wonderful together.
I like [name]Nicholas[/name] (nn [name]Nick[/name]) too. I think [name]Timothy[/name], [name]Abraham[/name] (nn [name]Abe[/name]), [name]Isaac[/name], and [name]Samuel[/name] would work as well.
Great feedback, thanks! I like almost all the suggestions, so maybe one will become a middle name for [name]Calvin[/name] (should we go with that name).
I like [name]Nicholas[/name] and [name]Andrew[/name] a lot. [name]How[/name] about [name]Patrick[/name], [name]Seth[/name] or [name]Spencer[/name]? I also like [name]Leo[/name], and ash’s suggestion of [name]Leander[/name] is nice.
I really like [name]Nicholas[/name], [name]Andrew[/name], [name]Alexander[/name], [name]Oliver[/name], [name]William[/name], and [name]Theodore[/name], but they are all extremely common in my area. I’m not looking for a unique name, but it was eye opening to see that 3 out of 6 kids in my daughter’s music class were named [name]Alexander[/name]!!
