What personality do these names evoke?

Boy Names
1

After a purposeful absence of more than two months from baby name research (had before been intensively trying to come up with the ‘perfect’ boys name for our newborn (arriving this summer), kept narrowing down the list, only for it to expand again soon thereafter), I decided to start over once again from (almost) scratch. I re-looked at the huge name-list I had come up with with fresh eyes. I read each name aloud, let it simmer in my mind for a bit, then either scratched it or kept it around. Then I re-checked the meaning of each name (meaning is very important to me), scratched some more. And continued narrowing it down until I reached a fresh set of favorites. Some previous favorites were no longer nearly as high on the list, while others that I hadn’t thought about too deeply before had risen up quite a bit. The two month break was pretty enlightening. I’d suggest it to anyone having naming difficulties that still has time to spare.

Now, on to the names. These 16 names (in no particular order) are the newly refurbished possibilities list.
I’d very much appreciate hearing your general feedback on these names, as well as the personality characteristics that these names bring up in your mind. The meaning of the name is in the ().

[name]Roland[/name] (renowned throughout the land)
[name]Nolan[/name] (champion)
[name]Everett[/name] (brave)
[name]Emmett[/name] (truth; universal)
[name]Emrys[/name] (immortal) (pronounced: em-riss)
[name]Evander[/name] (good man)
[name]Callum[/name] (dove)
[name]Kian[/name] (benevolent king; ancient) (note: we’d be using the Persian pronunciation = key-yawn. Which is also why we’d be using this spelling instead of [name]Cian[/name]. [name]Kian[/name] is a Persian name, whilst [name]Cian[/name] is a Gaelic name)
Caian (to rejoice) (pronounced: kye-un)(question: In your opinion, does [name]Kian[/name] (key-yawn) and/or Caian (kye-un) sound too similar to our first son’s name (Rayhan = ray-hahn)?)
[name]Amias[/name] (loved)
[name]Caius[/name] (to rejoice)
[name]Jasper[/name] (bringer of treasure; quartz)
[name]Bodhi[/name] (enlightenment)
[name]Conrad[/name] (brave counsel)
Adib (scholar)
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan (ancient) (I generally prefer original spellings, but is Cianan too difficult to decipher the pronunciation?)

Any and all thoughts and expressions are well appreciated! Thanks!

2

[name]Welcome[/name] back! It’s good to take a breather from names so you don’t get overwhelmed with choices. Rayhan has a lot of exotic flair so I would choose something along those lines. I wish more fathers would get involved like you!

More Unusual Choices

[name]Roland[/name] (renowned throughout the land) - if you don’t mind the shared initial - Romantic yet strong.
[name]Emrys[/name] (immortal) - I like the sound of this Welsh name. A more softer boys choice.
[name]Evander[/name] (good man) - strong and masculine
[name]Amias[/name] (loved) - gentleman
[name]Caius[/name] (to rejoice) - majestic leader
[name]Jasper[/name] (bringer of treasure; quartz) - spunky and fun
[name]Conrad[/name] (brave counsel) - authoritative and bossy
Adib (scholar) - Not my favourite but it goes with Rayhan. [name]Bright[/name] and intelligent.

Too bland/trendy with Rayhan

[name]Nolan[/name] (champion) - The only [name]Nolan[/name] I know is a baseball player so I get a sporty, athletic vibe!
[name]Everett[/name] (brave) - sophisticated and upper class
[name]Emmett[/name] (truth; universal) - polite and gentlemanly
[name]Callum[/name] (dove) - I see the opposite of the meaning - a bit of a hellraiser!
[name]Bodhi[/name] (enlightenment) - beach baby and surfer dude

Too similar with Rayhan

[name]Kian[/name] (benevolent king; ancient) - outdoorsy
Caian (to rejoice) - see [name]Kian[/name]
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan (ancient) - Cianan is Irish and is pronounced with “nawn” ending. See [name]Kian[/name]. All four names seem interchangeable to me.

3

[name]Roland[/name] - I can’t get past the “roll”, it is a nice sound and meaning
[name]Nolan[/name] - meh, it’s okay, same as [name]Conrad[/name] for me, just a tad dorky for my taste
[name]Everett[/name] - I like it! [name]Love[/name] Rett
[name]Emmett[/name] - meh, I prefer [name]Everett[/name] and [name]Emrys[/name]
[name]Emrys[/name] - actually I really like this one! [name]One[/name] of my favorites.
[name]Evander[/name] - I don’t mind this one, I think it would go well with your set
[name]Callum[/name] - okay
[name]Kian[/name] - I do think this is too close to your son
Caian - I don’t think this is too close to your son, it’s okay
[name]Amias[/name] - lovely, but looks very feminine
[name]Caius[/name] - I do this like. It’s not a favorite, but it’s nice.
[name]Jasper[/name] - lovely. I like this a lot.
[name]Bodhi[/name] - I just don’t like the sound of this one–I just think bogey, body, boggy, boatie.
[name]Conrad[/name] - lovely meaning, but the name is a tad on the dorky side for me
Adib - sounds very ethnic, like his mn would be [name]Muhammed[/name]
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan - I like the sound and the meaning, but as a name it looks a tad cheap

My favorites are [name]Emrys[/name], [name]Everett[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Caius[/name], and evander.

4

[name]Roland[/name] - [name]One[/name] of my favourites, I feel like it should get more attention than it does. Has a noble, gently old-fashioned feel to it.
[name]Nolan[/name] - I don’t mind it, but I much prefer [name]Roland[/name]. Feels a bit limp and bland, maybe.
[name]Everett[/name] - I’ve never really warmed to this, despite it being a NB favourite. It has too much of a trendy surname-y feel to me.
[name]Emmett[/name] - Similar to [name]Everett[/name], although I probably prefer [name]Emmett[/name] slightly.
[name]Emrys[/name] - [name]Love[/name] it, my favourite of your list. The meaning, the mythology, the sound - just a really awesome name.
[name]Evander[/name] - This is great, too. Feels adventurous.
[name]Callum[/name] - This is very popular/trendy where I am, so it lacks any sparkle.
[name]Kian[/name] - Probably too similar to your son’s name, and pronunciation could be an issue.
Caian - Prefer this to [name]Kian[/name] but it is still probably too close to Rayhan. Maybe not a deal-breaker, though.
[name]Amias[/name] - [name]Lovely[/name] and warm but not my favourite next to Rayhan.
[name]Caius[/name] - Strong name, I like it better than Caian, especially with your son’s name. Actually, it works really well with Rayhan.
[name]Jasper[/name] - Fun and vintage, but very different feel to a lot of your other choices.
[name]Bodhi[/name] - Really like this, even though it does have a bit of a beach-y feel.
[name]Conrad[/name] - Slightly stuffy and buttoned up next to your other names.
Adib - Works nicely with Rayhan but I think others might be more versatile.
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan - I would probably go with [name]Keenan[/name] for ease. [name]Love[/name] the meaning but a bit close to Rayhan with two -an endings.

My favourites:
[name]Roland[/name]: A well-mannered, amiable young man who writes poetry.
[name]Emrys[/name]: A quiet, intelligent boy who adores nature.
[name]Evander[/name] - A rough-and-tumble sort of boy, sporty and quite academic.
[name]Caius[/name] - A talented musician, thoughtful but reticent.
[name]Bodhi[/name] - An outgoing, popular, athletic young man. Okay, okay, he’s probably a surfer.

5

Yay, you’re back! [name]Love[/name] the list, with one or two exceptions…

[name]Roland[/name] (renowned throughout the land) – My favourite of your list. [name]Roland[/name] is quirky romantic, well read and possibly a horseman.
[name]Nolan[/name] (champion) - Intense, a bit depressing, but kind and lovely.
[name]Everett[/name] (brave) – I imagine a fierce and bold huntsman. Very sexy and sassy.
[name]Emmett[/name] (truth; universal) – A mama’s boy, blonde curls and lace shirt. Kind of a whimp with a bee in his bonnet.
[name]Emrys[/name] (immortal) (pronounced: em-riss) – Weird, artistic, a little intimidating and scary.
[name]Evander[/name] (good man) – Charming, spirited, wild at heart.
[name]Callum[/name] (dove) – Serious, intelligent, maybe a musician.
[name]Kian[/name] (benevolent king; ancient) – Kind, sweet and understanding.
Caian (to rejoice) - [name]Happy[/name], energetic and passionate.
[name]Amias[/name] (loved) – Beautiful, calm and sweet. Someone who brings his teddy and dummy wherever he goes.
[name]Caius[/name] (to rejoice) – see Caian.
[name]Jasper[/name] (bringer of treasure; quartz) – Smart, quirky, flamboyant. Definitely a bike and scarf thrown around his neck kind of guy.
[name]Bodhi[/name] (enlightenment) – Someone who’s full of himself and tries to be different just to be different.
[name]Conrad[/name] (brave counsel) – Intelligent, and has a twinkle in his eye. A bit naughty :wink:
Adib (scholar) – Same as [name]Conrad[/name].
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan (ancient) - Honest, kind, the kind of man women realizes they should be with when they hit 35.

My favourites: [name]Roland[/name], [name]Everett[/name], [name]Amias[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Conrad[/name], [name]Evander[/name], Caian/[name]Caius[/name], [name]Emrys[/name].

6

Thanks for the replies! I’m happy to see the strongly positive responses to [name]Roland[/name]. It’s one that always floated around the list, but never really made it’s way too high. But after a two month break, it’s suddenly rising fast (and I’m learning to trust my naming instincts more, so this kinda fast rise only bodes well for it). I’m a bit disappointed that [name]Bodhi[/name] seems to have this kind of beachy/surfer dude feel to it. Being that it’s the tree under which the Buddha received his Revelation, I always thought of it as having uniquely spiritual, peaceful and intelligent connotations.
I am thinking that perhaps [name]Kian[/name] (key-yawn) is too similar in pronunciation to Rayhan. Too bad, it’s my wife’s favorite (though she’s not nearly as picky as I am). I think I might have to try and convince her to pick a new favorite.

Update::::::::
I think I’ve been convinced to take [name]Bodhi[/name] off the list (it was just barely on the list anyway). And [name]Kian[/name]'s probably gonna be gone too (after a consultation with the wife). The others remain standing, with [name]Roland[/name] plowing his way towards the top few (where [name]Emrys[/name], [name]Evander[/name] and [name]Amias[/name] have long been in residence).

I’m also coming to realize that I’m almost thinking of [name]Callum[/name] as the ‘safe’ fall-back choice. Like if none of the other current favorites maintain their shine for the long-term, [name]Callum[/name] is a name I know I’d never be unhappy with (though I don’t think I’d ever consider it the perfect name either). I guess it’s not bad having a safe choice like this, just in case, but I kind of hope I don’t end up using it. We’ll see if this thought changes over time.

7

I agree, welcome back! I’ve been kinda watching, hoping you’d post again, as I wasn’t sure when [name]Baby[/name] Boy was due. The 2-month break strikes me as a good idea, though I don’t know if I’d have the self-discipline to do it myself.

I like your new rising star, [name]Roland[/name], especially if, as mischa said, you don’t mind the matching initials. Rayhan and [name]Roland[/name] are perhaps a tad too matchy for my personal taste, sharing not only the initial R but also the last-syllable ‘an’ sound, though that sound isn’t absolutely identical in both names. This doesn’t have to be too important, especially since the boys will grow up and have their own separate identities soon enough. I think [name]Roland[/name] would age very well; it strikes me as stylish, distinguished, intelligent and courteous.

[name]Emrys[/name] is still one of my favorites for you; in my opinion, it’s perfect next to Rayhan. [name]Both[/name] names are exotic without being outlandish, with the shared Y giving them a subtle link and a similar air of slight complexity; yet they don’t sound at all matchy. I love the meaning of [name]Emrys[/name], and that it’s the Welsh form of [name]Ambrose[/name]. I’m not seeing an image for [name]Emrys[/name] as clearly as for [name]Roland[/name]; I think [name]Emrys[/name] is quieter, more reserved, and definitely a harder man to understand and predict than [name]Roland[/name].

And I still love [name]Caius[/name] and Caian. You’ll remember I have a soft spot for Caian, but next to Rayhan I do think [name]Caius[/name] is the better choice, being more distinct. I think it’s awesome that Caian transliterates perfectly into Chinese, though…and it’s Welsh, too…I just love the meaning “rejoicing” for both these names. [name]Caius[/name] sounds like a quiet yet powerful man, well-controlled but a dangerous man to anger. Caian is a little more lighthearted, with a bit more lilt to his voice and laughter in his face. I admit Caian sounds more “rejoicing” than [name]Caius[/name].
I do agree with a previous poster than adding [name]Kian[/name] and [name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan into the mix makes them all begin to run together, though it makes perfect sense you’d be attracted to names that are so similar. I like them all, but [name]Caius[/name] and Caian are my favorites and [name]Kian[/name] my least favorite of the four, my apologies to your wife. I do find it pretty matchy with Rayhan.

About the others…there are no names on your list which I really dislike. Nameberry’s “beach-boy” image of [name]Bodhi[/name] has rubbed off on me a bit, as I was not familiar with the name before seeing it here, but I don’t dislike it. It sounds friendly and happy. I don’t care that much for [name]Everett[/name] and [name]Emmett[/name], and as the -ett names are trending up they do seem a little trendy and familiar next to Rayhan. [name]Nolan[/name] is sturdy and cheerful, [name]Evander[/name] perfectly acceptable but a little bland, for some unknown reason, [name]Callum[/name] attractive but also rather bland, [name]Amias[/name] serious and serene, [name]Jasper[/name] handsome and quirky (how popular is [name]Jasper[/name], anyway? I was just starting to really love [name]Jasper[/name] when I came onto Nameberry and started seeing it EVERYWHERE!), [name]Conrad[/name] very serious, Adib serious and scholarly (Ha! The meaning has affected my perception of the name. This post has been my introduction to the name Adib.)

Best wishes! I hope this is helpful.

8

[name]Roland[/name] - I read [name]Neal[/name] Shusterman’s Unwind, and as the villain was a tough and manipulative guy named [name]Roland[/name], this is the image I get.
[name]Nolan[/name] - [name]Nolan[/name] strikes me as quirky cool
[name]Everett[/name] - I like it. It has a Southern feel to me
[name]Emmett[/name] - This is a darling name, tough and sensitive all at the same time. It will probably outgrow its Twilight associations.
[name]Emrys[/name] - This one is more nms, because while it has an appealing sound, I usually prefer names that are easier to pronounce
[name]Evander[/name] - I adore this one. I am a big [name]Shakespeare[/name] fan, so I connect it to the character [name]Lysander[/name].
[name]Callum[/name] - Off the beaten track without being too out there, I think it’s a different way to get to the nickname “[name]Cal[/name]”.
[name]Kian[/name] - Same feelings as [name]Emrys[/name], my initial impulse is to rhyme it with [name]Ryan[/name]
[name]Amias[/name] - Another nice sound. Reminds me of [name]Tobias[/name]
[name]Caius[/name] - Sounds very Ancient [name]Roman[/name]. I prefer [name]Kai[/name] or [name]Cai[/name].
[name]Jasper[/name] - When I hear this name I think of the word “asp”, the type of snake that [name]Cleopatra[/name] committed suicide by. I understand that this is an extremely bizarre association, but “[name]Antony[/name] and [name]Cleopatra[/name]” is my favorite [name]Shakespeare[/name]
[name]Bodhi[/name] - I think hipster
[name]Conrad[/name] - I love the last name as first trend, so [name]Conrad[/name] appeals to me
Adib - I like the meaning, but the name is nms
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan - A nice name both ways, but I feel that [name]Keenan[/name] is a more practical spelling

9

Pity about [name]Bodhi[/name] I personally [name]LOVE[/name] it! :slight_smile:

10

Thanks for the further replies!
@[name]Aurora[/name]- I really appreciate the in-depth reply :slight_smile: Very helpful. I think I agree that there really isn’t a better match with Rayhan than [name]Emrys[/name]. They’re totally different names, but there is some sort of underlying feeling between the two names that seem to unite them to me as well. A little hard to find a somewhat similar Chinese name to go along with it, but the Chinese name doesn’t have to be exact really, it’s just something we’d prefer if we can manage to do so.
I also still hold Caian and [name]Caius[/name] quite high up on the list (I think Caian has overtaken [name]Caius[/name] as the more likely of the two though-- mostly because of the easy Chinese name connection and the connection to old Welsh royalty Caian has, which I also have in my ancient family history), but I’m just a little worried about the last syllable in Caian sounding too similar to the last one in Rayhan. It’s slightly different ‘un’ instead of ‘an’ sound, but kinda subtly different. Maybe a bit too matchy. Still definitely one of the more likely of the bunch though, I think.

11

[name]NEW[/name] ADDITION:
[name]One[/name] other name has made the list for further reflection. I don’t think it’s high up on the list, but I think it deserves a bit more time to simmer… [name]Leland[/name]… thoughts?

[name]NEW[/name] NAMES CUT (12 NAMES LEFT):
[name]Bodhi[/name] has already been removed. [name]Kian[/name] (key-yawn) is now officially removed as well (too similar in pronunciation to Rayhan). [name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan has also been removed, since I prefer Caian, which shares a lot of similarities to it, over it. Adib has also been removed, as I want more language diversity, and our first son’s name shares language roots with Adib. The others remain, though [name]Everett[/name], [name]Emmett[/name] and [name]Nolan[/name] I feel would be the next most likely to get cut.

So as it now stands, the most likely (8) at the moment would be (in no particular order):

  • [name]Roland[/name] (though I’m a little worried that the meaning is a little too shallow compared to the rest of my favorites)
  • [name]Emrys[/name] (which I solidly like on several levels, I just can’t seem to fully commit to it)
  • [name]Evander[/name] (which I also solidly like on several levels, but also just can’t seem to commit to)
  • [name]Callum[/name] (it’s a name I feel confident I’d never dislike, I just don’t know if it’d ever reach that ‘perfection’ point I’m looking for)
  • Caian (if it wasn’t for the somewhat similar pronunciation in the last syllable, this would possibly be the most likely choice)
  • [name]Amias[/name] (used to be by far my favorite, but after a two month break it’s lost a bit of it’s luster. While I still solidly like it, and always will, the fact that it lost some of it’s glow makes me worry that I’d like it less over more time.)
  • [name]Jasper[/name] (I’m surprised to include it here, but it just doesn’t seem to want to leave)
  • [name]Conrad[/name] (Seems to have some sort of staying power. Some sort of strong quality to it. Though I can’t quite define why I like this name as much as I do.)

And names that are still around to allow some more reflection, but seem a little less likely include:

  • [name]Leland[/name] (new consideration, needs a bit of time to settle in)
  • [name]Nolan[/name] (I like it, but I don’t think it’ll ever reach that illusive ‘[name]Evander[/name]-[name]Emrys[/name]-[name]Amias[/name]’ status. Probably will get cut if it doesn’t shine stronger soon.)
  • [name]Everett[/name] (I like it a lot, has some really nice qualities to it, but also feels similar to [name]Nolan[/name] in my views on it)
  • [name]Emmett[/name] (see above… don’t know which of these two ([name]Everett[/name]/[name]Emmett[/name]) I like more, but they both give me the same sort of impression)
12

You’re welcome! I like your current list of most likely finalists. Funny, since you added [name]Roland[/name] I got to thinking about the similar [name]Leland[/name]. My mom just served on a jury with a man who has a 5-year-old son [name]Leland[/name], and, while the name seems a bit “old” on a little guy, little guys don’t stay little too long. [name]Leland[/name] is cool–that double-L gives it a lilt that makes it fun to say, and I’m thinking of a serious guy who has a bit of a twinkle to him once you know him better–but I think I prefer [name]Roland[/name]. And Caian and [name]Emrys[/name] are still high on the list–yay!

Best wishes!

13

Update:
[name]Leland[/name], [name]Emmett[/name] and [name]Nolan[/name] have been cut. [name]Everett[/name] will remain. All four of those names have some sort of similar feel to them and I decided that [name]Everett[/name] was my favorite of the bunch, so that’ll stick around (actually [name]Leland[/name] probably would have been my fav of the four, but didn’t really think about how terrible it goes with our last name, so it’s gone).
But another is also being re-reflected on for the moment as well… [name]Miles[/name]… we’ll see if it has the power to make it’s way into the top 10 or just disappear in the next few days.

So now it’s a solid top 10
[name]Roland[/name]
[name]Emrys[/name]
[name]Evander[/name]
[name]Callum[/name]
Caian
[name]Caius[/name]
[name]Amias[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Conrad[/name]
[name]Everett[/name]

and [name]Miles[/name] is collecting some reflection time.

As well as reflecting on [name]Miles[/name] at the moment, [name]Conrad[/name] is also gonna be re-reflected on a bit now. It’s one I can’t figure out why I like it so much. But after a short period of time letting [name]Conrad[/name] simmer in the mind for a bit, perhaps awareness will arise. If awareness doesn’t arise, [name]Conrad[/name] will be cut from the list within the next 24 hours… (exciting, yes? for me at least)

14

[name]Love[/name]
[name]Keenan[/name] (my fave on the list)
[name]Conrad[/name] (my other fave)
[name]Callum[/name] (really like)
[name]Everett[/name] (love the nn option [name]Rhett[/name])
[name]Nolan[/name] (think its too common to be paired with Rayhan though)
[name]Evander[/name] ([name]Evan[/name] is a cute nn too )

Like
[name]Emmett[/name] (its alright)
[name]Kian[/name] (I prefer it spelled [name]Cian[/name])

Dislike
Adib ([name]Skyler[/name] has the same meaning)
[name]Bodhi[/name] (nms)
[name]Amias[/name] (I see potential pronunciation problems)
Caian (similar to first son’s name)
[name]Emrys[/name] (nms)
[name]Roland[/name] (nms)
[name]Jasper[/name] (nms)

15

[name]Roland[/name]- I’m not really sure how I feel about this. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it.
[name]Nolan[/name]- Ugh… sounds like a kid with a snotty nose
[name]Everett[/name]- I really like this one
[name]Emmett[/name]- Very Masculine
[name]Emrys[/name]- the spelling is too… idk… it seems wrong
[name]Evander[/name]- Really like
[name]Callum[/name]- amazing name
[name]Kian[/name]- not to fond of. Definitely no [name]Everett[/name] or [name]Evander[/name]
[name]Amias[/name]- to feminine
[name]Caius[/name]- see [name]Amias[/name]
[name]Jaspar[/name]- love
[name]Bodhi[/name]- sounds like a hindu name. Hate this
[name]Conrad[/name]- love
Adib- hate
[name]Keenan[/name]/Cianan- stick to the 1st spelling.

16

Appreciate the further feedback! [name]Happy[/name] to see [name]Evander[/name] in the top choices again.
It seems like [name]Evander[/name] is one of the few names that seems to be appreciated by people with a wide variety of name tastes. That makes me happy.