Which of these is worth keeping?

Boy Names
1

I’ve finally managed to narrow my girls’ list to about 14-15 names (listed in my signature!), and now I’ve moved to the boys’ list. Eventually, I’d like to narrow both lists down to 10 each, but for now, I’m counting it a small success to have gotten my lists this far. :slight_smile:

[name]Caleb[/name], [name]Everett[/name], [name]Asher[/name], [name]Jack[/name], [name]Grayson[/name], [name]Avery[/name], [name]Bailey[/name], [name]Charles[/name], [name]Samuel[/name], and [name]Boaz[/name] are already set. I’m just trying to narrow down the rest of these to four-to-five more, which is my dilemma. Below are the choices, thoughts? I feel like I have a lot of little issues with all of them, and I’ve listed them next to the names. Would these keep you from using the name? Which five do you like best with the “set” names?

[name]Atticus[/name] (would you use this if you didn’t particularly like TKMB, but still really liked the name? I more like it’s ancient [name]Roman[/name] feel, and its connection to people who stood up for what’s right–I love that there was also a [name]Christian[/name] martyr named [name]Atticus[/name]–rather than to [name]Atticus[/name] [name]Finch[/name]. My list has literary names sprinkled all over it, most of which are meaningful to me. Would you use a literary name if you liked the name, but weren’t particularly moved by the story?)
[name]Booker[/name] (too close to “booger”?)
[name]Brody[/name] (too trendy?)
[name]Calvin[/name] (too close to [name]Caleb[/name]? The sounds are different, but they do both begin with “[name]Cal[/name]”…)
[name]Declan[/name] (meh, I love it, and keep coming back to it, and the idea of nixing it makes me sad, but I can never seem to commit to it, either…)
[name]Dominic[/name]
[name]Ian[/name]
[name]Zane[/name]

I really don’t have any issues with the last three, actually, and they’ll probably end up making the list. :slight_smile: As for [name]Booker[/name] and [name]Brody[/name], though, do you think either one of them are usable with [name]Boaz[/name] already being on my list? I feel like using all three is one too many “[name]Bo[/name]” names (not to mention “B” names in general!), although it saddens me to think of losing one of them. :frowning:

2

My favorites from the list:

[name]Atticus[/name]
[name]Dominic[/name] - I’ve always had a sweet spot for this one.
[name]Ian[/name]

Those three are really the only ones that I liked. [name]Brody[/name], [name]Declan[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] are okay, but I’m not a fan of [name]Zane[/name] and [name]Booker[/name].

3

[name]Atticus[/name] - I think I would use a literary name if I liked the name but wasn’t particularly moved by the story as most literary names are seen in all different places and most don’t have such strong connections to the certain piece of literature in the general populace. Of course, there are exceptions such as [name]Montague[/name] and [name]Lancelot[/name], and I think [name]Atticus[/name] is one of those exceptions. That being said, [name]Atticus[/name] is becoming increasingly popular and in several years, or whenever you are having children, the connection may not be quite as strong. I would definitely keep this on the list. ([name]Atticus[/name] is my favourite name on this list.) I have also recently fallen in love with [name]Atticus[/name] nn [name]Kit[/name]…although I think I read somewhere that you have [name]Catherine[/name] nn [name]Kit[/name] on your list? Woah…sorry for the novel!

[name]Booker[/name] - I’m not a fan of this name.

[name]Brody[/name] - To me, this name screams trendy. It may have just been overused in my area however.

[name]Calvin[/name] - This name is still dated to me. This name screams middle-age to me…perhaps it may start coming back in a few years however.

[name]Declan[/name] - This is one name I hate to love.

[name]Dominic[/name] - Have always thought this is a handsome name. I love the idea of a little [name]Dom[/name].

[name]Ian[/name] - Same has [name]Calvin[/name]. Although I have seen it sprinkled over the UK Telegraph BA’s lately.

[name]Zane[/name] - I’ve never liked this name.

I would keep [name]Atticus[/name], [name]Declan[/name], [name]Dominica[/name] and…[name]Brody[/name].

4

I would choose [name]Ian[/name], [name]Zane[/name] and [name]Dominic[/name] for the first three. You don’t have any cons and they’re all very handsome names. In addition to those I’d take [name]Atticus[/name], it’s a fine name with a long history. I don’t care for the book, and I prefer people to choose it because of the philosophers. If you need one more… I’m torn between [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Brody[/name]. [name]Calvin[/name] is really nice and sweet, [name]Brody[/name] is sexy. But they both remind me of others on your list ([name]Bailey[/name], [name]Avery[/name] and [name]Caleb[/name]).

5

I hope you keep [name]Dominic[/name], [name]Zane[/name] and [name]Atticus[/name] ( I think [name]Atticus[/name] is used enough that the TKAMB is not an immediate thought)

6

I’d keep [name]Dominic[/name], [name]Brody[/name], and [name]Ian[/name]. [name]Lovely[/name], handsome names.

7

I’d keep [name]Dominic[/name], [name]Ian[/name], [name]Declan[/name] and [name]Zane[/name]. I think they fit in well with your other names.

Why I would nix the others:
[name]Atticus[/name] - Would I use a name if I liked it, but not the literary character? Depends on how common the name was. I’ve never even read TKAMB but [name]Atticus[/name] [name]Finch[/name] is always the first thing that pops into my mind when I see the name on here. I think more people will associate it with TKAMB than a [name]Christian[/name] martyr- would that bother you?
[name]Booker[/name] - Yes, it’s close to booger, though we call them bogies :stuck_out_tongue: I was more concerned with its closeness to ‘hooker’.
[name]Brody[/name] - Quite trendy and I think it’s a bit too close to [name]Boaz[/name].
[name]Calvin[/name] - I just think it’s dated! And it is a different sound to [name]Caleb[/name] but I don’t think you could have brothers with those names. I know you love it though. If I had to pick a fifth choice, this would be it :slight_smile:

8

I would keep [name]Ian[/name]!

9

[name]Atticus[/name] – The literary association will definitely be there in people’s minds, so as long as that’s fine by you, I quite like this one.
[name]Booker[/name] – I enjoy this name. It’s wholesome and solid.
[name]Brody[/name] – I’m never sure what people mean by trendy. [name]Do[/name] you mean too modern-sounding? [name]Do[/name] you fear it will go out of style? It’s not like it’s a name-du-jour, I am so confused and literally have no idea what there is to be concerned about. Confusion aside, I don’t love the name. It’s very jock to me.
[name]Calvin[/name] – I can take it or leave it. I don’t dislike it at all, it just doesn’t pique my interest.
[name]Declan[/name] – I have the same feelings. I love the name when I see it, I just…there’s something stopping me from falling in love.
[name]Dominic[/name] – Great name. Have nothing to say other than that I quite like it.
[name]Ian[/name] – My dad’s and my brother’s name, so I can’t really get into it myself, but I think it does have a simple, classic feel if that’s your thing.
[name]Zane[/name] – Very jock/douchebag to me. I can’t imagine being introduced to a [name]Zane[/name] and feeling any inclination to like him.

10

[name]Atticus[/name] - I like it. I would never use it, but I wouldn’t be perturbed if I met somebody named [name]Atticus[/name]. I don’t think it’s a dumb name, I’ll put it that way.
[name]Booker[/name] - I think of [name]Booker[/name] T. [name]Washington[/name], not booger thankfully. I like it. I think it’s solid and masculine and academic :slight_smile:
[name]Brody[/name] - I would axe it. I just can’t picture [name]Brody[/name] as a man. It’s a very adolescent name, in my opinion.
[name]Calvin[/name] - I’m not a huge fan of [name]Calvin[/name], I think it’s kinda square but I love [name]Cal[/name] so keep it.
[name]Declan[/name] - I’d like it better if it weren’t so trendy. Like, five years ago I would have loved it. But I think it’s becoming another “[name]Mason[/name].”
[name]Dominic[/name] - [name]Love[/name] it. Very manly.
[name]Ian[/name] - It’s a “meh” name for me. It’s classic, but it doesn’t really do anything for me. [name]Just[/name] kind of sits there. No pow-factor.
[name]Zane[/name] - Nah. i know a few too many. Not in love.

11

[name]Atticus[/name] - if I didn’t love TKMB I probably wouldn’t use it, just to prevent all the discussion. Maybe as a middle though.
[name]Booker[/name] - that’s why it’s off my list.
[name]Brody[/name] - it is a bit trendy but no more so than [name]Avery[/name], [name]Bailey[/name], [name]Grayson[/name] or [name]Boaz[/name]. I hear grody so it’s not my cup of tea. Has a cool beachy feel though
[name]Calvin[/name] - I probably wouldn’t name brothers [name]Caleb[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] but if you love both names I see no reason to not have both on your list (unless you’re planning to have 15 boys)
[name]Declan[/name] - just not my style. All I hear is “decline”
[name]Dominic[/name] - fine name, but not really my style. Option of [name]Nic[/name] is cool
[name]Ian[/name] - nice
[name]Zane[/name] - love

For you I’d say keep: [name]Zane[/name], [name]Calvin[/name], [name]Ian[/name], and [name]Brody[/name], followed by [name]Declan[/name]

12

Thanks, ladies! I think I’ve finally managed to work up the courage to nix [name]Atticus[/name]. :frowning: Much as I like the literary heroic type image I conjure up, I don’t want to have to say to every other person, “No, he’s not named after [name]Atticus[/name] [name]Finch[/name]. I just liked it…” And then run the risk of sounding all pretentious to total strangers. Anyone who knows me wouldn’t in a million years call me pretentious, it’s just not me, but I really don’t want strangers to think I’m totally pretentious, either, haha. I think [name]Declan[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] are out, too. I really like them both, but I think I’m incapable of committing to [name]Declan[/name], and [name]Caleb[/name] and [name]Calvin[/name] are just too close for comfort. Maybe I should name a future character [name]Declan[/name] or something. Maybe I won’t miss [name]Declan[/name] so much then, haha.

And I suppose that leaves me at 15, which gives me a solid 15 for each gender, but I think by the end of it, [name]Brody[/name] or [name]Booker[/name] (or maybe both!) will be eliminated, as well. If you had to pick between the two, which would you pick? [name]Brody[/name]? Or [name]Booker[/name]? I feel like [name]Boaz[/name] and [name]Booker[/name] are a bit more different in sound, but [name]Brody[/name] seems more wearable, and it does have the “R” to separate the "B"s and the "O"s…

13

I’d rather have [name]Brody[/name] than [name]Booker[/name].

14

I’d drop [name]Booker[/name], [name]Brody[/name], [name]Calvin[/name] and [name]Ian[/name]. [name]Booker[/name] sounds like someone who schedules events. [name]Brody[/name] is trendy. [name]Calvin[/name] means ‘bald’ and/or refers to harsh religious theories. [name]Ian[/name] has always annoyed me…like the parents didn’t care enough to finish giving the kid a name (IMHO). But I like the rest of them!