Amanda writes:
My husband and I are expecting our first child in September – a little boy. My name is Amanda Lee and my husband’s name is Patrick Blake (he goes by Blake). Last name sounds like Kershmen.
We have narrowed our choices down to two names but I feel like there are so many options we haven’t considered. This is where you come in (hopefully!). The two names we like right now are Brady and Carter. We will probably use Mills (my maiden name) for a middle name. My husband’s middle name, Blake, is his mom’s maiden name, so we thought that might be a cool tradition to carry on. I’m not married to that, though, and if the name we choose doesn’t go with Mills as a middle name then we can change the middle name.
My husband likes Carter because it is a family name. His grandfather’s name was Anderson Carter. We also considered Anderson as a first name, which I absolutely love, but Anderson Kershmen sounds too long. Plus I don’t want him to be called Andy. I also like Carter but for some reason I just don’t love it. As of now, I’m leaning towards Brady. My biggest concern right now is that it doesn’t sound masculine enough… I guess because of the –y ending. Should that be a concern or is that my pregnancy hormones talking?
If we had a girl we would have named her Mila Blake (pronounced Myla). We plan on having 1 or 2 more kids after our son is born so hopefully we will eventually be able to use this name.
Do you have any name suggestions that have a similar style to the ones we are considering (other than Grady or Brody)?
Thank you!
With Kershmen, my favorite is Brady: Carter Kershmen feels like a lot of C/K and R sounds.
Brady is currently used almost exclusively for boys. In 2012, there were 2,849 new baby boys and only 41 new baby girls named Brady (for comparison, 243 new baby girls were named Carter). I like the idea of Brady Mills Kershmen, and maybe Carter for a future child’s middle name.
Other names that seem similar to Brady to me are Brayden and Aiden and Carson, but those all seem a little choppy with Kershmen. Maybe Davis? Davis Kershmen.
Let’s have a poll for the two finalists!
Name update! Amanda writes:
Thanks so much to you and your readers for posting my question and for the great comments. Our son was born September 22 and my husband and I went back and forth on several name options until we finally decided on Brady Mills Kershmen. I think we knew that was his name all along, and we are so happy we chose it! Thank you again!
I really don’t mind Anderson kershman. My brother’s name is Anders, and my mom actually calls him Anderson. He was never called Andy. What about Anderson w nickname Anders?
that is exactly what I was thinking. If we had another boy, if would have been Anders/Anderson. Love it!
I voted for Brady, but my favorite is actually Anderson. I don’t think Anderson Kershman is too long and I wouldn’t worry about him being called Andy. People aren’t using nicknames as often as they used to, I know lots of kids with longer first names who are never called by a nickname. The above poster’s suggestion of Anders is also nice if you like nicknames but want an alternative to Andy.
I love the idea of using Mills as a middle. I think it works fine with Brady, Carter & Anderson.
Me too on Anderson Mills Kershmen. Three syllable first name, one syllable middle, two syllable last isn’t too long…it’s perfect.
Sounds very proper and posh and has a good flow
I can’t help but smile at this post. My brother’s sons are named Brady Carson and Davis Cole so you have the same naming style as them!
Other names that I think could work:
Asher, Joel, Colton, Logan, Parker, Bauer, Cohen, Gibson.
I like them all with the middle name Mills. (You have GREAT family names, by the way.)
I voted for Brady, but also like Anderson and don’t think it is too long. I like Joel and Cole from above, but not with Mills. Elliott?
Ok I was looking at the question and I’m wondering if it seems strange because AnderSON and KershMEN? Nah, still doesn’t really bother me.
I don’t think Brady sounds feminine, but I have a slight preference for Carter. I actually like the sound repetition Swistle noted, but I seem to be in the minority.
A few more names for your consideration:
Graham
Grant
Hudson
Grady
Grayson
Levi
Wyatt
Everett
Bennett
I didn’t vote, because my favorite is: Anderson Mills Kershman, called Mills or Anderson is an amazing name. Or what about just doing Mills ___ Kershman? Mills is a great great name, and the family connection is amazing. If I HAD to choose between Carter and Brady, Brady goes better with the last name.
I’d go with Brady over Carter, because the C/K thing would just be confusing (to me). If you’re not sure about Brady, what about Brody?
I didn’t vote, because my favorite is Anderson!
Anderson Kershman is not too long. That’s only 5 syllables. My first and last are only 3 syllables, and I like longer names, which is why I commonly go by my first, middle and last! I think it sounds better : )
Same here.
Definitely prefer Anderson over the other two. I think it sounds the best with your surname! Carter Kershman is very hard to say with the repeating “er” sounds so close together, and the hard consonant “k/c” sounds. Brady is OK but Anderson is, I think, better. Good luck!