E. writes:
Dear Swistle,
We are expecting our second (and probably last) child—a boy—in November. We like unusual, distinctive names that are not trendy, and we agonized over our first son’s name, eventually landing on the name Gray. We adore his name but now feel like we used up our one good name that we could both enthusiastically agree on.
Our last name sounds like Harrison, so all of the names that end in son (Jackson, Emerson, etc.) are out. Our surname also has an unusual spelling which can make it hard to pronounce, so we want to keep the first name easy to spell and pronounce.
I think our sweet spot for names would be unsung classics, or unusual new names that still sound like they could be classics, like Gray. We’re Jewish, and we like names of Hebrew origin but couldn’t find one we were happy with the first time around. We also like names that reference nature, and great literary characters or authors.
Names that I like that my husband has vetoed (but could still be in the running as a middle name):
Stanley (family name on my side, so has special meaning to me)
Oscar
Arlo
Asa
Honor
Asher
ElijahNames we considered and rejected the first time around (read as: couldn’t get past feeling lukewarm about):
Dov
FableIf we were having a girl, we were almost agreed on the name Flora. We also love the name Alice.
Can you suggest any unusual, distinctive boy names for us?
Thanks!
I suggest Reid—or Reed, if you want to increase the nature feeling of it. Reid Harrison; Gray and Reid. I like how it has four letters and one syllable just like Gray, and both are word names. It’s easy to pronounce, and is similar to Gray/Grey in spelling difficulty.
I also suggest Dean. Dean Harrison; Gray and Dean.
And Nolan. Nolan Harrison; Gray and Nolan.
How about:
Clark
Emmett
Arthur
Archer
Jude
Beau or
Rhett?
Good luck!
What about the name Reat like treat? I just encountered that name and had never heard it used as a name but I actually am very fond of it.
Gray and Reat….
Merritt/Merit immediately came to mind.
I love the suggestion of Reid! I really like that. I would stay away from Nolan depending on where you live, if you want unique. This seems to be used on every new baby I meet ( or at least there is 1 at every outing/playground I go to). I think the character on ABCs Revenge might have helped amp up the name. I’m in NC so it might not be an issue in your area though.
If you liked Dov but it wasn’t quite right, how about Nadav? I had a friend by that name in high school and his family called him Dove occasionally as a family nickname.
I love Nadav!
Naphtali is another one of my favorite Hebrew names.
Or you might get the same nickname out of David.
I also like the suggestion of Reid. What about Oliver, Jaime Elliot? Would you consider Lev? It’s a Hebrew name that means heart. Other Hebrew names to consider: Elan (tree), Noam, Ezra, or. I also like Oren because it is also a tree/nature name but it might not mesh well with you last name. If you like it you could do Orev instead. It means Raven. I also like Aryeh (nn Ari) meaning lion (or you could do Ariel).
I love the suggestion of Reed! I like Asa from your veto list, but it kind if blends with the sound of Gray (try yelling them one right after the other, as if you were calling the kids from across a playground, it’s hard to say!)
How about Toby/Tobias? Gray and Toby.
I think that’s might favorite after Reed.
Other ideas:
Nico
Max
Micah
Jonah
Burke
Nate
Kai
Zev
Zane
Jude
Good luck!
How about Ilan? I also like Judah, Roman, and Lior.
I also thought of Ilan. Or Eyal?
Perhaps you would like more modern Israeli names? Many of them would be uncommon here in the U.S. and many of them are also nature-related. Here’s a list of the most popular boy names in Israel, maybe you’d like something from it (there are also links to more names & name discussions).
http://www.amotherinisrael.com/20-top-israeli-baby-boy-names-for-2012/
Gray and Amon Harrison
Gray and Abel Harrison
Gray and Jarvis Harrison
Gray and Keir Harrison
Gray and Ruben Harrison
Gray and Zeke Harrison
I think I like Jarvis best.
I will second Merit.
I might suggest Oren – hebrew for pine tree or the hebrew Elam.
Finn or Flynn? Which makes me think of Flint..or Finch. Unusual nature names.
Cliff is an old time name that is uncommon but also has a nature element. Crane?
Good luck! Keep us updated : )
The first thing I thought of was Levi. Levi Harrison. Gray and Levi.
But then Craig popped in my head. I think it is ready for a comeback. I like that it has a similar sound to Gray.
Gray and Craig Harrison. It’s also a nature name (means rock).
Good luck!
Dell? Glen? Grove? Forest? Oak? River? Rill? Leif? Bay? Basil? Harbor?
Roman comes to mind.
I also looked around for unsung classic Hebrew names for my second. I am going to repeat some of the names that have already been mentioned here as I give my list
Simon
Ruben
Boaz
Elan/ Ilan
Samuel
Gabriel
Isaiah
Abraham (I know these last three are a little longer, but they are such lovely underused names)
Here are a few none Hebrew but still lovely names
Tobias/ Toby
Malcolm
Hans
I actually love my top three for you (Simon, Ruben, Boaz) with either of these you will be able to match the religious names to their given names: Gray and Simon Harrison, Gray and Ruben Harrison, Gray and Boaz Harrison. I think maybe I like Boaz best of this group.
I would also really urge you toward Tobias: Gray and Tobias (or better yet) Gray and Toby Harrison.
I have friends with 3 boys, named Hutch, Grey, and Wynn.
Maybe you’d like one of those?
I know a Dov so I can tell you first hand that for him, it was a difficult name to wear in middle and high school (although as an adult he is a perfectly adjusted human and doesn’t seem to carry any great name shame). Picture a flock of teenaged boys calling you Dove and Dovey while humping your leg/spanking you. Because, teenaged boys?
Also, there is a relatively high profile blogger with a daughter named Fable. That is the only person I know of by that name so for me it reads girl, although that could be unfair.
I love Arlo, it’s too bad your husband can’t be brought around. I second Reid. Or what about Rock? Is Rock Harrison too much like Rock Hudson?
I recently met a little boy named Canyon and it actually wears quite well on him.
I also thought of Girls Gone Child when I saw the name Fable and totally agree with Jenny Grace. I personally probably wouldn’t use it for a boy because it also reminds me of the name Mabel. GGC has a couple of posts about naming her kids which you might find helpful though!
I’m going to suggest the name Dax. I really like it and I think it works well with Grey. It’s not common but also not “weird” (i.e. I think most people can pronounce it).
Good Luck!
I like the idea of a 4 letter name to go along with Gray.
Have you considered;
Hugo
Milo
Drew
Lowe
Nash
Theo
Otis ( similar ending sound to Alice)
With Gray, I also like
Heath
Trent
I like Reid with Gray!
Also Reeve (a bit more unusual but cool)
Theo? Thatcher?
I love Asa but as someone said it does “blend” with Gray.
I second Rhett. Totally love this. Gray and Rhett.
I do love love love Arlo. Too bad your husband isn’t keen on it. Speaking of keen, what about the name Keane? My nephew is Keane and it totally suits him.
I also like Reid, Milo, Oren, and Jude for you!
Good luck!
Oh meant to say I love Otis or Otto.
How about Ari? I also like the names Jonah and Jonas?
I love the suggestion of Toby.
How about Avi (ahh-vee)?
These names came immediately to mind:
Cash
Sterling
Grant
Yance
Jude
Ranger
Canyon
Cohen
Rue
Cannon
Or if you like Asher, what about just Ash? Too feminine?
A few more…
Birch
Flint
Zion
Slate
Cedar
Last few…
Moss
Boyd
Zane
I really like Gray and Moss together.
My other favorite sib set would be Gray and Cash. Or Gray and Canyon.
I like Moss! Could be a nickname for Moses or Maurice.
Zev? Like Dov, but without the connotations of “dove.” Also a nature/animal name (wolf instead of bear).
I knew a guy named Zev. I liked it, it was very cool and refreshing, but I was quite surprised it was “the whole name”. I imagine he got that a lot…
Keir (pronounced Keer) is a new discovery for me. Love it!
I like the sound of Gray & Tal (morning dew).
Gideon? Simon? Drake? Slate? West? Blaise/Blaze? Basil? Pierce?
So many great suggestions! I was going to suggest Asa before I saw it on your list but also love Otto and Avi and Reid and Kier and Rhett. Congrats and good luck!
I like Gray and Reid together. Really cute! How about:
Zane
Weston
Silas
Chance
I loved the suggestion of Roman. Congratulations on your baby! You’ll find the perfect name for him.
I love so many of the suggestions – Ari, Zev, Clark, Otis – here are some that I don’t think have been mentioned yet:
Guy
Clive
Flint
Kent
Linden
Vox
Good luck!
Clyde
Brett
Hank
Todd
Rory
Lars
Lance
Cole
Weston
Jude
If you want something classic that’s not trendy, I’d consider Ralph, Carl, Solomon (Sol), Eugene, Ernest, Leonard (Leo), Philip, Seth, or David.
There’s a lot of suggestions on this thread, but I think it’s tricky/nearly impossible to avoid “trendy” because isn’t that by definition what the names being used for this new generations are? Most of the suggestions are trendy, in that they’ve stylish and up-to-date–Otto springs to mind. And even I’ve suggested Leo as a nn for Leonard, & Leo is definitely trendy. What I think of “classic” 4-letter boys’ names, the first ones that come to mind are Mark, Luke, Paul, and John. But not what you’re wanting in terms of ethnicity.
In your shoes, I think I’d prefer a name that wasn’t also 4 letters, but this is such an individual preference.
Good luck & please let us know what you settle on.
Oh I love Eugene- what an underused name!
I hope I’m not repeating, but…Silas?
This takes me back a few years to my second pregnancy. Flora was our girl name and Reid was high on our boy list but we ended up choosing August. It’s sort of nature-y to my mind, and old fashioned.
How about…
Eli
Ira
Levi
Owen
Forest
Cedar
Emmett or Amit
I also like Canyon – I have a Canyon in my extended family who I’ve never met.
Zev, Seth and Ari are my favorites from all the previous suggestions. I do like Reid very much as well. I love the name Gray and think any of these would be a good name for his brother.
I second (third?) both Seth and Reid!
It doesn’t pass the easy to spell test but if you could get past that, how about Ehren? It’s the German verb “to honor” and the classic spelling, Aaron, is Hebrew. I think Ehren would be particularly sweet paired with Stanley, since it’s a family name.
Ehren Stanley Harrison; Gray and Ehren
Love the suggestion of Reid!
Also would suggest:
Ze’ev
Amos
Ezra
Milo
Raviv
Gray is a great, strong name, and I think Reid/Reed is an excellent suggestion by Swistle. Love this name!
The first name that came to my mind was Penn. Gray and Penn are great brother names!
Also heard the name Vale recently and loved it. Gray and Vale!
What about Bram, Roan or Amos?
All the best!
Ari, Victor, Ezra or Ephraim?
More. . .
Jett
Cole
Smith
Ward
Boone
Cade
Hart
Fox
Kent
Lane
West
Bron
Hale
Pace
Van
Cale
Bay
Vance
Tate
Reeve
Dash
Bran
Bond
Beck
Wolf
Hope these help!
How amazing that you picked our question! I spend too much time a day bopping around the internet searching out good boy names, and your suggestions—and those from the forum—are going to keep me busy and thinking for weeks. Thanks Swistle and thanks to everyone else for weighing in!
I really like the name Reid… that’s going on the list. Lots of other good ones to dig through here, too.
I was going to suggest Lev, and see that someone else also recommended it. Also Leiv or Leif.
Cephas is a Hebrew name that means “rock.” Gray and Cephas. Cephas Harrison.
Whit. Whit Harrison. Cephas and Whit.
If you like Dov, then perhaps Jonah, Hebrew for dove. Jonah and Gray. Jonah Harrison.
What about Alden?