Hello,
I am 23 weeks pregnant with our third (and last) child. Our oldest is a boy named Mason Anthony Ranney (rhymes with Fannie) and we have a daughter named Brooklyn Renae Ranney. Our third child is also a little girl due November 18. We are having a hard time finding just the right name. Currently our strongest contender is Reagan, but we’re not completely sold. We’ve also liked Kaitlyn and Madisyn. If the baby was a boy I loved the name Nolan.I appreciate your suggestions! Thank you.
Meagan & Dale Ranney
I notice two things about the name Reagan. Neither is necessarily a big deal, and both may in fact be pluses rather than minuses. The first is that it is only one letter different from your name. The second is that it is very alliterative with the surname: Reagan Ranney. Particularly because the name Ronald Reagan was also alliterative, this catches my ear and eye.
What I notice about the contender Kaitlyn is that it has the same -lyn ending as Brooklyn. What I notice about the contender Madisyn is that it shares the Ma- and the -son/-syn with Mason.
So for my list of suggestions, I’m going to do a mix: some will be suggestions that work with the assumption that you like alliteration, and similarities between sibling names; and some will be suggestions that offer alternatives in case those alliterations/similarities are why none of the contenders feel quite right. I found I was inclined to avoid names that repeated the -ee/-ey/-ie ending of the surname.
Addisyn
Adelyn
Ashlyn
Avelyn
Cadence
Campbell
Ellisyn
Emersyn
Harper
Hayden
Jaidyn
Jordyn
Keelyn
Kyla
Makenna
Paige
Payton
Rilyn
Savannah
Skylar
Teagan
I like Kaitlyn best from your list and Teagan from Swistle’s suggestions.
I must admit that I do not like Reagan with your last name. I also do not like that it rhymes with your name though I recognize that may not make a difference to you. Of the names you listed Kaitlyn would be my favorite though I personally would avoid another ‘lyn ending. Kathryn might be a good alternative.
I see why Nolan is an excellent choice for a boy. It sounds great with your last name and has its on unique n ending (‘son,’lyn,’lan). I think I would be looking for similar properties in a girls name.
Aspen
Eden
Gretchen
Jordan
Tamsin
Devin
Erin
Camryn
Seems like you prefer a 2 syllable name with a “y” in it, ending in an “n” and maybe a place name like Brooklyn and Madison. Here are a few more options that meet at least 2 of those preferences:
Taryn
Kyra
Brynn
Dylan
Riley
Lauryn
Maya
Elyse
Layla
Jessamyn
Haven
Autumn
Peyton
London
Chelsea
Kendall
Sydney
Georgia
No! Not Reagan Ranney– not when Ronald Reagan (an enormously famous person with 100% name recognition) was often called “Ronnie”. It’s sooo close to Ronnie Reagan. Too close! My partner has a similar issue, where his name is just two letters and one vowel off from a famous person’s name, and it comes up All. The. Time. Literally a week does not go by without someone mentioning it– usually in a, “Haha, have you ever noticed how your name is almost the same as…?” way, which he laughs off, but is also quite tedious and has long since gotten old.
Even if ultimately for you Ronnie Reagan is not an issue– I think between your name (which rhymes with and is only one letter off from Reagan), your daughter’s middle name (Renae), and your surname, Reagan is too repetitive and should be reconsidered.
Final problem for me: I wouldn’t pick Reagan with an election coming up– the word/name will be in the news a lot and on people’s minds, and I’d want something more neutral attached to my baby girl during her earliest years.
Other names! Madison/Madisyn peaked about 5-10 years ago and has been steadily falling. This might be a good thing– there will be fewer in her exact age group– but having a name that skews older isn’t always that great in the long run. It’s also not particularly fresh compared to Brooklyn, which is very current at the moment and probably still not at its peak. Just something to consider.
Kaitlyn also peaked awhile ago, but it’s been around much longer and is a bit more enduring than Madison/Madisyn.
But there are lots of other similar names that I think could be great! Maybe you just need some fresh ideas. Names that come to mind:
Raelynn (to me this isn’t too close to Brooklyn– the first syllable is so different)
Hayden
Aubrey/Aubree
Roselyn/Rosalyn (LOVE THIS! especially with Ranney– such a great combo– and great with Brooklyn)
Evelyn/Evalyn
Jocelyn
Carlyn/Carolyn
Madelyn
Lennox
Lennon
Linden
Sage
Kendall
Vivian
Good luck! Please try to remember to update us.
More ideas:
Mason, Brooklyn & Carmen
Mason, Brooklyn & Lisbon
Mason, Brooklyn & Callahan
Mason, Brooklyn & Lyric
Mason, Brooklyn & Willow
Mason, Brooklyn & Katniss
Mason, Brooklyn & Cadigan
Mason, Brooklyn & Scarlett
Mason, Brooklyn & Larkin
Good luck, you still have lots of time!
Wonder if you’d like Tamsin?
Mason, Brooklyn and Tamsin Ranney
From others’ suggestions, I like:
Kyla
Teagan
Taryn
Sage
Elyse
Georgia
Sydney (although Sydney or Georgia would mean you’d have two place names)
Sage
Vivian
I’d also suggest:
Kaia (pronounced KY-ah)
Nola
Nora
Harlow
Avery
I’d recommend against:
Reagan – Reagan Ranney sounds too much like Ronnie Reagan
Kaitlyn – there were so many in the 80s it’s reached the “mom name” status
Katniss – I love the Hunger Games, but this will absolutely be time-stamped as a 2010s fad name
From other suggestions I like:
Teagan
Georgia
Evelyn
I am not sure about Reagan. When I asked my husband, he thought of Ronald too. Kaitlyn and Madisyn seem a bit outdated (plus I had to go back two times to check the spelling of Madisyn).
Best of luck with your baby and choosing a name!
Jasmine
Ellyn
Ilene/Eileen
Lauren/Lauryn
Brooklyn and Mason are very well matched! I love the previous suggestion of Nola. Here are some additional suggestions: Addison, Madigan, Imogen, Ellison, Emma, London, Marlowe, and Madyx.
I like both Madisyn & Kaitlyn, not a big fan of Reagan.
Sorry if I repeat any suggestions;
Aftyn, Blaiklyn, Breegan, Faithlyn, Gracelyn, Hayden, Jocelyn, Kensington, Karsyn, Kamdin, Lillian, Maelyn, Oaklyn, Payton, Quinn
Laiken/Layken/Laikyn, too!
Mackenzie
Devon/Devyn popped into my head as I read your post.
I just wanted to suggest the name Kensington for you, I think its very cute and goes well with Mason and Brooklyn. I also think Quinn is a great option for you!
Ashley
Devon
Sloane
Avery
Romy (could be short for Rosemary)
Ramsey
Rowan
Markham
Taylor
Love the name Reagan, just not with your last name. I’d also avoid “Lynn” endings.
Hmm. Mason and Brooklyn sound great together. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of some of the top contenders for the reasons listed. What about Devyn (Devan, Devon, whatever)? Kind of combines the sound of Reagan with the ending you like, without being too close to Brooklyn. I also like Teagan. Brooklyn is very feminine, whereas Reagan is a bit more gender neutral. Teagan rings more female to me.
If she’s your last and you love the name Nolan, how about Nola for a girl? Mason, Brooklyn, and Nola?
I personally think Kaitlyn is becoming a classic, not a “mom” name. I love the suggestions of Harper, Raelynn, Jordan, and Camryn, and I’d add Arden and Avaren (pronounced like “Ava-wren”–I know a 30-ish woman with this name and it’s lovely on her). I like that these all have the repeating R sounds with the last name (at the beginning or in the middle of the name), and share the style and feel of Brooklyn and Mason.