Hi,
We are beyond struggling with a baby name for our baby boy. I’m 37 1/2 weeks along and could be induced as early as 38 weeks (ahhh!) and we don’t have any true possibilities for names. I am completely stressed as I’m usually someone who’s quite prepared and we’re so far away from a name, which is kind of a big deal.
Our last name is Kennedy which is Scottish. My name is Brittany. My husband’s name is Kyle and our daughter’s name is Alivia.
Choosing her name was easy. Alivia was the top of my list, and it was the only name my husband liked. Done and done ✔️We are the last of our friends to have a family. We struggled with fertility with my daughter. We found out 3 days before we were supposed to start fertility treatments again that we were pregnant with this baby. He is truly a miracle. He also survived a blood clot in my uterus during the pregnancy. Double miracle.
Because we are the last of our friends, there are a lot of names that we feel we cannot use. My best friend’s son’s name is Karver. I always had Carter/Karter in mind, but I feel they’re too similar and we spend a lot of time together. Some other names that have been used with close friends of ours that we liked were Austin, Owen, Jackson and Dylan.
My husband tends to prefer more traditional names. I don’t like them to be too unique but definitely more unique than traditional names.
I liked the names Kade (my friend just named her baby this 2 weeks ago:( ) Knox, Kane and Jax. I feel like I do prefer strong short names that start with a K or C.
The only names that we have even entertained that my husband has not shot down (although none feel like ‘the name’) is Hunter, Lincoln and Konnor.
Please help!
Thank you,
Brittany
Time is of the essence, so I am going to skip the chit-chat and go right to list-making:
Beckett
Blake
Caleb
Callan
Calvin
Carson
Casey
Cason/Kason
Clark
Claude
Clay
Clive
Cody
Colby
Cole
Corbin
Corin
Cormac
Crosby
Davis
Decker
Declan
Ezra
Finn
Kai (possibly too confusing with a father Kyle)
Keane
Keaton
Keegan
Kellan
Keller
Kian
Kieran
Kip
Lawson
Leo
Luke
Mack
Miller
Nico
Oscar
Parker
Quinn
Ranger
Riker/Ryker
Wade
Wilson
Zane
One chit-chat: I want to make sure your husband is sharing the hard work of coming up with names, and not just vetoing the ones you come up with.
I like names that have a connecting feel without being obviously matching.
I encourage names that contain an L or V
Calvin has both!
My choice for you would be Klay or Klayton. It has the sounds you like, but is a bit more traditional which might appeal to your husband. (You don’t mention a strong preference for K names over C names, but it’s clearly part of your thinking since Konnor is on your list – if you genuinely like C just as much, you might see if your husband finds those spellings more traditional).
I also think Karter with a close family friend named Karver is fine. Most kids think it’s fun to have similar names. Our generation is full of Brians and Ryans whose parents knew eachother and never gave it a second thought. If Karter is a name you feel good about, that is what matters.
Kolton/Colton seems kinda perfect for you? Has the more traditional nn Cole but the modern long form? If you consider if a form of Cole, which was derived from Nicholas, the meaning is victory which is pretty neat for him.
Or how about Crew/Krew? Maybe that doesn’t pass hubby’s approval though. Crew Kennedy sounds pretty preppy to me.
Keats…Cale/b / Kaleb
Ooh or how about Canaan. Promised land!
Or Kingston? Having a Little King would be pretty sweet.
Krew makes me think of Kruz/Cruz!
I would make a list of those names you like, give husband a pen and the paper and tell him to rate them. Or, as Swistle has said before, each of you should make a list of names then rate each others names. If husband has nothing on his list, then the only option is your list. I hope you let us know his name !
Oh, a few other options, Camden, NN Cam. Jace,, Maddox.
I’d put Carter back on the list, especially if you spell it that way. It gives it some distance from Karver. Or maybe Carson, which is another step away. I might actually steer clear of K names because both parents have one and your daughter doesn’t. Swistle had a lot of good C names on her list of suggestions. I’m partial to Caleb, Callan, Calvin, Clay, and Colby.
Lincoln is my favorite from your maybe-list.
I just realized the OP’s name doesn’t start with a K, it’s the father’s name and the surname. Still, there’s a lot of K floating around in the family.
Just in case it’s somehow skipping the parents’ notice (maybe when Kennedy is your last name, the other Kennedy’s kind of fade into the background)…Lincoln Kennedy is a lot of Presidents in a name. I think it’s fine if they think it’s fine, but I wouldn’t want to do it without noticing.
(Also…no K middle initial if there’s a K first name. That one I don’t think is fine if the parents think it’s fine).
Cash or Case?
Or what about the following? They don’t all Lstart with a C/K but remind me of Carter:
Parker
Camden
Landon
Hudson
Carson
Cooper
Sawyer
Archer
Preston
Pierce
Your story is beautiful. What about the name Asher? It literally means miracle. It also goes well with Alivia and gives the “er” vibe from Carter/Karter/Hunter.
Ooh this is a great idea. Love Asher for them
I was coming here to say Asher as well. It’s a beautiful sibling set, too.
Possibilities (including repetitions):
Boyd
Calvin
Campbell
Carlton / Karlton
Carson / Karson
Cliff
Clint
Clinton
Cooper
Duncan
Kendrick — the beginning sounds of first and last names are likely too repetitive.
Keller
Kerrigan
Kiefer — although the meaning of “kief” (drug related) doesn’t make for a great nickname.
Lachlan
Griffin
I wanted to echo Clint or Clinton. A friend has a similar list to the writer and Clinton was on her short list.
Clinton Kennedy is also quite presidential… could be positive or negative I suppose!
We have a Callum. We love it and have gotten a lot of positive reactions. My in-laws call him Cal. It also happens to be Scottish.
I really like Carson for you since Carter doesn’t work.
I had to comment because most of the names you listed are on my son’s baseball team, haha! Thought I’d throw out the rest of the names in case you liked one! Reid, Hudson, Wyatt, Maddox
Just a few more name ideas:
Conrad
Fletcher
Grayson
Leland
Archer
Harlan
It doesn’t seem quite like their style, but I LOVE Conrad too (if it would appeal more I do know a Konrad, the Polish and German spelling!)
I figured I should include at least one punchy C/K name!
It’s such a great name. Due for a revival!
Hey! We’ve made it this far without anyone suggesting Kirk. It’s short, it’s got the K sounds, it’s Scottish, it has a different sound from Kyle and Karver without being softer, and it’s more traditional for dad.
YES. KIRK
Here for Kirk. Kirk Kennedy sounds like a super hero in the making.
Curtis?
I highly recommend AGAINST any 4-letter name starting with KLA.
Just saying.
That said, I really like Cormac for you.
Cole!
I also love Conrad.
I also love the initials CK – it’s a fun nickname – so I prefer C names over K.
I really like Knox as a name for you. Have you considered Kurt?
I
I know a boy named Carston (or Carsten). It might hit the boxes for you. And I echo the previous poster that many of these names are coming straight from the 8U lineups in baseball that my son plays.
Going off your list I’d like to suggest Maverick, nickname Mav.
What about Caius or Kaius? Kaius Kennedy.
I like that Caius has the same history as Olivia and if you use Kaius you have the same spelling variant as Alivia. Plus the nn Kai is amazing, but you can avoid the Kyle/Kai confusion with the long version if it proves to complicated. Plus this is another name that means rejoice so another positive too.
Another K name that I think is under used is Keith. Add in nn Kit and you have an awesome known yet underused name. Kit Kennedy.
I would note, you should probably avoid a K middle.
If you like Kane I wonder if you would like Zane as well. Alivia and Zane, A to Z! Or Zachary “Zack” has a hard K sound too. I especially like suggestions of Jace and Cade as well.
Do you like Kieran (keer-an)? It might be familiar enough for your husband’s taste but different enough for you as well. Oh or maybe Jacoby (jah-coh-bee) with the nickname Coby, Jack, or Jake? Alivia and Jacoby is a great set.
Or since you you like short C/K names then what about a Q name like Quinn or Quinton?
Other ideas
Keegan
Keane
Kellan/Kellen
Corey/Cory
Calder
Cameron “Cam”
Chance
Chase (Chase Kennedy has a great ring to it!)
Other short names
Beau
Beck (or Beckett)
Brant
Brooks
Dash
Drake
Finn
Flynn
Gage
Grant
Jude
Lane
Luke (or Lucas)
Nash
Quill
Reeve
Reid
Rex
Shane
Tate
Ty
Vance
Witt/Whit
Declan really is strong and sweet as a name. It has k sound and isn’t too long. Karsten is a fellow 40 year old man I know and it works well. Keane or Keene are neat too but seem too short with Kennedy and then present middle name issues. Calder Kennedy is my favorite for you because it is a strong k sound without the letter K and so there is the alliteration without the repeated letter. Calder goes well with the spelling of Alivia because it is familiar but not too familiar.
Calder James Kennedy
Declan Ray Kennedy
Good luck with your choice
Cashel, nickname Cash
Calvin, nickname Cal
Max
Congrats and best wishes for this miracle baby! Going off the double miracle, some names that mean miracle/gift/fighter:
Dustin – brave warrior
Theo – divine gift
Wyatt – brave in war
Boone – blessing
Cayden – fighter
Jesse – God’s gift