Erica writes:

Here’s the critical data: The baby is a boy. He is our second and last child. Our daughter is named Madeleine Louise Anelda after both of our mothers. In my husband’s family, it’s traditional for the son to get the father’s first name as a middle name. Therefore, the boy’s middle name will be Gerald. Our hypothetical last name is Henderson. Got all that?

Here’s the list of names that we’ve agreed on thus far:
Dexter – Dex
Declan
Malcolm – Mal
Oliver – Ollie
Samuel – Sam
Xavier
Ronan/Rowan
Phineas – Fin

Our three top contenders are Samuel, Xavier and Dexter. I also like Jasper, but that name requires the addition of a second middle name to break up the J and G sounds, so we can skip it.

Just to give you some more insight into my naming preferences, names on my list that didn’t make the cut were:
Theodore
Nathaniel
Beckett (Beck)
Cooper (Coop)
Mason
Lucas (Luke)

We had pretty much decided on Dexter as the front-runner. Maddie latched onto it and calls her baby brother Dexter exclusively. (That’s going to be fun if we chose another name.) Dexter was my idea, and at first, I loved it. However, as time as passed, I feel less and less sure that our son will be a Dexter. I’m also feeling unsure about ALL the names on my list. I think that there’s this magical, perfect name for him out there but I just can’t find it.

Does this just make me a normal pregnant woman or should I continue scouring the internet and emailing friends (ahem!) to ask for advice?

OH SO NORMAL! I mean, I’ve heard there ARE women who are just like, “Hm, what should we name the baby? How about Paul? Yes, that’s a nice name.” My own mother-in-law was that way. But if we are measuring normal by what I’M like (and why shouldn’t we?), then you are VERY VERY NORMAL.

With two of my children, we had a list of finalists and then I thought of the magical perfect name—a name that we hadn’t ever considered before, which became The Name within 24 hours of us thinking of it. With the other three, we had a list of finalists and gradually one became the winner—but without ever seeming like the Lightning Bolt Choice. In all five cases, I had SERIOUS DOUBTS about the name that only increased as delivery approached. I would lie awake thinking, “IS this the name? DO I like it more than the others? Is this a GOOD name for the child, or will it seem crazy as soon as I put it on an actual baby? What if it’s too popular? What if it’s not popular enough and no one likes it? Fret fret fret fret fret!”

So let’s fret together for awhile about your baby boy’s name. I see your point about Jasper Gerald, so I tried to think of names that were similar to Jasper but didn’t have that problem. The first one I thought of was Asher, Asher Gerald Henderson—but I know your actual surname, and I don’t think Asher is good with it, do you?

The more I think of it, the more I think Jasper Gerald is fine. Gerald is a family name and everyone will know it, and it’s rare that the first and middle are both used. If you want to strike it, I’ll understand (I like a good flow, too), but if you want to use Jasper I don’t think it’s out of the question. I even kind of like the double J sound, as I did when one of my friends in high school was Jennifer Jean.

Well, but let’s find more names, because what you need is MORE names to fret about, right? And because sometimes introducing new options can bring out your loyalties to one or another of the original contenders.

Dexter makes me think of Baxter. Declan makes me think of Duncan and Deacon.

Rowan makes me think of Ruben. When I first heard that name a couple of years ago, I thought “!!!!!!!!!”—and then put it with my surname and cringed. But it’s really good with yours! Ruben Gerald Henderson.

Another name that gave me that sudden rush of appeal is Miller. It’s a bit of a reach, but so familiar as a surname I think it brings it into the realm of reason. Miller Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Miller.

I like Emmett for you: Emmett Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Emmett.

I also like Carter for you: Carter Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Carter.

I LOVE Archer for you: Archer Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Archie. OMG LOVE. I don’t know why I think it’s good with your surname when I don’t like Asher with it, but there it is.

And it’s not perfect with the middle name, but I like Grady anyway: Grady Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Grady.

Corbin is a teeny bit rhymey with your surname but I like it anyway: Corbin Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Corbin.

I think the name Keegan is wonderful: Keegan Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Keegan.

On a different track, I like Louis: Louis Gerald Henderson, Maddy and Louis. I think Louis sounds like a sweet little boy and a dignified adult in the style of Oliver and Theodore.

From your list of finalists, my favorite is Samuel. Sam Henderson; Maddy and Sam.

A note to readers: I KNOW Erica, so I’ve found it particularly difficult to choose names for her to consider. I’m BEGGING you to help with this one!

Erica writes:

Hello! We are due with our second child, a little girl, on April 28th. Our son’s name is Tyson Charles Davis. Charles was my father’s name who passed away, and Tyson was a name my husband loved for a long time. My husband’s mother also has passed away, and her name was Laura. So for our little girl, we know we want to use Laura as the middle name. I have always loved the name Madison, but it is so popular, and since our last name is also very ordinary, my husband is fearful that she will have 2-3 other Madison’s in her class. So far my top choice is Madison Laura Davis. My husband likes Karsen, but we also like names that have easy nicknames (We call our son “Ty”) and I don’t like “Kar” as a nickname. We also want to have more children- so if we stick with the “son” ending name theme- we are worried we’ll run out of other options for future girls. For boys, we like Coleson and Jackson, but we’re not sure on girl names. We have family names that we will be using for future children’s middle names. For this baby girl, we are open to other possibilities- it doesn’t have to end in “son”. We tossed around Kaelyn and Briella- but neither one seemed right (I could never remember Kaelyn right off the top of my head!) I loved Isabella and Kennedy- but two of our close friends are having daughters and using those names. My husband wants to start calling our daughter by her name, but I’m indecisive! Please help!

I suggest Madigan. It’s so similar to Madison but way less common, and I love the repeating D-sound with your surname: Madigan Davis. Madigan Laura Davis. I love that, and you can still use the nickname Maddy.

For -son endings, I like Emerson, Ellison, and Jenson. I think those all sound good with your surname: Emerson Laura Davis, Ellison Laura Davis, Jensen Laura Davis. And those all have good nicknames: Emmie or Emers or Em, Ellie or Ellis or El, Jennie or Jen.

For future -son boys, I particularly like Anderson, Carson, Edison, Greyson, Harrison, Lawson, and Wilson.

This blog is called “Baby Names,” but I would like to talk briefly about pet names. We have a new cat at our house, and he needs a name, and this is the first pet I’ve named in 15 years or so.

When I adopted two male kittens from a shelter right after college, I gave them people names I considered far too quirky ever to be used for children: George and Oliver. Well, 15 years later the name Oliver is in full swing and the name George still seems quirky but definitely not unusable.

When I took in a female stray, we named her Amelia. Amelia was a quirky choice in 1996 (#222), but it sure isn’t quirky now (#68). Not that it mattered, since we soon called her exclusively by the nickname Mouse, so that I had to really reach to remember what we’d originally named her.

I think there are three basic categories of pet names, though there is plenty of overlap between categories:

1. Names based on physical appearance or actions: Tiger, Puddles, Butterscotch, Spot, Jumper, Mittens, Socks, Frisky, Shadow, Midnight, Smokey, Snowflake, Fluffy.

2. People names—either ones the namer would like to use for a child or ones the namer considers too amusing/quirky/eccentric for an actual child.

3. Names that are somewhere in between: Buttercup, Otter, Puzzle, Rocky, Muggle.

My goal is to find a #3 name this time. And not to be morbid, but I’d like it to have enough dignity to work in a sentence in which the vet gives me some bad news.

What kinds of names have you chosen for your pets?

Amy writes:

I can’t believe I put off a name for 8 months! The hubs and I have been struggling big time this time for some weird reason, I keep saying oh I’ve still got lot’s of time, well I now do NOT have lot’s of time. Baby Girl Garcia is due April 4th. Her big brother’s name is Cole Valentin Garcia. Valentin pronounced “Val-en-teen” We love using family names (Cole is my moms maiden name, and Valentin is my hubbies grandfathers name) but the women in our families, oi oi oi! We got Berta, and Herta, Appelonia, and Adella, Roxanne and Annette. The only one I am slightly okay with is Adella but I don’t like that form of it. The names we both like are: Ava Grace, and Kyrie Grace. I also really like Adelaide, and Adeline but the hubs isn’t too sold. I like the idea of Kyrie because it has a lot of meaning for me, as it was one of my first proffesional solo’s (I am a singer) but I wonder if it’s too far out there you know? And if we do go with it are there any better suggestions for a middle name to go with it? The reason I don’t want to use Ava even thoug I also like it is because it’s so popular. I tend to like old fashioned names but I also want something a wee bit unique.

Names we do not like:
Olivia
Ella ( i do love it but it’s just too popular)
Emma

I also like Caris I just love the whole alliteration with siblings names
Thanks a bunch

I don’t think Kyrie is too out there at all.

Appelonia is, I can see, a little too out there—and yet I find myself wishing you’d use it! So many of us have yawny family tree names, but you’ve got APPELONIA! Kyrie Appelonia Garcia.

Well, if not, I think Kyrie Adella Garcia is wonderful. If Adella appeals to you even slightly, I think it will grow on you with time—and if the namesake is a positive one, I think you’ll be glad you used it.

Caris is also a great choice. Caris Adella Garcia would be my favorite combination.

Karla writes:

Help! I am due on March 17 and my husband and I STILL don’t have a name for our little boy!

Our other children are named Matthew, Hannah, and Adam. Our last name is Bell. We prefer Biblical names that are classic, fairly common, easy to understand, and easy to spell/pronounce.

Our short list includes:
Michael
Noah
Jacob

We have gotten suggestions for several Biblical names which we find a little too unusual for our tastes. Examples of names we’ve ruled out are:
Gideon
Josiah
Elijah
Isaiah
Malachi

The middle name will be Scott. We are not concerned with flow or anything related to that.

Oh, and if it gives you a better idea of our taste, the girl names we like (but won’t get to use) are Rachel, Sarah, and Rebekah.

Thanks! I feel like I really just want someone to tell me, “Name your child ____” and I’ll go with it. The names we like seem to fit all of our criteria, but we just don’t love any of them enough to choose one.

Oh, man, you know what would be fun? If each commenter writes “Name your child ____” and fills in the blank! Here’s mine: Name your child Isaac Scott Bell.

Rachel writes:

My name is Rachel, my husband and I are expecing our 2nd daughter April Fools Day (or hopefully a little sooner).
Our first born daughter is named Cailey Elizabeth and our last name rhymes with Mazda. We have a couple names that we like so far but nothing is jumping out at us like the name Cailey did.

Here is our short list:
Alexis
Taylor (though my husband thinks this will be too popular and he views it as a boys name)
McKenzie
Hazel
Brooke
Morgan

As said before nothing is really jumping out at us yet. We don’t want a popular name and my husband would love an older name but we can’t agree on any.

We would love to use Riley, Sydney, or Maddison but all have been used in one of our families.

I really look forward to hearing your opinions. Thank you for your time!

Here are some possibilities:

Addison
Adelyn
Ashby
Avery
Braelyn
Brooklyn
Darcy
Hadley
Haven
Juniper
Kennedy
Kerrigan
Laney
Makenna
Madigan
Marissa
Mia
Natalie
Peyton
Quinn
Shelby

Sarah writes:

Help! We are struggling with boy names for our baby due 31 March. We have one million excellent girls’ names but it’s definitely a boy. I have seen the evidence on the ultrasound myself…

My husband likes very unusual names, often ‘made-up’. These have all been vetoed. We solved this problem with our daughter by choosing a real name that’s unusual: Tatiana.

We are not so concerned about middle names. Our daughter has my grandmother’s name, my surname, and my husband’s as her surname. (That sounds confusing: she is Tatiana Blank Blank Blankman!). We honestly don’t really care how the first name goes with the middle names.

For our son, we’d like something similar. We really, really liked Noah but have dismissed it because it is just too popular for my husband. We are considering Gabriel and Josiah.
I know these are all biblical but we are open to other suggestions, and as the surname is Jewish we are also keen to avoid dooming him to becoming a rabbi with something that’s just a little too OT (old testament rather than over the top!).

Incidentally: girl’s name choice winner was Rafaella. SIgh. And no, we do don’t like Raphael!

Thanks!

Since you like Noah (#15 in 2008), I wonder if you would like Nolan (#131) or Noam (not in the Top 1000)? [All rankings from the Social Security Administration.]

Since you like Gabriel (#24 in 2008), I wonder if you’d like Grant (#142) or Gideon (#534) or Gable (not in the Top 1000)?

Since you like Josiah (#96 in 2008, but way way higher-ranked in religious circles), I wonder if you would like Jude (#224) or Jonas (#274) or Jaron (#819)?

Maybe Milo (#449). And I really like Arlo (not in the Top 1000).

Silas (#313). Aidric (not in the Top 1000). Atticus (#689). Felix (#354). Barnaby (not in the Top 1000). Corbin (#262). Alistair (not in the Top 1000).

Sara writes:

HELP! I’m due in March but we are not finding out the sex until d-day! My husband and I can agree on a few boy names but still haven’t picked one and are very welcome to more ideas. If a boy his middle name with be Thomas after both our fathers. Girl names we can’t agree on at all! We don’t want a super popular name but nothing too out there either. Last name is Moseley.

Names we are considering for boys:
Hudson (I LOVE this but is it getting too popular?)
Bentley (Does it sound ok with Moseley?)
Cooper

Girl names:
Annsley
Addallee (Add-a-lee just for clarification)
We don’t have to have an A name just the only ones we like so far start with A’s!

Any suggestions you can give us?

 
Hudson is indeed increasing in popularity (from #997 in 1995 to #176 in 2008, according to the Social Security Administration, and my guess is that it’s not done increasing. BUT—I don’t think it’s too popular. Then again, I don’t even think the Top Ten are too popular, so it might be too popular for your tastes.

I find the repeating -ley sounds of Bentley Moseley hard to say, but again, that’s purely a matter of taste.

One of my favorite surname names is Archer, and I think it sounds great with your surname: Archer Thomas Moseley. I love that. Archer isn’t in even the Top 1000 yet, though I’ve seen it on a lot of people’s Names To Consider lists, so I suspect it’s close to breaking in. One possible problem: the initials ATM.

Another of my favorite surname names is Wilson. Wilson Thomas Moseley. That name has been hanging around in the 400s and 500s for the last 50 years. That doesn’t mean it won’t suddenly start getting more popular, but it’s a better bet than the names that are already swooping up.

This is a long shot, but I wonder if you’d like the name Fisher? I’d never considered it until I read a book by Joshilyn Jackson that had a child named Fisher in it, and by the end of the book it was my first choice for a middle name for my son pseudonymed Henry, if we’d used Henry for his first name as we almost did. Wouldn’t that be cute? Henry Fisher! Well, but maybe it works better as a middle name than as a first name.

Miller is another good one if you like alliterative names. Miller Thomas Moseley. Miller isn’t in the Top 1000 and hasn’t been since 1943.

Shepherd is a name I would consider using just to get the great nickname Shep. Shepherd Thomas Moseley.

I’m surprised the name Turner isn’t more popular: it seems so USABLE because of its similarity to names like Tanner and Tyler, but it’s barely cracked the Top 1000. Turner Thomas Moseley.

Truman, too, seems like it’s been neglected—it’s another one barely in the Top 1000. Truman Thomas Moseley.

And Lawson! I love Lawson! And there it is, wasting away in the 600s/700s! Lawson Thomas Moseley.

I love the name Anderson. Anderson Thomas Moseley. It’s rising in popularity, in the 300s right now. And there’s the ATM problem again.

More common but still not overused (it’s only in the 200s, though still rising, and the character on the TV show Lost may make it seem more common) is Sawyer. Sawyer Thomas Moseley.

If you weren’t using Thomas as the middle name, I’d recommend Edison: barely in the Top 1000 (didn’t even quite make it in 2008), and with the easy nicknames of Ed and Eddie.

Keaton was rising for awhile, but it’s stayed in the 300s for the last dozen years. Keaton Thomas Moseley.

If you tend to like surname names, one good idea is to look back in your family trees for usable surnames. Then, even if the name does get popular, you still have strong reasons for using it—and you can say, “It’s a family name,” which I’ve found is the best name-reaction-diffusing statement of all.

Now, girl names. I think Annsley Moseley has too much of a matching-endings problem for my tastes, but that’s only my tastes. Addallee Moseley, too, has matching endings, but not as much as Annsley: just the -ley sound, rather than the whole -sley sound, and a 3-syllable name makes it less noticeable than when both the first name and surname have two syllables.

Adelyn is similar to Addallee but without the double -ley problem. Adelyn Moseley.

I think the -ella ending would work very well with your surname. Ooo, here’s a pretty name I just found in The Baby Name Wizard the other day and have been looking for a chance to recommend: Abriella. Abriella Moseley. I love it. I don’t know if it’s an Abb sound or an Abe sound; you could probably take your pick. Abb would give you the nickname Abby; Abe would prevent it if you don’t like that nickname and would prefer Bree or Ella.

I like Rosabella, too, and Arabella. Rosebella Moseley. Arabella Moseley. Roseabella might be too matched, with the -ose- sounds in both names—or maybe it’s a very nice tied-in sound, I can’t tell.

Or Ariella. Ariella Moseley.

Or Mirabella. Mirabella Moseley.

I wonder if you would like any of these names:

Abilena Moseley
Amabel Moseley
Amalia Moseley
Anya Moseley
Arianna Moseley
Aurelia Moseley
Avalon Moseley
Bronwyn Moseley
Calliope/Kalliopi Moseley
Cambria Moseley
Ellington Moseley
Emmalyn Moseley
Harper Moseley
Hollis Moseley
Isadora Moseley
Jensen Moseley
Juniper Moseley
Keelin Moseley
Kerrigan Moseley
Kianna Moseley
Lorelei Moseley
Lucianna Moseley
Verity Moseley
Willa Moseley

I was looking through my 2004-2005 baby name lists for a post I was writing on my main blog about choosing the twins’ names, and I was surprised by some of the names that made my list:

Iliana
Jenica
Laken
Perrin

Abbott
Cullen
Dutch
Joren

Not because I dislike the names, but because they’re not my usual style and I don’t even remember considering them. Do you have names you’re surprised you considered?

Libby writes:

I am in desperate need of baby name help. We are having baby #2 in March 2010. Our 2 year old daughter is Lucy (formal name is Lucinda) and our last name is Johnson…
I want something traditional and strong, but not too common because of our last name. We don’t know the gender of the baby.
Any ideas would be great!
Thanks!

For a girl:

Adelaide (Addie) Johnson; Lucinda and Adelaide, Lucy and Addie
Beatrix (Bee) Johnson; Lucinda and Beatrix, Lucy and Bee
Eleanor (Ellie, Nora) Johnson; Lucinda and Eleanor, Lucy and Ellie
Florence (Florrie) Johnson; Lucinda and Florence, Lucy and Florrie
Genevieve (Evie, Genna) Johnson; Lucinda and Genevieve, Lucy and Evie
Henrietta (Hennie) Johnson; Lucinda and Henrietta, Lucy and Hennie
Josephine (Josie) Johnson; Lucinda and Josephine, Lucy and Josie
Millicent (Millie) Johnson; Lucinda and Millicent, Lucy and Millie
Rosemary (Rosie) Johnson; Lucinda and Rosemary, Lucy and Rosie
Virginia (Ginnie) Johnson; Lucinda and Virginia, Lucy and Ginnie
Winifred (Winnie) Johnson; Lucinda and Winifred, Lucy and Winnie

For a boy:

Abraham (Abe) Johnson; Lucinda and Abraham, Lucy and Abe
August (Gus) Johnson; Lucinda and August, Lucy and Gus
Charles (Charlie) Johnson; Lucinda and Charles, Lucy and Charlie
Edmund (Eddie) Johnson; Lucinda and Edmund, Lucy and Eddie
Elias (Eli) Johnson; Lucinda and Elias, Lucy and Eli
Emmett Johnson; Lucinda and Emmett, Lucy and Emmett
Everett Johnson; Lucinda and Everett, Lucy and Everett
Frederick (Freddie) Johnson; Lucinda and Frederick, Lucy and Freddie
George (Geordie) Johnson; Lucinda and George, Lucy and Geordie
Oliver (Ollie) Johnson; Lucinda and Oliver, Lucy and Ollie
Theodore (Theo) Johnson; Lucinda and Theodore, Lucy and Theo
Wesley (Wes) Johnson; Lucinda and Wesley, Lucy and Wes