Kathleen writes:<\/p>\n
We are expecting what is most likely our last child \u2013 gender unknown \u2013 on the 23th of December. We already have four children. They are<\/p>\n
Anne Judith, who goes by Anne, Annie, and sometimes AJ.
\nJillian Theresa, who goes by Jillian or Jills.
\nRodney Stuart, who is just Rodney.
\nJoan Maureen, who goes by Jo, Joan, and Joannie equally.<\/p>\nAs you can see, we like very classic names.<\/p>\n
Now, as for the name for our newest addition, if it is a boy, we have decided on either<\/p>\n
Thomas Edward
\nMichael Henry
\nWilliam James<\/p>\nWe\u2019re not sure which goes best with our other children\u2019s names, what do you think? And feel free to mix and match the first and middles, they aren\u2019t set in stone. But we definitely want to use two of those six names. (And he will not have a nickname)<\/p>\n
A girl\u2019s name is where we have more trouble.<\/p>\n
The names we are most drawn to right now are shorter J names, like June (#1 on our list), Jean, and Jane. We already have Joan, though, so obviously none of these names are going to work. We were wondering if you could think of any similar alternatives, that wouldn\u2019t be too close to Joan.<\/p>\n
Other girls names we like are Frances and Tess (#s 2 and 3 on our list), Sarah, Margaret, Mary, Katherine, Abigail, Charlotte, and Emily.<\/p>\n
We also like Caitlin a lot, which is more modern, but has a very nice sound. The only concern is that my name is Kathleen, and I\u2019ve occasionally been called Kate. We would probably call her Caitie. Is that a big problem? (I\u2019m not usually ever Kate.. but people do call me by that name, sort of a friendly nickname, upon occasion)<\/p>\n
We\u2019re also kind of intrigued at two first names… something like Mary Katherine (that\u2019s just an example). But we can\u2019t come up with a combination we like. So if you could think of any combinations that sound good together as one first name, with the type of classic names we like.<\/p>\n
Oh, and our last name is Dunham (pronounced \u201cDone(like being finished)-um\u201d)<\/p>\n
Wow! We have quite a few questions! Sorry :) And thanks so much!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI don’t think you can go wrong with any of those boy names. My personal favorite with Rodney is Edward. My favorite middle names with it are James and Michael: Edward James Dunham, Edward Michael Dunham. But I pretty much love every combination of those six names.<\/p>\nI also love all those short J names you love: Jane, Jean, Joan, June. And I agree with you that those names are one per family, so let’s see if we can find some other possibilities:<\/p>\n
Eve
\nFaith
\nFay
\nFern
\nGrace
\nHope
\nIvy
\nKay
\nLynn
\nMay
\nPearl
\nRose
\nRuth<\/p>\nI find I am getting very ENTHUSIASTIC about these names, so much that I had a hard time finishing the list before starting to push them on you. Ruth, for example, sounds to me a lot like June, both in sound and in style. I think Kay Dunham is one of the best names ever—well, except for Fay Dunham. And Pearl Dunham. And Faith Dunham. And Grace Dunham. And…well, you have a GREAT surname for this kind of name, and I am envious.<\/p>\n