< 5 Weeks to Go and Still No Boy Name

Marsee

We're Team Green and already have a girl name and a backup girl name (Bridget & Veronica, respectively). We are having a terrible time finding a boy name and I'm starting to get nervous since there's not much time left. We have lots of names that we like, but none that are "the one". 

Our last name sounds like "Trainer" so we'd prefer no T names. The only other requirement is that it not be "girly". DH thinks some of the names I like (Julian, Gabriel, Lucian) are girly. We are also looking for something that is uncommon (not in the top 100), but not weird.

Here is a [somewhat] short list of the names we both like. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I've already tried Nymbler and it hasn't helped.

Atticus, Augustus, Blake, Cole, Callum, Cullen, Donovan, Franklin, Graham (family name), Gideon, Grant, Garrett, Hudson, Harrison, Isaac, Jonas, Jefferson, Kane, Larson, Marshall (family name), Nolan, Nicholas, Oliver, Orson, Preston, Quincy, Rhodes, Ross, Sullivan, Sebastian, Solomon, Sterling, Vincent, Warren, Wesley and Winston

Thanks, ladies! 

mtc2009

I really like the name Cole- it was a front runner for us, until DH decided he couldn't name his son after a bank (that's what it would be with out last name!)

What about Cole Marshall?

I also like Cullen Graham, Isaac Graham, Blake Marshall. 

 

beazbadazme2

Some that were on my list were:

Calvin, Donovan, Sullivan, Weston

Good luck!!

moxie9

Favorites from your list: Atticus, Donovan, Gideon, Jonas, Sebastian, Vincent, Wesley, Winston

Dislike: Blake, Cole, Callum, Cullen, Harrison, Jefferson, Kane, Orson, Preston, Quincy, Solomon, Warren

Suggestions that may inspire you: Mateo, Salvatore, Dorian, Giovanni, Luca, Conrad, Leo/Leopold, Inigo 

If I had to define your style, it seems to be classical names with an English feel to it (perhaps some Russian or Irish names would also fit the bill). Some names from your list have literary, biblical, or presidential roots. Understanding you and your husband's naming style might help narrow your search and provide a backdrop of what you're looking for (not in the top 100 and masculine is a rather broad criteria, in my opinion). And you might find yourself being one of those people that brings a short list to the hospital--you already have a back-up girl name, so why not four back-up boy names? Just my thoughts, don't know if this helps any.

kellym243

I love Nolan and Jonas (on our list too!) Franklin, Blake, Cole, Nicholas would be my runners-up. I have a significant aversion to Graham (my ex and a real creep) so if I had to vote for one of the family names I'd pick Marshall.

How about Nolan Marshall, Jonas Nolan, or really most combos using the above names would work!

Marsee

moxie9:

Favorites from your list: Atticus, Donovan, Gideon, Jonas, Sebastian, Vincent, Wesley, Winston

Dislike: Blake, Cole, Callum, Cullen, Harrison, Jefferson, Kane, Orson, Preston, Quincy, Solomon, Warren

Suggestions that may inspire you: Mateo, Salvatore, Dorian, Giovanni, Luca, Conrad, Leo/Leopold, Inigo 

If I had to define your style, it seems to be classical names with an English feel to it (perhaps some Russian or Irish names would also fit the bill). Some names from your list have literary, biblical, or presidential roots. Understanding you and your husband's naming style might help narrow your search and provide a backdrop of what you're looking for (not in the top 100 and masculine is a rather broad criteria, in my opinion). And you might find yourself being one of those people that brings a short list to the hospital--you already have a back-up girl name, so why not four back-up boy names? Just my thoughts, don't know if this helps any.

I would agree with this. I'm not sure why the presidential names appeal to us; I'm really not a big fan of using last names as first names. Maybe we'll just create a short list to take with us as suggested, however I have a feeling this LO is a girl, so this whole post would be moot.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, ladies! 

katie0919

I love the name Ross. It's surprisingly not popular at all, which I love about it even more. Ross is our #2 backup name. Good luck choosing!

jlhook0

From your list I like Graham, Kane, Rhodes (does this have some kind of family significance? I'm really digging it), and Winston.

Suggestions:
Dempsey
Broderick
Murphy
Reid
Patrick
Sinclair
Rourke

eilatan&nhoj88

 I like Landen, Matthew, Jacob, Ryan, Elijah, Isaac,...

jessa8909

I love Marshall, Cole, Garrett and Isaac. I can't see Rhodes as a first name, considering it's my last name. .

I think Marshall Isaac, Garrett Cole and Marshall Graham are great names. 

COMomma81

Atticus, Augustus, Blake, Cole, Callum, Cullen, Donovan, Franklin, Graham (family name), Gideon, Grant, Garrett, Hudson, Harrison, Isaac, Jonas, Jefferson, Kane, Larson, Marshall (family name), Nolan, Nicholas, Oliver, Orson, Preston, Quincy, Rhodes, Ross, Sullivan, Sebastian, Solomon, Sterling, Vincent, Warren, Wesley and Winston

Faves =  Underlined (especially Kane...my son's name  

Really like = Bold

The others are actually good too...you have good taste. The only ones I didn't care much for are Orson and Quincy.

ETA: Add Graham to my faves...I missed that one somehow, and it won't let me go back and underline it :P

LuckyIrishMama11

My favorites from your list: LOVE Atticus, Cole, LOVE Donovan (as long as you're okay with possible nn Don), Jonas, Jefferson, LOVE Oliver (it and Henry were our boy names for Lola), Sebastian, Sterling sounds strong on the right person IMO, and Vincent.

So, my Top 3:

1. Oliver

2. Donovan

3. Atticus

NellaJ

A few more suggestions:

Leon

Ian

Conrad

Ronan

Marsee

jlhook0:

From your list I like Graham, Kane, Rhodes (does this have some kind of family significance? I'm really digging it), and Winston.

Suggestions:
Dempsey
Broderick
Murphy
Reid
Patrick
Sinclair
Rourke

No significance. I just found it in a baby name book and it really stood out for both of us. At this point, I don't think we like it enough as a FN, but it's definitely a contender for a MN. 

Marsee

LuckyIrishMama11:

My favorites from your list: LOVE Atticus, Cole, LOVE Donovan (as long as you're okay with possible nn Don), Jonas, Jefferson, LOVE Oliver (it and Henry were our boy names for Lola), Sebastian, Sterling sounds strong on the right person IMO, and Vincent.

So, my Top 3:

1. Oliver

2. Donovan

3. Atticus

I'm really loving Donovan at this point too. I really hate the nn Don (it's my mom's a$$hole ex-husband) so we definitely wouldn't be using that. We would probably only call him by his full name and if we decided to do a nn, we would do "Van" (not entirely sure I'm in love with this either. . .). 

LuckyIrishMama11

Marsee:

LuckyIrishMama11:

My favorites from your list: LOVE Atticus, Cole, LOVE Donovan (as long as you're okay with possible nn Don), Jonas, Jefferson, LOVE Oliver (it and Henry were our boy names for Lola), Sebastian, Sterling sounds strong on the right person IMO, and Vincent.

So, my Top 3:

1. Oliver

2. Donovan

3. Atticus

I'm really loving Donovan at this point too. I really hate the nn Don (it's my mom's a$$hole ex-husband) so we definitely wouldn't be using that. We would probably only call him by his full name and if we decided to do a nn, we would do "Van" (not entirely sure I'm in love with this either. . .). 

I'm totally all about using the full or even Van. I think Van is a cute nn. However, I wouldn't use the name unless you are 100% okay with someone who knows your son and (perhaps) not you using Don, as it's the most obvs nn. For example, teachers or other students once he's in school. Take it from a Chrisi whose parents were sticklers for only Christina We intend for my Penelope will go by Lola, but DH and I went through the more obvs possibilities and realized we had to be okay with those too if we were going to use the name. Although I like Lola better, it wouldn't bother me TOO much if someone stuck her with Penny/Ellie/Nellie, kwim?

So, I would say if it would be absolutely grating to hear his friends calling him "Don" or "Donny" when they're over for a playdate, you might consider other options... although Donovan is an awesome name!

Marsee

LuckyIrishMama11:

Marsee:

LuckyIrishMama11:

My favorites from your list: LOVE Atticus, Cole, LOVE Donovan (as long as you're okay with possible nn Don), Jonas, Jefferson, LOVE Oliver (it and Henry were our boy names for Lola), Sebastian, Sterling sounds strong on the right person IMO, and Vincent.

So, my Top 3:

1. Oliver

2. Donovan

3. Atticus

I'm really loving Donovan at this point too. I really hate the nn Don (it's my mom's a$$hole ex-husband) so we definitely wouldn't be using that. We would probably only call him by his full name and if we decided to do a nn, we would do "Van" (not entirely sure I'm in love with this either. . .). 

I'm totally all about using the full or even Van. I think Van is a cute nn. However, I wouldn't use the name unless you are 100% okay with someone who knows your son and (perhaps) not you using Don, as it's the most obvs nn. For example, teachers or other students once he's in school. Take it from a Chrisi whose parents were sticklers for only Christina We intend for my Penelope will go by Lola, but DH and I went through the more obvs possibilities and realized we had to be okay with those too if we were going to use the name. Although I like Lola better, it wouldn't bother me TOO much if someone stuck her with Penny/Ellie/Nellie, kwim?

So, I would say if it would be absolutely grating to hear his friends calling him "Don" or "Donny" when they're over for a playdate, you might consider other options... although Donovan is an awesome name!

Good points. We're really going to have to sleep on that one. Thanks!