what to name my son...I am too picky

trudibell · February 2013

Jackson - didn't realize it was so popular, although I have never met anyone named Jackson or Jack before! This is my favorite, but I don't want him to be one of five other Jacks in the class.

Rex - simply and manly.

Henry - also simple, but also getting too popular. Would shorten with "Hank."

Harrison - love it but it borders on pretentious.

Wyatt - solid, but trendy? maybe?

Karl - another simple one.

James - simple, but too popular. Also would not want to call him "Jimmy." Jim or Jay is ok.

Ulysses - could go by Uly. Very unique, old name, my husband loves it, would definitely have no possibility of another Uly in his class. Worried it borders on too weird though.

Levi - maybe too Biblical. Also...jeans.

Erik - simple, classic, Viking.

Anyone else think that finding a unique but not stupid boys name is harder than finding the same with a girl?

Manderlin923 · February 2013

Dislike: Jackson, Levi (really, really dislike), Karl

Okay: Wyatt, Erik, James , Ulysses

Love: Harrison (with nn Harry), Rex, Henry

other suggestions: Cole, Truman, Travis, Oscar, Felix, Dean, Calvin

Zimger · February 2013

I have a difficult time with girl names as opposed to boys. I like a variety of boy names.

Jackson - I don't mind the popularity but I try to stay away from surnames.

Rex - maybe as a middle name?

Henry - I like Henry but I dislike Hank...alot. It just sounds odd to me.

Harrison - Surname

Wyatt - I like it but I don't worry about popularity

Karl - Seems a bit too old for my taste but it isn't terrible.

James - I like it but the potential for him to be called Jimmy is there. If you don't like that then maybe another name would be best.

Ulysses - Unique but old school. I wouldn't use it but I wouldn't think it was weird.

Levi - I don't think of either the jeans or the bible when I hear it.

Erik - I like it. He may have to correct the spelling from time to time but it's a solid name.

all in all it isn't a terrible list. Maybe give it a break for a week or so. You may be overthinking things.

Fletch82 · February 2013

From your list I love Henery, James, and Erik.

Jackson, Harison,and Wyatt feel trendy. Karl is ok. Ulysses sounds a bit too old man for me. I've never like Levi (one of the few names I really dislike that's not you-neek). Rex reminds me of an old school NN but I'm not sure how I feel about it as a name.

aessary03 · February 2013

I like most of the names on your list. Huge fan of Ulysses!

I agree, boys names are definitely harder than girls names!

emnoahmom · February 2013

I love Henry and James from your list. I like Eric, spelled with a c, too. My suggestions would be Isaac, which I love, Graham, which I find very masculine and sweet at the same time, and Adam or Joshua (Josh), which I never hear anymore but love!

trudibell · February 2013

emnoahmom:
I love Henry and James from your list. I like Eric, spelled with a c, too. My suggestions would be Isaac, which I love, Graham, which I find very masculine and sweet at the same time, and Adam or Joshua (Josh), which I never hear anymore but love!

Adam is his father's name and we have thought about it!

trudibell · February 2013

Problem with Dean is our last name is Green! haha

brooksidebride · February 2013

Henry and Harrison are my faves as I like them both a lot.

Levi, Erik, James, Wyatt, and Rex are all nice names too.

I don't like Karl... I guess the name is fine, it's just NMS.

And Ulysses... I dunno... I guess it's a nice strong name, it would just be too uncommon (for lack of a better word) for me to use. Though, Uly is a cute nickname. Maybe it could grow on me!

mjune3881 · February 2013

Yes agree that unique name but not a name they will be made fun of for is deffinately harder for boys than girls ... here are my thoughts on your names...

Dislike - Rex (too short for me and sounds like a dog), Henry (too trendy, I like Hank but Henry makes me think of the royal family), Karl, Ulysses (kids would deffinately make fun of this name)

Like - James (but only with Jay, not fond of Jimmy or Jim), Levi, Erik

Love - Jackson (not Jack, but the full name), Harrison, Wyatt

MrsJ723 · February 2013

Personally I find girl names harder than boy names. There always seems to be an association with many girl names (trashy, stuck-up, etc) that you don't get with boy names.

Jackson - way too trendy for me.

Rex - nms

Henry - nice, but super popular.

Harrison - nice, kind of trendy.

Wyatt - nms

Karl - dislike.

James - love

Ulysses - nms.

Levi - nms

Erik - like

Makemineadouble · February 2013

I think Ulysses would make a really strong middle name for some of the other names you picked. I love Jackson, Henry, Harrison, Wyatt, Karl, James, and Erik. Not crazy about Levi.

bonniebrownhair · February 2013

Yes, boys' names are much harder than girls' names. I have one son named Julius Arthur (and I love his name). We are completely stuck on what to do if this next one is a boy. Every name I love seems to have some significant drawback (too popular, don't like the nickname, etc.), and every name that's "textbook perfect" (familiar but not popular, classic but not overused, etc.) is one I just am not in love with.

Have you searched the Social Security website for name popularity in your state? That can give you a better idea of what's too common in your area. Or maybe you have some friends who are preschool/elementary school teachers or labor and delivery nurses? You could run the names you're considering by them and see which ones they're seeing a lot of.

I'm an elementary school teacher in California (Bay Area). The name I've seen the most of is Jackson/Jack. I've taught one Wyatt, one James, and one Erik, and I know a family with a young son named Henry. I have rather surprisingly never met a little Levi (even though I teach at a Christian school and it has been a top 100 name for a while).

My thoughts on each name:

Jack -- Jack is great, but this is the one you're probably most likely to see your son share with friends. No, there won't be five in each class (out of 60 kids in the second grade, we've never had more than one Jack/Jackson per year), but your son probably will know a few other Jacks growing up.

Rex -- I really like this one, and it seems like a great Jack alternative if you want something less common. Do you love it? Or do you think you could grow to love it?

Henry -- This is also one of my top choices, but, like you, I worry about popularity. If you can get over concerns about not being 100% unique, this really is a good choice.

Harrison -- I don't like it as much as your other choices. It doesn't feel nearly as classic.

Wyatt -- Wyatt doesn't feel trendy. It's a little more "western" than your other names, but it's a great handsome name.

Karl -- I wonder why more people aren't using this one! I do know one little Karl, but he's Egyptian, and his family doesn't use mainstream names for their kids, so I don't think this means you'd be likely to run into other Karls. Do you love this one? Could you love it as much as you love Jack?

James -- How can you not love James? I don't think you'd have to call him Jimmy at all. Most Jameses I know just go by James.

Ulysses -- It's one of those names that people might find strange and pretentious at first (I went through that with a newborn Julius), but later when he's a little older, everyone will tell you how much they love his name. Uly is a cute nickname. If your husband loves this one, I'd urge you to use it. It could also make a neat middle name if you go with a more common first. Henry Ulysses? Jack Ulysses? James Ulysses? Pretty awesome, huh?

Levi -- I like this one! It's not too biblical or jeans-associated anymore.

Erik -- Even though it's an old name, it feels "newer" than Jack and Henry. It's kind of a modern classic.

Other names you might consider: Calvin/Cal, Grant, Jason, Wesley, Jay, Jude, Joel, Louis, Lawrence, Leo

Kfran84 · February 2013

I like James, Rex, and Wyatt

I dislike Jackson, Karl, Levi

I could go either way on Ulysses, Henry, Harrison, and Erik

noslen2005 · February 2013

I like a lot of your names. James, Erik, and Jackson are my faves.

queenbone · February 2013

It's funny to me that you have both Rex & Harrison on your list. Big My Fair Lady fan?

I like Henry and James the best.

Ulysses could grow on me... it wouldn't surprise me to hear it in my neighborhood.

Erik & Karl are both nice, just NMS.

Wyatt is super country to me, Levi is too.

tdenen · February 2013

When reading your list the name Sullivan nn Sully came to mind. I also LOVE Wyatt and Harrison.

anvloveskme · February 2013

Love Harrison, like Rex, Jackson is WAY too popular and the rest are fine. Good solid list!

nykkybaby · February 2013

Love Erik. Eric is my husband's name and it is such a strong and masculine title to me. I think it could be cute on a lil guy as well as professional later.

Elinetrouwt · February 2013

I like many of those names. I'd be surprised about a Ulysses for a few seconds, but then I'd really like it. If you like Ulysses, have you considered Ilias as well?

lizzybean · February 2013

I love love love Harrison, Wyatt and Erik!

maple1422 · February 2013

Jack, Hank, Harrison, Wyatt, James, ADAM! I love that you considered carrying on his name! I have four cousins who are juniors; my dad is the only one in his family without a Jr. My mom named my brother Nathan instead of Ronald Jr., but I can't say I blame her.
Suggestions:
Grant
Joel
Roman
Oscar
Easton
Cole
Mason

GrayGhost13 · February 2013

Actually, I think you've got a really solid short-list going there. There's not one one there that I dislike.

Kmommy91 · February 2013

Henry and James are great!

chels0120 · February 2013

Harrison would be my pick.

Stongly dislike Rex and Ulysses and Karl.

jenheartsmonsters · February 2013

Rex wins for me! Levi is a close second. I wouldn't worry about the jeans-- when people refer to them it's usually in the plural (Levis) and besides, who doesn't love a classic pair of jeans?