# Help Me Name My Kid... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177 "2008-11-17T21:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/21 "2008-11-17T23:21:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m a William fan, personally. That’s what I was going to say. If he wants a nickname, he could be Will, Bill, Liam, etc. It’s pretty customizable. Or, Jeremy, or Philip. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/22 "2008-11-17T23:35:04Z")
Interestingly I see nobody has yet suggested: Michael But you could also go with my own name, which has become increasingly rare these days and it would be good to see make a comeback: Paul ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/23 "2008-11-17T23:48:51Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > Boys: > Henry (though I think everyone is naming their kid this these days) Oh no, really?☹ Henry is my 5th favorite boys’ name. It comes in after Nicholas, Owen, Christopher, and Jeremy. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/24 "2008-11-17T23:52:45Z")
Gregory ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/25 "2008-11-18T00:00:10Z")
I always liked Christopher. But being Jewish, I couldn’t use it. Eric, Kevin, and Brian are nice solid names that aren’t being used too much these days. What’s your ethnic background? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/26 "2008-11-18T00:15:04Z")
Some of my favorites are: Charlotte, Eleanor, Serena, Moira, Claire, Lucy. Benjamin, Nathaniel, Oliver, Gabriel, Theodore, David. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/27 "2008-11-18T00:17:10Z")
Wyatt. Need I say more. No finer male figure than Wyatt Earp. Maybe Garrret. I have a sweet niece named Katie. One of the finest children I have ever encountered. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/28 "2008-11-18T00:19:03Z")
> [@Omegaman](#): > > Maybe Garrret. Is that the pirate version? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/29 "2008-11-18T00:28:06Z")
Well, the naming “style guides” recommend mixing up the number of syllables in each name for a more pleasing sound. In that school of thought, John Wayne D’Oh = bad (1 syllable each name, also serial killer middle name), Jonathan William D’Oh = good (3, 2, 1). Every member of my family has three two-syllable names and we haven’t found our lives hampered by them so I think you might be ok to break this rule if you wish 🙂 My boy name list was: James Thomas William Alexander Joshua Without looking it up, those may actually be the top 5 boy’s names for the year… what can I say? I’m conventional. I had my grandfather and father’s names picked out as potential middle names - respectively, Douglas and Graeme (for you Americans, “Graeme” is pronounced the same as Graham and is exceedingly common in his age group over here). I like a lot of the other suggestions I see here too… Christopher (I also like Christian if I ignore the obvious religious origin), Jeremy, Alistair, Jared, Walter. I despise Jack. In my opinion, Jack is a nickname for John and not a name in it’s own right - the times, they may be a-changing but when I was younger “Jack” was my elderly neighbours, great uncles and other old men who were all named John on their birth certificates. These days Jack trendy and overused - you’ll recall that I haven’t let popularity dissuade me from the other names on my list but I just know _so many_ Jacks that I’m heartily sick of it. Forgive me, anyone out there who has (or wants) a beloved Jack in their lives but it’s become a fingernails-on-the-blackboard name for me. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/30 "2008-11-18T00:31:17Z")
Arthur Jason Stephen Robin Rachel Rosemary Samantha ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/31 "2008-11-18T03:55:23Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I always liked Christopher. But being Jewish, I couldn’t use it. > > Eric, Kevin, and Brian are nice solid names that aren’t being used too much these days. > > What’s your ethnic background? Wow - great suggestions. Thanks everyone. At work at the moment so unable to linger, but thanks everyone for sharing. Green Bean - ethnic background is WASP without the Protestant part I suppose. No religiosity one way or another. Keep 'em coming! M ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/32 "2008-11-18T04:00:44Z")
I’m fond of Irish names for boys: Cullen Donnell/Donnelly Dougal Finn No Aidans! Every boy in preschool nowadays is named Aidan! Biblical: Eben Gabriel Raphael Noah Solomon Emanuel (don’t take this one, it’s mine ;)) Shadrach (okay, a bit out there, but sounds cool) Greek and Roman: Leander Marcus August Dexter ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/33 "2008-11-18T04:09:42Z")
I like longer names, so these should balance out nicely with a one syllable rhymes-with-O surname: Benjamin Timothy Gregory Nathaniel Raymond Sebastian Jonathan Zachary Samuel Atticus (We need more kids named Atticus.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/34 "2008-11-18T04:14:24Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Arthur > Jason > Stephen > Robin > Rachel > Rosemary > Samantha No no! Nobobdy should name their kid Arthur!!! (I like being unique!) Incidentally, my top choice for a girl was Rosemary, so good thinking, my brother in the produce aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/35 "2008-11-18T04:28:36Z")
Mok’inathil’Aloraton’Icthylathonidras Maxima-Optimus Destructicon _Ahem_ Boy - Isaac Pier (I think that’s a name at least, and no, I most definitely do not mean Pierre) Andrew Jeremy Frédéric Girl - Sakura Zinah Naomi Shanna Nina Stacy Zelda Either - Jesse Sasha Robin ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/36 "2008-11-18T04:35:59Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > You can borrow the one I’m planning on using should the need arrive: > > Abraham. > > Pronounceable. Nicknameable. Spellable. In honor of Mr. Lincoln. And I think it goes well with a one syllable last name. ACK! ACK! NO! The one I am carrying now is an Abraham! You can’t have it! **Slap Fight** 😃 Oh. For the OP, Gareth. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/37 "2008-11-18T04:49:53Z")
Sidney Gavin Leonard Scott Kenneth ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/38 "2008-11-18T04:50:06Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Incidentally, my top choice for a girl was Rosemary, so good thinking, my brother in the produce aisle. Rosemary…produce aisle…ah, I’ve got my suggestion: **Sage**. Basil is another idea, but I prefer Sage. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/39 "2008-11-18T04:55:34Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Mok’inathil’Aloraton’Icthylathonidras > > Maxima-Optimus Destructicon > > _Ahem_ > Boy - > Isaac > Pier (I think that’s a name at least, and no, I most definitely do not mean Pierre) > Andrew > Jeremy > Frédéric > > Girl - > Sakura > Zinah > Naomi > Shanna > Nina > Stacy > Zelda > > Either - > Jesse > Sasha > Robin No Stacy. The world has enough of them. Trust me. Stacy too dated, too ambisexual, too much of a last name and a boy’s name. No one will ever spell it correctly. This will make any daughter wish her name was really Anastacia. Again trust me. Naomi is much better. Pretty, historic and underused. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177/40 "2008-11-18T05:02:29Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Sidney > Gavin > Leonard > Scott > Kenneth And just to add: Sidney (English and French; [Wide meadow](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Sidney.html)) Gavin (Welsh; [White hawk of battle](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Gavin.html)) Leonard (Germanic; [Strong as the lion](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Leonard.html)) Scott (English; [Painted warrior](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Scott.html)) Kenneth (Gaelic; [Born of fire](http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Kenneth.html)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-kid/473177.md?page=3)