A reader named Antoinette is expecting her second baby in November, and she’d like some help coming up with names (both male and female).
The names should:
- Work with the surname O’Reilly, and
- Be relatively short. (Case in point: Antoinette’s son’s full first name is Zach.)
On Antoinette’s short list right now are the names Harry and Charlie for a boy, and Zoe and Stella for a girl. She also mentions that, while her family is Irish, she and her husband “don’t really like the traditional Irish names.”
Here are some ideas I came up with:
| Male | Female |
| Adam Alex Alfie Andy Archie Blake Carl Eric Evan Graham Henry Hugh Isaac Jake James Lane Luke Mark Matt Max Noah Simon Toby Will | Ava Belle Chloe Daisy Eva Gemma Grace Hazel Leah Greta Helen Iris Ivy Jane Josie Kate Katie Lucy Maya Nina Nora Sadie Sara Tess |
Do you like any of the above with O’Reilly? What other names would you suggest?
Bram
Cal
Clay
Ezra
Frank
Gage
Hal
Nat
Paul
Wes
Ada
Clio
Esme
Fay
Gale
Jill
June
Lena
Lila
Maria
Nell
Noelle
Pearl
Thea
Just a thought — if they plan to have more kids, and they go with Zoe for a girl, they might feel “trapped” in a Z-theme; I know some parents who have felt that way, though not everyone does. Z is not the easiest letter of the alphabet to come up with a variety of names either.
I’m not really fond of first & last names that both end with the “-ee” sound, so that would rule out a lot. From your list, I think Eric, Evan, Mark, Luke & Max work well for boys. For girls, from your list, Grace, Helen, Jane, Kate & Tess sound very good with O’Reilly.
Cathy, that’s an excellent point about Z-name entrapment. Thanks.
Hi All,
Thanks for all the ideas.It has been so helpful. I dont think that we are going for another Z name because like Cathy said it can trap you. Mind you I think that two little people is our magic number. We are blessed to be parents
The suggestions are great and it really helps alot. I did not realise the choice that we have.
Anyway I am meeting my OBGYN today and see how No.2 is doing 16 weeks now.
If there are any O’Reilly Mums or Dads out there let me know what names you have your kids too.