A reader named Kim wrote to me the other day with a surname question:
My husband and I are pregnant with our first child, my husband and his family are really proud of their last name. I was wondering what names go along with Saling (pronounced like sailing) that actually sound like names and not just boat terms.
This question reminds me of the post I wrote about the surname Gripe a few months ago.
They key with surnames like Saling and Gripe is to pick a first and middle names that don’t make them seem like anything other than surnames. That is, names that don’t pull them out of context. This entails avoiding:
- Names, nicknames, and initials that are (or sound like) nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or other parts of speech. Examples: Christian Saling, Sky Saling, Ernest Saling, Ben Saling, Izzy Saling, Will B. Saling, C. U. Saling.
- Names and nicknames that have too many sounds in common with the surname. Alliteration can make a name sound cartoonish (e.g. Olive Oyl, Betty Boop). Examples: Stella Saling, Cecilia Saling, Irving Saling, Sal Saling.
- Names that don’t work with the surname specifically. Examples: Clara Saling, Perry Saling (both are close to parasailing).
Here are some names that I think would work with Saling:
| Boy names: | Girl names: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brian David Derek Dominic Eric Ethan Frederick Gregory |
Henry Jacob Jeffrey Jonathan Nathan Ryan Timothy Zachary |
Bethany Brianna Catherine Diane Hannah Heidi Jennifer Megan |
Monica Naomi Natasha Norah Phoebe Rebecca Veronica Zoe |
Which of the above do you like best? What other names would you suggest to Kim?
5 Comments
I totally understand. My last name is Huff. I had to drop some of my favorite names, like Henry, Pearl (which always sounded somewhat filthy to me), Ruby, Ivy, Harper, Harvey, and Finn. We ended up with a James, and if we have another, they might be Caroline, Daphne, Dexter, or Ezra.
Let me clarify, I think Pearl sounds somewhat like a slang term for something filthy when paired with Huff, not in general. I think it’s a lovely name!
I would avoid -nette names, like Annette (A net sailing).
I do like a hard consonant in front of the S though, like with Derek and Dominic, or a long vowel, like Phoebe.
Juliet, Caroline, Mark, Kirk
Thanks for this post! Great suggestions for with tricky last names.
My last name is Moore, and although it isn’t an uncommon name it certainly could result in funny/awkward name combinations. (Think: “Noah Moore” or “Annie Moore” as a start.) Even my husband, Sam, is haunted by the childhood nickname of “S’more”
I already realized that it would be best to pick a name that is very clearly a name (and not an noun/verb/etc.) but your additional suggestions will be very helpful to keep in mind for our baby girl due in September. :)
Adrian Saling
Gavin Saling
Ian Saling
Isaac Saling
Julian Saling
Diana Saling
Isla Saling
Maria Saling
Miranda Saling