Five-name Friday: Boy name for Sullivan’s brother

You’re taking a midday stroll in the park when you happen to fall into step with a friendly pregnant lady. The two of you chat about all sorts of things — from current events to Yankee Swap optimization strategies — until the clouds roll in and the wind picks up. As you both walk back to the parking lot, you ask if she’s chosen a name for the baby yet. She says no, then tells you the gist of what she’s looking for:

I am expecting a third son, to brothers Lincoln and Sullivan. I like surnames as first names (obviously!) and would love a science or literary connected name.

“Do you have any suggestions?”

You’re a name-lover, and you could potentially give her dozens of suggestions. But the temperature has dropped, so you only have time to give her five baby name suggestions before the two of you part ways.

But here’s the fun part: Instead of blurting out the first five names you come up with (which is what you’d be forced to do in real life) you get to press a magical “pause” button, brainstorm for a bit, and then “unpause” the scenario to offer her the best five names you can think of.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you brainstorm:

  • Be independent. Decide on your five names before looking at anyone else’s five names.
  • Be sincere. Would you honestly suggest these particular baby names out loud to a stranger in public?
  • Five names only! All names beyond the first five in your comment will be either deleted or replaced with nonsense words.
    • HINT: If one or more of your name suggestions has a science/literature connection that’s subtle or obscure, try adding context with a description (e.g., “physicist,” “mystery writer”) instead of a full name.

Finally, here’s the request again:

I am expecting a third son, to brothers Lincoln and Sullivan. I like surnames as first names (obviously!) and would love a science or literary connected name.

Which five baby names would you suggest?

18 thoughts on “Five-name Friday: Boy name for Sullivan’s brother

  1. Franklin (she took first picture of DNA)
    Edison
    Tyson (Science is not a liberal conspiracy)
    Kepler (astronomy)
    Dorian (A Picture of…)

  2. Feynman (physics)
    Dyson (physics, another one is an inventor)
    Hamilton (mathematics)
    Franklin (I am thinking of the physicist and politician here)
    Maxwell (physics)

  3. In order of preference:

    Orson (scifi writer)
    Bennett (literary)
    Wells (middle name of Nobel-winning scientist)
    Rochester (literary) nicknamed Rocky

  4. Doran (asoiaf)
    Alden (aeronautics-N.A.’s middle)
    Elwood (physics)
    Griffin (zoology)
    Sutton (biology

  5. Hamilton (mathematician)
    Kepler (astronomer/mathematician)
    Maxwell (mathematician)
    Kipling
    Darwin

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