Baby name needed: Boy name for Ivan’s twin brother

A reader named Pam writes:

My husband and I have having twin boys and need help with names. We have chosen Ivan Alexander for one. The other we agree will have the middle name William. We need help with a first name.

Ivan, Alexander and William are all classic, unequivocally masculine names…so that’s what I tried to match with my suggestions:

Charles
Damian
Dominic
Edgar
Edward
George
Gregory
Joseph
Lawrence
Lucas
Maximilian
Nicholas
Oliver
Patrick
Paul
Raymond
Robert
Roman
Sebastian
Stuart
Sylvester
Thomas
Victor
Vincent

Do you think any of the above fit particularly well with William?

What other suggestions would you offer to Pam?

6 thoughts on “Baby name needed: Boy name for Ivan’s twin brother

  1. Several of the suggested names go well with William, but I think the bigger issue is which go best with Ivan. Ivan is the Russian form of John; it is also used quite frequently in the English-speaking world. Ivan was the name of six Russian tsars, including the 15th century Ivan III, called Ivan the Great, who helped unify Russia.

    The name I immediately thought of — before checking Nancy’s list — is Nicholas:
    Ivan Alexander and Nicholas William.

    Other names from Nancys list that I’d consider are:
    Charles William
    Edward William
    Thomas William

    I also like James William, as James, like Ivan, is not likely to be shortened: Ivan and James.

    (My twin grandsons are James and Andrew.)

    I’m wondering if Ivan Alexander was chosen for its Russian royal connection — both are names of Russia tsars — or for some other reason. If the former is an interest, I checked on tsars names and besides Nicholas, also would suggest Peter or possibly Theodore.

    On the otherhand, a classic name from English royalty would be a good match too:
    James William
    Charles William
    Edward William
    Henry William

  2. Louis William
    Leo William
    Klaus William
    Reuben William
    Saul William
    Ezra William
    George William

  3. Since Ivan, Alexander, and William all are names of historical figures, I’d suggest going down that route. (I’m thinking Alexander the Great, Ivan the Great/Terrible, etc.)

    Peter
    Richard
    Nicholas
    Constantine
    Paul
    Vladimir
    Alfred
    Otto
    Edward
    Robert
    Bruce
    Harold
    Henry

    For something completely different: Attila, Horatio, Ramses

  4. off the line of historic or royal names…I immediately thought of Shane and Sean.

    Also coming to mind:

    Connor
    Conrad
    Eli
    Jason
    Eric
    Sam(uel)
    (An)Drew
    James
    Tyler
    Tyson
    Christopher

  5. Charlie
    Deon
    Alfie
    Wallie
    Sammy
    Talya
    Karl
    Ethan
    Callum
    Morgan
    Lee
    Tom
    Aidin
    Kevin
    Jake(jakeup)
    Jack
    Isic

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