A reader named Angela is expecting her second baby (gender unknown). She sent me a lot of helpful information, so I’ve broken it down into main points:
- The baby’s middle name will be Patrick (if a boy) or Josephine (if a girl).
- The baby’s surname will start with P.
- She and her husband like the name Abigail, but it may soon be taken by friends.
- They also like the name Caleb, but the initials CPP sound like “see pee pee.” They want to avoid names and initials that invite teasing.
- Ideally, the first name will be something that can be shortened to a nickname.
- Angela likes “literature or movie referenced names.”
- Angela’s husband likes “uncomplicated English or Christian names (he’s Adam…his brothers are Benjamin and Noah).”
Their first son is named Hayden Adam.
Here are the names I came up with, along with a few literature/film references. Ladies first:
Audrey (Hepburn) Bethany Charlotte (Gilman; Bronte) Chloe Denise Dorothy (Gale) Elizabeth (Bennet) Jillian Judith Kaitlyn Katherine Leah Lillian Louisa (Alcott) Lucy (Montgomery) | Lydia Mara Marianne Mary Maya (Angelou) Michelle Miriam Molly Naomi Natalie Rachel Rebecca Samantha Sarah Shirley (Anne; Temple) |
And now the gents:
Beckett (Samuel) Bennet (Elizabeth) Daniel (Defoe) David (Salinger) Edward (Forster) Eliot (T.S.; George) Emmett Everett Gabriel (Márquez) Jacob Jonathan James (Henry; Joyce) Jerome (Salinger) Joseph (Conrad) Leo (Tolstoy) | Lucas Martin Matthew Maxwell Micah Michael Miller (Arthur) Nathan Raymond (Carver) Samuel Sawyer (Tom) Simon Sinclair (Upton; Lewis) William (Faulkner; Golding) Zachary |
Do you like any of the above? What other names would you suggest to Angela?
Lit/movie references so depends on what you like! Another Christian name that has a tv reference is Tabitha for a girl. Gabriel for a boy fits the bill well though I also like the sound of Hayden and Beckett together.
Dear Angela and Adam ! I hope that you are healthy . I recommend the name ” Asenath “, who was Joseph’s wife in the Bible ( if a girl ) , and the name ” Ariel ” / the lion of the God / ( if a boy ) . I wish you a healthy baby ! All good wishes . Regards : Marika
Recently heard from Angela!
Due to complications, a sibling for Hayden didn’t arrive until June of 2011. The baby was a girl, and she was named Abigail Josephine.
“Turned out no one grabbed that name before us, although my friends did use several of your suggested names, including Samantha, Jacob, and Katelyn.”
Congrats, Angela!
Hayden-Leigh and Skyler-McKenzie,