A reader named Kate, who has a daughter named Lucy, is expecting a baby boy and would like some name suggestions. Here’s what she says:
We want what a lot of people probably want – timeless, classic, slightly vintage and old fashioned, an ‘accepted’ name in the sense it’s known, but hopefully he is not one of three kids in class to have it.
So far, Kate and her husband like five names: William, Henry, Oliver, Duncan and Charles (nn Charlie). (She also likes the girl names Abigail, Alice, Clara and Hope.)
The baby’s middle name will be Hawkins, and his surname will begin with the letter t.
Here are some names that came to mind:
| Abraham Adam Alfred (Alfie) Arthur Blake Clarence Clark Claude Clement Conrad Dominic | Douglas Eugene Felix Frank Frederick George Giles Gordon Graham Gregory Harvey | Howard Hugh Malcolm Maxwell Miles/Milo Mitchell Otis Patrick Paul Philip Quentin | Roman Sebastian Simon/Simeon Stephen Sylvester Theodore Thomas Timothy Tobias Vincent Walter |
I stayed away from the current top 50 (and names that looked like they might be headed that way soon).
Which of the names above to you like best for Lucy’s brother? What other name suggestions can you come up with for Kate?
I do love Simon, I have one myself but I’m afraid I’m noticing little Simons all over now.
I’m leaning towards Henry, Harvey or Hugo (not Hugh) because there is something about the initials H. H. that seems very dignified to me.
Of the names Kate and her husband like, Duncan is the only one that truly fits her criteria; classic but uncommon. Nancy, I love a lot of your ideas, especially Malcolm, Frederick or Gregory, but how about…
Aaron
Calvin
Clay
Davis
Donovan
Jasper
Laurence
Linus
Richard
Ross
Victor
I’d like to toss Robert into the mix. My already mentioned favorites, however, are Lucy and Jasper, Lucy and Charles, and Lucy and Hugo.
I’d avoid Stephen/Steven, because it sounds too much like Stephen Hawking. Unless his parents are big fans, of course, in which case it jumps to the top of the list.
Duncan is my favorite from her list. How do you feel about Gideon? Simon is my favorite from Nancy’s list.
I like Lucy and Oliver, Lucy and Sebastian, Lucy and Jasper (these last 2 have the matching ‘s’ sound in the middle without sounding overly similar) and Lucy and Charles
A friend of mine has a Charlie and Lucy. There are a lot of Charlie Brown jokes made. For that reason, I’d also avoid Linus.
Richard/Ricky could also lead to jokes.
I’m not a fan of the -en -en sound that’s created by names like Duncan Hawkins.
My favorites are Frederick and Philip. I’d add Edward to the list.
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and added suggestions! I’m sure Kate will appreciate it.