Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
SHOULD WE USE ANOTHER R NAME?
Mackenzie writes:
My wife and I are expecting for the second time.
Our son is Rowan Daniel LongCombinedLastName. Our combined surname sounds like Kane-Campbell.
If this baby is a girl, we plan to name her Aurora Jaye and call her Rory.
That could be two R names, and the names would be both unisex, or at least we have heard of children of both sexes by the names Rowan and Rory.
We’ve had a lot of ideas for a name that would make a good brother’s name for Rowan. Silas, Milo, Otis, Eden, Graham, Quinn, Cassian, Elliott, Ellis, Felix, Julian, Nico, and Lane are all names that we like.
Rowan’s middle name is for a close family friend. So is Jaye. We might use Jaye for a boy, too, but we could also use a longer name starting with J, maybe.
I think we’d like to know if the names we like would be good for a brother for Rowan, but also if there is an R name you think we should put on our list. We’ve looked at all of them, and have jokingly told others we’re naming the baby Reginald if it’s a boy, but really we’re not sure.
What are the best R names for Rowan’s sibling, especially we have another boy?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
SORTING THROUGH THE POSSIBILITIES
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your second!
Thinking about Rowan Daniel and Aurora “Rory” Jaye, a few things leap out at me:
- Rowan and Rory are very nicely matched, but you do have some flexibility. If your second child is a daughter, she might very well choose to go by Aurora at some point. Or even another nickname? AJ feels like an obvious option, too.
- You’re clearly drawn to names that are unisex, but Rowan’s middle name, as well as the formal name Aurora, suggest that you do want some clarity in your child’s full name.
- The list of names you’re open to is quite long, which can be great. It means you have lots of options! But it also feels like you’re hoping to find the perfect R name, or rule out every R name, before you dig in to your list.
I’ll suggest some R names that feel unisex(ish) and sound like Rowan’s sibling without being too similar. So Owen, Ronan, and even Robin are probably out, but lots of options remain.
And then we’ll take a look at your long shortlist and see if anything leaps out as an obvious brother name.
NEW R NAME OPTIONS
RAY
Also spelled Rae, Rey, and Raye, this is a retro option with plenty of flexibility, but I’m not sure it’s quite your style.
REESE
Reese has been used across gender lines since the 1990s, thanks to actress Reese Witherspoon. Also spelled Rhys and Reece, it’s an appealing sound that feels like a modern staple.
REIGN
As with Ray, I’m not sure Reign is your vibe, but it is a unisex favorite starting with R, and it offers a strong, distinct style.
REMY
Also spelled Remi, I think this might be one worth a second look. Rowan and Remy sound like brothers. Originally a given name from the Latin Remigius, Remy has history to spare, particularly in French-speaking countries. Lately it’s trended in the US, too, and makes for a 21st century choice with deep roots.
RHODES
Another relative newcomer in the US, Rhodes suggests strength (think of the ancient Colossus of Rhodes) and intelligence (Rhodes scholars), but also has a hint of Journey and even Lane about it.
RILEY
Like Reese, Riley is an R surname name with a long history of use for boys and girls alike. An obvious choice to consider.
RIO
The Spanish word for river, Rio was a smash hit for Duran Duran in the 1980s: Her name is Rio … but tends to read masculine in the US today, likely thanks to Leo and company.
RIVER
A gentle nature name that feels surprisingly versatile, River has become a mainstay on the popularity charts in the 21st century. Fans of Doctor Who and Firefly make the case for River as feminine; but there’s equal weight making it masculine, from Slow Horses to the original River, the late actor Phoenix.
CURRENT SHORTLIST REVIEW
Any of your current favorites would pair well with a brother named Rowan. Because you’re considering a short middle name, the longer firsts seem like better choices.
CASSIAN, ELLIOTT, JULIAN
All three of these pair nicely with Jaye as a middle name.
ELLIS, NICO, QUINN
But because you’re drawn to unisex names, I wonder if something like Ellis, Nico, or Quinn might be better? What leaps out at me: if you used Julian as an honor name for Jaye, a name like Quinn Julian could be perfect.
RORY FOR A BOY
Which brings me to my top suggestion: have you considered naming a son Rory?
I love Rory Julian. Rory Jaye works, too. But you might also consider something like Orion or Dorian.
Dorian Jaye gives me a strong Dorian Gray vibe, so I’ll suggest Orion “Rory” Jaye instead. Rowan and Orion; Rowan and Rory.
If not Rory for a son, my vote goes to Remy Julian, with Ellis Julian or Ellis Jaye a close second.
