Boy Names To Match David

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.

MATCHING DAVID’S NAME

Holly writes:

We have a son named David Marshall, last name sounds like M@cAd@m. The first and last names were chosen because of a family tradition. I do like the name, though I don’t like that I didn’t really get to choose it. We call him Davey, and right now, so does pretty much everybody else, but if not Davey, we use David.

We are now due with our second child, another boy, later this summer. Because I went with the family name for Davey, my husband has agreed I can take the lead in choosing the name this time.

I’m finding that it’s harder than I expected. I want their names to sound like brothers, but I also want to find something I love. I think David’s brother should be Thomas or William or James, but those are the kinds of very traditional names I don’t want.

My list so far:

• Dylan – I’m not sure how I feel about another D name, but I’ve always liked this name
• Jonathan – Another name I’ve liked for years, but I feel like they’d be Davey and Jonny and I don’t want that
• Arlo – my new favorite, and the name I probably would’ve given Davey if not for the whole family name question
• Elliot – another name I like a lot
• Oliver – probably my favorite name for the longest, but I feel like I hear this name a lot now, plus we have a niece named Olivia
• Wesley – a new name on my list that maybe goes better with Davey, but maybe not

I worry that my sons won’t feel like their names are equal, or that they won’t grow into them equally well.

Am I overthinking this? (Okay, I know I am.) Is the right name on my list, or should I try to find more boy names to match David better?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

CHOOSING THE NAME YOU LOVE

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

Here’s the thing: lots and lots of families end up in your situation. Their firstborn is named for grandpa, or has to be called Elizabeth because the first girl in every generation is always called Elizabeth. The names don’t reflect the parents’ style, but they do feel meaningful.

The second time around, your naming obligation is fulfilled and you have far more freedom to name your child according to your own preferences.

This is a good thing! And while it might not seem like it now, but your boys’ names will go together beautifully after you’ve said them together a few dozen times.

Also: I kind of love David. Is it more traditional than your style? A bit. But it’s not in exactly the same category as James or William, and that middle V makes it very current.

But what if my children think their names are unequal?

This happens, of course. One child thinks their sibling’s name is much better, or just plain doesn’t like their name. And yet … our assumptions about how our children will perceive their names are often wildly wrong. We name strangers. They grow up and surprise us with interests and talents we could’ve never predicted. As long as you’ve named your children with love and good intent, the rest will work itself out over time.

Let’s look at your current list and then consider some combination options, because I think the right choice is probably already here!

CONSIDERING CURRENT FAVORITES

OLIVER, JONATHAN

It sounds like these are names that you’ve liked more in the past, but should probably put aside right now. They might make great middles, though.

WESLEY

I’m not sure if Wesley is a name you like … or a name you think you should like? I agree it’s a great choice, but it still feels like a runner-up.

ELLIOT

This is your chance to use a name you love, and Elliot fits that description. It’s a great choice that sounds perfect with your last name. I’m putting it a little lower only because I wonder if you’d feel compelled to shorten it? Since you mentioned Jonathan inevitably becoming Jonny, would you feel like Davey’s brother Elliott had to be Eli? If that works for you, great. If not, I’d probably consider it a middle name option.

DYLAN

I think Dylan is great with David called Davey. It’s nickname-proof, which feels like a positive in this case. And I don’t think David/Dylan or Davey/Dylan are too close at all. My question is really for the future: if you had a third son, would you feel locked into a pattern? I don’t think you would be, because brothers could easily be called Davey, Dylan, and Arlo … but if you feel like it would cause a potential issue for you in the hypothetical future, then yes, I’d probably put Dylan in second place.

ARLO

I love Davey and Arlo together. They sound quite balanced to my ear. David and Arlo? Yes, I suppose I would guess that David was a family name. Which it is! But Davey turns the dial to something a little more cozy and casual, and I think it very much meets Arlo’s vibe.

NAMES TO MATCH DAVID MARSHALL: COMBINATIONS

Sometimes hearing names in combination builds confidence in your choice. A few of my favorites names to match David “Davey” Marshall:

DYLAN WESLEY

Dylan is my second-favorite name for you, but Dylan Wesley is my favorite combination. David Marshall and Dylan Wesley, Davey and Dylan.

DYLAN OLIVER

I like Dylan Oliver quite a bit, too.

ARLO JONATHAN

Probably my favorite Arlo combination. A very current first name, with a more traditional middle.

ARLO ELLIOT

I can’t decide if this name flows perfectly, or if I trip over the repeating L sounds when I say it five times fast. Probably? We mostly say our kids’ first and middles with enough time and intention that Arlo Elliot is a great combination.

So I think my votes would go to Dylan Wesley or Arlo Elliot, but it’s a close contest. Let’s open this up to some others’ insights.

Readers, can you suggest names to match David “Davey” Marshall M@cAd@m, that are more their style?