Current, Cool Boy Names to Go with Arlo James

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THEY AGREED ON ARLO IMMEDIATELY

Melanie writes:

We named our three year old son Arlo James pretty much as soon as we found out we were having a boy.

Even now, we’ve never met another Arlo, even though I hear it’s getting popular. Lots of people say they like the name. I know it’s silly, but I feel like he’s better off if people like his name.

Now I’m 26 weeks with our second boy and we can’t agree on a name.

Names we have talked about/liked that we won’t be using:

• Ezra – my son’s buddy at daycare, so just feels taken, even though I think it’s a great brother name for Arlo
• Reid – I like this, but our last name sounds like Cot-with-an-S so I don’t think a one-syllable first works, but I feel like his names would be mixed up, like Reid was his last name
• Drew – too short, also … Property Brothers (my husband has never heard of this and really likes the name because of Drew Brees, but I just think it’s weird to use)
• Elias – ends up sound like Eli with our last name, and for whatever reason, I don’t like Eli as much
• Elliott/Elliot – my husband has a long-time friend with this last name and it would feel too much like we were naming our son after him
• Leo – we agree on this name, but I think it’s too much like Arlo
• Rocky – my husband’s latest favorite name but I just can’t

Can you suggest some new ideas? I know there are so many names, but I feel like everything I see is really different. We’re not the kind of people who would name our baby Hawk. And if it’s not different, then it’s something I’ve heard a million times, and I don’t want to give up that reaction we get to Arlo’s name.

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

CURRENT, COOL NAMES FOR A BROTHER FOR ARLO JAMES

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

So many things with parenting get easier with experience. Names aren’t one of them!

Let’s focus on a few things:

• Single-syllable names are probably out with your surname.
• Last names as first names seem like they’re mostly out, too.
• I think we’re probably avoiding names that end with O. Not that they can’t work, but Arlo’s O is so strong that yes, names like Leo do feel a little repetitive. And maybe that takes something away from Arlo’s name, too, right?

FRESH SUGGESTIONS FOR ARLO’S BROTHER

ABEL

How do you feel about two A names? If you’re hoping for a bigger family, this might feel like you’re starting a pattern. But I love the way Arlo and Abel both sound old-school and modern, strong and surprising.

EVERETT

If A names are out, maybe another vowel name? Everett is distinctive and fresh, and while it is popular on paper, it’s not that common.

FELIX

There’s something friendly about Felix. It means happy, and it sounds like a vintage choice from the same generation as Arlo.

GRIFFIN

Arlo and Griffin are both names that feel like twenty-first century staples, even if they would’ve been surprising twenty years ago.

JONAH

Like Arlo, Jonah comes with a bright O sound. Plus, it shares Ezra’s A ending.

OTIS

Another vowel name, this time with the O at the beginning instead of the end.

TRUETT

Truett ends in -T like Everett, but with the added appeal of virtue name True.

WESLEY

A rising favorite with parents right now, I love it both shortened to Wes – Arlo and Wes – or used in full – Arlo and Wesley. They’re both confident names with a hint of adventure.

ZAKAI

One of the first name that came to mind was Kai, but of course, something that short won’t work. Zakai is a newcomer to the boys’ list, but it has Old Testament roots and feels more like an update to Zachary than a newcomer.

Before I share my favorite from this new list, I want to raise one more question: Is Ezra really off-limits?

Maybe it doesn’t feel quite as fresh or original because you know another Ezra.

And yet … is that a lasting connection? I’d guess that very few of our children still know their classmates from those very early days. So often, a child care class of toddlers has gone in a dozen different directions by kindergarten.

If you’re close to Ezra’s parents, or if you can safely assume that your sons will likely be together in the future – elementary school, soccer teams, church, what-have-you, then maybe this doesn’t apply.

But based on what I know so far? I think you might want to put the name Ezra back on the table as The Name to Beat. Because a name like Ezra Julian could be perfect with Arlo James.

As for names that might beat Ezra? I love the way Arlo and Abel sound as brothers – but only if you’re reasonably confident that you won’t find yourself struggling for a third A name for a future son. Arlo James and Abel Everett would be my pick.

If that’s the case, then I love Jonah as a brother for Arlo. Arlo James and Jonah Wesley, maybe?

Readers, I know you’ll have some great suggestions. What would you name a brother for Arlo?