Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. 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.

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.

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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?

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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What do you think?

18 Comments

  1. When I saw that you and your husband agree on Leo, and that he loves Rocky, my mind went to Rocco. I know it ends in an “o” like Arlo, but otherwise the sounds are distinct, and I think Arlo and Rocco would make such a fun pair of brothers.

    A name I feel works well as an alternative to Ezra is Jabez. It feels stylistically similar, but much less common, and I think it’s a great match with Arlo.

    Grady is one of my favourites for a boy and I love it here as a brother to Arlo. Clayton is another along the lines of Reid and Drew, but with an extra syllable to work with the last name.

  2. Congratulations on your new baby! My first thought was Arlo & Felix, so I was happy to see it on your list, Abby. I think Melanie and her family would benefit from hearing your explanation about how difficult it is to find a name with the same sparkle for your second child as for your first. They might never find a name that gives them the same feeling as Arloโ€™s name did, but you can still find a great name.

    I like the idea of a name with a strong O sound to match with Arlo.
    Arlo & Oren?
    Arlo & Oliver (probably too popular)
    Arlo & Leon
    Arlo & Holden

  3. Arlo feels very soft and vowel-forward, as do a lot of names on your list, so I tried to focus on that.

    August
    Asher
    Bennett (Ben)
    Cyrus
    Declan
    Emmett
    Ethan
    Finn
    Jude
    Levi
    Lucas
    Miles/Milo
    Noah
    Owen
    Rowan
    Silas
    Tobias/Toby

  4. I almost never have a suggestion I feel like is any better than anyone else’s, but this is my FAVORITE name group.. We talked about all of these sorts of names for our son, and had a terrible time deciding between our faves, but one that we almost used was Jeptha. It was in both our family trees, and we would have used it except for Jep on Duck Dynasty was a HUGE deal at the time. Now that their fad has passed, I think it fits perfectly here as a whole name, or using Jep or and other short form you want to make.

  5. My mind would 100% go to the same place if I met a baby Drew $c0tt! I think that’s off the table. And I agree maybe Ezra doesn’t need to be off the table? It would be worth thinking down the line to whether you’ll intersect more or not. Or how about asking Ezra’s parents what other names are on their list? Maybe they’ll have some cool ideas!

    I like Truett and Everett on Abby’s list, Crosby and Cedric from the comments. I like Oscar and Isaac a lot but I wonder if they’re too classic for a brother for Arlo? It’s really too bad the s-endings don’t work with the surname because there are so many good ones.

    I feel like Arlo is not only ‘cool’ but a bit whimsical. So my first thought was Quincy. I actually love how it sounds with the surname. I do get your point about a surname making the full name looks backwards, but I think it’s worth the ‘risk’ of finding some awesome names. Your rules are making it pretty difficult if we have to throw out all one-syllable, all s-ending and all surnames. There are lots of surnames that are way more familiar as first names these days… so how about:

    Bodie, Bowen, Brady, Beckett
    Elroy
    Finley
    Iggy
    Jasper
    Oren, Odin
    Ruben, Ryker, Ryder
    Sawyer, Soren

    Good luck!

  6. As always, Abby knocked it out of the park with some great suggestions. I love Everett, Jonah, and Wesley!

    My suggestion would be Desmond! It shares some sounds with Ezra but also totally feels like a brother to Arlo and has a bit of antique charm to it.
    Arlo and Desmond, Arlo and Dez.
    Desmond Cot with an S

    Also, if your husband likes Rocky but you like Ezra, what about a name like Isaac “Ziggy”? Isaac fits the vibe of Ezra and shares that sharp Z sound but Ziggy is fun and punchy much like Rocky. Zac is also a nickname option
    Arlo and Isaac. Arlo and Ziggy. Arlo and Zac (A to Z!)
    Isaac Cot with an S

    I like Oscar for a lot of the same reasons as Isaac.
    Arlo and Oscar. Arlo and Ozzy
    Oscar Cot with an S

    And for what it’s worth, I do agree Ezra is worth reconsidering. If you really love it, use it! It’s a great name ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Ohโ€ฆI realize I suggested Jonah and Abby had mentioned it. I also like Jonas – used a lot in Scandinavia. And one more name that might go well with Arlo: Davis.

  8. Hi! Here are some names I think go well with Arlo. Of Abbyโ€™s suggestions, I really like Otis!

    Oscar
    Rowan
    Calvin
    Cedric
    Chester
    Jonah
    Lionel
    Cyrus
    Crosby
    Gideon
    Memphis
    Phoenix

    Best wishes!!

  9. Congratulations a brother for Arlo James.
    Do you like Ethan? I wonder if you like Ezra.

    Or maybe Rhett in place of Reid it’s still one syllable though.

    If you like A names to continue would you like Asher?

    Boaz has the O from Arlo and the Z from Ezra. Maybe a nice option.