UPDATE: Thank you all so much for your ideas! You convinced us to use Oliver for this boy’s middle name, but we still couldn’t settle on a first name. Then, after he was already born, my husband said “I think he looks like an Oliver.” We went around and around on middles, and at the last second chose Henry. So we chose exactly what I said we couldn’t use. But it’s perfect for him and we’re all so in love with our sweet Oliver.
THEY’VE USED THEIR FAVORITE NAMES
Meagan writes:
I am all-in on being a boy mom. Number four is on the way in a few more weeks, and his brothers can’t wait to meet him.
The only problem? We have used the only three boy names we could agree on.
Our sons are:
- Cameron Matthew, sometimes called Cam. The perfect big brother for our crew.
- August Edward, the older of our twins. We always thought we’d call him Gus, but he’s pretty much only ever August.
- Finley Bryan, our younger twin, and the name that had me in tears. We love it now, and often call him Finn. We must have went through 200 names before finally agreeing on Finley.
Names we have definitely ruled out:
- Dawson – It has a bad association for my husband.
- Hunter, Holden, Harrison – Our last name is Colt with an H so we have ruled out any H names. I feel like some of these are obviously nos, like Holden, but I don’t feel as strongly about others, but my husband is opposed.
- Peyton, Riley, Brooks – Because girls in our family are named Peyton, Riley, and Brooke, and we don’t want our kid to be “boy Riley.” (We’re not making this up. My sister-in-law is Ryan, as is another family member, and they call her “girl Ryan.”)
- Oliver – A name I’ve loved forever, but my husband just isn’t into. Maybe a middle name for this son, as we’re out of honor names for middles.
There are dozens more than my husband (or I) have vetoed over the years, but these are the definite nos.
Can you help us think of some new ideas?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
BUILDING A NEW LIST
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new son!
Your boys’ names are great. They feel compatible and yet nicely individual, too. Cameron, August, and Finley – just perfection as brother names.
But it does sound like you’ve reached the end of the internet wit your boys’ names. I’m guessing anything I (or others) suggest may have been previously considered. That’s okay, though! Sometimes the name that was all wrong when you were expecting Cameron is somehow just right a few years later.
A BROTHER FOR CAMERON, AUGUST, and FINLEY
So we need to avoid H names, and possibly repeating the initials A, C, and F. Names with a strong O sound might be problematic, too.
BECKETT
I’m not sure about a strong T ending sound with your surname, but I think Beckett works nicely.
DYLAN
A modern staple, like Cameron, and possibly a substitute for Dawson.
JASPER
At first glance, maybe it’s not quite your style. But I think an -R ending name could be a good choice, and I like the way Jasper has a completely different sound.
ELLIOT
Because of the extra syllable, I think Elliot works especially well with your surname.
MAXWELL
Like your older boys’ names, it can be shortened – or not.
SHEPHERD
Sometimes a surname, there’s something gentle about Shepherd, but it’s still a strong choice for a son.
TYSON
Maybe my favorite with your surname!
WELLS
The first name that came to mind, partly because it offers a very distinctive sound. But I also like the way Wells feels traditional-ish but very twenty-first century, just like your older boys’ names.
Overall, I’m surprised by how much I like Tyson. Tyson Oliver; Cameron, August, Finley, and Tyson. But I wonder if that’s just me? I really do like Dylan and Elliot. But, but, but … Dylan Oliver Colt-with-an-H gives you the initials DOH. So maybe Elliot Oliver Colt-with-an-H makes more sense?
Bryson
Graham
Jude
Miles (maybe my favorite)
Beckham
Marshall
Porter
Walker
I love this sibset!
Nolan
Maddox
Knox
Nash
Truett
Leland
Lawson
Good luck!
I love your boys names! Oliver fits great as a middle, too.
I really like the suggestion of Isaac — Isaac Oliver, nickname Zac.
A few others:
Dominic Oliver, nickname Nick or Nico
Nicholas Oliver, nickname Nick or Nico
Desmond Oliver, nickname Des
Declan Oliver, nickname Dec or Dex
Malcolm Oliver, nickname Mac
Bennett Oliver, nickname Ben
I know two Camerons and they each have brothers with these names – R0ry, Row@n, H@rry… not sure if those fit the bill (one friend’s style is unisex as parents have unisex names too, and the other is more UK roots.)
I do feel like Cameron is a bit of an outlier here (unless we consider your set surname style), so I’d be looking to bring it full circle with little brother. I agree Tyson is a good choice. How about Keaton, Smith, Walker?
Cameron August and Finley all shorten to one syllable it would be nice to continue this.
Cameron, Cam.
August, Gus.
Finley, Finn.
You could try to continue with the different endings as well with something like
Benedict, Ben.
Jasper, Jas.
Nathanael, Nat or Nate.
Jared, Judd or Jed.
Zachariah, Zac.
Isaac, Ike.
Thomas, Tom.
Best wishes to you all.
Congrats on baby #4!
Tyson is a great suggestion! He can be Tyson in full like August is just August or he can be Ty for short like Cam and Finn. I also think Elliot and Beckett are great ideas as well. It seems like you are open to names that can be shortened but it’s not a hard rule so here are some other ideas that may fit your vibe:
Nolan. Cameron, August, Finley, Nolan. Cam, August, Finn, Nolan.
Zachary. Cameron, August, Finley, Zachary. Cam, August, Finn, Zac.
Malcolm. Cameron, August, Finley, Malcolm. Cam, August, Finn, Mac
Davis. Cameron, August, Finley, Davis. Cam, August, Finn, Davis
Jacoby. Cameron, August, Finley, Jacoby. Cam, August, Finn, Coby. Cam, August, Finn, Jace. Cam, August, Finn, Jack. Cam, August, Finn, Jake
Grady. Cameron, August, Finley, Grady. Cam, August, Finn, Grady
Zane. Cameron, August, Finley, Zane. Cam, August, Finn, Zane
William. Cameron, August, Finley, William. Cam, August, Finn, Will. Cam, August, Finn, Liam
Wyatt. Cameron, August, Finley, Wyatt. Cam, August, Finn, Wyatt
How about Sullivan? I think it matches the style of your other sons’ names and can be shortened to Sully or Van if you like.
Cameron Mathew, August Edward, Finley Bryan
What a well named crew! Every one of their names is two syllables. Are you hoping for more 2 syllable suggestions for baby 4 or are you interested in branching out?
My first thought was Hugo, but that doesnt work with your surname or with Oliver if that’s in the middle.
2syllable names:
*Adam
*Axel (if a second A is ok, both these A names sound quite distinct from August, due to the U after August’s A)
*Peter
*Victor
*Vincent
*Michael
*Nathan
*Calvin (if a second C is ok, Cam & Cal are similar but sound good together imo)
*Owen (repeats the long O sound of your surname, but I think they sound good together, maybe because this O is at the front)
*Ian
*Wesley
3 syllables:
*Gideon
*Benjamin
*Anthony
*Nathaniel
Congratulations on baby # 4!
Hi! Comgratulations! What a bustling family life you will have with 4 boys! I love the names you have chosen & I also love that you haven’t reused any letters. This is helping to guide me when choosing other suggestions. Also, of Abby’s suggestions, I love Tyson. I have only met one person with that name and he was a great guy. If you are OK with reusing letters, I might suggest Casper instead of Jasper – Casper is my younger nephew’s name & I guess that is why I am partial to the “C.” Anyway, here are other possibilities that I think go well with your style & all of them would work well with Oliver as a middle except for Otis, I think. Noah (yes-popular, but seems to fit w/ your other boys’ names well), Otis, Percy (or longer Percival-nn Percy), Samuel, Silas, Sawyer, Wyatt, Tobias (nn Toby inevitable, I think), Dexter, Spencer, Milo, Griffin, Julian & Isaiah. Best wishes! You will find a great name for this baby boy!
I thought of Silas straight away. Silas Oliver is great
I also really like Percival, Spencer, Otis and Grffin.
August and Finley are two of my favorites so other boy names on my list are…
Sawyer
Grayson (nn Gray)
Alexander (nn Xan or Xander)
Dashiell
Jackson
Landon
Sullivan
Wilder
Everett
Gavin
Foster
Redmond
Myles
Vaughan