Name Help: A Brother for Harper and SloaneName 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!

Bree writes:

Why is it so hard to name a boy?

We have twin daughters named Harper Julia and Sloane Amanda. The middle names come from dear friends who are the girls’ godmothers. The first names are names we loved. I wish Harper wasn’t so popular now, but the girls are going into first grade, and we don’t really meet that many Harpers.

Our third – and last – child is due in a few weeks. For some reason, I thought it would be a girl again, so I was thinking about names like Lennon, Laine/Delaney, Quinn, Marlowe, and Whitaker.

But it’s a boy! My husband keeps coming back to names like William and James, which I can’t see on my son. Or maybe Dylan, Logan, or Brennan, and I do like those – but better for a girl.

I’m not sure if I should choose a name that we both like, even if we might have considered it for a daughter? Or if there’s something we’re just not thinking of?

Read on for my response, and please leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

Dear Bree –

Congratulations on your new baby!

I think you’ve stumbled into one of those baby naming dilemmas. Using unisex-style names for daughters can make it a little more confusing to name a son.

And yet, I think you have a path forward, because unisex names aren’t often truly unisex.

Stay with me for a minute here.

In order for a name to be truly unisex, it has to be used in even numbers for boys and girls alike. In the US, very few names fit that description. Most of them are used more heavily for boys or girls. Your daughters’ names, Harper and Sloane, are both used almost exclusively for girls.

So one possible approach? Choose a surname-style name that trends masculine. Your kids’ names will go together nicely, but others will (mostly) guess correctly that Harper and Sloane are girls, and your son is a boy.

To be clear, I don’t think a little bit of confusion is the end of the world. More and more names do feel truly unisex these days, and my own kids’ experience suggests that it’s not nearly as burdensome as some perceive. We’ve known boy and girl Jordans and Averys. The kids seem to shrug it off.

Still, I think you might feel more confident if you chose a name like Dylan, Logan, or Brennan, but maybe one that sounds more clearly masculine to you. And, happily, there are plenty of options that aren’t used in big numbers – if at all – for girls.

Callahan – So often, it’s the potential nickname that determines if we perceive a name as feminine or masculine. Emerson shortens to Emmie, so we hear girl. But Callahan? It becomes cool Cal.

Hendrix – Maybe it’s because Hendrix is so close to traditional Henry, or perhaps it’s because we all think of world-changing Jimi when we hear it, but Hendrix feels perfect for a son.

Paxton – Pax was, indeed, a goddess. In ancient Rome, she personified peace. But thanks to Max and Jax – plus Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son – we hear Pax as masculine today. Paxton actually comes from an unrelated Old English name. Again, this one is all-boy.

Reid – I love the clean, strong sound of Reid. The ‘ei’ spelling is slightly more popular than Reed, but both feel like logical choices for a brother to Harper and Sloane.

Thatcher – You could consider Hunter or Carter, but if you’re after something less common, would you consider Thatcher?

Walker – Along the same lines, Walker is one of those -r ending names that might work nicely. Though now I’m wondering if two -r ending names is too much in one family? I don’t think so, but I’m also going to suggest …

Walton – This might be my favorite with Harper and Sloane! The Walt part makes it feel masculine – though, interestingly, it doesn’t really come from Walter. All three names have different first initials, different ending sounds – and yet a cohesive style.

If not Walton, I’m most drawn to Reid.

Can one of those more classic firsts be moved to the middle spot? Reid William, maybe, or Walton James? I think that could make for a great compromise between his favorites and yours.

Readers, I’m wondering if any of you have wrestled with this challenge? What would you name a brother for Harper and Sloane?

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?

20 Comments

  1. Rafferty, Callahan and Sawyer are great!

    If your husband is into more classic names, how about a traditional boy’s name that feels a like more modern? I think the following names fit well with Harper and Sloane:
    Felix
    Oscar
    Ames
    Marlon
    Dylan
    Arlo
    Quinton
    Flynn

    Or a few more masculine sounding surnames:
    Archer
    Huxley
    Kingston
    Holden
    Hudson
    Winston
    Lowell

  2. I say start fresh since you have a different style for girls and boys. I agree a more male-leaning surname would work well. I like the suggestions of Griffin, Sullivan, Wyatt, Thatcher, and Callahan. A few more ideas:

    Alden
    Cormac
    Dean
    Flynn
    Grayson
    Holden
    Miles
    Shea
    Wade

  3. I love Whitaker James for your family, but if that feels too feminine because you’d imagined it for a daughter, how about Whitman? Whitman James is handsome, keeps the nickname Wit or Whit and Walt Whitman is a great literary connection!

    Sloane, Harper and Whitman are a great pairing and Whitman clearly reads as boy to me

    Congrats! I can’t wait to see what you choose!

  4. Honestly your list is transferable to a boy so I would just go off of that list.

    But if you want some other ideas –

    Brady
    Thatcher
    Wilson
    Luca
    Hayes
    Marshall
    Evan
    Riley
    Avery
    Cameron

  5. I agree that Lennon or Whitaker (nn Whit too cute!) would totally work for a boy. Whitaker James sounds amazing!!!!

  6. I love Abby’s suggestion of Reid or Callahan. I also think Whitaker from your list would work really well.

    A few others I like with your sibset:

    Brooks
    Beckett
    Finnegan, nn Finn
    Jude
    Milo
    Burke
    Wyatt

  7. Another vote for Whitaker for your boy. I actually don’t think it would have fit with Harper and Sloane as a girls name nearly as well as it doesn’t for a boy. Plus I love the nickname Whit for a boy.