Name Help: A Brother for Logan, Parker, and Chase

He’s here. Please welcome Finn Joseph! Nadia says “We couldn’t decide AT ALL, even though I liked so many of these ideas. The night before my due date I dreamed we named him Finn. And even though I’m sure my husband shot it down for one (maybe more?) of our boys before, it was like it was the first time he’d heard it. Three days later, we finally had our Finn Joseph. Thanks to everyone for the help!”

Nadia writes:

Our fourth boy, and last child, is going to be nameless! We have three sons:

• Logan Lawrence
• Parker James
• Chase Daniel

Logan and Parker were named weeks before my due date, but it took us until the day after Chase was born to agree.

Middle names are all from family, so this time it will be Michael, Matthew, or Joseph.

We’ve looked at every list and nothing seems any better than anything else. Since our oldest son is turning nine, it feels like we’ve heard every boys’ name, from a classmate, friends, or teammate, and nothing is special anymore.

Our girl name was Hadley Josephine, if that helps.

Our last name sounds like more-OH-skee.

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your fourth son!

So many things about parenting get easier with experience. Naming isn’t one necessarily of them!

It sounds like you’ve settled on a pretty consistent style: names that feel current, but still traditional. This baby probably isn’t going to be named Archibald or Rocket. (Though you could, if either of those names makes you say OOH.)

But since you do know lots and lots of boys, let’s see if we can take that same style, but look for something that fewer families have discovered.

I’m stuck on one point, though: I’m assuming you don’t mind repeating an ending, right? It’s so appealing the way the boys’ names go together, but still sound distinctive. That’s harder to do for a fourth son, so I’m going to include a mix of ending sounds.

A BROTHER FOR LOGAN, PARKER, and CHASE

BOONE (#573)

From the French word bon, meaning good, Boone is a strong, straightforward choice.

BRIDGER (#721)

There’s some appealing about bridges; they’re powerful symbols. Bridger is also the surname of famous explorer Jim Bridger, for whom several landmarks in the US Mountain West are name, which lends it even more rugged appeal.

CAMPBELL (unranked)

Most Cams are Cameron, but that’s a long-time favorite choice. Campbell is just a little less expected.

GRANGER (#953)

Granger feels fresh and independent, the kind of name everyone recognizes but almost no one shares.

MCCOY (#818)

As in “the real McCoy,” something that’s authentic. This is a little bolder than your older sons’ names, but only a little.

RIDGE (#558)

It’s an outdoorsy nature name, but common as a surname, too – originally for someone who lived near a mountain ridge.

THATCHER (#813)

An occupational name once given to a roof, Thatcher fits right in with your older boys’ names.

VAUGHN (unranked)

There’s something sleek about Vaughn, a Welsh name with a long history of use in the US.

Overall, my favorites are Campbell and Boone. Campbell, I think, because it adds another ending sound into the mix. (Though it does repeat Chase’s initial, if that’s a concern.) But Boone is probably what I’d put at the very top of the list. Great meaning, strong sound, and it’s different from Logan, Parker, and Chase, but still sounds like a brother name.

Plus, Boone sounds-like-more OH skee is great.

Readers, over to you – what would you name a brother for Logan, Parker, and Chase?