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!
Kelsey writes:
We have an almost three year old named Marshall Henry Lastname, and his baby brother is due in January. (But I was three weeks early with Marshall, so maybe we’ll have a Christmas baby!)
My husband suggested Marshall and at first I wasn’t sure. But I love it now. It sounds maybe a little bit tough, but still cuddly. People always know it, but we’ve never met another little Marshall. And he can grow up to be anything – ball player, businessman, electrician.
But nothing seems to really go with Marshall, if that makes sense.
My favorite from last time, Arlo, seems too short next to Marshall, and I don’t like the way there’s a MAR/AR sound.
This time around, my husband’s only suggestion is Grant, but when I Googled the names together, I found a musician named Marshall Grant. (Maybe that doesn’t matter?!)
We would like to use the middle name Frank or Francis for my grandpa. Franklin could be an option, too, maybe, but he was named Francis and mostly called Frank/Frankie.
Hit us with all the ideas, please!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new son!
There’s something about Marshall. I wouldn’t think to call it timeless, and yet it is. It’s ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since the list was established in 1880. It peaked around a hundred years ago, hovering around the #150 mark. Over the last twenty years, it’s typically ranked in the 300s, including #379 in 2021.
So I wonder if the right name for Marshall’s brother shares that profile – never too popular, never out of favor.
In that sense, Grant is a perfect match. It’s a strong name, one we think of as a first, even though it really started out as a last. And it’s bounced around the 100s to the 300s in the ranking – perpetually familiar, never overused.
While I immediately recognized “Marshall Grant” as a combination, I couldn’t name the exact person. (He was a long-time backing musician for Johnny Cash.) So I do think Grant could very much be on the table.
But let’s see if we can find some more possibilities.
A BROTHER FOR MARSHALL
BRIGGS (#372)
Strictly speaking, Briggs is a trending name. The S ending makes it stylish. And it fits with lots of surname names like Brooks. But it’s not terribly common, and it has a rugged, strong sound.
CLARK (#396)
Superman’s alter ego once sounded a little quiet. After all, nobody ever noticed Clark Kent, right? But these days, the distinctive sound feels like an alternative to Jack or Cole, and I think the slightly mid-century vibe matches Marshall well.
GARRETT (#402)
Garrett made it all the way into the Top 100 in the 1990s, but it never quite caught on. Instead it sounds a little Western. And, like Marshall, it’s appeared in the US Top 1000 every single year, so maybe it’s a quiet classic, too.
GRADY (#428)
We tend to think of surname names as a new trend, but we’ve always used them – especially for our sons. And so Grady shares the same timeless quality as Marshall. It’s not exactly a style star, but neither is unfamiliar. Grady could be 3 or 53, an HVAC tech, a CEO, or CEO of the HVAC company.
HEATH (#958)
If Heath hadn’t had a good run in the 1970s, bolstered by a television Western and the popularity of Keith, it would be a mega-hit now. After all, Heath is a nature name with a surname vibe, and there have been just enough notable Heaths to keep it in the spotlight across the decades.
OTIS (#647)
Like Marshall, Otis is an unexpected choice. Originally a surname form of Otto, Otis has history to spare – and yet, it remains relatively uncommon.
REED (#416)
Or Reid, which, at #299, is more popular in the US. Either way, it’s a strong sound, a name with several possible origins and meanings.
REEVE (unranked)
One more inspired by Reed … Reeve. It’s actually a surname derived from a Middle English job title. Back in the day, a reeve was the equivalent of a sheriff. Which makes it a subtle, but undeniable, match for Marshall. The sound is strong and distinctive, though I suppose Reeve is often misheard as the more common Reed.
I’ll admit that I’m kind of in love with Marshall and Reeve. But I’m not sure that’s quite what you’re after. And, realistically, if you had a third son, it potentially creates a pattern that would be impossible to continue. So I’ll vote for Briggs, though maybe it’s trendier than you would like, or possibly Heath, which feels like a perfect match with Marshall to my ear. And for middles: Briggs Franklin or Heath Francis.
Late to the party on this, sorry….
Lawson Frank and Marshall Henry
I saw Duncan listed…I know someone who is a mom of a Marshall and a Duncan and I think they go well together! So many great options though! I like Chester too, but maybe it’s a little less popular than Marshall. I think Chester and Marshall go well together too!
Just came here to specifically suggest Graham Francis!
(I also think Grant should not be discounted because of the musician name. I personally like the name Graham a lot though – has some of the same warmth as Marshall. And I agree Arlo is too close to Marshall in sound.)
Waylon Francis, Alden Francis?
So many great suggestions already. I love Grady and Garrett along with Marshall.
Other ideas
Trevor
Gavin
Wesley
Morgan
Elliot
Shane
Davis
Duncan
Spencer
Lewis
Zane
Roland
Leland
Vance
Jesse
Cade
Avery
I like the alliteration of Marshall and Malcolm. It got me thinking of other M names.
Marshall Henry and Myles Francis or Miles Franklin
Marshall Henry and Maxwell Franklin or Maxfield Francis
Marshall Henry and Maddox Franklin
Marshall Henry and Marcus Franklin
Marshall Henry and Morley Francis
There are so many winners in this thread. I’m still not over Winston & Sterling. I’d like to add Donovan, Wyatt, and Winslow (thanks autocorrect).
Marshall Henry and Sterling Francis are such a great pair. Marshall and Sterling just feel like brothers.
Marshall & Gideon are a swoon worthy pair! I’d still use Francis in the middle though.
Winston Francis would be dapper!
Warren Francis is SO good.
Love all the suggestions! I feel like Warren could be a great fit with Marshall.
Marshall Henry & Warren Francis
There is a college in Pennsylvania named Franklin and Marshall. I guess it might be okay because it would be Marshall and Franklin and go by a nickname like Flynn or Finn.
Also, another name to consider is Alden. Marshall and Alden would make great brothers.
A brother for Marshall:
Travis (not with Francis… maybe Franklin?)
Briscoe
Kincade
Orson
Humboldt
Garvan
Winston
Shepherd
So wonderful for your family! Congratulations!!
Felix
Jasper
Atticus
Judah
Asher
What about Graham? Graham Francis sounds great to me!
I’m in favor of…
Rowan Francis & Marshall Henry
Quentin Francis & Marshall Henry
Boswell Francis & Marshall Henry
Gideon Frank & Marshall Henry
Cyrus Frank & Marshall Henry
Oliver Frank & Marshall Henry
Best of luck on your naming journey! It’s certainly coming up quick, so I hope you take care of one another.,
I really like Harlan with Marshall but I see that you don’t like the repeating ar sound. I still think it could work and Harlan Francis called Hal would be really nice, I think.
If not that, what about Owen or Callum? Both are lovely combined with Francis!
Marshall Henry & Owen Francis
Marshall Henry & Callum Francis
Marshall & Harlan Francis
The first name I thought of was Heath. Heath Franklin sounds lovely with Marshall Henry.
Marshall and Garrett! Or Grant! Like Ambrose so much too!
Ditto on Garrett Francis. Kind of perfect!
Grant Francis works. The AN sound repeats, but wouldn’t be an issue, as middle names are rarely spoken.
I once met a twin set named Marshall and Sterling.
Sterling has always been in the US top 1000, too.
Sterling is such a great suggestion – thanks!
Grover and Bramwell immediately came to my mind by reading the title!
Grant Franklin sounds like a great brother to Marshall Henry!
Other ideas: Emmett, Fletcher, Amos, Peter (Pete)
Frank, Francis, or Franklin in the first spot would go nicely with Marshall. Francis Arlo, called Frank, would be a winner for me.
Walter
Gerald
Cooper
Fletcher
Weston
Clifford
Ellis
Guthrie
Milton
Vaughn
Vincent
Kenneth
LOVE Vaughn with Marshall …
I’ll admit when I saw the title of this post, I immediately thought of Paw Patrol, which once upon a time I thought I’d never forgotten the theme song or pup names! I’m glad to find with my youngest being seven, it’s now just a fond memory. But maybe I still wouldn’t pair Marshall with Chase, Rocky, Zuma, Skye, Ryder, Everest, Rubble 😉 My second association (and fondest) of Marshall is How I Met Your Mother and that totally exemplifies how you describe the name for you. I wondered why it wasn’t more popular after becoming a fan of the show.
I like the angle of surnames that Abby took – and I’ll add Barrett, Davis, Smith (or Smythe!), Scott, Shepherd, Thatcher, Walsh. Grady is one of my faves!! I never hear it but it feels homespun like Marshall. Same with Heath. Other homespun ideas:
Ambrose
Anders
Bramwell
Cormac
Dane
Tobias
Ezra
Emmett
(Those last two may be too popular)
I hear you on the Mar/Ar combo, but I wonder if you’d like Arlen? I just know an adult with the name and it wears well. He could be Arlo as a nickname. Arlen Francis is lovely.
Grant is 100% a good match. I’ve never heard of that musician. Grant Franklin feels a bit repetitive maybe that’s a hesitation? Would you consider Franklin up front? I love love that with Marshall! He could be Flynn as a nickname? Ooh or Flynn Francis is alliterative perfection!
Franklin as a first name is a great idea!
Graham
Quincy
Redmond
Shepherd
Forrest
I think you nailed it with Garrett: not modern, not old-fashioned, just always there.
And the sound is very similiar to Grant!
Mashall and Garrett! Garrett Francis!
A few more:
Lewis Frank
Nicholas Frank nn Nico (I think it’s a great compromise between Grant and Arlo)
Curtis Frank
Wallace Frank
Marshall Henry & Warren Francis
Marshall Henry & Winston Francis
Marshall Henry & Wesley Francis
Marshall Henry & Malcolm Francis
Oh, Wesley is great with Marshall!