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Name Help: A Brother for Mary Adelaide

June 23, 2023 By appellationmountain 25 Comments

Name Help: Brother for Mary AdelaideName 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!

Lauryn writes:

We have a daughter named Mary Adelaide, and we’re expecting a son this summer.

When we were pregnant with Mary, I wanted to name a boy Henry Barnabas. My husband’s sister just had a little Henry a few months ago, though, so we can’t use Henry now.

Our style is pretty traditional, but I definitely like older names. My husband wouldn’t agree to those as first names, but he’s happy to let me choose what I want for middles.

Names I like that my husband has said no to: August, William (because of someone he went to school with! this bothers me so much), Simon (because of the chipmunks!), Daniel (no reason why he doesn’t like it, just says no).

Names he likes that I’m not crazy about: Patrick (we’re not Irish and this just is so Irish to me), Thomas (I want to like Tommy/Tom, but I’m not sure), John (this is too basic even for me, especially with a daughter named Mary), Joseph (his dad’s name, but we’re avoiding family names for lots of reasons, so even though I like it as a name, I feel like it would cause problems).

Nothing else has really leapt out at us, even though I feel like we keep going over the same names. Help!

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your son!

It’s too bad about Henry, but I can see that having two cousins so close in age with the same name is a lot.

So we need a boy’s name that is:

  • Traditional
  • Probably nickname-light, if not entirely nickname-proof
  • Familiar without feeling antique

Let’s see what I can think up that you haven’t already considered!

A BROTHER FOR MARY ADELAIDE

DAVID

Not so long ago, David was a really common name. (Canadian comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall created a song called “The Daves I Know” … but that was back in the early 1990s.) Today it ranks a relatively modest #31 in the US and is falling. That could be the sweet spot – a name everybody knows, but your son won’t actually share with boys his age.

EDWARD

Like David, Edward was once really common in the US. Today, though, it’s faded. The challenge here might be around nicknames. Eddie is obvious, and would fit right in with boys named Charlie. Ned is another option, a sepia-toned choice that would fit in with current favorites like Max. But I’m wondering if the nickname makes this a non-starter?

GREGORY

Greg is a Brady, but Gregory used in full? It’s a handsome name, a little like Montgomery.

JONATHAN

If your husband loves John, would you consider Jonathan? It’s just a little different. (Because I agree that John and Mary is maybe too classic together!)

JULIAN

A name that feels both traditional and contemporary.

LUKE

As brief as John or some of the other traditional choices you’re pondering, but with some of the spirit of Jack, too.

SAMUEL

Mary and Sam sound perfect together.

VINCENT

A classic we sometimes overlook, maybe because we’re not wild about Vinnie. But Vince is a great nickname … not that a tw0-syllable name requires one in the first place!

My favorite, overall, is Samuel. Samuel Barnabas and Mary Adelaide; Sam and Mary. Or maybe Jonathan, as it feels like a compromise between one of your husband’s favorite and your preferences.

But I’m curious to hear what readers will suggest, so let’s open it up for suggestions. What would you name a brother for Mary Adelaide?

More names you might like:

  • Name Help: A Brother for Margot IreneName Help: A Brother for Margot Irene
  • Name Help: Creative Feminine Forms of JamesName Help: Creative Feminine Forms of James
  • Name Help: A Sister for Ethan and ZacharyName Help: A Sister for Ethan and Zachary
  • Name Help: A Brother for Cora JosephineName Help: A Brother for Cora Josephine
  • Name Help: A Brother for FreddieName Help: A Brother for Freddie

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Comments

  1. GalNamedGuy says

    July 11, 2023 at 10:48 PM

    After thinking it over, I love John with Mary. It’s so classic that’s it’s fresh and unexpected. Especially with a fancy, long middle name. So good.

    Other new ideas… Adam (love with Mary), Evan (fresh take on John), Jamie (fresh, handsome take on James and sweet with Mary), Louis (a classic and ee sound like Henry).

    Congrats!

    Reply
  2. Jean C. says

    June 30, 2023 at 5:10 PM

    Arthur! Arthur Barnabas is a wonderful name.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      July 2, 2023 at 10:58 AM

      Oh, Arthur Barnabas is great!

      Reply
  3. Marie says

    June 28, 2023 at 10:59 AM

    I sometimes think that picking a name for some comes down to picking the right first name and middle combination.

    So when you have something in Mind like Henry Barnabas

    So I may suggest a name like Silas. A lesser know biblical name. Has sounds like Barnabas. Kinda modern like Adelaide.

    Would Silas Henry work?

    Also Asher. Seems like a good option as well

    Asher Barnabas

    Reply
  4. Hannah says

    June 26, 2023 at 4:48 PM

    As nice as David is, I wouldn’t choose it because “Mary and David” sounds a lot like Harry and David (the mail-order fruit basket company).

    I think Samuel is a perfect choice!

    James also seems like a great alternative to John and Joseph.

    Love Barnabas as a middle name! I hope they keep that.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      June 28, 2023 at 5:40 PM

      Interesting observation about Mary + David. I don’t hear that as much, but it’s worth noting that Mary and Harry DON’T rhyme when I say them … and that varies regionally in the US. (And elsewhere in the English-speaking world, I assume!) So it’s a good caution to think about that potential association in advance – thank you!

      Reply
  5. Lina says

    June 24, 2023 at 5:34 PM

    Spencer
    Victor
    Conrad
    Auberon
    Albert
    Otto
    Malcolm
    Jude
    Leonard
    Wallace
    Clement /Clemence
    Martin
    Oswald
    Ignatius

    Instead of William : Wilbur , Wilder, Wilkie , Willard , Willem , Wilson

    Reply
  6. Lina says

    June 24, 2023 at 4:19 PM

    Francis
    Oscar
    Carl
    Richard
    Robert
    Sebastian
    Ernest
    Otis
    Lawrence
    Neil
    Roman
    Raymond

    Reply
  7. Alison Doherty says

    June 24, 2023 at 12:45 PM

    Love the idea of Samuel Barnabas! I think it’s a perfect fit!

    My other idea is Phillip Barnabas! I feel like that is a pretty classic name that is ready for a comeback. George Barnabas was another idea!

    Reply
  8. Jenna says

    June 24, 2023 at 7:24 AM

    Mary and

    Lewis
    Silas
    Peter
    George
    Walter
    Frank
    Hank
    Ray
    James
    Paul
    Phillip
    Toby

    Reply
  9. Ellen says

    June 24, 2023 at 1:54 AM

    I was also thinking that Mary and Joseph might be a bit too Nativity story for siblings, although I would consider both to be excellent names with solid patrons for the same reason. I like Mary and Luke, Mary and John (not too classic in my book!)… Of Abby’s choices, I also really like David.

    Reply
  10. Erin Beth says

    June 23, 2023 at 6:41 PM

    Oh gosh! I absolutely love Mary Adelaide. I do think that these days, a Thomas could easily just go by Thomas. Some of my favorites for you:

    Jonathan
    Nathaniel
    Peter
    Andrew
    Jeremy
    Adrian
    Christopher or Christian
    Timothy
    Blaise
    Emmett
    Elliott
    Edmund

    Reply
  11. ab says

    June 23, 2023 at 5:57 PM

    Mostly repeats:
    Andrew
    Benjamin
    Charles
    Douglas
    Edward
    Elliott or Elliot
    Grant
    Jacob
    Joel
    Nathan
    Peter
    Samuel

    Reply
  12. Maclary says

    June 23, 2023 at 4:59 PM

    My first thought was George. I also like Hugh or Hugo as both a brother to Mary, and an alternative to Henry.

    Alexander is another classic name that you might both like. Mary and Alex are cute together!

    Reply
  13. diane says

    June 23, 2023 at 3:00 PM

    Love Mary Adelaide. My first thought was Mary and Miles (or Myles.)
    Miles Barnabas is so distinguished sounding yet very approachable. Miles is a great classic.

    Reply
  14. Jules says

    June 23, 2023 at 2:43 PM

    Some ideas and some repeated suggestions:
    Wesley, Lewis, Isaac, Anthony, Felix, Arthur, Benjamin, Noah, Peter, Zachery, Joel, Jonas, Joshua.

    I’d also avoid Joseph with Mary.

    Reply
  15. Renee says

    June 23, 2023 at 1:53 PM

    I was coming here to suggest James, though I feel like you probably have already tossed that classic around? But it is great. Would he go for Will instead of William? I really love Will on its own.

    Henry is a hard act to follow. No nicknames needed, classic, sweet….

    Elliott
    Cameron
    Davis
    Conrad

    Reply
  16. Alyssa says

    June 23, 2023 at 1:15 PM

    I love Abby’s suggestions of David and Julian! I also like the above suggestions of Frederick and Wesley.

    Some others I’d suggest would be Philip, Christian, Jude, and Warren.

    Reply
  17. A says

    June 23, 2023 at 10:56 AM

    Nathaniel! It’s such an underrated handsome classic!

    Other suggestions:
    Isaac
    Wesley
    Francis
    Michael
    Peter
    Timothy
    Robert
    Jack
    Solomon
    Clark
    Dean
    Grant
    Lewis
    Arthur

    Reply
  18. Sabrina Burmeister says

    June 23, 2023 at 10:13 AM

    Cooper
    Jack
    Felix
    Bryce
    Finn
    Atlas
    Lincoln. Link would be cute for a nickname if that would ever be a possibility.
    Franklin
    Wesley
    Jean/Gene
    Louie/Louis
    Wyatt
    Ambrose
    Oliver
    Arthur
    Liam
    Elijah
    Caleb
    Ethan
    Paul
    Roger
    Wallace
    Some of these are not too traditional and some are heavy with nickname potential so sorry about that! But I think Cooper and Wallace are great names and if you’re sticking with common names like Mary– Oliver, Jack, and Liam are high in the charts.

    Reply
  19. Emmy says

    June 23, 2023 at 10:06 AM

    Mary and James

    Reply
  20. Istas says

    June 23, 2023 at 9:59 AM

    Nicholas
    Seth
    Emmett
    Adam
    Paul
    Hector
    Clark
    Timothy
    Ivan

    Reply
  21. Em says

    June 23, 2023 at 9:23 AM

    Andrew
    Anthony

    Reply
  22. Iris says

    June 23, 2023 at 9:00 AM

    Oh Luke sounds great with Mary!
    Other options:
    Mary and Leo
    Mary and Frederick (Fred)
    Mary and Noah
    Mary and Peter
    Mary and James
    Mary and Edmund
    Mary and Charles
    Mary and Zachary (Zach)

    Reply
  23. LilySong says

    June 23, 2023 at 8:22 AM

    Mary Adelaide is so pretty! If I had a Mary, I’d want to avoid Joseph too, unless I was deliberately wanting to name my children after Jesus’ parents. My favourites for you from Abby’s list are Samuel & Edward.
    Instead of Daniel, Nathaniel?
    Instead of Joseph, Josiah? Jonah?
    Peter or Benjamin would make great choices too.
    Edward Barnabas
    Peter Sebastian
    Benjamin Rupert
    Josiah Montgomery
    Just some extra ideas for middle names.

    Reply

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