Name Help: Alphabetical Order

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!

Clara writes:

I am writing to ask for help for a scenario I did not envision happening – naming our (surprise) fourth baby. We recently found out baby is a boy, which was a second surprise as I was convinced it was a girl. We had a girls name ready to go, but are struggling to find a boys name.

We currently have two boys and a girl: Asa, Emmeline (who always goes by Emmie) and Baker. Combined with my husband and my names, our initials represent ABCDE. Our last name rhymes with Thomas.

The alphabet initials were not intentional- in fact we didn’t quite realize it until after Baker was born. Now, it feels like a missed opportunity not to find an F name for this boy.

We like Forest, except that it is a bit of a tongue twister with our last name (Forest Thomas gives you the idea of the sounds). The bonus is that we have been calling the baby Four as a nickname and could continue that. I just can’t quite get over the rhyming aspect.

We aren’t wild about other F names, but have considered Fox as a middle name (our oldest child’s middle name is Bear).

So – should we throw out the pattern and go back to the drawing board to find another name? Would Forest actually work? Is there a mystery third option I can’t see?

Looking forward to hearing your advice and also hearing from your awesome readers!

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

Let’s think this through:

• First off, I so agree with you! Finding a name that starts with F feels like solving a puzzle, and completing your family in a subtle, but clever, manner.
• It also automatically narrows your list from Every Name Ever to just a few dozen possibilities, which can be helpful.
• Except I also agree that Forest sounds-like-Thomas isn’t ideal. Parents use flawed first-last combinations ALL THE TIME. So you absolutely can make this choice. But will it bother you? I suspect the answer is yes, or you wouldn’t have written.

For the moment, let’s assume that Forest is off the table.

Let’s consider other options.

ANOTHER NAME BEGINNING WITH F

FOX – I’m guessing you’re not wild about using Fox as a first name. I do think the strong association with the cable news network could make this a polarizing name, and yet … Fox Mulder is probably most parents’ first thought with the given name. Besides, it’s the age of Bear and Wren. In the past twenty years, Fox has more than quintupled in use. It sounds good with your last name, too, so I think it deserves consideration.

FRANKLIN – This name sounds smart and principled, friendly and accessible, thanks to some combination of Benjamin Franklin and Franklin Turtle. It’s got a great vintage vibe, too.

FRASIER – Forest had me thinking about trees, and Frasier firs immediately come to mind. This Scottish surname is also spelled Frazier and Fraser, which gives you a few options – and possibly complicates your son’s name ever so slightly.

FINNIAN – I’m guessing you’ve ruled out Finn names, but would Finnian appeal? It has the longer sound of Julian and Adrian. Also, I love it for you because fin means end in French, from the Latin finis – conclusion. (Think of our word finish.)

FORESTER, FORRESTER – What would you think of adding an extra syllable to your son’s name? He could still be Forest for everyday use, but for those first-last name occasions – kindergarten graduation, third grade award ceremony – he’d be Forrester Thomas, which sidesteps all of the awkward repeating sounds.

FOSTER – Another surname name option.

NAMES THAT MEAN FOUR

FORD – Okay, it’s an F name. But it’s in this section because it also sounds quite a bit like Four. And it works with your surname. Asa, Emmie, Baker, Ford … it fits.

DREW – This is a stretch, but the sound Drew is right there in “quadruple.”

NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH Z

ZANE – Since your firstborn’s name begins with an A, another option might be to choose a Z name for your last child. Zane seems like a possibility.

ZEKE – Or maybe Zeke? It’s often short for Ezekiel,

BUT IF NONE OF THESE SEEM QUITE RIGHT …

It’s worth considering that the pattern is so subtle that it took three kids until you’d noticed it!

Most people will never pick up on – after all, someone has to know the names of every member of your family to even have a chance to notice. So often, we forget the name of a casual friend’s husband – maybe we’ve only met him once. Or you know your daughter’s best friend has an older brother, but you’re not sure of his name.

In other words, if finding an F name just isn’t happening? You can move on, guilt-free, and know that your son won’t feel left out.

But I feel like Ford and Finnian deserve a closer look, because they’re F names with a meaning that nods to this child’s place in your family.

My favorite pick of all might be Forester/Forrester. Like Emmeline, he doesn’t have to use his full name. But it’s there for those moments that require it.

Readers, over to you. Does Forester work? Is there another F name they should consider? Can you suggest some options that start with another initial?