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!
Remy writes:
We have two sons, Archer Cohen Bear “Archie” and Atlas Fraser Finch “Atty Finch”.
We’re having a third boy this autumn! I’m having a hard time finding any names that I love. I know I definitely don’t want another A name. I don’t have to have another animal middle. I do require a nickname option, though. I greatly enjoy using nicknames for a nice, full feeling name.
I feel like I’ve looked at hundreds of names. I might like Wilder? I don’t know if it feels good enough though. My name love is Dashiell but my partner dislikes it too much to compromise. Help?
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Remy –
Congratulations on your third son!
It was so much fun to help you think through a name for Atlas Fraser Finch. And it’s a great choice! But here’s what jumps out at me – and it sounds like you’re feeling it, too – there’s a lot of pattern set.
Both of your boys’ names:
- Feel stylish, if slightly on the unusual/unexpected side
- Begin with the letter A
- Both first names are two syllables
- Have two middle names
- The first middle name is a common surname
- The second middle is an animal name
- Shorten to a casual nickname
It might feel awkward to name a sibling something completely different – Archie, Atty Finch, and Bob. Archie, Atty Finch, and Jayden. You can, of course. But I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to.
That leaves this puzzle: which matching parts do you keep?
Let’s start with the assumption that all A first names are out, but that stylish/slightly unexpected matters.
It sounds like your long-time favorite is Dashiell, but that’s at the top of your partner’s nope, no thanks list. Too bad, because it goes well with Archer and Atlas.
Wilder fits, too. Except it might leave you searching for an easy nickname. Archie and Atty clearly come from Archer and Atlas. Would you call Wilder … Willie, maybe? That doesn’t quite seem like your style. Wiley, maybe?
When you were expecting Atlas, I suggested Beckett, August, Louis, Harrison, Leland, Dexter, and Donovan. I’ll skip them all this time, but I did want to revisit one from the prior post: Finley. As I noted last time, Finn might be a little too popular. But if you’re not sold on any animal-inspired middle names, the advantage of Finley is that it does bring to mind all be-finned creatures, which means your third son would have a vaguely aquatic-inspired name.
Or maybe that’s not good enough? Since potential animal, or maybe even just nature-inspired, middles abound, let’s focus on firsts.
I find that I’m really struggling to find two-syllable names that shorten to two-syllable nicknames. Surely there are some I’ve overlooking! But I also suspect that’s more accidental than intentional pattern, so I’m not going to worry too much about that.
Caspian – A place name with literary ties, it sounds like a brother for Archer, Atlas, and Caspian. There’s a certain adventurous spirit all three names share. It shortens to Cas and Cap, and maybe even Ian. (Or Cian, with a hard C sound?)
Dempsey – Maybe it’s the upbeat Irish appeal of this surname name; maybe it’s boxer Jack Dempsey, a world heavyweight champ back in the day, that lends the name a certain fire. I think Dezi or Dez could be a great short form of Dempsey.
Forrest – A preppy surname with an outdoorsy vibe, Forrest is both relaxed and ready to climb a mountain. At first glance, nicknames are elusive, but I like the idea of shortening Forrest to Ret – though maybe I’d spell it Ret?
Lennon – Archer and Atlas make great brother names, but in many ways, they’re different. One is a surname; the other, borrowed from myth. Lennon feels like it bridges the two. Sure, it’s a last name promoted to the first spot, but it’s also inspired by a legendary musician. Bonus? It shortens to Lenny, Len, and maybe even Leo.
Linus – While I’m thinking Leo, could Linus be Leo – or maybe Lio? I suggested Leland last time, and I still think it’s great with Archer and Atlas. But since it wasn’t for you, maybe Linus would work instead? I think it’s among the greatest of the undiscovered boy names.
Orion – Archer and Atlas both appear in the night sky, so maybe Orion is the logical name for their brother? It shortens to Ry, Rio, and Rion, Ory and O.
Orson – Orson borrows a little something from Archer’s name – it means bear. But I think that’s a subtle enough link that it feels meaningful, not repetitive.
Rodney – Roderick, the big brother from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, popped into my head this morning. Could Roderick or Rodney be ready for revival? In fairness, Rodney peaked in the 1960s and Roderick in the 1970s, so they haven’t been gone long. But something about Archie, Atty Finch, and Roddy seems very appealing. For an even rarer name, maybe Riordan would work?
Sullivan – I feel like Sullivan, shortened to Sully or Van, makes for an obvious choice with these boy names.
Tennyson – Tennyson might be a little bit longer, but I think it works well with Archer and Atlas. It’s poetic, but veyr wearable, and Ten and Tenny make appealing nickname options.
I love the idea of Archie, Atty Finch, and Leo, but I wonder if the rich nickname possibilities in Orion aren’t the better choice?
Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Archer and Atlas?
What about
Rowan Fox
Rufus Fox
Silas Rowan
Titus Remy
Since you like Dexter what about Declan nn Decker?
Would your maiden name make a good middle?
I think we are all picking up the nature theme from the boy’s middles but these are honour names. The next name will cement the theme here – do you want to lock yourself in with honour names or nature names? Is there any chance you can come up with more honour names that are also nature names?
Remy means ‘oarsman’ so you could use Rafter perhaps (subtle/tenuous link). Declan Rafter (Decker).
From commenters, I do sort of like Merrick and Milo. I’m unsure but I’ll sit on them. I’m hesitant to use any name with Rick in it as there’s so many Richards in my family it’s just a lot.
I’ll address August as it seems a favorite. I endured a trauma in August and spend the entire month of every year in a really bad state of mind. It’s really ruined the name as potential for me. I can’t get by that, you know? Plus, I may have another baby one day and using a third A name secures to pattern. Two is a coincidence, three is pretty intentional you know? I don’t love any A names and don’t want to stick to it for the sake of it. Nor would I want to feel compelled for yet another A name down the road if we have a fourth child.
Remy here!
So while reading this post, for some reason when you brought up the previous post and it’s suggestions, Dexter sort of clicked? Not necessarily as “the one” but in a “maybe I should reconsider it!” Sort of way. I originally wasn’t sure if I could get over the “serial killer” association but at the same time… It is so handsome!
I do love Finley! It’s so handsome. Unfortunately, with us calling our second son by Atty Finch, I feel like Finley and Finch are just too close.
I’m going to sit on Forrest, Linus, Orion, Orson, and Sullivan though. The middle name Bear, within my eldests middle names, is actually an honoring name after my late brother whom I called Bear 99% of his life. It felt too impersonal to use his given name as I literally never used it. The idea of the subtle honoring in Orson is sweet.
I also think the constellation theme sounds so fun! I’m not sure on Orion yet but I could grow on it!
I’ll also address – I am definitely opened to two middle names. The surname honoring names ARE after loved ones. I don’t have any other surnames I can think of to use honoring, the two people I can think of their surnames don’t really appeal to me in that way.
For Wilder… I originally thought maybe Wiley or Will could be nicknames? I keep going back and forth as part of it feels so handsome but I’m so worried of things like judgement from strangers that he’s a “wild/ crazy” kid or something.
Thank you sooo much for all this to think about!! It feels like a step in the right direction.
I’m not sure if this is too out there for your tastes but what about Wildrose nn Wilder. It would soften the prejudice that your son might be wild/crazy, and tie in with the nature connection that your others sons’ names have…
Since you don’t love Orion, maybe another astronomy name: Phoenix? Or any of the names (e.g. Lennon, Oliver) that get you to nn Leo, another constellation?
From Abby’s suggestions, I’d choose Orion or Caspian.
Another idea could be Crosby.
I really love your boys’ names. Abby’s suggestion of Caspian feels perfect, and I also love August, although it really commits you the letter A.
I also wonder if you might like Jude, Shepherd, or Hugo.
I assume the first surname-middle-name might have some significance, but I do think that Wilder would work for the nature-themed second middle. Or I’m fond of Wolf and Fox. Or River?
Honestly my immediate thought was August Wilder … with the nickname Auggie, before I read you did not want another A name. Personally I still think Archer “Archie”, Atlas “Atty”, and August “Auggie” work amazingly well as brothers. Then you add in the middle name Cohen, Fraser, and Wilder though maybe not Wilder since it ends in an er like Fraser. so maybe August Dempsey instead since Dempsey ends differently than Cohen and Fraser. Or maybe I am just overthinking things, because maybe you do not care about such things. As for the second middle name you have a mammal, a bird, so why not a fish, and for that I recommend Pike. In this case August Dempsey Pike, or August Wilder Pike, with the nickname Auggie would be my suggestion.
Okay, now that I have made my case from one of my favorite names, August, I will move on to other possible names that I think would work. Wilder with the nickname Wiley is a great option. I like Forrest, but personally I am not sure how I feel about Forrie. Finley with the nickname Fin or Finnie fit nickname wise fits but something about it doesn’t seem to fit with Archer and Atlas. I think the suggestion of Orion fits best with Archer and Atlas and I like the nickname Ori with Archie and Atty. Orion “Ori” Wilder Pike seems to me like a good choice.
Sullivan, nn Sully or Van is a great suggestion. I also like Finnegan, nn Finn, or August, nn Gus.
LOVE Caspian for this sibset. Or maybe Casper? Either way, Cas and Cap are great nn options and both sound great with Archie and Attie. Is Peregrine nn Pip too far out for you? It brings in the animal element in a different way than for his brothers, but maybe still makes that connection?
Caspian Wilder Brook
Peregrine Dashiell Birch
Ambrose Wilder Fox would get my vote!
I love keeping the A names going and Amby goes well with Archie and Atty
I love Fox, but if you’d like to have a different initial for the animal inspired middle name (Finch/Fox) maybe Hawk Colt or Drake?
Ambrose Wilder Hawk
Ambrose Wilder Colt
Ambrose Wilder Drake
Archie Bear Atty Finch and Amby Hawk/Colt/Drake?
Another vote for Caspian “Cas”!