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Name Help: Crazy Long List for a Son

September 9, 2022 By appellationmountain 20 Comments

Name Help: A Brother for Felicity NicoleName 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!

Marie writes:

We have a daughter, Felicity Nicole. We chose her name in about ten minutes, right after we found out we were pregnant with a girl.

Now I’m due with a boy in October, and it feels like we keep adding and adding names to our list, but nothing is right.

So far we have:

  • Andrew (or just Drew?)
  • Arthur
  • Beckett
  • Caleb
  • Chase
  • Dalton
  • Davis
  • Elliott
  • Everett
  • Felix
  • Forrest
  • Henry
  • Hudson
  • Isaac
  • Jack
  • Jackson
  • Joseph (probably for a middle name)
  • Matthew
  • Martin (family name, only as a middle)
  • Miles
  • Nolan
  • Oliver
  • Paxton
  • Russell
  • Ryder
  • Silas
  • Stephen (family name. I don’t care for Steve/Stevie, but I love Stephen)
  • Theodore
  • Tristan
  • Wesley
  • Zachary
  • Zane (maybe more of a middle name)

Every time we talk, we add more names to our list! Can you help us move in the other direction?

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your son!

Here’s what leaps out at me: Felicity Nicole is something of a lacy antique. It’s traditional, in the sense that we’d accept it as a name from an earlier era. (Though the numbers tell us that it’s far more common today than ever before.) It’s not a rock solid classic like Elizabeth, but it’s also not a modern invention, like Everly.

That makes me wonder if your boys’ list shouldn’t match that style – a contemporary favorite that feels like a vintage gem?

Felix is an obvious name from that category, but I wouldn’t recommend siblings named Felicity and Felix. It’s too much like, say, Robert and Roberta or Jack and Jacqueline.

But several names on your list that stand out. Rather than adding more options, I’ll try to pinpoint the ones that feel most like Felicity’s brother.

Though with the exception of Felix, I think any of these names would be great for your family. So I completely feel your struggle!

I’ll pick just four that I think might be the best of the best.

A BROTHER FOR FELICITY

EVERETT

Like Felicity, Everett sounds like a blast from the past. And it was used regularly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, spending many years in the US Top 100. That makes it another vintage choice with plenty of appeal now.

MILES

I could say nearly all the same things about Miles that I did for Everett. Except it’s shorter, and maybe a little bit jazzier, thanks to Miles Davis.

OLIVER

Probably the name that leapt off the list first! The only possible drawback is that the world is packed with Olivias and Olivers, so maybe you’ve already met a few? Style-wise, it’s a perfect match for Felicity, but it’s definitely more popular.

SILAS

A New Testament name, and a nineteenth century literary one, too, thanks to George Eliot’s Silas Marner, this is a name that feels borrowed from the past. But it has plenty of modern energy, too, particularly thanks to the meaning – forest or woods – that puts it in the company of nature names like River and Bear.

I think I’d make a final decision based on the middle name you most want to use. Stephen seems like a clear favorite, and I think Everett Stephen could be great. Or maybe Miles Joseph?

Readers, over to you – what would you suggest as a name for Felicity Nicole’s new brother?

More names you might like:

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Comments

  1. Carly Zuno says

    September 14, 2022 at 4:59 PM

    To me, Felicity feels unexpected but not unusual. It feels like a happy surprise and I always smile when I hear it.

    I really enjoy Wesley in the same way. It’s nice unexpected but feels solid and makes me happy. I also feel that way about Beckett, Dalton, Everett, Miles and Forrest.

    A note on Everett and it may just be a coincidence in our area but my son has 2 Everett’s in his class and 5 in his school. Not sure how much you care about popularity!

    Reply
  2. Iris says

    September 13, 2022 at 6:02 AM

    From your list, I love Arthur with Felicity!
    Another one I like (not on the list): Sebastian.

    I would avoid something like Everett Joseph. The thing is Felicity Nicole is exactly the name of Jinger Duggar’s eldest child, and her youngest is Evangeline Jo. To me that’s too much.

    Reply
  3. Maclary says

    September 12, 2022 at 4:32 AM

    My husband and I had a similar problem with our last pregnancy – too much choice! To narrow it down, we sat down with our list and talked about why we liked each name. It soon became clear which names spoke more to us for whatever reason, and in doing so we were able to whittle down the list quite a bit.

    I’d suggest doing something similar to try and find out if there’s any name that comes with a really good story or reason for having chosen it.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      September 12, 2022 at 9:16 AM

      That’s a really good suggestion, Maclary – thanks!

      Reply
  4. ab says

    September 11, 2022 at 11:02 PM

    From your list I like:
    Arthur
    Matthew

    From others’ suggestions I like:
    Bennett
    Desmond

    I also like:
    Charles — nickname Chase
    Christopher — maybe not if Felicity’s nickname is Fliss, as Fliss and Chris would be too much.
    Hugo

    Reply
  5. LadyRay says

    September 11, 2022 at 1:32 AM

    Definitely agree that Everett, Elliot (I personally prefer the 2 Ls & 1 T version) or Theodore stuck out to me. Any of those would work with Felicity.

    Some potential first & middle name combos…

    Everett Jack!

    Elliot Daniel!

    Theodore Ross!

    October is still a bit away, so you’ve plenty of time to execute your favorites. Hopefully this comments section & post gave some food for thought for you and your partner.

    Congrats!!

    Reply
  6. Kim says

    September 10, 2022 at 4:56 PM

    I agree that Everett is definitely a great fit with Felicity. Theodore also goes well. Other names that sprung to mind included Dominic, Elliott, Adrian, Xavier, Alexander, Oleander (sort of combining Alexander and Oliver?) and Sebastian. I also like Timothy and Zachary, but wonder if they might be too sing-songy with Felicity.

    Reply
  7. Anchors_and_Whales says

    September 10, 2022 at 3:23 PM

    Felicity is so lovely. I sometimes think of the show Road to Avonlea when I hear it because that show was full of great names. Here are some of the boys’ ones, for inspiration. I know Andrew is already on your list!

    Alec
    Daniel
    Gus
    Simón
    Bert
    Archie
    Jasper
    Clive
    Andrew
    Davey
    Montgomery
    Elbert
    Peter
    Rupert
    Robert
    Arthur
    Stuart
    Duncan
    Edward
    Morgan
    Edgar
    Abe
    Seth

    Hope it doesn’t just add to the confusion to see more names, but sometimes a fresh name or a different context for an already-found name can make the difference.

    Reply
  8. Alison Doherty says

    September 10, 2022 at 12:32 PM

    My vote would be for Felicity and Elliott!

    Reply
  9. Sharon Isaac says

    September 9, 2022 at 10:54 PM

    I have a Felicity and her brothers are Bennett and Oscar! Which would have similar vibes to Oliver and Beckett/Everett. So there’s some more options for you 😉 I like Miles and Elliott too. Definitely agree with Abby’s advice.

    Reply
  10. diane says

    September 9, 2022 at 5:53 PM

    With Felicity Nicole I like…..
    Miles or Oliver, because of the repetition of the letters I and L.

    Any of the family names would work as middles. I’d also like Oliver Zane

    Reply
  11. keats says

    September 9, 2022 at 3:18 PM

    I love Abby’s suggestion of Everett Stephen. I know a 30 year old Stephen Everett! Flipped as Everett Stephen sounds much more fresh, but clearly is a good combo.

    Russell Stephen also sounds great and Russell fits the less common but established name category as Feliticy.

    Arthur Stephen seems well paired as well both as a name and with Feliticy Nicole. Although I like the idea of Arthur Zane (A-Z) a lot too!

    Reply
  12. The Mrs. says

    September 9, 2022 at 1:42 PM

    Felicity Nicole and…

    Forrest Stephen
    Felicity and Forrest

    Tristan Martin
    Felicity and Tristan

    Everett Zane
    Felicity and Everett

    Congratulations and best wishes!

    Reply
  13. Susanne says

    September 9, 2022 at 12:42 PM

    My favourites from the list are Theodore, Arthur & Oliver. It sounds like you should use Stephen as a mn. These 3 names all work just fine with Stephen in the middle.

    Reply
  14. Ellen says

    September 9, 2022 at 12:30 PM

    Elias

    Reply
  15. Renee says

    September 9, 2022 at 11:17 AM

    I love Felicity! It was on my list but my hubby has an Auntie-in/law Lit (Felicity.) It’s so nickname-rich and familiar yet uncommon and also is nostalgic to me because of the show. It also feels British, so that’s the vibe I’m going to chase for your set. Although I do agree Everett is lovely.

    Beckett Zane
    Dalton Joseph
    Davis Martin
    Elliott Martin
    Isaac Martin
    Russell Stephen

    If you want to cut down your list, Abby has great suggestions, but I’d also suggest considering the surname- both in terms of flow with first, but also connotations with public figures, and initials (mostly because why not, if you’re trying to cut.)

    And if you keep adding names, perhaps give yourself a new rule of taking one off if you’re adding one in? That’ll probably clarify which are actually favourites and if you really like the new addition enough to bump something?

    Good luck!

    Reply
  16. a says

    September 9, 2022 at 10:56 AM

    Felicity feels like one of those stands out but fits in types of names; you don’t hear it often but aren’t shocked when you do. Going off of that vibe, here are the names from your list that I think feel similar:

    Arthur
    Dalton
    Davis
    Everett
    Russell
    Silas
    Wesley
    Zane

    I think my favorites would be Everett and Zane.

    Combo ideas: Everett Stephen, Zane Joseph, Wesley Zane, Silas Martin

    I know you don’t need to add more to your list but I also wanted to suggest Desmond. I can’t put my finger on it but there’s just something about Desmond that sounds so perfect alongside Felicity.
    Felicity and Desmond.
    Desmond Joseph, Desmond Zane, Desmond Martin, Desmond Stephen.

    Reply
  17. Kate says

    September 9, 2022 at 10:11 AM

    I’ve got both and Everett and a Felicity, so I recommend Everett! We also have a Winston

    Reply
  18. GalNamedGuy says

    September 9, 2022 at 8:40 AM

    Everett leaped out to me as the perfect brother for Felicity! It pairs well in style and length and has those strong T sounds.

    Everett Stephen and Felicity Nicole is perfect.

    Runners up would be Theodore or Tristian, which both are nice with Felicity.

    And suggestions would be Bennett (a bit more classic than Beckett) and Desmond (instead of Dalton).

    Reply
  19. Marisa says

    September 9, 2022 at 7:48 AM

    If I say “Felicity and … “ these are the names that stand out as matching to me:

    * Arthur
    * Dalton
    * Davis
    * Elliott
    * Everett
    * Hudson
    * Isaac
    * Miles
    * Oliver
    * Russell
    * Silas
    * Theodore

    It’s entirely subjective, but my top five would be: Davis, Elliott, Silas, Russell, and Theodore.

    Silas Martin would be lovely. Theodore Joseph could be TJ. Elliott Zane or Davis Elliott?

    Reply

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