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Name Help: Finding a Fifth Classic Baby Name

August 7, 2017 By appellationmountain 28 Comments

Name Help: Classic Boy NameName 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!

Elizabeth writes:

We are back here again with number five on the way, a little boy. We are having a tough time coming up with a name for him. We need to complete the sibset of Clara, Edward, Josephine, Alice, and their baby brother….?

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

Dear Elizabeth –

How exciting to be expecting another boy!

I wonder if the world is catching up to you? We all consider Clara, Alice, and Josephine classic, but once I’d have called them not too common. Now we hear them more and more. Happily, classic names wear beautifully whether they’re in the Top 100 or very rare. But it strikes me that many names I’m tempted to suggest might rank higher on the popularity list than you’d appreciate.

Edward remains relatively rare, though, even among classic boy names. It currently ranks #163 – perfectly respectable, and yet the name’s lowest popularity ranking ever.

That makes me think we should avoid William and James and probably even Henry and Samuel and Charles, in favor of names with every bit as much traditional style, that happen to be slightly neglected today.

Since you haven’t repeated an initial yet, I’ll try to do the same with my suggestions.

Frederick – I’m sure there have been dozens of brother combinations named Edward and Frederick over the years. Assuming you resist the impulse to call them Eddie and Freddie, the names feel perfectly matched. They’re both impeccably classic choices that aren’t heard on every playground at the moment. If Freddie doesn’t appeal as a nickname, you might consider Rick, or even Fritz.

Louis – If you pronounce Louis in the French fashion – almost like Louie – it fits right in with your older kids’ names. Otherwise, I’m wondering if Alice and Louis are too close? I’m adding it to the list anyway, though, because Louis strikes me as exactly the kind of seldom heard, but instantly recognized, name you’d like.

Patrick – Pat feels about as current as Pat Boone’s late 50s television variety show. And yet, Patrick sounds surprisingly fresh. Most Patricks in their 30s and younger seem to strongly prefer Patrick in full. And why not? The full two-syllables reminds us how very handsome this name sounds. It lives up to its meaning – noble.

Peter – Alice goes to Wonderland; Clara dances with her Nutcracker. Edward and Josephine appear in children’s books, too, though none quite so iconic. Still, I think that’s why Peter – as in Pan, and Rabbit – sounds like such a logical choice.

Robert – The most popular name on this list, Robert currently ranks #62. And yet it feels quite different on a boy today, doesn’t it? A former number one name in the US, a whole generation of men grew up Bobby and became Bob. But today Robert and nickname Rob seem like the more contemporary picks.

Simon – We sometimes overlook Simon when talking classic names, and yet it has history galore – almost as much as Michael or John. Simon sounds smart, and also slightly British. Maybe that’s because the name is much more popular in the UK than the US, or maybe because we still think of Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings. In any case, it’s exactly the kind of overlooked gem that feels just right as a brother for Clara, Alice, Josephine, and Edward.

Theodore – Like Robert, Theodore ranks in the current US Top 100. Theodore comes in at #83, and it’s rising fast. So maybe that counts against this name. And yet, if you’re looking for a traditional name, it’s tough to top Theo.

Vincent – van Gogh makes this name artistic; Lombardi takes it in an athletic direction. Entourage reminded us that Vince is really quite handsome. It seems like one of the most easily overlooked classics, a name that fits with Alexander and William, too.

Overall, I really like the sound of Simon with your older children’s names. Like Clara and Alice, Simon is nickname-proof. And, like all of your kids’ names, it’s easy to imagine them on a small child or a grown adult.

If not Simon, Frederick appeals for many of the same reasons. And yet I hesitate because of the possible Eddie/Freddie nicknames. If that doesn’t bother you, then Frederick seems like a great option, too.

But I know the community will have more useful suggestions. So let’s open this up to the readers.

What are your favorite classic boy names, and which would you suggest as a brother for Clara, Edward, Alice, and Josephine?

 

More names you might like:

  • Baby Name Henry: Classic TrendsetterBaby Name Henry: Classic Trendsetter
  • Classic Baby Names: 7 Reasons to Choose a Traditional NameClassic Baby Names: 7 Reasons to Choose a Traditional Name
  • Classic Boy Names: Henry, Patrick, and JohnClassic Boy Names: Henry, Patrick, and John
  • Name Help: A Brother for Patrick and ArthurName Help: A Brother for Patrick and Arthur
  • Name Help: A Brother for AdamName Help: A Brother for Adam

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:31 PM

    We loved reading this post and all of the suggestions! We received so many great ideas and talking points.

    In the end, we went with Philip! Thanks to all.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    August 19, 2017 at 1:47 PM

    Michael

    Reply
  3. Sara says

    August 19, 2017 at 11:39 AM

    Henry!

    Reply
  4. Margo says

    August 14, 2017 at 3:49 AM

    Dominic

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth says

    August 9, 2017 at 9:35 PM

    I like Theodore. There is the Teddy/Eddie concern too but Theo is a lovely nn.

    Reply
  6. Jeannine says

    August 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM

    Other ideas (apologies if they’ve been mentioned above): Paul, Victor, Gaspard, Oscar.

    Reply
  7. Lily says

    August 8, 2017 at 9:58 AM

    I think Peter would be lovely because it reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia. Edward is not too far away from Edmund, and they are the brothers in Narnia. Very classic.

    Reply
  8. Liza says

    August 8, 2017 at 7:20 AM

    I checked on sib names for your girls and all had Arthur, Felix, Henry, Jasper and Leo. I was rethinking Thomas and other super classics as missing the vintage quirkiness that makes your kids names so great and cohesive. So, my new votes (which have all been mentioned) are Arthur and Felix. Henry was the first name that came to mind though and fits beautifully.

    Reply
  9. Natalie says

    August 8, 2017 at 4:29 AM

    I love Timothy for you. Classic but not too common, friendly and wonderful! Hugo is another fabulous name choice here.

    Reply
    • FE says

      August 8, 2017 at 9:26 PM

      Yes! Hugh would be beautiful here too!

      Reply
  10. Jorja says

    August 8, 2017 at 3:20 AM

    My favourite from the list is Louis. I’d like to suggest Nils, Richard, Casper and Oliver.

    Reply
  11. CLM says

    August 8, 2017 at 1:38 AM

    It’s popular but we have a Henry and I am just smitten with that name. Would fit your sibset well. Please consider. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Lesley says

    August 7, 2017 at 10:01 PM

    Thomas
    Charles
    Leopold
    Victor
    Oscar
    Geoffrey

    Reply
  13. RL says

    August 7, 2017 at 9:41 PM

    Felix
    Oswald
    Benoit
    Laurent
    Mathias
    Julian
    Nicolas
    Victor
    Paul

    Reply
  14. FE says

    August 7, 2017 at 8:27 PM

    David? Too common once upon a time, but you never hear of little David’s anymore. Wears well and sounds great.

    Reply
  15. Liza says

    August 7, 2017 at 8:25 PM

    Thomas! Or Harvey?

    Reply
  16. Em says

    August 7, 2017 at 8:23 PM

    Thomas

    Or for a little different…

    Jasper

    Reply
  17. Thea says

    August 7, 2017 at 5:38 PM

    Arthur, Leo, William or George are my suggestions.

    Reply
  18. Christina Fonseca says

    August 7, 2017 at 2:27 PM

    THEODORE unless Edward goes by Ted. My other two choices are Harvey and George.

    Reply
  19. Amy3 says

    August 7, 2017 at 2:07 PM

    Simon was my first thought, but I’d also suggest Hugo.

    Reply
  20. Noelle says

    August 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM

    Oliver, Leopold, Arthur, Sebastian or even Balthazar. For this family though I favor Leopold.

    Reply
  21. Chelsea says

    August 7, 2017 at 12:19 PM

    Wow, I immediately thought of Frederick and Peter as good style matches, and then Vincent as well. My DH is an Edward and his brother is Peter.

    Other suggestions I think of (avoiding the more common classics) are:
    Leo/Leopold
    Albert or Alfred
    Philip
    Desmond

    Reply
  22. Jaime says

    August 7, 2017 at 12:04 PM

    Louis or Peter are my faves from these suggestions. I also think Graham or Grant or Gabriel could work nicely.

    Reply
  23. C in DC says

    August 7, 2017 at 11:31 AM

    I love the suggestions of Timothy and Robert (possible nn Bert?). I’ll add Arthur, Walter, Russell, Clifford, Clinton, Kenneth, Wesley, Johann, Sebastian, Hans, Jude, Philip, Thaddeus (if Theodore is too popular), Stephen, and Josiah.

    Reply
  24. Renee says

    August 7, 2017 at 11:05 AM

    Thought I’d add Daniel. If William isn’t too common for you, that’s my top vote. It just seems made for your sibset. Thomas is also perfect. Christopher? Something to go with longer Josephine.

    Reply
  25. LaRaina Patrick says

    August 7, 2017 at 8:59 AM

    Thomas

    Reply
  26. Laura Powell says

    August 7, 2017 at 8:55 AM

    Possible classic names to consider :
    Albert Nn Bertie / Bert
    Stanley
    Timothy
    From the ones already suggested I think Simon goes rather well.

    Good Luck to you and your your family.

    Reply
  27. Erin Beth says

    August 7, 2017 at 7:50 AM

    I really like the suggestion of Theodore with the sibling names! I might add Philip and George.

    Reply

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