Update: He’s here! Scroll to the bottom for an update on the name Kristine and her family chose for their new son.
Kristine writes:
We can’t do it. We can’t even come up with a top three list for child number three!
The gender will be unknown until birth just as our previous two.
Our sons, Emmett and Ransom, were so easy to name! Going into the labor and delivery room we had a list of three boy names and three girl names to choose from and knew from the moment we laid eyes on each what their name should be.
Looking back at our reserve names they have become unattractive or do not fit in as a sibling set.
I would prefer all of the names to be from the same era but am willing to break from that idea if you find a name that goes so well with the others.
We are attracted to Alice, Effie, Clara, Harrison, Sullivan, and Whitman but are not in love with any of them.
Alice, Clara and Harrison are a little too popular for my taste.
Our last name is very common, just one syllable, and starts with an S.
We can’t wait to see what you can come up with.
Please read on for my response, and leave your helpful suggestions in the comments.
Hi Kristine –
Congratulations on baby #3! I have a friend who is expecting her third, and she feels the exact same way – there aren’t any names left.
She knows that’s crazy talk. Obviously, there are so many names still unused. But I do think there’s something that happens after you’ve named a child or two. More names are ruled out. There’s more of a pattern to fit in. So even though there are names galore, it really can feel like there aren’t any names left that will work for your family.
It sounds like you prefer names that are two or three syllables, that feel vintage, and aren’t in the current US Top 100 – or maybe even in the Top 1000. It also seems like you lean towards nickname-proof names.
That’s a pretty good jumping off point – so let’s see if we can’t find some possibilities that work.
Naming Baby #3: Girl Names
Ida – Ida is as short as Ava and Mia, less expected than Ada or Mila. It’s not in the current Top 1000, but it will generally be familiar to most as a given name. There are a bunch of positive associations, too: a Tennyson poem that inspired Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida; pioneering journalist Ida Tarbell; one of the first women to direct films in Hollywood, Ida Lupino; and Crete’s Mount Ida, said to be the birthplace of Zeus.
Winnie – You have Effie on your girls’ list and Whitman down for boys. Would Winnie appeal? Again, it’s not in the current US Top 1000, though Winter is growing in popularity for girls, and Jimmy Fallon’s daughter is Winnie, also raising the name’s profile. Many parents will think of The Wonder Years, but that’s a positive association. And Winnie will fit right in with Molly, Ellie, Sadie, and lots of other nickname names in heavy use today.
Maude – Your last name is short, so maybe that rules out using a one-syllable name. But I’m always surprised at how often a short-short combination works. (Gabrielle Blair, of Design Mom, has a daughter named Maude Blair.) A medieval form of Matilda, there’s another tie to a Tennyson poem, plus director Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann are parents to teenaged daughters Iris and Maude. If you’ve seen This is 40, you’ve seen Maude on the big screen, as she’s now an actress in her own right.
Louise – Literary, romantic Louisa just re-entered the US Top 1000 in recent years. Tailored Louise remains just outside the rankings. It’s an unusual choice with considerable vintage appeal. I tend to think of Louise as nickname-rich – Lou! Lulu! Lucy! – but I can easily imagine Louise never being shortened. Louise Brooks lends some 1920s-era glam to the name.
Now, let’s take a look at names for a third son.
Latham – It’s another surname name, like Emmett, but with a different sound than either of your sons’ names. I’ve also seen Lathan, probably a spin on Latham influenced by Nathan. Latham feels vintage and decidedly different, without being too unusual. I think it’s a great addition to brothers Emmett and Ransom, and it’s definitely very rare in the US.
Calder – I keep trying to hone in on an ends-in-r name for your son, since that’s the one obvious ending sound you lack. And yet, an awful lot of ends-in-r names are popular (Asher, Carter, Parker) or feel more modern and energetic (Archer, Decker) than vintage. I think Calder might be one of the unusual possibilities – again, it’s not the current Top 1000 – that hits the right note. I would have suggested Jasper, but I wonder if that’s too popular for you to consider? It was in the low 200s in the US in 2015.
Dexter – Another ends-in-r name that feels like a possibility. Dexter has a sort of jazzy, edgy vibe that’s a little more high energy that the quietly antique Emmett and Ransom. But I think it could work.
Milo – Milo ranks in the current US Top 300, which means it is probably comparable to Emmett’s popularity when you chose the name. If Emmett feels too popular now, you’d probably want to avoid Milo, too. But if not, I think Milo might hit the right note. It’s less expected than Theodore, more traditional than Arrow.
Overall, I can’t get past Latham for a son. I think it goes so nicely with Ransom and Emmett! For girls, it seems like there are plenty of options. Winnie was the first one that came to mind, and I keep going back to it as I look at the list – but I do think it’s easier to add options to the girls’ list.
Welcome, Bowman Hawkins! They’re both family names.
Congratulations on your new addition! Bowman fits right in with Emmett and Ransom. Well done! Enjoy your boys! 🙂
I adore Alice, Effie and Clara, so am always on the lookout for similar names. My favourite less-popular alternative for Alice is Agnes. I think Elfie is adorable, and could be used (along with Effie) as a nickname for Elfrida, Delphi or Delphine. Clara reminds me of Greta, Willa, Margot, Imogen and Kaya.
For the boys I like Samson (but probably to close to Ransom), Winston, Calvin, Salvador, Claude, Vincent and Harlan.
If I had to pick three of each, they would be Agnes, Elfie, Imogen, Winston, Calvin and Harlan.
Wylie and Clover!
Emmett, Ransom and
Baby brother: Beau, Silas, Wyatt, Knox
Baby sister: Hazel, Iris, Sadie, Eleanor, Adelaide
Boy – Cedar, Linden, Bodie, Shepherd
Girl- Alma, Zelie
Abby,
Can’t thank you enough for these suggestions. Latham is amazing and I love it!! Calder is a close second. Girl names for me are hard as I have never had to name one….Ida is my favorite.Sounds so sweet but I can become a strong name for a strong woman!
The comments filled with suggestions are overwhelming and so welcome! I will be sure to report back and let you know what our third child has been named.
Thank you so much,
Kristinne
Count me as another fan of Whitaker. Other suggestions: Clifford, Clinton, Lyndon, Franklin, Grover, Buchanan, Forrester, Banning, Bryce.
For girls: Clover, Paulina, Frances, Florence, Harriet, Muriel, Trudy, Cadence, Priscilla, Magdalena.
Both Ransom and Sullivan are high on my list, so maybe these other names I love would appeal to you?
Boys:
August, Forrest, Lochlan, Shiloh
Girls:
Beatrix, Ansley, Mable, Lenora
Emmett, Ransom, & Tennyson
Emmett, Ransom, & Verity
Emmett, Ransom, & Miranda
Emmett, Ransom, & Lavinia
Love Effie and Maude…Alice, Clara, and Harrison would also be some of my top picks if she didn’t specify that they’re becoming too popular.
Emmett and Ransom strike me as rather country (or at least Ransom does). You posted about Boone this week…I could see that going well with Emmett and Ransom!
Latham sounds great too. I’d also suggest Russell and Lachlan. Regarding Calder…Caldwell? Crawford?
Emmett, Ransom, & Mirabelle
Emmett, Ransom, & Cordelia
Emmett, Ransom, & Beatrix
Emmett, Ransom, & Magnolia
Emmett, Ransom, & Eulalie
Emmett, Ransom, & Clementine
Emmett, Ransom, & Judah
Emmett, Ransom, & Atticus
Emmett, Ransom, & Rafferty
Emmett, Ransom, & Dougray
Good luck!
If they like Whitman, how about Blake?
Last night, it occurred to me, I don’t know a single Todd who is younger than 35. And yet — it’s a trim, crisp name with an awesome etymology, recognizable and easy to spell, and now that I think about it, I can’t understand why it isn’t in more common currency!
Another perhaps unusual choice, but one that works for both a girl or a boy, is Mal(l)ory.
Beryl, Dorothy, Eva, Fern, Frances/Frannie, Garnet, Greta, Helene, Jewel, Lula, Mabel, Mavis, Olive, Thea, Virginia, Willa, Yvonne.
Clyde, Dalton, Frank, Harris/Hank,, Noel, Orrin, Prescott, Tyson, Wilder, Zeke,
Also Clark and Luther.
For a boy:
Ambrose
Humphrey
Ogden
For a girl:
Maren
Lenore
Isadora
What about Winslow for a girl? I personally love it.
I also love Effie. It’s so different.
Or Etta. Or Freya. Frieda. Fiona. Pearl.
Our top girl name right now is Simone.
Or Raphaelle or if it’s a boy Raphael??
Fitzpatrick, nn Fitz. Sigh, how can you not love that nickname??
I really like Whitman and Whitaker.
I like the suggestions of Stellan and Calder. I knew a Wilder, and it really fit him.
Good luck!!
Whitaker and Wilder are both excellent suggestions with Emmett and Ransom!
Winston would also be complementary. I like it a lot with your surname, too.
Another two ideas: Heywood and Humbolt.
For a lady…
If you like classic names that aren’t high on the charts, how about Libby? There’s also Susanna, Mavis, Betty, Irene, Zelie, Dovie, Florence, Delta, and Nellie.
Best wishes!
Mostly I just need to meet this mama because we obviously have similar tastes.
You will never believe it. I have a Ransom Paul (4) and an Emmett Drake (2). I’m also dreading the inevitable name situation if we are blessed again. I’m naturally drawn to older unique names, but my husband is a harder sell. Honestly Emmett happened because it was one of the few we both were okay with, and grew to love after we named him.
I don’t want to give away some of my pocket names but I’ll add a few I love that I feel fit that theme but have been rejected by husband. “Meaning in quotations”
Some criteria, I want to diversify the first letters and I might like to try to stay at 6 letters… Though that’s not in stone. Both those names had resurgence in the 20-40s so I also would like to go back and see some names of that time.
Boys
Victor (I loved this with Ransom especially, this was my top choice with my second but it got discarded later)
Titus
Larkin “fierce”
Bertwin “bright friend”
Gilbert “bright promise”
Girls
Simone
Haven
Portia
Flannery
We have great taste! Sounds like our husbands are the same as well; being harder to sell on great names and he rejected the same list your husband did above!. No one knows the burden we carry being obviously the much more awesome person in the relationship! Cant wait to hear what you name your future 3rd! Thanks so much for the great input…I am drawn to Titus.
My son’s name is Titus Wesley and we just learned we are having another boy and I’m drawn to Ransom.
I really love the suggestion of Milo!
Boys: Foster, Wilson, Clark, Harris, Monroe
Girls: Zora, Willa, Estella, Nell, Leora
Also just thought of for boys: Grady. It’s a surname name like Sullivan, Whitman, and Harrison but it feels a little bit more buttoned down and laid back. It fits right in with classmates Brady and Cody, has that Irish flavor like popular Liam, Aiden, and Declan, but on its own it’s still different enough where he would most likely be the only Grady in his class (maybe the whole school). Added bonus: this name sounds on trend but it was actually at its peak about 100 years ago so it truly is a lovely antique revival name. Emmett, Ransom, and Grady. This set makes me swoon. I love that they have each have two syllables but start and end in their own sound and that each name is familiar yet uncommon. All three names sound so friendly and approachable and together they feel like a fun group of brothers!
Oh and I forgot to add Lorelai to the girls suggestions as well!
I love the suggestions of Winnie and Calder! (I would use Calder in a heartbeat if it didn’t clash with our surname)
For boys, I wonder if you would like Stellan? It’s pretty uncommon but follows the on trend 2 syllable ends in -n pattern so it very much fits in while standing out. Emmett, Ransom, and Stellan. Or since you like Whitman, do you like Whitaker more? I know a little boy with this name and it is just dashing (he goes by both his full name and nickname Whit). Emmett, Ransom, and Whitaker. Emmett, Ransom, and Whit. I like that this end in -r.
Ohhhh what about Wilder?? Ransom, Emmett, and Wilder! Yes yes yes!
I’m struggling with girls suggestions. I feel like all the old fashioned style names I think if are becoming too popular and all the less popular names I think of probably aren’t your style.
Alice, Effie, and Clara make me think of Hazel, June (or maybe Juniper?), Fiona, Flora, Josephine, Edith, Vera, Lydia, Eliza, Harriet, Minnie, Avis, Coralie(!), Etta. Etta made me think Greta which made me think Gretchen. Greta and Gretchen definitely fit the bill for less popular but I’m not sure if they’re what you’re looking for. Hopefully some of these helped!
Wilder has been at the top of my list as soon as I found out we were expecting. I just cant seem to win over my husband with this one….
Thank you so much for the ideas. I am definitely drawn to Whitaker.
I love the suggestion of Calder. It makes a perfect sib set.
Love Alice
Margot, Maely or Maelys, Cora
Love Lantham
Campbell, Delmar, Wilmer
I wonder if you would like Caspian or Kellen? I’m loving the Calder suggestion. For a girl… Ada, Fiona, Cecelia, Rose?