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!
Lisa writes:
We are due with boy-girl twins in January, but it looks like they’ll probably be here before the end of the year. Getting here has been a struggle, and we’ve avoided talking about names until now.
For our son, we know we don’t want him to inherit my husband’s name. My husband is a III, and while his family would like us to pass down the name again, he’s not on board. We’ll use James as his middle name, instead.
We’ve even debated using my husband’s full name, James Oliver – so our son has two middle names. Our last name is a common, two syllable H name, so we don’t mind a long name.
First names feel hard, though. We’ve narrowed our list to:
- August – but is this weird for a winter baby?
- Jude – except JJ bothers me
- Wesley – but I’m not sure about Wes
I think we could be happy with any of these.
For our daughter, we’re all over the place. No first name seems right, and we really don’t have a middle name that we want to use from my family. (There are some we could use from his, but I think my family would feel like that was too much.) The only name we both don’t dislike – so far – is Maria. But we agree it doesn’t feel like her name, if that makes sense.
Where do we even begin?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Lisa –
First, congratulations on your children! Naming twins is a twice the challenge – and maybe a little more, too. Not only do you have to choose two names you love, there’s a sense that the names need to balance – probably more than if you were naming a brother for your older daughter, or vice versa.
Let’s start with boy names, though, because you’re almost there.
AUGUST, JUDE, OR WESLEY?
I’d describe your style as gentlemanly traditionals. They’re masculine, but they’re not swinging-through-the-saloon-doors kind of guys. They’re a little more polished and thoughtful, but still strong.
Gentlemanly traditionals – these are not the guys swinging through the saloon doors in the Wild West. (Though I suppose they could.)
So let’s not add to your list. Instead, let’s talk about your three favorites.
First, Wesley. Some names have default nicknames, like Benjamin-called-Ben. I’d put Wesley almost in this category. I’ve known people with this name who never shorten it. But it’s something of an obvious choice. If Wes bothers you, I’d strike this name off the list. It’s just too likely that it would stick.
Jude James being called JJ, on the other hand? It certainly could happen. Kids come home from school (and camp and sports practice and play rehearsal) with all sorts of daffy nicknames. JJ isn’t unimaginable. But it’s not automatic. And even if your son’s baseball team called him JJ, well … you certainly wouldn’t have to do the same.
That leaves August. Contrary to our impression, August doesn’t mean “peak summer.” It means venerable; after all, Augustus started out as a title for the Roman emperor. So it seems like fair game to name a baby August any month of the year. Do I hear the crashing waves of the ocean with this name? A little. But it also sounds like a name that belongs in front of a roaring fire, a brother for Emmett. I’d say it fits with homespun boy names – just like Jude and Wesley.
Between August and Jude, I think I’d favor Jude – if only because you don’t have to think about the question of seasons. But let’s wait until we find a name for your daughter, and then revisit the question.
NAMES FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
I can imagine Maria as a sister for Wesley, August, or Jude – but it might not be my first thought. Let’s see if we can find something feminine, traditional, but still with some current style.
ALICE – A storybook name with a lot of strength.
ELEANOR – Classic and polished.
JULIET – A little more romantic, maybe closer to Maria than Eleanor.
NORA – Everyone loves Nora, a choice that’s both timeless and current at once.
RUBY – A gemstone name with a straightforward sound.
STELLA – The meaning – star – is gorgeous, and the sound is perfect with August or Jude.
THEA – A short, sparky name that’s on the rise.
WILLA – Willa strikes me as homespun name in the key of August.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
If you agree with my conclusions so far, we’re down to two possible boy names: August James or Jude James.
Now here’s where I want to suggest something about your daughter’s middle. How about Olivia? It splits up your husband’s family name between the siblings.
If not Olivia, would you consider Elisabeth or Elise? Or something else that nods to your name? (Lisette, Lys, just Lisa?) I’ve also seen Isla suggested, since it’s an anagram of Lisa.
That leads me to:
- August James and Willa Olivia
- August James and Juliet Elise
- Jude James and Ruby Olivia
- Jude James and Alice Elisabeth
- Jude James and Nora Elise
- Jude James and Thea Olivia
I think that last one – Jude James and Thea Olivia – is my favorite. But I’ll be so curious to hear what readers think about this one!
I vote for Wesley. If you use the name in full, he likely will, too. There are lots of Thomas-not-Toms and Robert-not-Robs, Wesley doesn’t have to become Wes, or Lee.
Wesley James has a nice flow. So does Wesley James Oliver H…
For your girl, Maria makes me think of Marina or Mariana or Martina. Other ideas:
Lavinia (has the Liv sound like Oliver, if desired)
Cecelia
Felicity
Mirenna
Magnolia
Serenity
I may be the only one who doesn’t feel the need to pass on names, but I would say, if you don’t like a name from your side, forget trying and use a name you like. If you and your husband like the name James for your boy, use it. But don’t feel obligated to please others with your children’s names. These are your children.
So, with that in mind, I say toss the family tree and choose a name that you two like that flows well with the first name you also like.
Possible Girl Name Combos:
Lavinia Grace
Mirenna Marie
Cecelia Fay/May/Rae
Felicity Arabella
Mirenna Cascade
Magnolia Blue/Rue/Lou
Serenity Celeste/Elise
I’m in the southern hemisphere – so August feels perfect for a winter baby to me! Seriously, I think it’s becoming common enough that it doesn’t feel too tied to the month. And it works perfectly with the middle name/s too.
For your girl, the fact you like Maria (which would be an amazing choice!) makes me want to suggest names like Lucia, Sophia, Celia or Delia, Lydia, Erica, Nicola, Thalia … maybe even Zinnea? Or, how about Livia?
I’m loving August James. It is a great name. Truly a strong, statemanly, name. I don’t think of it as a month name any more than Mae/May.
I also think Annalise might be a nice middle for your daughter. Has the Lise as a nod to you, but it is all her own name. So I was wondering about J first names just like several other posters.
August James and Juliet Annalise.
August James and Jane Annalise.
August James and Joy Annalise
Or I also really like
August James and Edith (Edie) Marie
August James and Amelia Marie
August James and Ayla Marie
August James and Ava Marie (perhaps that is a bit close to the hymn so maybe Ava Grace is better?)
August James and Nora Jean
August James and Alexandra Marie
Congrats on your twins!
August James and Mariel Lisette
Jude Oliver and Maeve Eliza
Wesley James and Juliana Lisette
August James and Olive Elisabeth
Am I the only one who has a hard time with Jude James? Something about that D leading into J sounds weird to me. I love August and think it’s even better for a winter baby! August James and Anna Lisa.
I’m totally with you. That was my very first thought reading the original post – Jude James sounds way too choppy. (In saying that, it’s unlikely that the full name will be prounounced together on many occasions, so it may not matter, but is worth pointing out 🙂 ).
August and Juliet = August + July to me, so that’s a warning. I love full Wesley (sure, Wes, will come around, but if you always call him Wesley, then most people will follow suit).
August James & Vera Maria
Wesley James & Audrey Elise
Jude James & Annalies Olivia or Olive Lisbet
Oliver Lisle/Lyle & Eliza Jane
I would REALLY like to see you use Lisa in the middle spot for your daughter. Since boy twin is definitely getting one if not two of his dad’s names, it seems balanced and fair for her to get your name. If Lisa butts against a name ending in A and you don’t like the sound – Lise is quite lovely.
Wondering if you could repurpose any of the boy name sounds for a girl? The fact that you can agree on Maria makes me think you like longer flowy names for girls? (love Abby’s suggestion of Juliet – perfection with August!) So how about:
Augusta Lise & Wesley James
Aurelia Lise & Wesley James
Julia Lise & August James
Juliana Lise & Wesley James
Genevieve Lisa & Jude Oliver James
Waverly Lisa & August James
Wilhelmina Lise & Jude Oliver James
Or use Olive for girl twin with your name in the middle? Olive is closer to the sound of Oliver plus less common and better matched to your boy choices, in my opinion.
Olive Lisa & Wesley James
I had also thought of using Olivia as the middle name for your daughter so you can split your husband’s name between the twins. I personally like August James for your son. For a daughter, would you consider Josephine?
I was definitely thinking that Lisa or a Lisa-related name would be the perfect middle for your daughter! Abby’s idea to use Olivia is also brilliant, and I think Olive could also work well if you’re averse to double “a” endings.
Georgia
Gemma
Gwen
Lucy/Lucia/Louise
Maude or Matilda
Laura
Iris
Violet
Tessa or Theresa/Teresa
Kate
Helen
Anne
Rose/Rosalie/Rosa
What about Marie for your daughter if Maria doesn’t feel right? I have a nearly four year old Marie and we get compliments all the time.