Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. 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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
FINDING SOMETHING WE BOTH LOVE FOR OUR FIRST SON
Krysia writes:
Our third child and first son is due around the end of the year and we are very unsure about our name choice.
We knew our first child would be either Charlotte or Charles, because different versions of this name are found on all sides of our families. While we didn’t find out gender in advance, we agreed on Charlotte Meredith Hosta-with-a-K before she was born. A boy would have been Charles Sebastian Hosta-with-a-K.
Naming our second child was more challenging. This name we wanted to use an E name to honor a loved one who passed. We were down to Evelyn or Eleanor for a girl and probably Elliott or Everett for a boy. Evelyn Diana sort of came together in the days before my due date and it took a while to feel comfortable with her name.
There are no more family/honor names to use, and we don’t want another E name. Our list so far is:
- Sebastian – Maybe not either of our favorites, but a name we do agree on
- Cedric – My favorite, husband is a hard no
- Barrett – Husband loves this name, but I think it sounds too much like Charlotte’s name and can’t stand the idea of him being called Barry
- Thomas – Considering this as a middle name, it’s not exactly a family name but has meaning for us both so maybe it would work as a first
- Nathan – We both think it’s okay though I like Nathaniel better and my husband is more into Nate
Mostly I want to find something we can both love as much as our girls’ names.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
A BROTHER FOR CHARLOTTE AND EVELYN
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third!
It sounds like your list is actually really short right now, isn’t it?
Cedric and Barrett have both been vetoed. That leaves Sebastian, Thomas, and Nathan. While I think any of those would be great choices, it strikes me that you might need a few more names to round out your list.
It sounds like you’re looking for something:
- Well-established and traditional, rather than modern or novel.
- Mainstream and familiar, instead of surprising or rare.
- Longer and probably nickname-proof, instead of a shorter or more informal name.
It’s also true that our preferences for sons and daughters can be a little different. Sebastian strikes me as the perfect match for Charlotte and Evelyn. But it’s not hitting the mark for your family. So maybe you do want something slightly different?
I do think it’s worth circling back to Nathaniel called Nate. Nathan is a possible compromise, but I wonder if you’d be happier if you used the longer version and the shorter one, too?
Maybe Nathaniel Cedric, so mom picks the first and middle, but dad’s preferences sway his everyday name?
If not Nathaniel called Nate, let’s look at some other options.
FRESH SUGGESTIONS FOR A BROTHER FOR CHARLOTTE AND EVELYN
ARTHUR
Regal and old-school, but also rising in use. Bonus? It’s rarely shortened for children now.
CALVIN
Versatile, thanks to so many associations. There’s John Calvin and Calvin Coolidge, Calvin Klein and Calvin & Hobbes.
GRAHAM
A strong, short sound that feels more complete than Nate.
JULIAN
Like Sebastian, an obvious brother name. Julian boasts a long history of use and feels quite nicely established circa 2026.
MALCOLM
A name that feels like it ought to be a classic, though there about three dozen names I’d list before it occurred to me to add Malcolm into the mix.
OLIVER
Like Charlotte and Evelyn, it could easily be shortened – but is often used in full. Is it popular? Yes. Are there countless reasons so many parents love it? Also yes.
SAMUEL
There’s a timeless, easy appeal to Samuel. It’s nearly always shortened to Sam, but it doesn’t feel like a nickname. Sam can be anything – an athlete, an academic, a musician. And even parents who hesitate to use nicknames often embrace Samuel-called-Sam.
VINCENT
Once upon a time, every Vincent was Vinny, and despite a long history of distinguished men by the name (van Gogh, Lombardi to name just two) we didn’t always list it with the classics. But with a strong meaning a distinctive sound, Vincent deserves a closer look. Also: you might get Vince sometimes, but it’s been ages since I’ve met a little Vinny.
Overall, I’m still stuck on Nathaniel “Nate” Cedric. But if that’s not an option, I wonder if you’d consider Arthur or Oliver? I love the idea of Oliver Thomas or maybe Arthur Nathaniel?
You know, Barrett could have the nicknames of Bear or Rhett…
But Sebastian Thomas sounds excellent!
Charlotte, Evelyn, and Sebastian (K)osta
Baz might be an adorable nickname if his big sisters have a hard time saying his full name.
Congratulations and best wishes!
Out of your original list I think the most usable is Sebastian, I agree with Abby from her list Arthur and Oliver are the most usable. If you still like Sebastian better as a middle name then a first, I think Arthur Sebastian sounds great with your daughters’ names.
However, if Sebastian has graduated to full on first name candidate then I think Sebastian Nathaniel sounds good.
As for Oliver, what about Oliver Jonas.
I like others have noticed that your daughters’ names are nearly alphabetical so going with that trend maybe your son’s name should start with G, below are some G names;
Gordon
George
Guy
Gregory
Gabriel
Of the G names I think Gabriel works best with your daughters’ names
Some great suggestions already!
Here’s a few more I think could fit the bill:
Matthew
Harrison
Anthony
Sullivan
August
Harvey
Walter
Derek
Grant
Lewis
Seth
Happy Naming!
Caleb
Donovan
Finnegan
Ivan
Tobias
Gideon
Nathaniel Cedric (option of nickname Nate) seems pretty perfect!
Thomas also sounds nice with the sister names.
Maybe you’d like these – Timothy, Martin, Nicholas, Jonas, Nolan, Wesley, Patrick
Garrett Sebastian!
You avoid Barry (and kids names Garrett today don’t get called Gary) and use the middle name you planned for your first boy!
Also, you have a C, then skipped the D, and have an E. So now skipping the F and having a G is perfection.
I agree with Abby that you should totally consider Nathaniel nn Nate, that seems like an awesome compromise that fits well with the sisters. Nathaniel Thomas is lovely.
However, if Thomas has meaning for you both – I feel like that’s your slam dunk name!! It’s amazing with the sisters… and maybe you can slot in one of your faves in the middle – Thomas Cedric has a nice ring 😉 I truly love this name – easy enough to keep people firmly using Thomas if you don’t love Tommy or Tom, but those are always sweet alternatives for various stages / spaces in his life.
I really think you have two great options that you both can live with, and probably learn to even love…
But cause it’s fun, how about:
Brooks
Dane
Isaac
Quincy
Love those with the sisters and Thomas as a middle (and they don’t repeat the -tt or -n endings of sisters)
Just a few other suggestions that may work:
Charlotte, Evelyn &
Miles
Tristan
Marshall
Frederick
Best wishes!!