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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.

CLASSIC NAMES WITH FRIENDLY NICKNAMES

Rachel writes:

After going through every name ever, we named our daughter Elizabeth, and call her Bess. People sometimes hear Tess, but it’s easy to explain and mostly people tell us they love her name.

Her little brother will be here early in the new year, and we cannot agree on a name. We know we’d like another traditional long name with a shorter nickname, hopefully something a little different.

So far we haven’t found it!

Names we’ve ruled out:

  • Theodore/Theo/Teddy – Because I just can’t with Ted. I blame the Mark Wahlberg movies. It feels like every kid we know is Theo or Leo.
  • Charles/Charlie – If they’re not Theo or Leo, our friends are naming their kids Charlie.
  • Alexander/Alex – Not really what we have in mind, but this is my nephew’s name anyway.
  • Harry/Henry – My husband insists that all he hears is Harry Styles. I’m not sure I see a problem here, but okay.
  • James/Jamie – It’s just not right, even though I’d like it to be.
  • Benjamin/Ben – My husband’s brother’s name. Doesn’t seem fair.
  • Samuel/Sam – Probably the name we’d choose if we had to choose today, but I think it’s just okay for both of us.

Our daughter has a family name that sounds like Tori as her middle name, and right now we’re planning to give it to this child, too, though we’re open to choosing a different family name if that ends up making more sense.

Our last name sounds like Conor-with-an-S.

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

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ADDING TO THE LIST

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

There’s this problem with naming a boy.

For generations, parents were far more inclined to give creative, even fanciful names to our daughters. The total list of names in use was just plain longer for girls.

We don’t feel that way now, but decades and decades of limiting our choices for boys means that fewer names feel immediately familiar and accessible.

In other words? You might hear these names and immediately dismiss them as old-fashioned or too out-there. But I think they deserve consideration. You just might have to think about them a little longer to feel like they’re the right fit.

ARTHUR/ARCHIE

Yes, Archie is traditionally associated with Archibald. But the sound is pretty much there with Arthur, too.

EDWARD/NED

I know what you mean about Ted. Despite my love for Theodore and Teddy, Ted feels like it’s not quite ready for revival. Ned, though? I think it’s delightfully old-fashioned, a name that’s riding bikes and skipping stones in small town America circa 1925. There’s also the principled Ned Stark – short for Eddard – from Game of Thrones.

FRANCIS or FRANKLIN/FRANK or FRANKIE

Into the early 1920s, Frank ranked in the US Top Ten. It’s been stuck in style limbo for years, though Frankie is trending for girls. But either Francis or Franklin has potential as a classic choice for a son with some cool, throwback nicknames.

GEORGE/GEORDIE

There’s something a little bit British about George – but then that’s true for Bess, too, isn’t it? Georgie is a possible nickname, but so is Geordie. (Pronounce it like Jordy.) It’s unexpected, just like Bess.

JONATHAN/JON

If you know lots of boys called Theo and Charlie, I suspect there are Jacks in your circle, too. So while it’s tempting to suggest Jonathan called Jack, I’m going to stick with Jonathan called Jon. Yes, John is an evergreen name, a former chart-topper. But today it’s uncommon, and Jonathan-called-Jon is even less common.

OSCAR/OZZY

A very current combination, Oscar shortened to Ozzy is traditional, but with plenty of edge.

SIMON/SY

Nearly no one is using Simon for their sons in the US right now. It hasn’t ranked in the US Top 200 since 1901. But everyone knows it and thinks of it as a rock solid, traditional choice. Bonus? It shares nickname Sy with stylish favorites like Silas.

THOMAS/TOM

On paper, Thomas has always been quite popular. And it is a former Top Ten name, worn by everyone from Thomas Jefferson to Tom Holland. But it doesn’t feel that common somehow. I like Tom as an alternative to Sam, and Tommy is just as sweet as Teddy.

Overall, my favorites are Ned and Geordie. I love the way they sound with Bess. Sort of old school, but also down-to-earth. I’m picturing them all climbing trees together.

I also wonder if Henry has potential if you call him Hank instead of Harry?

Readers, over to you! Can you suggest a traditional first name with a fun nickname for Elizabeth-called-Bess’ new brother?

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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What do you think?

25 Comments

  1. I’ve met a Jonathan who goes by Jonty which feels similarly unexpected.
    Jono (pronounced John-oh) as a nickname for John or Jonathan is fairly common in Australia but perhaps less so in the US?

  2. Love the name George, but I wouldnโ€™t use it with Bess. Those were the names of Nancy Drewโ€™s two best friends. Not a super current or bad association, but personally I would avoid any names that are connected so closely, or Iโ€™d at least want to be aware of it.

  3. Love Bess as a nickname for Elizabeth .. it might be my favourite!

    My ideas have been suggested, but I want particularly to second Christopher nn Kit and Philip nn Pip.

    Elizabeth & Christopher : Bess & Kit
    Elizabeth & Philip : Bess & Pip

    Love these!!

    Wondering about Jem or Jim or Jimmy as a nn for James? I know of 2 young Jimmy’s and it’s surprising but fun. Jem also fits well with Bess, but I’m surprised by how much I actually like Jim.

    Elizabeth & James : Bess & Jim

    And one other a bit out of left field – Clarence nn Clancy?

    Elizabeth & Clarence : Bess & Clancy

    All the very best!

  4. Maybe the difficulty here is classic nicknames are super hot for boys right now? And you found a great combo by using ultra conservative Elizabeth but surprising Bess?

    Jonathan โ€˜Nateโ€™
    Nicholas โ€˜Coleโ€™
    Christopher โ€˜Kipโ€™
    Gregory โ€˜Roryโ€™
    Tobias โ€˜Tobyโ€™
    Anthony โ€˜Tonyโ€™
    William โ€˜Liamโ€™
    Patrick โ€˜Patchโ€™ or โ€˜Rickyโ€™
    Philip โ€˜Flipโ€™ (maybe too much with Elizabeth but I love Flip!โ€™

    Or something less common classic but nickname rich and still lovely with sister IMHOโ€ฆ
    Lysander โ€˜Andyโ€™
    Montgomery โ€˜Montyโ€™
    Cornelius โ€˜Neilโ€™
    Calloway โ€˜Coleโ€™
    Harrison โ€˜Sonnyโ€™ or you โ€˜Harryโ€™ or โ€˜Harrisโ€™

    I see Iโ€™m seconding a few but didnโ€™t take them out cause agree, but maybe different nicknames. Love Fritz and Charles called Arlo!

  5. I ran to the comments to suggest Nathaniel “Nat”!

    Elizabeth and Nathaniel
    Bess and Nat
    Perfection!

    From Abby’s suggestions, I think George “Geordie” is absolutely darling

    1. Oh or what about Isaac called Ike?
      Elizabeth and Isaac
      Bess and Ike

      Or Charles but called Arlo instead of Charlie?
      Elizabeth and Charles
      Bess and Arlo

      Zachary called Zeke?
      Elizabeth and Zachary
      Bess and Zeke

  6. Albert โ€” Albie, Bert, Bertie
    Alfred โ€” Alfie
    Anthony โ€” Tony
    Archibald/Archer โ€” Archie
    Christopher โ€” Kit, Topher
    Clement โ€” Clem
    Edmund/Edward/Edwin โ€” Ned
    Francis/Franklin โ€” Frank
    Frederick โ€” Freddie, Fritz
    Isaac โ€” Ike
    Lawrence โ€” Laurie
    Mitchell
    Montgomery โ€” Monty
    Patrick โ€” Patch
    Philip โ€” Pip
    Richard โ€” Rick
    Robert โ€” Dob, Hob, Robin
    Stephen
    Thaddeus โ€” Tad, Thad
    Tobias โ€” Toby
    Victor โ€” Vic
    Vincent โ€” Vin

  7. Also came to comment Henry called Hank. Love Francis called Frankie. Iโ€™ll add Arthur called Art. Charles called Chaz. William called Will. Oilver called Ollie. James called Ames although I have always loved Jamie for a boy. Robert called Bobby or Robbie. Michael called Mickey. Jeremiah called Jem. Frederick called Rick or Red. Elliott called Eli or Otto. Leonard called Lenny. August/Augustus called Gus. Nicholas called Cole. Laurence is another evergreen with unexpected diminutives like Laurie, Lars, Lance, Ren.
    Another idea is to choose a classic name you love and add in a J (or P/D/T) middle nameโ€”- JJ, AJ, EJ, PJ, TJ, JP, JD. Elizabeth โ€˜Toriโ€™ and Philip Jack or Jeremiah Parker or James โ€˜Toriโ€™. Bess and PJ. Bess and JP. Bess and JT.

  8. I love Abbyโ€™s suggestion of โ€œHankโ€ for Henryโ€™s nickname. I am including some more ideas-some are a little more fanciful, but I thought you might want to see them anyway. Best wishes!!

    Oliver โ€œOllieโ€
    Elijah โ€œEliโ€
    Daniel โ€œDannyโ€
    Nathaniel โ€œNateโ€
    Bartholomew โ€œTollyโ€
    Peregrine โ€œPerryโ€
    Percival โ€œPercyโ€
    Valentine โ€œValโ€
    Maximilian โ€œMaxโ€
    Ludovic โ€œLudoโ€
    Montague โ€œMontyโ€