Strong and Polished Boy Names for Baby Six

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.

A BROTHER FOR REID and GIBSON

AK writes:

I’m wondering if you have any name suggestions for a 6th child?

We’re looking for a boy name. His middle name will be Dale.

Siblings are:

• Reid Dale
• Gibson Dale
• Sadie Marguerite
• Ida Geneviève
• Hazel Evangelina

Our last name rhymes with Owen.

We would love any help!

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

FINDING FRESH OPTIONS

Abby replies:

Congratulations on baby six!

I’m going to make a few assumptions about your style and preferences:

• Because you haven’t repeated initials thus far, I’m going to assume we’re avoiding names that start with G, H, I, R, or S. This rule gets harder to follow as our families grow, but I’m guessing we can work with this constraint.
• We’re looking for polished boy names. That doesn’t mean classic – I don’t hear Charles or David appealing. While Reid and Gibson sound like 21st century picks, I can imagine both names at home in the 19th century, too. There’s a strength and a quietly traditional energy to names like this, and I’m guessing we’re looking for the same.
• Your boys’ name style is slightly different from your girls’ name style. While your daughters’ names feel distinctly vintage, I’m not sure we’re looking for the masculine equivalent of Ida, Hazel, or Sadie. A name like Archie, maybe, doesn’t feel quite right.
• Also noteworthy: your kids’ names all have different ending sounds. After five children, that’s quite a feat! I think this might be harder to continue, but I’m bearing it in mind.
• Popularity isn’t a major factor. At least, your kids’ names span the Top 100 to the not-in-the-Top 1000.
• Lastly, I’m guessing you don’t use nicknames. At least not anything derived from your children’s names.

FINDING POLISHED BOY NAMES

ARCHER

A strong sound, with an ending that hasn’t been used previously.

BECKETT

A good blend of strong, surname style with a smooth polish.

CALLUM

Callum blends traditional roots with a name that isn’t especially popular in the US, at least not until recent years.

JASPER

A little bit on the vintage side, Jasper feels like a brother for Ida, Hazel, and Sadie, but also a good match for your boys’ names.

MILES

A well-established first name with a bit of surname style, Miles splits the difference between Reid and Gibson.

TOWNES

While Townes doesn’t crack the current Top 1000, it fits in nicely with current trends.

XAVIER

An old school name with a distinctive sound.

WELLS

William might be too traditional, but Wells is a 21st century alternative to Will, with a sprinkling of well-being and positive energy.

Overall, I really like Archer Dale for your son’s name. I think it’s the right balance, one of those polished boy names that’s not quite vintage or modern. I love it with Reid, Gibson, Sadie, Ida, and Hazel, too. If not Jasper, then I’ll put Miles a close second.

Readers, over to you – can you suggest some polished boy names that go with siblings Reid, Gibson, Sadie, Ida, and Hazel?