Strong Boy Names: A Brother for Jack and Ben

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.

THIRD BOY, OUT OF NAMES

Kiara writes:

I’m due with our third child, and third son, in a few weeks. Naming our first two boys was easy. This time, we’ve got NOTHING.

Our boys are:

• Jack Easton – We agreed on Jack as soon as we knew we were having a boy. We picked Easton from a list we found online.
• Bennett “Ben” Vaughn – We both liked Ben but couldn’t agree on Benjamin. Somehow we both came up with Bennett and it just felt right. Once we had his first name, we found Vaughn on another list.

Our last name sounds like the letter M plus ler, so it rules out M names and names ending with R.

Names we have discussed this time:

• Logan – Husband’s runner-up name from Jack, but I never warmed up to it and I like it even less now.
• Drew/Andrew – Another name we talked about for Jack, not really working for me this time.
• Gray/Grayson – I think this is my favorite right now, but is Gray too different compared to Jack and Ben? I like that our boys’ names are very strong, traditional names without being too old-fashioned.
• Theo – Kind of breaks our pattern, and I worry that it’s weird to not name him Theodore. Husband is a hard no on Theodore, but on board with Theo.
• Henry – Loved this name for Jack, but husband was a no. He’s coming around now, but I’m not sure this time.
• Wells – A friend suggested this one, and I really like it, but when I say it with our last name, I don’t like it as much.
• Wes/Wesley/Weston – Wells came up because I was saying I was disappointed that Wesley didn’t sound great with our last name. We talked about Weston, but with Jack’s middle name, this just seems weird.
• Case – Husband’s newest suggestion, and I like the sound, but I don’t think it’s enough of a name. Also, I dislike the way that it can be spelled so many different ways.
• Ryder – Jack’s suggestion because Paw Patrol. If not for the Ryder M-ler of it all, maybe we’d use it at this point!

I think we need some new ideas, or someone else to tell us if The Name is already on our list.

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

FINDING MORE NAMES LIKE JACK & BEN

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your third son!

Sometimes it’s tough to name our first child because we’re starting with a blank slate. We choose anything! Bob. Anaximander. Lucius. It’s all possible, at least in some sense.

But as our family grows, we start to feel a very different constraint. We’re not just naming our child. We’re naming our older kids’ new sibling, and there’s an urge to match – without duplicating – that can feel really limiting.

It sounds like you’re straddling a line between more classic names, like Jack and Henry, with more modern ones, like Ryder and Case. Bennett feels like a perfect midpoint between the two styles.

Call them modern traditionals. It’s a deep category, with plenty of different options.

From your list, Grayson strikes me as the obvious choice. Jack, Ben, and Gray go together really well, but so do Jack, Bennett, and Grayson.

It’s exactly as you describe: strong, traditional, not too old-fashioned.

Also worth noting: Grayson/Gray is pretty close to Case, one of your husband’s favorites.

If not Grayson, let’s see if we can brainstorm some more names that fit the same general vibe.

MODERN TRADITIONALS LIKE JACK AND BENETT

AUGUST

Nickname Gus has a similar sound to Wes. August blends traditional roots – it’s been used for millennia – with a modern, word name sensibility.

DEAN

Dean is such a fun name. It’s got that old world, elite university vibe – think Oxford or Princeton – with 1960s surfer energy, and a hint of James Dean, too. But it’s also strong, straightforward and rising in use again today.

HAYES

Blend the sounds of Case, Wells, Wes, Gray, and maybe even a touch of Henry and you’ll arrive at Hayes. Strictly speaking, it’s a cousin to early 2000s favorite Aiden, and shares the meaning: fiery.

HUGO

If you’re feeling like Theo is great, but incomplete, might I suggest Hugo instead? It’s every bit as established as Theodore, but Hugo is the full name. It means heart or mind, which holds plenty of appeal. Hugo balances traditional with 21st century style nicely.

MILES

I almost took this one off the list because you mentioned your surname – M plus ler – rules out M names. But does it? I struggled more with strong L sounds. I think something likes Miles M-plus-ler could be the perfect amount of repeating sound. And I think you’re style exactly.

REID

On the other hand, I agree that a two-syllable first name ending with R isn’t ideal with two-syllable surname ending with R. Would Reid work instead of Ryder? There’s no Paw Patrol tie-in, but it’s a great sound that fits your criteria.

TATE

If not Gray, possibly Tate would appeal? I love the strong, bright sound for you.

WYATT

Some of these names, like Case and Ryder, seem to have a sort of cowboy, home-on-the-range appeal. And you do seem drawn to W names. Wyatt does have a little bit of that Wild West pedigree, thanks to historical figure Wyatt Earp. But it also feels traditional(ish), thanks to so many years in the US Top 100. One drawback? I’m not sure Wy feels like a viable short form. And it is another TT ending name. But if you’re calling your boys Jack, Ben, and Wyatt, it works nicely.

Overall, I do think Grayson could be exactly right. Grayson Henry, maybe? If not Grayson, my next favorite would be Hayes. I like Hayes Ryder. But if I can convince you to consider an M. name, then Miles Henry would be my top pick.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Jack and Bennett called Ben?