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.
NAMING A THIRD SON
Kelly writes:
We are expecting baby boy number three, and as always I’m struggling to narrow down the list – flip flopping between names almost daily. We have two older boys named Everett Jude and Arthur Abel.
We originally wanted to do a name theme where all our children have a name that has an animal meaning, but I’m no longer attached to that idea. I would like this baby to have his own first initial.
Names that I like but my husband doesn’t care for: Callum & Otto.
Names I think I can talk him into: Barnaby & Theodore.
I am crushing on Barnaby Jack or Barnaby Drake. Is that too out there with my older boys’ names? And What nicknames would be cute for Barnaby? I like Theodore, and love Teddy as the nickname.
Am I missing a name that is more perfect?
Our last name is a single syllable common surname that starts with Sh.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
DOES MATCHING POPULARITY MATTER?
Abby responds:
Congratulations on your third son!
Theodore and Barnaby share the same basic style as Everett and Arthur. They’re polished, a little old-school, with great nickname options.
And yet, they’re also at opposite ends of the popularity spectrum. Theodore ranks in the US Top Ten, while Barnaby has never charted in the US Top 1000.
That said, Barnaby is trending upward in England, and that often signals a future rise in the US.
In comparison, Everett is a current US Top 100 name, while Arthur sits just outside the current Top 100.
In that sense, both names are outliers – but they’re also perfect.
The logical nickname for Barnaby is Barney. What else might work? Bear is the one that comes to mind. The sound is almost there, and Barnaby Bear was a children’s television character in the UK.
Let’s see if we can find some more strong names for Everett and Arthur’s brother that offer a distinct initial, that same old school-modern sound, but fall somewhere between Theodore and Barnaby in terms of popularity.
NAMING EVERETT AND ARTHUR’S BROTHER
CONRAD
This name is trending upward in use, thanks in part to a romantic lead from YA-novels-turned-Netflix hit The Summer I Turned Pretty. But it’s also a strong, classic name with a distinctive sound that fits your criteria nicely.
FRANKLIN
A distinguished surname, but also a sort of cozy, down-to-earth choice, Franklin shares lots of the same qualities as Arthur and Everett, but has a different first initial and ending sound.
FREDERICK
Teddy always makes me think of Freddie. Frederick is every bit as traditional as Theodore, but not nearly as common.
HARVEY
While Barney is stuck in style limbo, Harvey is back. Credit our love of Henry and that great middle V sound.
HUGO
If Otto is a non-starter, might Hugo appeal? It has a warmth to it, and sounds just right with Everett and Arthur.
LOUIS
I considered quite a few S names, as well as names ending in S. But I’m not clear how we’ll they’d work with your one-syllable surname starting with S. Louis, though? Pronounce it like Louie and it almost certainly sounds right with your boys’ names and your last name, too.
RUSSELL
On paper, Russell is a little more modern than Arthur and Everett. It was still very popular through the 1960s. And yet, Russell’s rise started in the early 20th century. It’s the name of one of the families at the center of HBO Max historical drama The Gilded Age. And it has a sort of amber-hued glow about it.
TIMOTHY
This might be the first time I’ve put Timothy on a recommendation list, but I think it reads like a more familiar take on Barnaby – particularly when use in full. It’s a great sound, and works well with Everett and Arthur, too.
I’m not sure any of these top Theodore or Barnaby, but I love the idea of Hugo Barnaby or Conrad Drake as Everett and Arthur’s brother.
After thinking about it for a few days, a couple things jump out at me about your boys’ names:
1) both start with different vowels
2) both have two syllables
3) both are animal-related (which you mentioned)
4) both have different endings
So what name fits this pattern? I can only think of one. (And maybe it’s already been mentioned? I didn’t read all the comments yet.)
Everett, Arthur, and… Orson.
Congratulations and best wishes!
Love the suggestions of Russell and Roscoe! I think something with t and r sounds are great with Everett and Arthur – so Theodore seems perfect me too.
Tristan seems like is is in the realm especially with an non r or t ending. Trenton is the right sound, even if not as established. Trevor is not current but is kind of great with his brothers. Thorton is a strong unique choice too.
The suggestions of Orson, Otis, Orrin and Otto seem like great options. We know Otto and he always gets compliments on his name. But the O name that seems to hold best is Oliver. I know it is popular but it is great.
Everett, Arthur and Oliver.. Oliver Luke maybe?
Congrats to you and your family on the little one on the way. Chiming in to say FRANKLIN and RUSSELL from Abby’s suggestions are my favorites from the post!
I like previous posters’ suggestions of BERTRAND. Additionally, your husband’s choice of CALLUM feels very fitting for Everett and Arthur.
Not sure that I could add any other suggestions but I do so hope you find the one you and your husband can agree on.
Happy name hunting!
x
also Jonah!
Orson feels pretty much perfect and was my first thought.
Isaiah
I also really like the suggestion of Isaac.
Ivan was I think also suggested and could work.
Ives?
Isidore?
Ishmael?
Omar?
Oscar works well.
Uri?
Kind of off the wall but what about Ulysses for another strong vowel, and the idea of travel and voyaging provides a similar strong image.
The Leo names could work here.
Bertrand
Bennett
Beckett
Calvin. Or Calder.
I really like Abby’s suggestion of Conrad. Constantine could also be fun?
Callum made me think of Stellan.
Ronan is really fun.
A couple more thoughts: I’ve encountered a young Otto, a budding teenage entrepreneur who had his was popular and on the honor roll. It’s a hipster sort of name. I think Otis and Orson from your suggestions both have the same sort of vibe.
Arthur and Everett both have the same feel to me. I would probably lean into the stylish old man name vibe. In your shoes, I’d look at your great grandfathers’ names, particularly middle names or at names that were in the top 100 circa 1920.
So, maybeyou consider: Harold (Hal, Harry), Frank, Raymond (Ray), Albert (Al, Bert, Bertie), Ralph (Watch “A Christmas Story” again), Kenneth, Howard (which I suggested before), Clarence (Clancy), Lawrence (Larry or Ren), Leonard (Leo), Warren, Stanley (Stan), Alfred (Alf, Alfie), Bernard, Chester (Chet), Lloyd, Clifford (Cliff), Gerald (Jerry, Ged or Jed), Vincent (Vin),
Allen, etc.
Your boys’ names are right there on that list too. I think a “d’ ending name would probably sound right with your surname. Bernard is connected with bears, Leonard with lions, Howard with “ewe herder.”
I like how the suggestions of Rafferty and Timothy have the same cadence as Barnaby.
I want to also suggest: Zachary (Zac). I like the shared R sound between the names too – they are all quite distinct names that sound nice together.
Maybe also: Jeremy (Remy)
Good point re: cadence of names like Rafferty/Timothy/Zachary/Jeremy.
Ok, hear me out. Nickname Barnaby with Bumblebee/Bee
Rafferty (This was the first one to pop in my head. Everett, Arthur, and Rafferty)
Conan
Dmitri
Ivan
Osric
Kurt
Basil