Welcome Grady Matthew

Jess writes: Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! We ultimately decided on Grady, which I saw somewhere and then came back to the comments and realized it was suggested here, too! We get lots of positive comments about his name, which I love, and it hasn’t been misheard as Brady too often, which was my one initial hesitation. We also decided this baby needed an M in his name, too, so he’s Grady Matthew. Again, thank you so much for helping us figure this out, and we’ll be back again if we ever do go for a fourth!

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.

ALL THE BOY NAMES ARE TAKEN

Jess writes:

We have two boys, Emmett James and Miles Andrew. Our third son is due in May. With our older boys, we agreed on names really easily.

This time we’re coming up empty and the closer my due date gets, the more I’m starting to worry about it.

I think the problem is just how many little boys we know, especially because Emmett started kindergarten this year, and because we have seven nephews. My sister is due with another boy around the same time as me.

We’re not expecting our son to have a name no one else has or anything like that, but so many names feel like they belong to someone else in a way that makes us not want to use them.

Names we cannot use are: Theo/Theodore, Henry, Arlo, Sawyer, Carson, Jackson, Walker, and Ezra.

Names we like, but know someone with the name that makes it (maybe) awkward are Rowan, Beau, Bennett, Ben/Benjamin, Lincoln, Cameron, Jasper, Leo, Liam, Jonah, and Charles/Charlie.

We’ve always liked Summer for a girl, and so I kind of want to avoid S names in case we do have a fourth in the future and get to use the name.

So far we’ve talked about Dean, Hayden, Felix, and Nicholas, but they’re not really names we like enough to use.

I think we really need a new list!

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

FINDING FRESH SUGGESTIONS FOR A THIRD SON

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

I think you’ve described a feeling that can be hard to explain. It’s not that you can’t use the name of your younger kid’s bestie from Little Fishes swim class. It’s that Beau or Cameron or Charlie brings to mind a very specific face already. Like a seat on a crowded train, the name is fully occupied.

But I do think that list helps. Because it suggests names that you’ve noticed. Names that might’ve made your shortlist under different circumstances.

I’m going to ignore Dean, Hayden, Felix, and Nicholas for now. I don’t think they’re bad choices. But I don’t hear any enthusiasm for them, either.

Yes, let’s start fresh!

A BROTHER FOR EMMETT and MILES

CALLUM

Emmett and Miles both share a strong M sound. Maybe that’s why Callum instantly came to mind. It’s a little like Cameron. And, like Emmett and Miles, it’s a brief, complete name.

CAMDEN

A slightly more contemporary choice, Camden shares the same qualities as Callum.

DAMIAN

With siblings, sometimes varying the ending sounds is one way to ensure their names are distinct. I like the way Emmett, Miles, and Damian all have deep, ancient roots but different sounds.

HAYES

If Hayden isn’t quite right, would Hayes appeal? It (sort of) shares Miles’ ending, but I think the names are distinct and different.

HUGO

Theo are Arlo are on your can’t-use list, and Leo is taken. Would you consider Hugo? It has plenty of history, and a great meaning – heart or mind. It appears on this list with Emmett, and I think it’s very much your style.

ROMAN

There’s something quite grand about Roman, isn’t there? And yet, I think it works nicely with Emmett and Miles. It’s an alternative to Rowan.

TATUM

Tate is friendly and upbeat. Tatum is, too, but with a little more sound. Both are trending in use right now.

WESLEY

A name with plenty of quiet confidence, just like Emmett and Miles. One hesitation: if you’re Jess and you shorten Wesley, you’d be Jess and Wes. Adorable, but maybe a little repetitive, too!

Overall, I’m most drawn to Callum, Hugo, and Wesley. And I think I’m going to put Callum at the very top of that list. The subtle repetition of the M sound seems like a positive.

Maybe … Wesley Matthew, Hugo Damian, or Callum Reese?

Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Emmett and Miles?