Top Brother Names for Audrey and Hazel – Name Help Needed!

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!

THEY NEED A LIST FOR NUMBER THREE

Jo writes:

We have two girls, Audrey Joan and Hazel Beth.

My husband chose Audrey and I chose Hazel, and I think this process works for us:

• We both list all the names that we’re thinking of, usually around 12ish to 20ish
• We swap lists, cross off the ones we really can’t stand

Because my husband felt strongly that Audrey was the only name he liked from my list, we agreed that I’d get final choice for our second child. In that case, there were probably three names that we both liked, and I chose Hazel.

This time it’s my husband’s turn to make the final choice, but I still need a good list, and I hope you and your readers can help!

Since we were expecting Audrey, we agreed on these rules:

• No family first names
• No nickname names/full names only

The problem is that I feel really not-creative about boy names, and I think my husband is in the same place. We haven’t swapped lists yet, but I think we’re both stuck on traditional names like William, Joseph, and James. We know lots of boys with names like Hudson and Crew, but those feel too trendy to me. And I can’t really imagine naming a kid Cedric or Ambrose, though I almost wish I was brave enough!

So what are the obvious brother names for Audrey and Hazel?

His middle name will probably be Mark and our last name sounds like Win plus Nic.

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

IDENTIFYING THE TOP QUALITIES FOR A BOY’S NAME

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

I think you’re in that really interesting – and challenging, and all-too-familiar! – place with boys’ names. It can feel harder to strike the right balance between traditional and trendy.

But I think your girls’ names can serve as a really good guide. Based on Audrey and Hazel, the right name will be:

• Current, in the sense that it probably ranks in/near the US Top 100
• Traditional, in the sense that it has been used in the past and/or has a story that makes it feel more like a vintage revival than a modern discovery
• As you mentioned previously, nickname-proof!

The fun part, of course, is that you’re not exactly looking for The Name. You’re looking for The List that will lead to a good final choice. So rather than suggest compromises, I’m going to push towards the more current end of the list – because it sounds like your husband has the other side covered!

A BROTHER FOR AUDREY AND HAZEL

CARTER

Polished surname name Carter has been around for ages, ranking in the US Top 1000 nearly every year since 1880.

DYLAN

A Welsh name made familiar by poet Dylan Thomas and singer Bob Dylan, this name feels traditional but in a very current way – just like Audrey and Hazel.

EVERETT

Names like Bennett and Beckett might sound a little abrupt with the TT ending and your surname’s strong CK final sound. But Everett has an extra syllable, and it makes all the difference.

GRAYSON

Like Carter, a polished surname that feels like a first.

LEVI

An Old Testament name transformed into an American favorite thanks to Levi Strauss and the jeans that bear his name.

REID

Strong, bright Reid is a timeless, enduring kind of name.

TATE

Along the same lines, Tate is just four letters and a single syllable, but it’s a distinctive choice.

ZANE

Zane has been a go-to name in recent generations, and it straddles the current/traditional line with ease.

My favorite is Levi. Audrey, Hazel, and Levi – three different first initials, three distinctive ending sounds, but somehow they feel compatible. Grayson is a close second. I’d probably rank Reid higher, except Reid Mark is a little bit abrupt.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Audrey Joan and Hazel Beth?