Traditional Boy Names: A Brother for Catherine, Vincent, and Miriam

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.

TRADITIONAL, NOT POPULAR BOY NAMES

Lynne writes:

Our fourth baby will be here any day now. We’ve been calling him Kermit all along, because somehow our three year old got the idea that this baby is a frog. But for an actual name we’re pretty stuck.

We like traditional names, but prefer names that our kids won’t have to share. As much as I love Catherine’s name, and always wanted that name for my first daughter, the whole Catherine-with-a-C thing gets old, and there are other Katherines in our friends group.

We do like saints’ names, but I really want to love the name more than anything.

Vincent’s name has been perfect, and we’re looking for another boy name just like that. We also like that he gets called Vincent all the time now, but if he wants to in the future, he could be Vince.

Our boy’s name for Catherine was Benedict, but Ben is too short for me, and now we realize that there are lots of Bens. (Though not so many Benedicts!)

My husband tends to like really different names. He’s suggested Ambrose, Sebastian, and Clement. Sebastian is too popular, though we don’t know any. And I’m not sure I’m into Ambrose or Clement.

Also, I don’t think I want to repeat initials, but maybe I’m being too fussy now.

Our last name starts with Mac and the second part rhymes with Story.

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

NAMING A BROTHER FOR CATHERINE, VINCENT, AND MIRIAM

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

I think you’ve got a good list of criteria – just enough to narrow your options, but not so much to be limiting. Let’s sum them up:

• Traditional first name, preferably associated with a Catholic saint
• Not the kind of name that automatically gets shortened (like Benedict/Ben), though a potential nickname option is appreciated
• Probably won’t begin with C, V, or M
• Not too popular, not too out-there

I’m so tempted to suggest names like Kenneth, in hopes of leaning into the in utero nickname Kermit! But alas, I don’t think any of the options work that well.

Instead, let’s start fresh. Some of these feel a little older, while others are more contemporary.

TRADITIONAL BOY NAMES YOUR SON (PROBABLY) WON’T HAVE TO SHARE

ABEL

We know it’s an Old Testament name, though we tend to hear it as the word. Able, as in capable. Besides the feuding brother, there’s another Saint Abel from the eighth century.

ALBERT

It’s so delightfully old school, and yet who could argue with Albert?

EDWIN

There’s something smooth about Edwin. Way more than Edward or Edmund, right?

FELIX

It’s an old school name, but that X at the end makes it feel very current. It’s a midpoint between popular Alex and Max and super old school Augustine and Ignatius.

LAWRENCE

No one is naming their sons Lawrence – not in big numbers anyway – but this is a name that just plain works. It’s traditional, has fun nickname options – Lars, Lawrie/Laurie, Ren – and everyone immediately recognizes. Strictly speaking, Laurence is an equally valid spelling … but Americans favor Lawrence-with-a-W pretty significantly.

PETER

In my mind, Peter belongs in the same category as Henry and Theodore. That’s not quite right, though. Peter never ranked in the US Top 25 and it’s been out of the Top 100 since the 1990s. So it’s obviously classic and nicely uncommon.

ROBERT

The story of Robert is similar to Peter, except that back in the day? Robert was number one! There are lots of grandpa Bobs out there, but not nearly as many little Bobbys and Robbies. If Albert is darling, but a little too old school, Robert might strike the right note.

SIMON

Simon sounds smart and traditional, but again? It’s far less popular than you might guess.

Overall, I’m drawn to Felix. It checks all the boxes on your lists, plus that final letter X makes it so very cool. Catherine, Vincent, Miriam, and Felix.

I’d put Edwin a close second. One benefit to Edwin is potential nickname Ned, which is fun and vintage. Though Eddie can be sweet, too.

Readers, over to you. What would you name a brother for Catherine, Vincent, and Miriam?