Traditional, Strong, Smart Names for a Brother for Felix

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.

TWO LISTS, NO OVERLAP

Allison writes:

We have a son named Felix Michael. Felix was the only name that we agreed on, and neither of us was 100% when we chose it, but it really fits him now. Michael is the name of both of our fathers.

Our second son will be here this summer. This time we agree on exactly zero names.

My favorites: Barney, Louie, Shiloh, Briar, Truth, Darius, Ambrose, Reuben, Shepherd, Hollis.

His favorites: Bennett, Beckett, August, Micah, Jasper, Jonah, Jude, Henry, Charlie.

If it were up to me, I’d name this baby Barney. Yes, I know about the dinosaur and The Flinstones. But I just love it, and I don’t think either of those associations will be a problem. My husband is a hard no on Barney, though, so I guess I really need to move on.

Our last name is one syllable, starts with an R, rhymes with boss. We would like to use the middle name Jason, Edward, Paul, Kearney, or Marshall depending on which sounds best.

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

LETTING GO OF A FAVORITE NAME

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

Here’s the thing: letting go of a favorite name is generous and wise and hard. Why? Because we’re not just giving up a collection of letters and sounds. It’s an image in our head of our desired future. And while we know, instinctively, that our children will surprise us and we can’t really guess at what they’ll be like? That does not diminish the power of the emotion and possibility we’ve attached to that name.

But you’re right, of course. Instead of investing energy in hoping your husband will warm to Barney, it’s better to start fresh.

Looking at your lists, it seems like your husband is drawn to more mainstream names. Not popular, exactly – neither of you are considering Top Ten names. None of these are rock solid classics, either. But it’s not as if your list is wildly different or impossible old school.

It’s just a matter of degree. There’s lots of space between, say, Liam and James and Galaxy and Horace. His list is a little closer to the Liam/James mark, while you’re willing to venture the tiniest bit into the Galaxy/Horace space.

From your current lists, I do think there’s room for compromise. Shepherd and Jasper would be my picks for names that feel the most like Felix’s brother, while finding that middle spot between your list and his.

But I also think some new choices might help, so let’s brainstorm.

A BROTHER FOR FELIX

ABEL

There aren’t a lot of Biblical names on your lists, but there are some. I tend to think of Abel as more vintage/antique than religious anyway. It’s almost a virtue/word name, but clearly on the right side of name-like.

BOWEN

Two sounds that stand out to me: lots of B names. Many bright O sounds, like Jonah and Shiloh. Bowen feels like a substitute for Beckett, with a bright, energetic kind of vibe.

GRADY

There are plenty of surnames on his list, so I wonder if a surname that sounds a little more like Barney could appeal to you?

HARVEY

The perfect midpoint between Henry and Barney. Traditional, familiar, rising in use – and yet not nearly as popular as Henry or as different as Barney. I also like Harvey’s middle V, since Felix has that ending X. There’s something satisfying about knowing both of your children’s names would have a high value score in Scrabble!

LUCIAN

I wonder if something that picks up on Louie’s sound, but looks more conventional would appeal?

MILES

A Top 100 favorite that blends sounds from Micah and Hollis.

TRUETT

Take Truth from your list, and Beckett and Bennett from his, and Truett feels like the most obvious middle ground choice. It ranks in the US Top 1000, but it’s not terribly common. I like it so much as a brother for Felix.

WESLEY

I keep looking for names that pick on some of Barney’s appeal, sound like a brother for Felix, and also push closer to your husband’s style. I’m not sure if Wesley checks every box, but I think it’s worth consideration.

As a brother for Felix, my favorites are probably Truett, Lucian, and Harvey. Maybe Truett Edward, Harvey Marshall, or Lucian Kearney?

Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Felix Michael?