Wild West Names for Wyatt’s New Brother

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A BROTHER FOR WYATT EMERY

Julie writes:

We have a three year old son, Wyatt Emery, and our second son will be here in April. Our list of names is long, but nothing feels like the one. And I can’t stop myself from adding names to our list, which isn’t helping.

What we love about Wyatt’s name: it sounds like a Western name. We live in an east coast city now, but I’m from Colorado and my husband is from Wyoming.

Because our girl name is Lainey, we don’t want to use Laine/Lane for a boy.

Names we have considered:

• Silas – love Wyatt and Silas together, but don’t want Wy and Sy
• Emmett – but very close to Wyatt’s middle name
• Ezekiel/Zeke – we like Zeke better than Ezekiel, especially with our last name
• Colton – husband likes, I’m meh
• Cody – husband likes, I’m meh
• Austin – we don’t have any ties to Texas, so I’m not sure I like it
• Denver – I’m from Colorado, but not Denver, so again, not sure (but I do like Aspen for a girl, so maybe I’m wrong about this?)
• Rowan – don’t want a unisex name and we know two girls named Rowan
• Ranger – seems too much/don’t like titles as names
• Jack – we know a lot of Jacks/Jacksons
• Grayson – I really like, my husband is meh
• Knox – I really like, my husband is meh
• Levi – might be the name, except friends just named their baby Levi. I think we could still use it, but doesn’t feel as exciting as it did before, if that makes sense
• Logan – always loved this name, but it’s kind of faded for me now
• Van/Vaughn – maybe, but not sure it’s enough name
• Cal/Callahan – I think I like Cal better than Callahan, but not sure if it could be short for something else
• Granger – love the sound, but is it too Harry Potter? Really don’t like that association
• Heath – like the sound so much, and my husband is okay with Heath, but I feel like it gets a mostly negative reaction when I suggest it
• Thomas – just a name I’ve always liked, feels a little too ordinary but I do like the sound
• Carson – I like it, not sure if it’s right
• Ford – kind of love it, husband isn’t sure
• Montgomery – we probably wouldn’t use it, but I think Monty is adorable
• Waylon – the latest name I’ve added to my list
• Owen – another name I really like, but it goes on and off my list
• Dutton – we loved Yellowstone, but did we love it this much?!

Our last name sounds like Purse-plus-Elle.

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

AS WESTERN AS WYATT

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new son!

It’s clear you’ve done lots of work already, and you do have a good sense of your style. Looking for new names is fun, too, right? We can endlessly imagine possible futures for our families and our children while we browse list after carefully curated list.

But as our due date gets closer? It’s time to focus on the names that best meet our criteria.

You’re looking for a heritage choice. Something that connects your east coast baby boy to his roots in Colorado and Wyoming.

In addition, the name has to pair well with Wyatt, leave space for a possible daughter named Lainey in the future, and work with your last name.

I’m going to suggest we evaluate your current list and find new names based on these criteria:

• Your son’s name should be familiar. Almost certainly ranked in the US Top 1000, maybe even in the Top 100.
• We’re looking for a name that feels current. Wyatt is a name with lots of twenty-first century energy. His brother’s name should match.
• Nickname-proof is probably better. I’m guessing you sometimes call Wyatt “Wy,” but in general, we’re probably looking for a complete name – though I can see that something like Ezekiel-called-Zeke challenges that thinking.

EVALUATING YOUR CURRENT LIST

Based on your current list, I’m going to drop Silas (nickname conflict); Rowan (unisex name); Logan (sounds like a former favorite); Ezekiel/Zeke, Callahan/Cal (nickname concerns); Colton, Cody, Knox (one parent dislikes and I think they’re probably right); Heath, Granger, Montgomery, Ranger (maybe too different); Emmett, Austin, Denver, Dutton, Jack, Van/Vaughn, Thomas, Owen (just not a fit).

That leaves six names, and I’ll rank them in this order.

5. CARSON, FORD

I think Carson and Ford both strike the same balance between traditional and Western as Wyatt. But if it’s a maybe, I’ll keep them near the bottom of my list.

4. WAYLON

What a great name! But … is Wyatt and Waylon too close? Some families wouldn’t mind, but you’re hesitating to repeat a syllable from Wyatt’s middle name.

3. LEVI

Possibly my top choice for you, though I understand what you mean about it feeling less special now that there’s another baby in your circle with the same name.

2. EMMETT

Yes, it repeats part of Wyatt’s name. That shows that you probably really like it. Also: Wyatt Emery and Emmett Levi? Or Wyatt Emery and Emmett Callahan? I barely notice it.

1. GRAYSON

If your husband could warm to Grayson, I think pairs so well with Wyatt. It’s similar in terms of popularity. If you do shorten their names to Wy and Gray, there’s zero conflict. And Grayson sounds like a slightly more polished take on Waylon, a midpoint between Waylon and Carson.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

I’ll add just a few new ideas to consider.

BOONE

I love the meaning: good. And it has a strong, distinctive, Western sound that matches well with Wyatt.

CALLUM

Another thought for a Cal- name.

JESSE

Like Levi, this is an Old Testament name with ties to the Wild West.

TRACE

Like Boone, it’s brief and complete, with a strong vowel sound.

Overall, my top pick from my list is probably Boone. It’s upbeat and established, but also rich in Western bona fides.

I’ll make my top suggestion Grayson Boone, though I love the idea of Emmett Levi, too.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a brother for Wyatt Emery?