Tags
choosing baby names, classic names, honouring, middle names, modern classics, nicknames, popular names, sibsets, vintage names
Kate and Daniel are expecting a baby boy later in the year and feeling slightly stuck with names. They both like vintage-style names, but Kate doesn’t want anything too popular.
These are names that Kate loves and Daniel can tolerate:
Arthur
Theodore
Edward (maybe too common?)
Edmund
Daniel loves the name Xavier, and has vetoed Reuben.
The potential middle names they have picked out are Henry, Arthur, Ambrose, and Adam, which are all family names.
Kate and Daniel already have a daughter called Matilda, and don’t want a name that starts with M, or ends in -a or -er that might clash with hers. The family surname begins with H and ends in T eg Hackett, and the name can’t clash with that either.
They’d like feedback on their name list, and are interested in hearing any suggestions people have for them.
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Kate and Daniel, let’s look at your name list.
ARTHUR
I love that this is a family name you would consider moving from the position to the first name. That makes it seem pretty special, and I think Matilda and Arthur sound great together, while Arthur Henry is a handsome name combination. I’m not sure how a name ending in -ur is different to one ending in -er (I say them pretty much the same way), but this is a family name, and you might consider that trumps any name rules you have.
THEODORE
Another fantastic choice that sounds great with Matilda, and has fashionable nickname options like Theo and Ted. Theodore sounds good with all the middle names you are considering, with Theodore Arthur and Theodore Ambrose particularly attractive.
EDWARD
A handsome classic name that is a nice match with Matilda and sounds good with your chosen middle names – Edward Arthur and Edward Henry appeal to me. It isn’t in the Top 50 nationally, but if you are in the south-eastern states and territory, it will probably seem more popular than that in your region. Also, because Edward has almost never been out of the Top 100, that might make it seem too common overall, since it is a popular name in all age groups. On the other hand, that gives it a “timeless classic” status you might approve of.
EDMUND
This is the only name on your list that actually is a non-popular vintage name, and would be a brilliant alternative to popular Edward, while sharing the nickname Ted with both Edward and Theodore (the fact you chose all three makes me wonder if you are working towards having a Ted?). It is a perfect match with Matilda, and based on what you asked for, this should be an automatic winner.
XAVIER
This breaks quite a few of your “names rules” because it’s a modern classic, it’s popular and becoming more popular, and it ends in -er. But I am fully in favour of breaking your own name rules for a name that you love, and this makes a nice, contemporary-sounding match with Matilda, and has more or less the same popularity as Matilda too. I think this sounds best with the middle name Adam, if you planned to use it.
It seems as if there are names that Kate loves and Daniel can tolerate, while Daniel loves a name that Kate can tolerate. In an ideal world you would both love the same names, but it’s possible that in this case you might have to compromise a bit.
It seems as if compromise might be harder on Daniel, because so far, he only really loves one name. And it doesn’t fit with the “name rules”, which makes me wonder if they are rules you came up with together? I think some more negotiation might be necessary here!
Daniel, is it possible there are other names you could love? Or would you be satisfied if Kate chose the first name (as long as you had full veto powers, of course), and you chose the middle name?
I also wonder what would happen if you had a third child, and it was a boy too – would Xavier be on the table for his name, or even be the natural choice if Daniel didn’t get his choice this time? If so, do you need a name now that might go with Xavier further down the track? You also need to bear in mind that Xavier might be even more popular by the time you have a third child.
In a case like this where there isn’t one name that’s both your favourite, I think you should discuss together what things you want in a name, what’s important to you, and how important it is to you. Then be very businesslike and award each name on your list points for how well it fulfils your wants.
Then once you get down to the 2-3 names which seem to best suit your needs, drop the points system and just think about how much you like the name. Which name make you feel warm inside when you say it? Which one makes you smile? Which one can you imagine yelling out on school sports day? Which one makes you feel proud to introduce your son?
Other names you might like:
Felix (a retro name with Xavier’s X-factor)
Frederick (fashionable classic with low popularity)
George (a steady classic like Edward)
Leo
Sebastian
Tobias
Nathaniel
Joseph (another steady classic)
Gabriel
Alfred (another classic with low popularity, shortens to Alfie)
Winston (vintage, low popularity)
Stanley (another classic with low popularity)
Some of these names are popular, but none more popular than Xavier and Matilda.
Kate and Daniel, you’ve got some great names already, and I’m sure you will be able to agree on a name that works for both of you.
NAME UPDATE: The baby’s name is Theodore!
POLL RESULT: The public’s top choices for the baby’s name were Arthur, at 29%, and Theodore, at 28%.
Waltzing More Than Matilda 
Pingback: Name Update: Theodore Has Arrived! | Waltzing More Than Matilda
We just had a girl and named her Matilda. She has two big brothers Archie and Henry.
We are always getting positive comments on our name choices going so well together and how lovely it is to hear the “old” names again.
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Oh I think my name list looks quite similar to yours, Kate! I’ve just named my second little boy Arthur Lawrence (brother of Harry Jude), and Theodore/Teddy was on our list too. So obviously Arthur (nn Art) gets a big thumbs up from me, and I must say I’m really enjoying using it, but here are a few more that weren’t on your list but might belong there… Lawrence, Jude, Harry, Hugh, Franklin, Julius/Julian, Marius, Clark… I also like Elliot, but that might clash with your surname. I’m trying to think of something that would appeal to Daniel too, but all I’ve got is Max (a classic, but with a modern aesthetic), and maybe Julian? Alexander? Patrick/Paddington/Paddy? Archie??
And further in my bid to find something Xavieresque that might appeal to both of you, I’ve typed Xavier into Nymbler hoping for inspiration and I’d just like to let you know that there’s probably no need for you to try that too. Unless you’d warm to ‘Keshawn’ 😛 hahaha
My friend has an Arthur and his nickname is Artie. And my sister has a Bernard and Xavier! I love Edward (Eddie or Teddy as nickname).
Have you considered Frank? That’s one of my all-time fave old-fashioned names. (I also have another friend with two boys: Frank and Stanley).
Edwin is a great name – not as common as Edward, but with the same nick name options.
Theodore Henry. Douglas, Kenneth, Robert, Simon, Derek, Jasper, August (Gus), Duncan, Jeffrey, Colin.
Loving the Theodore Henry combo as well as Jasper and August. Great suggestions – Thanks!
Hi Kate and Daniel,
Some more lovely boy’s names for you to think over…most are classic, not too popular choices that sit well with Matilda. I’m loving Matilda + Conrad, Matilda + Leonard, Matilda and Fletcher (and their nn’s; Tilly/Tilda + Con, Lenny, Fletch).
Austin, Alister, Bernard, Byron, Clifford, Clifton, Clyde, Conrad, Edwin, Elwood, Fletcher, Flynn, Franklin, Gilbert, Harris, Hubert, Leonard, Lewis, Myles, Wallace, Walter.
Great food for thought Jen!
Loving Leonard, Franklin, Bernard and Fletcher. Thanks!
It would be helpful to know if Matilda is almost alway called by her full name or more often known by a nickname: Mattie, Tilly, Tilda, ??? .
And would a Theodore, Edward and Edmund be called Teddy/Ted? Or would a son be called by his given name?
Matilda and Edmund has a different vibe than Tilly and Teddy. (I personally like them both.) Mattie and Arthur may not be as compatible as Matilda and Arthur.
While we always introduce Matilda by her full name, we also use her nn ‘Tilda ‘ quite a lot.
Our baby boy would also need to have a nn option. Thinking ‘Theo’ for Theodore, ‘Ari’, ‘Art’ or ‘Bear’ for Arthur. Don’t know if Ted and Tilda is too much????
Really liking Theodore “Theo” with Matilda “Tilda”. Both given names are strong, three syllable names with the shortened form coming naturally from the predominant syllable. While I love Teddy/ Ted (and have a son by that name, given name Edward, named for my father), I prefer Theodore/Theo with Matilda “Tilda”. And as Anna said, any of the names on your middle name list go well with Theodore. Are those possible middle names honoring living relatives or names of ancestors from your family tree? Not knowing the significance of any of those names, I prefer the sound of Theodore Henry.
Thank you Patricia – its so helpful getting an outside opinion. All middle names are of close family relatives, so there isn’t a particular bias towards one.