(middle) name this baby!
December 19, 2017 6:09 AM Subscribe
Help us find a fun middle name for a boy that starts with an “S”?
Expecting our first child any day now, and still don’t know fully what we’re putting on his birth certificate! We have a first name (two syllables, ends in Y) but are still hunting for a middle name. We’re looking for something that begins with an “S”, to honor a deceased grandparent. Bonus points if it starts with “Sh.”
We’re interested in something more unusual or nontraditional—doesn’t need to be a traditional first name or a name at all—but nothing’s quite hit our fancy. Things that we like that it might be cool to reference, in no particular order:
Science
Famous women
Social justice/lefty activism
Baseball
Music, with a lean towards experimental & heavier genres
We’re white Americans, with a 4-syllable hyphenated last name. Baby will have Jewish background but not looking for anything heavily Biblical or Hebrew. Thanks for your help!
Expecting our first child any day now, and still don’t know fully what we’re putting on his birth certificate! We have a first name (two syllables, ends in Y) but are still hunting for a middle name. We’re looking for something that begins with an “S”, to honor a deceased grandparent. Bonus points if it starts with “Sh.”
We’re interested in something more unusual or nontraditional—doesn’t need to be a traditional first name or a name at all—but nothing’s quite hit our fancy. Things that we like that it might be cool to reference, in no particular order:
Science
Famous women
Social justice/lefty activism
Baseball
Music, with a lean towards experimental & heavier genres
We’re white Americans, with a 4-syllable hyphenated last name. Baby will have Jewish background but not looking for anything heavily Biblical or Hebrew. Thanks for your help!
Satchel
posted by rollick at 6:21 AM on December 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by rollick at 6:21 AM on December 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Or go Puritan style:
Social-Justice-for-All
Science-is-Real
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Social-Justice-for-All
Science-is-Real
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
We know a delightful little girl named Story
posted by sestaaak at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sestaaak at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shadow
Sheriff
Shields (after any of the musicians or baseballers with that surname -- if any turn out to be dodgy, just claim a different one).
posted by rollick at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2017
Sheriff
Shields (after any of the musicians or baseballers with that surname -- if any turn out to be dodgy, just claim a different one).
posted by rollick at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2017
Sebastian
posted by h00py at 6:32 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by h00py at 6:32 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Slagathor
posted by briank at 6:56 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by briank at 6:56 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shane
posted by k8t at 7:10 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 7:10 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Schrödinger, with or without the umlaut?
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:14 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:14 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shen
posted by Night_owl at 7:19 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Night_owl at 7:19 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Stem
Suggests science research, amazing human biological capacities for renewal and healing, plant life, and the strength or pillar of things.
posted by velveeta underground at 7:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Suggests science research, amazing human biological capacities for renewal and healing, plant life, and the strength or pillar of things.
posted by velveeta underground at 7:31 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Silas
posted by jrobin276 at 7:53 AM on December 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by jrobin276 at 7:53 AM on December 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Shalom, peace!
If you were having a girl I'd suggest Shulamit.
posted by mareli at 7:54 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you were having a girl I'd suggest Shulamit.
posted by mareli at 7:54 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Shea?
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:00 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:00 AM on December 19, 2017
Seamus
posted by Fig at 8:02 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Fig at 8:02 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Or Spies after August Spies, a Haymarket leader and martyr.
From Wikipedia:
As he faced his demise on the gallows, Spies shouted, "The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today."
And having spies as a middle name is way better than danger as a middle name.
posted by littlewater at 8:11 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
From Wikipedia:
As he faced his demise on the gallows, Spies shouted, "The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today."
And having spies as a middle name is way better than danger as a middle name.
posted by littlewater at 8:11 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Sterling.
(Full disclosure, to the extent it might matter: it's my dog's middle name.)
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
(Full disclosure, to the extent it might matter: it's my dog's middle name.)
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Sheridan, Shepherd, Shenandoah, Shrike, Shiloh, Shupert, Shore, Shoal, Shelley.
"Shamos, an alternative spelling for shamas or shamash, is the candle used to light the other candles on a Chanukah menorah, also called a helper candle."
"Shoah may refer to a) Hebrew word for catastrophe; b) The Holocaust: "Shoah" is the Hebrew term used since the 1940s to describe the Holocaust; or c) Shoah (film), documentary directed by Claude Lanzmann (1985)."
"The Severan dynasty was a Roman imperial dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. The dynasty was founded by the Roman general Septimius Severus, who rose to power as the victor of the 193-197 civil war."
posted by TrishaU at 8:38 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Shamos, an alternative spelling for shamas or shamash, is the candle used to light the other candles on a Chanukah menorah, also called a helper candle."
"Shoah may refer to a) Hebrew word for catastrophe; b) The Holocaust: "Shoah" is the Hebrew term used since the 1940s to describe the Holocaust; or c) Shoah (film), documentary directed by Claude Lanzmann (1985)."
"The Severan dynasty was a Roman imperial dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. The dynasty was founded by the Roman general Septimius Severus, who rose to power as the victor of the 193-197 civil war."
posted by TrishaU at 8:38 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
To varying degrees of fun and/or appropriateness, these might be possibilities I'd at least moot in similar circumstance, but then again I'm kinda weird.
Shucks
Shazam
Shortbread
Shergottite (any of a class of achondritic geologically young meteorites of feldspar and pyroxene)
Shattercone (Striated conical fracture surfaces produced by meteorite impact into fine-grained, brittle rocks such as limestone)
Sherbet
Shawm (double-reeded wind instrument)
Shabda (Sanskrit word for speech sound)
Shrug
Shwoosh
Shenanigans
Shide (Piece of wood split off from a timber)
Shantung (plain rough silk or cotton)
Shade
Shandygaff (Beverage made of beer ginger ale or lemonade)
Shoon (Archiac plural of shoe)
Shoo
Shanty Hogan was a fine baseball catcher
Spud Davis another
Showboat was a nickname given to a couple players
Shooty Babitt was a not so good infielder of some renown for his not so goodness
Snuffy Stirnweiss is a heck of a name
Stanton, for Mary Cady
Sonata
Sooth (Truth, reality)
Sweven (A vision seen in sleep: A dream)
Swithin (Old English derived from strong)
posted by gusottertrout at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2017
Shucks
Shazam
Shortbread
Shergottite (any of a class of achondritic geologically young meteorites of feldspar and pyroxene)
Shattercone (Striated conical fracture surfaces produced by meteorite impact into fine-grained, brittle rocks such as limestone)
Sherbet
Shawm (double-reeded wind instrument)
Shabda (Sanskrit word for speech sound)
Shrug
Shwoosh
Shenanigans
Shide (Piece of wood split off from a timber)
Shantung (plain rough silk or cotton)
Shade
Shandygaff (Beverage made of beer ginger ale or lemonade)
Shoon (Archiac plural of shoe)
Shoo
Shanty Hogan was a fine baseball catcher
Spud Davis another
Showboat was a nickname given to a couple players
Shooty Babitt was a not so good infielder of some renown for his not so goodness
Snuffy Stirnweiss is a heck of a name
Stanton, for Mary Cady
Sonata
Sooth (Truth, reality)
Sweven (A vision seen in sleep: A dream)
Swithin (Old English derived from strong)
posted by gusottertrout at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2017
Shambhala (for bonus happiness, listen to the Three Dog Night song “Road to Shambhala,” e.g., “everyone is helpful; everyone is kind”
posted by carmicha at 9:01 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by carmicha at 9:01 AM on December 19, 2017
Sherlock
posted by charlielxxv at 9:04 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by charlielxxv at 9:04 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
With a two-syllable first name and four-syllable last name I think a one-syllable middle name would work nicely.
Seth
Sai
Sage
Slade
Stone
Sael
Saint
Saphe
Scy
Shayl
Shey
Shire
Sine
Slate
posted by billiebee at 9:16 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Seth
Sai
Sage
Slade
Stone
Sael
Saint
Saphe
Scy
Shayl
Shey
Shire
Sine
Slate
posted by billiebee at 9:16 AM on December 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Socrates.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:21 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:21 AM on December 19, 2017
Shalane, as in Flanagan. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalane_Flanagan
posted by miratime at 9:46 AM on December 19, 2017
posted by miratime at 9:46 AM on December 19, 2017
Just dump them all and go with Danger.
Ok, if not, then my vote is for Sterling or Sheamus or Sullivan.
posted by hydra77 at 10:26 AM on December 19, 2017
Ok, if not, then my vote is for Sterling or Sheamus or Sullivan.
posted by hydra77 at 10:26 AM on December 19, 2017
sade
posted by WeekendJen at 12:02 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by WeekendJen at 12:02 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Scout
posted by shallowcenter at 12:06 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by shallowcenter at 12:06 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Satchel is a fantastic baseball name that evokes civil rights and doing-your-own-thing-iness.
Scioscia is also a good baseball name that evokes grit and old-school values, and is also very hard to spell.
posted by bluejayway at 12:47 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Scioscia is also a good baseball name that evokes grit and old-school values, and is also very hard to spell.
posted by bluejayway at 12:47 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shaw -- You can say that it's for Robert Gould Shaw, or any of the famous Shaws with that name. I just like the name.
posted by gladly at 1:32 PM on December 19, 2017
posted by gladly at 1:32 PM on December 19, 2017
Agree that one syllable makes a lot of rhythmic sense with a 2-syllable-ends-with-Y first name and a 4-syllable last name.
So maybe
Swift
Starr
Syd
Sol
Shai
Shep
Spock (couldn't resist)
Having said that, my favorite science word (which just so happens to start with S) is Syzygy.
posted by Mchelly at 1:45 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
So maybe
Swift
Starr
Syd
Sol
Shai
Shep
Spock (couldn't resist)
Having said that, my favorite science word (which just so happens to start with S) is Syzygy.
posted by Mchelly at 1:45 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sherman (famous Shermans: Alexie, Hemsley, T. Potter; see also: Cindy, William Tecumseh, Mr. Peabody &.)
Shakespeare
Synecdoche
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:56 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shakespeare
Synecdoche
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:56 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Seamus, pronounced shaymus, is a wonderful Irish name. I believe it is James in Gaelic but my grandmother might be a liar.
I think Jimmy Seamus Jimmy-johnny has a nice ring to it.
posted by cairnoflore at 3:31 PM on December 19, 2017
I think Jimmy Seamus Jimmy-johnny has a nice ring to it.
posted by cairnoflore at 3:31 PM on December 19, 2017
Silver
Saturn
Ship
Shep(herd)
Stone
Sam(uel)
Nthing:
Sol
Sterling
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 10:28 PM on December 19, 2017
Saturn
Ship
Shep(herd)
Stone
Sam(uel)
Nthing:
Sol
Sterling
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 10:28 PM on December 19, 2017
Sandy for Sandy Koufax, a baseball pitcher. Youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame. First to throw 4 no-hitters, a feat done by only 1 other player. Won 3 Cy Young Awards for best pitcher, which 9 other players have done. Sandy is the only one to so it before there was 1 award for each league, not 1 award for all of baseball.
Sandy is Jewish. He received attention and earned respect beyond sports when he refused to pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.
To make the name fun, you could spell it Shandy, then have a good story to explain why the 'h' is silent.
posted by Homer42 at 2:14 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sandy is Jewish. He received attention and earned respect beyond sports when he refused to pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.
To make the name fun, you could spell it Shandy, then have a good story to explain why the 'h' is silent.
posted by Homer42 at 2:14 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sphere, for Thelonious Monk.
posted by doiheartwentyone at 4:37 AM on December 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by doiheartwentyone at 4:37 AM on December 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
my favorite would be Shane for Jackie Shane, a transgender soul singer from the sixties.
Shepp for Archie Shepp
Shankar for Ravi Shankar.
posted by noloveforned at 8:28 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Shepp for Archie Shepp
Shankar for Ravi Shankar.
posted by noloveforned at 8:28 AM on December 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Sassyfras at 6:18 AM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]