Help me with boy baby names!
July 16, 2019 7:22 AM Subscribe
BabyNameFilter: Can you help me drum up some potential male baby names? I like English, Scottish and Welsh names with a few snowflake details thrown in.
Baby #2 is, god help us, a boy. Whereas we had about 17 potential girl names on our list, the boy names have us a bit stumped. I typically like names from my family's origin countries, Scotland and Wales, so our current two contenders are Sterling/Stirling and Tristan. Sterling is our top contender. It sounds nice with our last name. The one issue is that it doesn't quite flow with the baby's middle, Stewart.
Already vetoed for one reason or another (aka my spouse hates them):
Angus
Gavin
Calvin
Rowan
Idris
Alastair
Conrad
Malcolm
Callum
Wallace
We're not a fan of: Irish names, tradesman names (Mason, Cooper etc), trendy last names (Hudson, Grayson, Body/Brody), very popular boy names in America or UK (Oliver, Dylan, Aidan).
Are there any other names we haven't considered?
Baby #2 is, god help us, a boy. Whereas we had about 17 potential girl names on our list, the boy names have us a bit stumped. I typically like names from my family's origin countries, Scotland and Wales, so our current two contenders are Sterling/Stirling and Tristan. Sterling is our top contender. It sounds nice with our last name. The one issue is that it doesn't quite flow with the baby's middle, Stewart.
Already vetoed for one reason or another (aka my spouse hates them):
Angus
Gavin
Calvin
Rowan
Idris
Alastair
Conrad
Malcolm
Callum
Wallace
We're not a fan of: Irish names, tradesman names (Mason, Cooper etc), trendy last names (Hudson, Grayson, Body/Brody), very popular boy names in America or UK (Oliver, Dylan, Aidan).
Are there any other names we haven't considered?
Cameron, Rhodri or Ruaridh?
As a side note, I have lived in Scotland for 20+ years and have never come across anyone called Sterling, Stirling or Tristan
posted by JJZByBffqU at 7:30 AM on July 16, 2019 [8 favorites]
As a side note, I have lived in Scotland for 20+ years and have never come across anyone called Sterling, Stirling or Tristan
posted by JJZByBffqU at 7:30 AM on July 16, 2019 [8 favorites]
I’d stick with Sterling. I feel like the first name/middle name combo is rarely heard out in the wild. And Sterling S. Lastname looks debonair as hell.
posted by Juniper Toast at 7:30 AM on July 16, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by Juniper Toast at 7:30 AM on July 16, 2019 [12 favorites]
Nigel
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:32 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:32 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Ewan
Edmond, Edmund, or Edwin
Arthur
Warren
posted by castlebravo at 7:45 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Edmond, Edmund, or Edwin
Arthur
Warren
posted by castlebravo at 7:45 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Mungo! Or, less aggressively, Alexander.
posted by LizardBreath at 8:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by LizardBreath at 8:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Scottish: Ruaridh, Cameron, Lewis (this is pretty common in Scotland but not in wider UK I think), Hamish, Innes, Caleb, Callum, Lachlan.
Welsh: Owen/Owain, Idris, Emrys, Ianto, Ieuan, Rhys.
posted by Catseye at 8:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Welsh: Owen/Owain, Idris, Emrys, Ianto, Ieuan, Rhys.
posted by Catseye at 8:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ack, sorry, just saw that Callum and Idris were on the veto list already. By way of apology, here's the National Records of Scotland's comprehensive list of babies' first names back to 1974.
posted by Catseye at 8:12 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Catseye at 8:12 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
I figured my kid's name out by finding a historical population list from the north of England (Northumbria assizes rolls) that contained his big sister's name already. We ended up with the one next to her name on the list: Ellis. Bonus: our elderly Greek neighbour calls him 'helios', or sunshine.
posted by randomination at 8:14 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by randomination at 8:14 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ciaran/Kieran
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:19 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:19 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Seconding that I'm afraid neither Sterling nor Stirling are used as people's names in Scotland (Sterling is the British currency, with no specifically Scottish connotations at all; Stirling is a Scottish place name, but not a person's name, so it depends how much you want an actual Scottish person's name, or just something with a vaguely Scottish connotation).
Other suggestions that I have heard used as people's names:
Struan
Rory/Ruairidh
Alexander (Alex or Alec or Eck or Sandy for short)
Blair
Douglas (Dougie, pronounced as in Doogie Howser)
Duncan
Euan/Ewan
Finlay
Fraser
Lachlan (Lachie)
Niall
Ranald
posted by penguin pie at 8:26 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Other suggestions that I have heard used as people's names:
Struan
Rory/Ruairidh
Alexander (Alex or Alec or Eck or Sandy for short)
Blair
Douglas (Dougie, pronounced as in Doogie Howser)
Duncan
Euan/Ewan
Finlay
Fraser
Lachlan (Lachie)
Niall
Ranald
posted by penguin pie at 8:26 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Depending on whether it would be a good fit it is an old tradition in some quarters for the first son to have the mother's maiden name as a first name. This is how we originally got people with first names like Sterling.
posted by slkinsey at 8:36 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by slkinsey at 8:36 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Marshall
Douglas
Robert
Cameron
Chisholm
I’d pick a name that has a tartan.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:40 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Douglas
Robert
Cameron
Chisholm
I’d pick a name that has a tartan.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:40 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Have you asked reddit's r/namenerds? This is exactly the kind of question they excel at.
posted by slidell at 8:48 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by slidell at 8:48 AM on July 16, 2019
Aneurin (Welsh)
Can be shortened to Nye
Aneurin Bevan was the main force behind the founding of the NHS (Britain’s health service)
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 8:50 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Can be shortened to Nye
Aneurin Bevan was the main force behind the founding of the NHS (Britain’s health service)
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 8:50 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
I’d pick a name that has a tartan
Wellll, (readjusts tartan pedant bunnet lovingly) tartans relate to clans, so they're surnames, not first names, though there is some crossover. So again, it depends on whether you want an actual Scottish first name, or just something Scottish-related. Out of the tartans on the list Ideefixe posted, I'd say I've probably heard the following as first names (sorry I've not cross-ref'ed these with your rejected list):
Stuart
Grant
Campbell
Menzies (pronounced Mingis with a soft 'g')
Fraser
Bruce
Leslie
Ramsay
Forbes (a bit unusual/posh/old fashioned)
Scott
posted by penguin pie at 8:52 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Wellll, (readjusts tartan pedant bunnet lovingly) tartans relate to clans, so they're surnames, not first names, though there is some crossover. So again, it depends on whether you want an actual Scottish first name, or just something Scottish-related. Out of the tartans on the list Ideefixe posted, I'd say I've probably heard the following as first names (sorry I've not cross-ref'ed these with your rejected list):
Stuart
Grant
Campbell
Menzies (pronounced Mingis with a soft 'g')
Fraser
Bruce
Leslie
Ramsay
Forbes (a bit unusual/posh/old fashioned)
Scott
posted by penguin pie at 8:52 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Anson
posted by sciencegeek at 9:09 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by sciencegeek at 9:09 AM on July 16, 2019
Fergus :)
posted by arcolz at 10:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by arcolz at 10:06 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Byrd. Full disclosure, I named my (Scottish) dog Byrd. He was the best dog.
posted by HotToddy at 10:25 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 10:25 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do you like the flow of Stewart Stirling Lastname any better? He could be S. Stirling Lastname, which sounds pretty posh (in a good way) too.
posted by kate4914 at 11:08 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by kate4914 at 11:08 AM on July 16, 2019
Kenneth
Craig
Douglas
David
Andrew
Daniel
Thomas
Gerard
Bruce
Rhod
posted by Enid Lareg at 11:13 AM on July 16, 2019
Craig
Douglas
David
Andrew
Daniel
Thomas
Gerard
Bruce
Rhod
posted by Enid Lareg at 11:13 AM on July 16, 2019
Given your interest in Sterling, could I interest you in Starling?
The editor in chief of the first publishing house I worked for was a Starling and went by Star, and goddamn if he wasn’t dashing.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:49 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
The editor in chief of the first publishing house I worked for was a Starling and went by Star, and goddamn if he wasn’t dashing.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:49 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks so far for these suggestions. As mentioned above, the names we like have origins from Scotland, Wales AND England, and Sterling and Tristan are originally of English origin. Not surprised they haven’t been encountered much there or anywhere else recently, Sterling at least has never cracked the top #400 most popular names in the UK or America! Both Sterling and Tristan are family names dating way (way) back from northern English ancestors.
So far I like Blair and Lachlan, Rory, Noel and Innes, so thank you for these additions. I hadn’t heard of r/namenerd but what a great secondary resource!
posted by Viola at 12:16 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
So far I like Blair and Lachlan, Rory, Noel and Innes, so thank you for these additions. I hadn’t heard of r/namenerd but what a great secondary resource!
posted by Viola at 12:16 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Rowan Kenneth Keith Kier Kieran Neil Niall Robin Rory Ian Iain
Gryff Lewis Owen (Owain) Gawain Gareth Geraint
Tristan and Tristran have a bit of a posh connotation in England currently, kind of like Oliver
posted by glasseyes at 12:51 PM on July 16, 2019
Gryff Lewis Owen (Owain) Gawain Gareth Geraint
Tristan and Tristran have a bit of a posh connotation in England currently, kind of like Oliver
posted by glasseyes at 12:51 PM on July 16, 2019
I'm a big fan of Owen/Ewan and Ian/Iain and their variants.
a few others I don't think I've spotted above (but may have missed):
Alan
Alec
Gareth
Glen
Gordon
Graham/Graeme
Kai
Keir
Lewis
Murray
Reid
Rhodri
Sorley
posted by karayel at 1:15 PM on July 16, 2019
a few others I don't think I've spotted above (but may have missed):
Alan
Alec
Gareth
Glen
Gordon
Graham/Graeme
Kai
Keir
Lewis
Murray
Reid
Rhodri
Sorley
posted by karayel at 1:15 PM on July 16, 2019
Evan
posted by shakobe at 1:48 PM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by shakobe at 1:48 PM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
As has already been mentioned, Sterling is the UK currency, so it’s akin to calling your kid “Dollar”. It’s a nice word but I’d suggest going for Stirling as the spelling if that name wins the day.
I know a couple of people called Angus (one spelled Aengus) although I also love Rory as it’s my brother’s name. And I like Alastair/Alasdair.
Congratulations by the way!
posted by billiebee at 5:03 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
I know a couple of people called Angus (one spelled Aengus) although I also love Rory as it’s my brother’s name. And I like Alastair/Alasdair.
Congratulations by the way!
posted by billiebee at 5:03 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh good grief just saw your spouse has vetoed 2 of those already, sorry!!
posted by billiebee at 5:05 PM on July 16, 2019
posted by billiebee at 5:05 PM on July 16, 2019
Sinjin and Sinclair seem to meet your requirements and style.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:13 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:13 PM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Harding - Wales
Reynolds - English (variant spelling Reynell)
Seamus - Scottish and Irish
posted by MissPitts at 7:15 PM on July 16, 2019
Reynolds - English (variant spelling Reynell)
Seamus - Scottish and Irish
posted by MissPitts at 7:15 PM on July 16, 2019
Apologies if these have already come up:
Douglas
Bertram
Basil
Clifford
Errol
Edgar
Ferris
Graham (or variant spelling)
Leland
Montgomery
Oswald
Oscar
Upton
Vernon
Virgil
Ward
Woodrow
Arthur
Calder
Cameron
Duncan
Frasier
Fergus
Sinclair
Walter
posted by vunder at 11:11 AM on July 17, 2019
Douglas
Bertram
Basil
Clifford
Errol
Edgar
Ferris
Graham (or variant spelling)
Leland
Montgomery
Oswald
Oscar
Upton
Vernon
Virgil
Ward
Woodrow
Arthur
Calder
Cameron
Duncan
Frasier
Fergus
Sinclair
Walter
posted by vunder at 11:11 AM on July 17, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cakelite at 7:26 AM on July 16, 2019 [6 favorites]