Let Us Name Your Baby

Allison and her husband are at a loss for boy names. They hate all of the choices on each other's lists — besides the much-too-popular Jack, that is. Is there a name that can bridge their style gap, or should they discount popularity and opt for the one name they've always liked?

Allison writes:

I’m pregnant with my third and last baby. I have two daughters, Nora and Hallie. This time, the baby is a boy. My husband and I don’t agree on any boy names. I do not like his favorites, Cormac and Dallas, and he does not like mine, Cooper and Jett.

We’ve both always liked Jack but now it’s too popular.

Boy names are hard! They’re either too weird or too overused.

Nameberry Editor-in-Chief Sophie Kihm responds:

You’re not alone — in our work as a baby name consultants, we’ve heard hundreds of parents lament that while naming girls is fun and painless, naming boys can be a mind-numbing puzzle.

The task is made even more difficult when parents have opposing styles. Thankfully, you and your husband have quite compatible tastes.

There are some minor discrepancies between your two lists — Cooper and Jett are more familiar and surname-like than Cormac and Dallas. But ultimately, all of these names have strong consonant sounds and fall under the umbrella of neo-cowboy.

Your issue lies in the specific names on each other’s lists. So let’s look at some fresh options that might appeal to both of you:

Baker — the strong C/K sounds of Cooper and Cormac show up in the stylish surname Baker.

Brecken — Brecken feels like a brother to Cormac, while nicknames Breck or Beck could be in the same sibset as Jett.

Declan — a familiar Irish name currently in a sweet spot at Number 132.

Holston — surprisingly unique as a given name, but well-known as a last name. The nickname Holt shares similarities with Jett.

Jones — stylish single-syllable surname that feels more traditional than Jett.

Ledger — classy cowboy name with edge.

Mack — Mack splits the difference between Cormac and Jack, potentially making it the perfect crossover name for your family.

You may also reconsider Jack. Yes, it’s quite popular — currently at Number 14 — but Jack is well-loved for good reason. It’s a cheerful everyman name that’s both strong and sweet, boyish and manly.

Jack may not even be as popular as you think. The proportion of children given top names has decreased over time. A Top 25 name used to guarantee doubling (or even tripling) up in a classroom, but today it’s a toss up. Your son could very well be the only Jack in his class at school.

Besides, Jack feels pretty perfect in a sibset with Nora and Hallie.

I asked Amy Ephron — Nameberry friend and coauthor of The Amazing Baby Name Book —  for her thoughts. Two of her sisters are named Nora and Hallie, and since she comes from a family with four daughters, I’ve always been curious as to what parents would have named a son.

The Amazing Baby Name Book coauthor Amy Ephron responds:

I like Jack, too. Using uncommon names is common now, which makes Jack not so common anymore. I associate it with forward-thinking and loyalty.

My sister Hallie’s son-in-law is named Jack, so it’s also a family name.

I also think you should consider Max, Connor, and maybe Alex (or Alexander if you want the last name version).

I sense your husband might be tending to an old-fashioned name. So maybe Blake or — wildcard — Forrest.

Congratulations!

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