Boy name to go with Eleanor and Silas
We are having our third child in 6 weeks, and we are really struggling with naming this little guy. We know it's a boy. Our fist two are Eleanor Grace (goes by Ella most of the time) and Silas Michael. All the names I REALLY like are too similar sounding to Silas I think (Matthias, Titus, Elias). Would you agree?
We also really like Micah, but a friend of ours just had a Micah. They gave us permission to use it, too, when I mentioned it was on our list. I'm considering it, but it feels weird to name our kids the same thing. Maybe I'll get over it.
Other than that, I'm tapped out of ideas. Suggestions?
By MamaEleanor
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 11:33pm
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 11:33pm
Replies
A friend of mine has two sons- one named Micah and the other's middle name Elias. So, you must have similar tastes. Her second son (mn Elias) is Jonah, but Jonas is a great variation which you might prefer.
I think your suggestions are quite similar to Silas. So, how about Abraham, Asa, Augustus, Bartholomew, Thaddeus?
From your list, I think Matthias might be OK but Titus and Elias are too close. If you still aren't sure about Matthias, maybe you'd like Matteo?
I'll also suggest Ezra, Percy, Felix, August and Milo.
I agree that going with another long I sounding name is a bit too matchy for me. If its the only name you like though there are worse things. I used Nymbler for some alternate ideas. Do you like any of these?
Noah; Julian; Leo; Owen; Samuel; Everett; Alexander; Maxwell; Theo; Caleb; Peter; Daniel
I think the beginning sound being the same is not as off-putting as the ending sound.
Jordan would be pretty, though possibly I only thought of it because I know a musician whose stage name is Jordan Elias.
All of your boy names are Biblical classics. Is that something you're looking for or just an accident?
Thanks for the suggestions! I wasn't initially setting out for a Biblical classics theme, but these ended up being the names I tended towards. So no, it's not a must.
For me, all three of the names that you like share an "eye-us"-like sound at the end with Silas, and thus probably fail the "shout across the room" test for sibling names. They all go wonderfully with Eleanor, though. Another commenter had a good suggestion: how about a less Latinized form of Matthew, such as Matteo? (Matthew itself would also be a good choice, if it weren't so dratted popular.) I can't think of any alternate forms of Titus or Elias, but how about Timothy or Elliott?
Thanks for the suggestions! I really like Matthew as well, and it's my brother's middle name which would be nice to use. But you're right, it's a little too much on the popular side that I think it's common-ness would be emphasized compared to his brother and sister's names. My husband's name is Timothy, but Elliott might be a good one.
Thanks everyone, for their insight. I've been struggling with the "eye-us" sounding names, going back and forth if it's too much of a mouthful vs. how much I like the names. I think the overall feeling is, yes, it's too much of a mouthful.
A few other names that came up that I think may be ok: Levi, Simon, Simeon, Jude.
Levi might work okay and Jude is a great alternative. I think Simon and Simeon are still too close with the repeating SI-. Best wishes.
I think all the names ending in "us" are going to be too similar to Silas, in my opinion, as is Simon. Simeon is borderline, but I don't love it because it sounds just like simian to me. I think both Levi and Jude are very nice options. Here are my suggestions, some of which are repeats from above (intentionally, because I like them too): Jonah, Isaiah, Everett, Asher, Henry, Noah, Solomon, Julian, Graham, Owen, Frasier, Reed, Asa, Ambrose (think this one is ok since the ending in more of a -z than -s), Miles (see Ambrose), Charles (ditto), James (ditto), Gabriel, Gideon, Ezra, and Emmett.
Your first two kids have two of my favorite names! Good luck!
Are you pronouncing Simeon like sim-ee-uhn or sim-ee-own?
From your original choices, Mat(t)hias could work fine. Of your new choices, I like Levi more than Jude b/c Jude has a different stylistic feel than Silas to me. Not far off from Eleanor, though. Maybe Judah? Though that doesn't really seem to feel right for me either.
What about Elias instead of Matthias? or Gideon instead of Simeon?
or Isaias? Isaias will still get the EYE-us sound you seem to prefer but spreads it a bit to keep it from being too similar or sing-song with Silas.
I love your kids' names, but I agree that your top choices are very similar. I like the name Micah too, but I understand the hangup about sharing the name with your friend's son. I love Jude.
I think Matthias is do-able as it has a different rhythm but the others are too close for me.
I love the suggestions of Matteo, Leo, Ambrose, Jonas, Jonah.
Micah made me think of both Malachi and Luca - do either of those work?
I wonder how the OP is pronouncing Matthias.... I think it would sound fine with Silas if it is Ma-TEE-us, but if they are saying Ma-THIGH-us, then the back half of the name is a partial rhyme of Silas (SIGH-luss), which seems awfully close to me.
We would pronounce it Ma-THIGH-us, so yes, we have the same rhyming name problem.
I love your children's names! I have a friend whose daughter is Eleanor Grace and her brother's name is Ian...I think that would go well.
I don't think you should be scared off Micah because your friends used it. I had a smiliar naming dilemma a few years ago, and I changed from the name I loved to a name that I liked because friends used the name I loved. Those friends moved away a year or two later, and I have had namer's remorse ever since. Use a name you love!
The other names you mention are too close to Silas (to my ear), and finding an alternative you love sounds more difficult, so keep Micah at the top of your list!
Silas is one of my favorite names - it was a close second for my baby, who was due yesterday, and if he ever comes out will be Felix. If I ever have a second son I have debated whether Silas and Felix sound too similar for brothers...
Jude is a great name, and goes very well with the other two. It can also be a nickname for Julian, (as in the song "Hey Jude") another great name that should fit your style. Other ideas:
Henry
Miles
Arthur
Peter
Tate?