Kate is expecting her second baby. A boy! A brother to join daughter Rose.
Kate writes: "my husband and I are struggling to decide on a boys name. Our daughter is Rose and we want something not too common, but will carry well in America and in the U.K. (He is American), and has a history. He isn't as keen on British classics like Arthur and Rupert so...
On our lists we both like are:
Rex- but is it ready for a revival? Would it work well?
Rufus- husband isn't too sure on this though.
River- we both like but is it a bit too out there and it doesn't have a historical use.
Casper/ Caspar- both like but is it a solid name to use.
Ronan- I'm not as keen on this one.
Middle names would be Anthony Donald we think after family."
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Personally, I think Rex is perfectly usable. In fact, its super stylish! It is on a steep upward curve in England and Wales, going from #891 to in 2005 to #212 in 2015 and is set to rise further. It's at #632 in the US, but has lots of potential alongside the likes of Max, Jax, Knox etc.
Jasper – If you like Casper but it feels a little unsubstantial, then perhaps Jasper strikes the right note. Perfectly historic and gentlemanly, Jasper also has a subtle nod to nature which links it nicely to Rose. While not incredibly common, Jasper is rising on both Britian and America (#104 and #209 respectively) so it is a little more 'solid' than Casper while retaining the same sound.
Brooks – This suave and sophisticated surname-first name sits nicely between stately Rex and Rufus and earthy Ronan and River. In the U.S., it is a rising trendsetter having risen smoothly from #596 to #231 in ten years, and there are plenty of famous Americans sporting the name, including silent film actor Brooks Benedict (1896-1968) and baseball player Brooks Robinson (b.1937). It is rare in Britain but translates well, especially given that Brooklyn is more common for boys here.
Roscoe – Another breezy surname-first name, which has plenty of history as a given name in America thanks to US senator Roscoe Conkling (1829-1888), a worthy Radical Republican who was strongly opposed to slavery. Thanks to him, the name was in the top 200 in America in the late 19th century and only fell out of the top 1000 in the 1970s. Perfectly ripe for revival. In England and Wales it has already risen steeply from #2458 in 2012 to #753 in 2015.
Jonah – Smooth and affable Jonah is a stylish Biblical staple which ranks in the sweet spot of "not too common, not too uncommon" in both the U.S. and U.K. (#150 and #158 respectively).
Rafe – Between Rex and Rufus is dapper Rafe, the phonetic spelling of the Southern English old pronunciation of Ralph -- a name with bags of history and class.
Rhett – In America, Rhett fills the space that Rex does in Britain. Ranking at #220 and still rising, Rhett has a similar vintage and heroic charm with a touch of Golden-age Hollywood as Rex does-- think Rhett Butler and Rex Harrison. It's still rare in Britain, but translates perfectly well.
Everett – For a more common twist on Rhett, consider Everett, a name with plenty of history dating right back to the Carolingians. It's #114 in the US and, while only #1511 in E&W, it is on a steep upward curve,
Asher – At #71 in the U.S., Asher is a friendly Biblical name (it actually means "happy") with lots of charm and heaps of style. It's #284 in E&W but has potential to rise further, especially given our fondness for Ashton and Ashley.
Maxwell – Marrying the sounds and style of Casper and Rex, dashing Maxwell ranks #111 in America and #128in E&W putting it nicely in the the sweet spot of popularity.
Ezra – The hot and stylish biblical boy on the block. Sleek Ezra is already #85 in the U.S. and rising at #127 in E&W (it won't be long outside of the top 100). It's not Noah-popular, but it is well known enough to sit well either side of the pond.
Heath – Just as natural as River, ruggedly handsome as Ronan and smooth as Rex. Either a nature name in its own right, or a short form of literary Heathcliff (as with actor Heath Ledger), Heath feels simultaneously both fresh and yet as old as the hills.
Rowan – Part River, part Ronan. Rowan is both a nature name, and an anglicised spelling of Ruadhán -- in use since at least the 6th century -- so that
Griffin – Griffin's pedigree is one with plenty of history. As an anglicised form of the medieval royal Welsh name Gruffudd (Griffith), Griffin was not uncommon in Tudor England. It is a "known" name but not common name in Britain, but at a stable rank of #229 in America.
Judah– Sleek biblical Jude is #61 in E&W and #161 in America. A less common, but equally stylish and historic variant is Judah: #234 in the U.S. and #577 and rising in E&W.
Bennett – Bennett feels like a tailored modern first name taken from the surname, but, in fact, as the medieval English vernacular form of Benedict, Bennett's credentials as a given name far exceed the surname.
Reeve – Rex, Rufus and River make me think of sophisticated and cultivated Reeve. In the Middle Ages, a reeve was an official, estate manager or a king's officer, and even has a literary twist thanks to Chaucer's The Reeve's Tale from The Canterbury Tales. As a given name it dates from the 17th century (I actually have a great x7 uncle born in 1715 named Reeve), but the surname goes back to the 13th century, and the title of reeve itself is Anglo-Saxon, so its roots are well established.
Xander – A sleek and preppy short form of ancient and heroic Alexander which has been used as a standalone name in Germany since at least the 16th century. At #201 in America and #277 in E&W, it is in the sweet spot of popularity.
Soren – This Scandinavian form of the Roman family name Severinus. Søren (Danish/Norwegian) and Sören (Swedish) have been in use since at least the 15th century. The spelling Soren is now used outside of Scandinavia in the English-speaking world.
I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name for your son.
