Alex is expecting her second baby. A boy! A brother to join son Ned Grey.
Alex writes: "When hunting for his name, Ned was the only boys name we both agreed on and loved! So when we discovered this baby was to be a boy, we knew this would be a tough job...
My husband is obsessed with all Italian / Spanish style names - Matteo, Santiago etc etc but I can’t express to him enough that is really doesn’t work along side Ned. He begrudgingly agrees.
I liked Raife and Rupert - both of which he’s not keen on. We both liked Raffi for a while but wanted a longer version as it sounds like a nickname in itself - and we both do not like Rafferty at all.
We have considered Remy but my mum keeps laughing at the Remy Martin connotation. It must be generational I guess as it never occurred to us.
If it had been a girl it would have been far easier - I loved Juno, Juniper, Anais, Ines … I could go on!
If you can make any suggestions, we would be most grateful. As you can gather, we prefer those names that are not so popular - but not too modernist."
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It's funny how many couples find one gender much harder to name than the other -- you are definitely not alone in this conundrum. You also have the problem of having "struck gold" the first time round, which makes the second time even harder. Do you plump for something completely different (but equally lovely) that appeals to you, or do you look for something to complement your first choice. It seems you and your husbands sit on either side of this fence: he is drawn to Latin-language names (Spanish, Italian etc) while you are more eager to match the perfect qualities you found in your son's name. Hopefully there are some suggestions here that can help you find the perfect middle ground.
Ned-Like:
If finding a name to compliment Ned is high on your list of priorities, here are some names which I feel compliment Ned's historic, quirky yet down-to-earth quality:
Miles – Like Ned, Miles is a perfect gentleman but one that is not afraid to get his hands dirty and pitch in with heavy work. It shares the same historic quality, and at #168 in England and Wales, is recognisable but not too popular.
Blaise – With its strong fiery sound (the surname Blaise actually derives from the Old English word for "flame, firebrand, torch" and may once have been used to describe a person with a fiery personality) Blaise has history galore, from is use by the Romans to early Christian saints and Arthurian legend. Like Ned, Blaise also feels fresh and modern without loosing any of its timeless appeal.
Gus – Is it possible for a name to be manly and cute at the same time? If there was ever a name that could fit, for me it is Gus, with Ned a close second. Gus is an everyday man that is also (conversely) rare and unexpected (ranking at #807 in E&W). There are also a whole host of other fantastic choices which would complement Ned which end with -us such as Atticus, Magnus, Fergus, Angus and Rufus.
Hal– While Edward and Henry are stalwart classics up in the top 30, their medieval hypochoristic forms Ned and Hal are much less common. This makes them equally stylish, quirky, historic and comfortingly familiar.
Jasper – Ned and Jasper are both contemporaries of Shakespeare (can't you just see them both as Tudor playwrights?). Jasper is affable and urbane and sits in the sweet spot just below the top 100.
Felix – A sophisticated name with the slick and fashionable x ending. It's upbeat meaning of "happy, lucky, blessed" is one of its many endearing qualities.
Vaughn – As it is better known as a surname, Vaughn perhaps matches Grey more than Ned, but like Ned, Vaughn's usage and history are ancient. Vaughn is the anglicised form of the Welsh word fychan "little" and was used as name from the Middle Ages to mean "Junior" or "the Younger."
Maxwell– Max has the short and sweet cool factor that Ned has, but the downside is that, at #28, it is probably too popular for your taste. Maxwell is a less common version with Ned's gentlemanly, quirky appeal.
Latin Pretenders:
Your husband likes Spanish/Italian names but you feel they clash with Ned. Here are some names that aren't Spanish or Italian -- they are just as British as Ned -- but have a similar sound or style to Latin-language names:
Raphael – You like Raife, and Raffi was on your list, but Rafferty didn't feel right. How about Raphael nn Raffi (or even Raife)? Raphael has a Latin feel to it, but as the name of one of the Archangels (alongside Gabriel and Michael) in Judaism, Islam and Christianity it has plenty of British history as well as the rest of Europe (it currently ranks in the top 10 in France and top 20 in Austria).
Milo – I've mentioned Miles (above) as a great compliment to Ned, but for a more Latinate twist, consider its brother name Milo. Most medieval men named Miles were recorded as Milo in Latin records so the two have gone hand in hand throughout history.
Ivo – Heroic Ivo has been used in Britain since the Norman Conquest (borne by many a Norman nobleman), but its roots are even more ancient. Popular in the Middle Ages (when Ned was in its element), it died out by the 16th century, but was revived again by the Victorians (once again it was borne by a hero or two).
Jago – The same Latin -o ending can also be found in Jago (JAY-go) but, far from being a Spanish name, it is just as British as fish and chips. Jago is the native Cornish form of Jacob/James. It has plenty of history, and, like Ned for Edward, it has often been used as a short form of the classic traditional James. In terms of popularity, at #500, it also compliments Ned's rank of #577.
Lorcan – Perhaps its Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca that prompted me to add Irish Lorcan to this list of Spanish-sounding but not Spanish names. Lorcan is an old Gaelic name, in use since the early Middle Ages, which means "little fierce one." In terms of sound it feels urbane and sleek but with a healthy dose of quirky charm.
Pan-Europeans:
The following names are ones that have Europe-wide appeal. They have just as much history as Ned, have a Continental charm, but don't feel out of place style-wise next to British-born Ned.
Roman – Common in Germany and Eastern Europe, Roman feels sturdy and stylish with heritage linking back to the Roman Republic.
Matthias – If Matteo is on your husband's list, and English Matthew is too common for your taste, perhaps the original Biblical form Matthias hits the sweet spot. The name is used across Europe to wide acclaim. It is just below the top 1000 in E&W, making it uncommon but in consistent use.
Micah – Another smooth Biblical choice which is uncommon but, at #322, not too radical either. Micah is the kind of sturdy biblical choice that British parents were fond of in the 18th and 19th century, so it feels quite at home sitting alongside Ned.
Levi – For the same reason, I've added Levi to the list, which currently sits in the Goldilocks spot of #155. Not too cold or too hot.
Jonas – This Biblical Greek and Latin form of Jonah is well used across Europe and has a sleek and stylish sound. At #497, it sits happily next to Ned's rank of #577.
I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name for your son.
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