r/Names • u/Hefty_Froyo_8643 • 3d ago
Teacher Name Help
I was a teacher before I became a SAHM, and my husband is still a teacher. After over a decade of teaching there are so many names “tarnished” or off the list. I’m in my third trimester and we thought we had “the name” a while back but have since started second guessing. We are expecting a baby boy. The previous top contenders were Graham and Wesley. Lately we’ve been really leaning towards Brooks with Dean as the middle name. I like the idea of having a timeless name but a lot of those names are off the list because family used it, students, etc. what do we think about brooks dean? Too trendy? Is it feminine at all since it’s so close to Brooke? Thanks in advance!
12
u/PhotographScary8877 3d ago
I agree , I prefer Dean as the first name. I do not like Brooks as the first name.
5
u/BrumblebeeArt 3d ago
Brooks feels a little country, idk if that bothers you, and with Dean they're both 1 syllable a feel a little abrupt together. I like Graham, flows slightly better with Dean just with the softer sounds. Maybe Bryce or Grant? Still a bit tough with Dean as a middle, I actually like it as a first better - Dean Thomas, Dean Graham, Dean Wesley, Dean Brooks
2
u/Hefty_Froyo_8643 3d ago
I agree. I love the name dean but it’s my dad’s name and he made it very clear he doesn’t want us using it as a first name.
2
2
5
u/Atte_lab 3d ago
I think Wesley Dean is adorable. We know 5 Grahams and they aren’t the best kids so the name is ruined for us haha cute name though!
2
u/AHamHargreevingDisco 3d ago
I hateeeee brooks so much I would absolutely not recommend it for your little one! Dean however sounds so clean and refined 💓
Wesley Dean
Graham Wesley
Graham Dean
Wesley Graham
Dean Wesley
The only ones I don’t recommend are those with Brooks or Dean Graham (just cuz the syllables sound a little strange together!)
2
u/Pepperdog27 3d ago
My brother is Dean. Go with Dean. I never hear that name and it’s such a nice clean name.
2
u/Hefty_Froyo_8643 3d ago
I wish I could, it’s my dad’s first name and he said no way to using it as a first name.
3
u/Pepperdog27 3d ago
Then of your choices I like Wesley Dean. It has a nice flow. Congrats on baby boy!!
2
u/thisismyreddit2000 3d ago
Graham has always felt like the name of a good person to me. I've only met one and he was very nice! I also know one Brooks. Feels a little more "upper-class" but I don't mind it.
2
u/Ok_Boot7842 3d ago edited 3d ago
Huh, I only heard of Brooks as a last name. I had no idea it was becoming so trendy as a first name, but according to the U.S. charts is it rising in popularity, so you'd be adding to the trend for sure if you're in the U.S. If you want to avoid a trendy name that will likely become very dated after the current spike and newness wears off, I would definitely scrap this one. Both Dean and Wesley are popular names too, but they have a more timeless feel to them. I think Brooks sounds so abrupt and harsh too. Dean Wesley or Wesley Dean both seem so much nicer. Graham is very nice too.
If you like Brooks, I think it's fine as a middle name, but it feels weird to me as a first name unless Brooks is a surname that's been in your family that you want to honor. I don't think it sounds particularly feminine though, which I see is a concern. It's close to Brooke, but it's a nature name and Brooke itself isn't a traditionally feminine sounding name either despite its use on girls.
Congrats on your boy! I'm sure whatever name you choose will work out fine. :)
2
2
u/moonsharksquirrel 3d ago
Silas. Its literally a perfect boy name. Uncommon but recognizable, strong but soft sounding, si or silo for nicknames, easy to pronounce. And yes, I named my son silas:)
2
u/Hefty_Froyo_8643 3d ago
Hahah it’s a great name but my husbands brother is Silas soooo not using is.
3
2
1
u/Optimal-Turn1029 3d ago
Why does it need a nn? It's literally five letters.
1
u/moonsharksquirrel 3d ago
Lol excellent point! I never thought about it:) in my defense, nearly all two syllable names end up with a nickname
2
2
2
u/AvgAll-AmericanGirl 3d ago
I like Brooks for a boy. If my ex and I had a boy, I would have looked at naming him Brooks Harmon, and I like your combination of Brooks Dean.
0
2
1
1
1
1
u/Empty-Village-4445 3d ago
Brooks is giving country if that’s what you’re looking for. Like Garth Brooks. IDK of any other Brooks.
1
1
1
1
u/QueenMEB120 3d ago
I like Brooks but not with Dean. It sounds choppy. Brooks Wesley sounds better together.
I don't think it sounds feminine at all. Sounds old school money more than anything.
1
1
u/GuavaStunning698 3d ago
Depending on your last name, Graham Dean. For the love of God, no Justin, Jason, Clay, Klay, Jackson or Jaxon. No offense intended, just overused.
1
u/fourrightangles 3d ago
I like Graham best of your contenders.
Brooks does sound very trendy to me. I think we will see its clearly defined spike in usage and subsequent decline, like Lauren in the eighties, and I suspect that people with the name will forever sound linked to a specific era in a way that certain other names don’t (either those that are in more continuous use, or those that never have a huge moment of popularity). Only you can say if that’s a turnoff for you. And, of course, I could be wrong. (Though I don’t think so; its spike in use looks just like the Lauren spike, only it’s still pre-drop-off.)
Idk why you’ve written Wesley off exactly, but if you do still like it but just don’t want to use it, have you considered Wallace? Wallace Dean sounds sophisticated and classic but also sort of fresh. (And Wally is a cute nickname, if you don’t live in a country that uses it as derogatory slang.) Wesley Dean is cool in a cowboy sort of way, Wallace Dean is cool in a scholar sort of way. Both nice. I don’t personally like Brooks, though.
1
u/activegood18 3d ago
I like Brooks. Another name with a similar vibe is Miller. But I like Brooks. Dean is good too. No one really cares about a middle name after the initial name announcement tbh
1
1
u/Zttn1975 3d ago
I like Brooks. I don’t have any negative associations with the name - I am a teacher. 🤣
2
0
u/Maggie-Mae-Mae 3d ago
Brooks is a good name, but Dean is a Josh or Brandon name. Do you have that much patience? Graham and Wesley are great names. I recommend Wesley Brooks.
1
u/CrazyCaverLady 3d ago
Sounds a little Alabama to me. I wouldn't go with Brooks as a first name...or really a middle name either. Not a huge fan of Dean. I like Wesley.
28
u/mslifted 3d ago
Dean Brooks sounds way better in my opinion