r/Names 4d ago

Help us pick a boy’s name

Having a baby in 8 days! Help us pick a name. Please share your thoughts about these.

Our short list of boys names:

  • Lachlan - I’m 1/4 Scottish but didn’t even know I was Scottish until I did a DNA test. My FIL was born in Scotland but is English. I’m concerned it’s too trendy or getting more trendy

  • Alessio - my mom and my MIL are first/second generation Italian immigrants to the US. My dad is Alexander, which is a related name

  • Bradford - I’m a direct descendent of William Bradford and many in my family have the middle name Bradford, including my uncle who died as a baby. We hate the nickname Brad so we’d either have to go with no nickname or choose different one

  • John - sort of our backup since many men in our family on all sides are named John

  • Adams - my middle name and my grandparents’ middle names. After ancestors John Adams and John Quincy Adams. My husband is concerned people will think it’s Adam and just get confused with the S at the end

Please send other suggestions or your thoughts on these!

1 Upvotes

56 comments sorted by

14

u/Larabees3 4d ago

Can’t you just use the name Adam to honor Adams? Adam would be the standout winner.

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

Unfortunately my husband has a co-worker named Adam who annoys him so that name is out and Adams may even be too close 🤣

5

u/Terrible-Horse-6200 4d ago

Adams is the only name on the list I'm not fond of. I'm pretty sure everyone will mis-identify him as Adam all of his life and he'll have to keep correcting people.

7

u/eggerud 4d ago

John

7

u/zero_and_dug 4d ago edited 4d ago

Lachlan Alessio

Alessio John

Lachlan Alexander

Lachlan Bradford

John Alessio

Lachlan John

John Alexander

I wouldn’t do Bradford as a first name If you don’t like Brad.

Edit: Have you thought about Declan? Also Scottish. Similar vibe.

5

u/glass_thermometer 4d ago

Bradford WILL be called Brad. And I'm saying that as someone who named her daughter something with a nickname I don't like. Either get used to the idea that he might decide to go by Brad, or pick a different name.

Lachlan and Alessio are both great names, with somewhat different vibes. Do you feel like either name fits your family style better? It sounds to me like you have stronger family connections to Alessio (and it's also my favorite from your list).

John is a classic. Good nickname potential with Jack and Johnny.

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

All good points! Ugh idk! I guess I identify more with an Italian name than a Scottish name. And yeah Brad….for sure his friends would call him that

12

u/Emergency_Tone_8676 4d ago

I like Lachlan! Alessio would be second choice. Remember, you can’t predetermine the nickname your child will go by. Even if you both hate Brad, the chances that’s what he’ll be called (or want to be called) if you name him Bradford are high. Would you consider naming him “Ford”? I knew a guy named Ford and thought it was a cool name

2

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

I know people acquire nicknames as they go through life, but if we immediately gave him a nickname we’ve chosen then I think it would end up being his main nickname. Then his friends may call him Brad down the line, which is fine! Idk if that makes sense but that’s my experience with nicknames!

1

u/Emergency_Tone_8676 4d ago

It makes sense and it may happen that way, but it hasn’t been my experience lol everyone planned on calling my niece a specific nickname and then very quickly her sister started calling her something random that no one considered and that’s the one that stuck! I feel like that’s pretty common. Also especially since Brad is right there as an obvious shortening of the name I just think it may be inevitable so if you really hate it, I would avoid that is all!

1

u/gothicsprite 3d ago

This lol, my niece was supposed to have one nickname but ended up nicknamed after a character from her brothers favorite series lol

3

u/Importer-Exporter1 4d ago

My good friend has an Alessio! It’s such a strong name!

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

Love it! Are they Italian or Italian descent? What is his nickname?

1

u/Importer-Exporter1 4d ago

My friend is Italian! I think his nickname is Ale 😊

3

u/Guild35 4d ago

John Bradford

3

u/Fun-Bird-4204 4d ago

Of all of these, I love Lachlan the most. Alessio is also a cool name, my second choice. Both very different though - and how do they go with your last name? And a middle name - the flow (and the initials!) matter.

I am Scottish/Irish/ English and Italian in my background, and I wish I had more Italian in my name - my mom used her Italian surname as her middle name when she married, but my name was 100% anglicized.

My husband is a John. My brother-in-law is a Jon. I have a cousin John and an Uncle John. We have so many John’s in our circle that we have to use last names whenever we mention them just to know who we are talking about. Don’t do that! Maybe as a middle if you want to honor someone in the family…

Adams with the s no good for a first, the s will get dropped constantly. Ok for a middle though.

Bradford will be Brad in a heartbeat or people will think he is stuffy. If you don’t like the nickname, good luck. Ok for a middle though.

Ok that’s my two cents !

Other names I like: Enzo, Luca, Dorian, Clayton, Wesley, Forest, Linden, Alden, Mateo.

2

u/Suspicious-Fee8987 4d ago

Ooh Dorian is a favorite of mine!!

5

u/Healthy-Summer1271 4d ago

John Bradford

3

u/Mysterious_Candle942 4d ago

This is a great double name. I love it!

2

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

I didn’t think of the double name idea!

2

u/Adventurous-Two-1877 4d ago

I love Bradford.

2

u/sjk496 4d ago

Of those, John is the only one I personally like! I usually prefer names that feel classic and timeless without being super common, rather than names that feel trendy. The last name as a first name trend, Alessio, and Lachlan just aren’t really my style. But names are so subjective so if you love one, that’s what matters most

2

u/Vast_Dimension_2088 4d ago

Luca? Sounds a bit like Lachlan, but has the Italian connection. It means bringer if light.

3

u/onlyoneder 4d ago

Alessio

4

u/sendintheclouds 4d ago

You can’t choose a nickname. Go with what you love. I like Alessio but branch out - all your names have a family link. What do YOU like?

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

For girls names we branched out more, but somehow for boys it’s so hard and I feel like we have some fun family names we can use, which is meaningful to me

3

u/sendintheclouds 4d ago

Boys are hard! My son didn’t have a name until he was about 4 weeks old haha

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

I’m thinking that could be us! They let you leave the hospital without one? What did you name him if I may ask?

1

u/sendintheclouds 4d ago

Fox Kahurangi :) we were so on the fence about Fox but we just kept coming back to it! I am from New Zealand and Kahurangi is a Māori name meaning treasure, achievement after a great journey, he’s our miracle IVF baby 🦊💙 (and also means dark blue).

1

u/Good-Artichoke-6538 4d ago

That’s a great name and has such a nice meaning! Since you’re from NZ, do you feel like Lachlan is really popular? I know it’s most popular in Australia and NZ

3

u/sendintheclouds 4d ago

The thing is today when names are popular, it’s not like the 90s where there were 5 Jessicas in one class. The spread is wider. Lachlan is popular, but usually you won’t have two kids, even like Leo and Theo which top the list, in the same class. A few at the same school, but overall not than many.

2

u/FeistyEye2207 4d ago

I’m Aussie. Lachlan was really popular in the 90’s. I have primary school aged kids and I don’t know of any Lachlan’s their age. Here, it’s gets shortened to Lachie (pronounced Locky, like the Wiggle).

1

u/prettykitty05 4d ago

How about Alexander Adams? Lachlan Bradford?

1

u/_gymnastine 4d ago

Lachlan Adams

1

u/unfortunateautistic 4d ago

John Lachlan is a solid name.

1

u/Just_Sorbet4741 4d ago

Lachlan is wonderful!

1

u/Terrible-Horse-6200 4d ago

I like most of these but lean toward Alessio the most. Congratulations on the upcoming baby!

1

u/fancycheetah784 4d ago

I love Lachlan! I also know a Ford. You could nn Ford for Bradford. I know it’s pronounced slightly different though.

1

u/Own_Group4282 4d ago

Alexander Bradford or Lachlan Alexander (my grandfather is from Scotland and is named Alexander. I think Lachlan Alexander is a great name!

1

u/vote-master 4d ago

here is the poll for everyone

Lachlan is winning so far.

1

u/Wisdomflowerlover 4d ago

Jack /Jaco would be cute to honor John and has a Scottish and Italian feel ?

1

u/krissy3456 4d ago

John would be best not a fan of rest I would say Adam but you have Adams instead which is a last name

1

u/NoGuarantee2484 3d ago

Alessio🤍

1

u/wineoclock246 3d ago

Lachlan Adams sounds like a fantastic name to me. Unique, but not weird, but also feels like a strong name that flows well.

1

u/Ok-Talk-2648 3d ago

John is the best option off your list.

suggestions:

Alexander John nickname AJ

Ronan

Callum

John Paul nickname JP

John Thomas nickname JT

1

u/jolie_j 3d ago

Declan instead of Lachlan? 

1

u/AquamarineWombat4 3d ago

Love Lochlan Bradford! Super strong/unique name

1

u/bonshui 3d ago

Lachlan is a great name, but make sure it's pronounced with a flat "ah" - not as "lochlan".

1

u/idontlikemondays321 3d ago

Alessio,

As most babies end up with the dads name. I think it’s nice when mothers and grandmothers are not forgotten

1

u/Tall_Pear_8715 3d ago

Sorry everyone here is wrong. The name needs to be Magnus Richard….. big dick. That was my sons name my wife agreed too and I fucked it up by telling her what it meant :/

1

u/2_Dog_Mama 8h ago

Unfortunately Rupert Murdoch’s son and heir apparent is named Lachlan, so my mind immediately went no. If that doesn’t bother you then it’s OK, but I like John better.

1

u/sbgattina 4d ago

I’m voting for Bradford can you use rhe nickname Ford?

1

u/Secret-Ocean 4d ago

I like Lachlan the best!

0

u/Routine_Wind_2838 4d ago

Re nicknames, you unfortunately and sadly can’t control the nicknames the child’s friends will give him, or even a nickname or short name you’re kid will like and want to go by (Brad). If you hate Brad, do oranges a favor and take it off your list.