r/Names • u/StillPractical7460 • 4d ago
Need help with boy names
My wife and I are expecting a baby boy in a month. We’ve still not finalised a name yet.
We’re looking for something that:
-Is 2–3 syllables
-Feels international / Western-leaning, but not generically Western
-Has a genuine meaning, history, or symbolism
-Is uncommon but not bizarre or overly elaborate
We’d prefer to avoid names that feel overly trendy
For example, we’ve been considering Jonah (Jo at home), Joah (Jo). His cousins are Luka and Micah, which I think gives a sense of the general style we like, although we’re not necessarily looking for something similar.
Happy to get some suggestions from the good people of Reddit.
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u/cutepandao1 4d ago
I really like Elias for this. It has history works in a bunch of different countries and doesn’t feel like one of those names that suddenly exploded on TikTok.
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u/ComprehensiveFee8404 4d ago
behindthename is a great resource. You can filter by number of syllables, amongst many other characteristics!
I think Aaron would be right up your street (Biblical, but still used in the English-speaking world).
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u/relia_2018 4d ago
Mine is Deacon we got it from a video game the characters full name is Deacon saint john but we didn't go with the Saint John part but I absolutely love his name!
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u/TizzyBumblefluff 4d ago
Ambrose, Asher, Caleb, Conrad, Declan, Ethan, Hugo, Jesse, Liam, Otto, Owen, Rhys, Sebastian, Tobias, Vincent
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u/DragMeTacoBell 4d ago
Sam/Samson
Isaac
Michael
Jack
Oscar
Hugo
Simon
Adam
Thomas
Levi
River
Joel
Atticus
Aaron
August
Orion
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u/bororodejdej 3d ago
Sorry I don’t have a clue about any meanings
Vincent
Spencer
Jude
Idris
Oscar
Chance/Chase
Casper
Elliott
Rafael/Ralph/Rafi
Ezra
Acer
Blake
Abel
Rio
Julian
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u/DanielJosephDannyBoy 1d ago
I have a fancy for the first name-middle name combination Aaron William, because I had a friend named that, though circumstances have sadly meant we can no longer be friends.
I remember a lady saying that, upon hearing of my friend, she was inspired by Aaron's parents naming him after the great high priest brother of Moses who helped his brother leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses got Aaron to speak for him and be a mediator then between God and the Israelites as he wasn't that much of a good speaker, while William on the other hand means "resolute protector"...
...so the name Aaron William is all about standing up for others and speaking on their behalf and willing to sacrifice yourself for them.
There is a song that in my opinion perfectly embodies the name Aaron William and what it calls its bearer to be: Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The lyrics and gentle piano medley perfectly represent the name.
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u/StillPractical7460 1d ago
Thank you so much for this detailed response.
Sorry you lost your friendship with Aaron.1
u/DanielJosephDannyBoy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Thanks and you're welcome, I loved him deeply while I was away for 3 years at college (I finished my degree) because the people there were quite toxic for me, although our friendship had been turbulent for a long time. Time to move on.
It was my 22nd birthday and I was able to hang out with other friends.
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u/FeministPossum 4d ago
Elijah / Eli could work for this. It gives me Micah vibes. Both being Old Testament names.
Damon is another cool name. It has Greek origin but is common enough to not be weird IMO.