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Original poster

DH's name choices are all very American sounding

42 replies

whatiminterestedin · 22/10/2013 10:34

So we have a Zack and now we are having another little boy. Which trying to pick a name with my DH is driving me insane. He literally hates everything I like and he likes very American sounding names. This is maybe because he spent part of his childhood in America.

I'll give you some examples

Jessie/Jesse- He says its sounds like a cute boys name (he must have got this from the series Breaking Bad.(You know, the druggy) Great! I can only think of the saying 'Big Jessie' or it sounding girly.

Brandon-He thinks it sounds like a good looking chap who will get loads of girls when he is older..Agh again really American sounding

Austin -American

Reece- I just don't like it

The problem is Zack is spelt the American way ( only spelling DH would agree to).

I don't know, I need some inspiration- I want them to be able to have names where people are not going to pigeon hole them to a particular class and can work whether they want to be Dustmen or Lawyers.... I like names like Cameron (DH doesn't like names that sound like surnames) and has vetoed all the following too, Flynn, (thinks it sounds like ( Flyd), Archie, Oscar, George, Noah, Xander, Theo, Albie ..But again although I like these none jump out at me really, so I'm not putting a good case forward either.

We did toy with Jared-But again I just cant see me calling out for Jared. and still a bit too American . Maybe its me who is the awkward one..

We have picked a middle name -Evan but we both don't feel for us its strong enough as a first name

Names we cant use due to family etc
Oliver
Harrison
Riley
Ethan
Liam
Jacob
Ryan
Samuel
Joseph
Thomas
Max
Rory

Help. I'm 33 weeks now so need some new inspiration

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Fantail · 26/10/2013 23:21

Surnames as first names is a really American thing to do. I have American friends in New York with a Cooper. Also in some families in the South it is common for the first born daughter to be given her mother's maiden name.

I do like Austin and it does pair well with Zack I think.

What about:

Luke / Lucas
Andrew
Jack
Ben
David

mathanxiety · 26/10/2013 10:30

Reuben is also a very Hispanic name in America.

badtime · 24/10/2013 19:10

Reece is a surname too. How can your husband claim he doesn't like surname names when it seems that it exactly what he likes?

rootypig · 24/10/2013 19:04

I second Reuben. Is a v tasty sandwich in America so should keep him happy Grin

cavell · 24/10/2013 18:59

Names that come to mind:

Nathan/Nathaniel
Alex
Adam
Henry

peachypips · 24/10/2013 18:39

Oh, and Eron. Means 'peace and joy'

peachypips · 24/10/2013 18:38

My first DS is a Zach. Short for Zachary. DS2 is Charlie, but this is very common so not many people like it for that reason! I just literally couldn't think of another name I liked as much as Zach.

Names I have thought of since that I like are:

Silas
Solomon
Soren

Be interested to see if we have similar taste or if Zach/Zack was a fluke!

Wineandchoccy · 24/10/2013 18:34

What about

Jude
Reuben
Ralph/Rafe
Leo

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 24/10/2013 17:57

I read this and my first thought was Joel but see it's already been mentioned more than once.

Agree Erik would be good but not if you are set on Evan as a mn.

Aaron
Carl
Clay
Fox
Josh
Matt
Trey

Shosha1 · 24/10/2013 14:55

What about Asa or Kier quite strong names but ' American' enough for your DH?

jellybeans · 24/10/2013 14:51

Hayden? Jackson? Harrison?

jellybeans · 24/10/2013 14:50

Austin is really nice. How about Blake?

SpottedDickandCustard · 23/10/2013 18:41

How about Nathaniel known as Nate?

Snog · 23/10/2013 18:30

How about Ethan

LGandPandnow3 · 23/10/2013 18:28

Agree Evan is a good first name choice! Esp if you both agree!!

BuntyPenfold · 23/10/2013 17:38

Ooh, Erik with a k is great.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 23/10/2013 17:31

He doesn't like names that sound like surnames, but 2 of his choices (Brandon and Austin) are surnames!

We have a different mix of nationalities - needed names that work in German. We have Erik and Henry - I love Erik, and it is much more widely used in America than the UK. Must be spelt with a K so he's a viking :o Sounds brilliant when chanted by team mates at football :)

PsammeadPaintedTheLion · 23/10/2013 17:15

How about James? Can't go wrong with James.

ProfondoRosso · 23/10/2013 16:32

I like Austin! All the Austins I know are Irish or Scottish.

EldritchCleavage · 23/10/2013 16:27

Edward known as Teddy (like Roosevelt)
Howard
Corbin
Aubrey
Jaden
Lewis
Eric
Gabriel
Gregory
Christian

Zoway · 23/10/2013 16:25

Ps what about Saul. I like that and think it goes witjh Zack. I can imagine a new yorker called Saul. It doesnt sound American in that tylertaylorbrandon kind of way. Just i can imagine an american called saul! (He's a writer. Lives in a loft. He's had some work done. He hasnt had therapy himself. His parents are therapists)
Wink

Zoway · 23/10/2013 16:21

Second mathanxiety's suggestion of Brendan rather than Brandon. Former sounds solid, timeless etc and Brandon is.... 90210

mathanxiety · 23/10/2013 05:44

I really dislike Jared. Also Caleb.

Austin is a great name and not too American imo. I knew several Austins in Ireland as a child -- they were friends of my dad's so all aged 40 and over when I knew them back in the 70s. They were both from County Mayo coincidentally, and the DCs also knew a boy whose middle name was Austin whose family were from Mayo too..

Would you consider Brendan instead of Brandon? Brendan is more Irish. I know a lot of American Brendans nevertheless -- in fact many more American Brendans than Brandons.

Jesse is too 'Jesse James' (outlaw, murderer and possibly a Confederate who wouldn't accept the defeat of the South) and I would avoid it even as American names go.

I also think Evan would work with Zack. I know several American Evans.

I think the names your H has vetoed sound very British and by that I mean a bit wet to an American ear.

Would you go for a name like Kevin? It's very MC American. Pity you can't use Liam or Ryan.

How about Alex? Goes well with Zack and very popular in the US.

willowstar · 23/10/2013 05:32

I know a 9 year old Jessie, the name really suits him. I also went out with a Jessie in high school, admiddedly American. I like it. I also love Jared....name of a boy on the tennis team I really fancied in high school, again American.

SanityClause · 23/10/2013 05:25

He doesn't like surnamey names, but he likes Brandon and Austin? Hmm