Middle names with meaning

[albazavi]

Back again,

I had a thread recently about sibling names to Seb and Rowan. We've found out it is (amazingly) another boy. We had some great suggestions which have gone onto the list (Toby/ Ellis/ Archer) but none quite meet the mark.

Have fallen in love with Barnaby and husband is keen on it too. Only problem is it doesn't go with our middle name - Benjamin.

Other 2 have family names- great grandparents- as middles so we want a middle name with meaning.

Benjamin is my husbands middle which is a lovely name.

Other grandparents' names are out (just can't bestow them on a child- Derek and Walter). Don't want to use DF without DFIL's and don't want 2 middles. DF is a better name to use- David- but don't think he'd like it being used and would feel uncomfortable. Husbands first name is not one I'd like to use either.

I had come up with James as a middle for Barnaby (my GRandad's middle) but husband has said no because of BJ initials.

Any other suggestions of how we can use a meaningful family name? My DM is welsh so have looked into welsh names with meaning but none seem to fit.otherwise I might have to discount Barnaby and I love it so much.

What about using Ellis to break it up?....Barnaby Ellis Benjamin.....then surname

I quite like Barnaby Benjamin.

Barnaby Benjamin is cool

Barnaby Eli
Barnaby Ellis
Barnaby Seth
Barnaby Otis (BO?)
Barnaby Eric
Barnaby Adam
Barnaby Louis
Barnaby Thomas (BT?)

Derek may be dated, but what about Roderick? Or the Welsh form Rhodri?

Iago, I believe is the Welsh form of James.

Barnaby is a great first name.

Love Barnaby
Barnaby Benjamin is lovely
Also like Barnaby Walter

If your other two have names from great grandparents then there must be more names from this far back to choose from, especially if you include middle names and maybe even surnames? Can be nice to use a surname from a female relative that has been lost through marriage?

Otherwise I think Barnaby Benjamin is absolutely fine and rather catchy.

We wanted to honour my gran who was very poorly but we had a boy. She was Joan so we went with jonah as the middle name. Can you do anything like that?

Any names from female family members which can be masculinised? Eg. Jack for Jacqueline, Lindon for Linda...

I think Barnaby Benjamin is great, also gives a BB option as a nickname.

Ohter than that, Barnaby Walter is fab! Walter is an ideal mn choice, very cool and out there but possibly a bit much for a first name.

Barnaby Benjamin sounds lovely.

Another one who likes Barnaby Benjamin

I really like Barnaby Benjamin. Also like Walter although agree Derek is a big fat no!

Love Barnaby Benjamin!

Who cares about it “going”?
No one ever knows what middle names are and they’re only really used on paperwork.

Barnaby Benjamin is fine. But I also think Walter is fine. I know a couple of “young” Walters.

Your maiden name? Any other surnames from the family tree that work?

Interesting that lots think Barnaby Benjamin would work. Everyone I've spoken to (DH, DM, best friend) has agreed it sounds like a cartoon character.

William has popped up on both sides (FIL middle and a great great grandparent) so that could work.

Maiden name could be shaped into Harrison (almost like Prince Harry's middle name idea)

So current ideas are

Barnaby Benjamin
Barnaby William
Barnaby Harrison

The thing is that it is only a middle name. If your last name was Benjamin I might see what you are saying about a cartoon character (although I personally think it's fine anyway). But let's say your last name is Turner. Barnaby Benjamin Turner sounds absolutely normal and the alliteration is actually nice. You hardly ever say people's full names out loud so it's really not an issue.

I like Benjamin the best of the options, I think it has more personality than William for example. However William is also perfectly nice. Harrison is also fine, it's not my favourite because lots of kids are called it now and I'm not so keen on surnamey names but in your case the meaning aspect makes it ok. So, all three choices are good and I'm glad you've settled on Barnaby I think it's great.

Barnaby Dai

Dai (and Dafydd) = the Welsh for David so would be a nice way of honouring both your DP

I like Barnaby Benjamin

I actually like Walter . . .

If your son won’t have your family name as his family name (if he has his father’s name) then your family name or your mother’s family name as middle name is nice.

A favourite character from a favourite book? (My daughters have the female protagonists from DH & my favourite books as middle names)

How about combining Derek and Walter into Dexter?
Although I love Walter to be honest.
And I think Barnaby Benjamin is fine.

I like Dexter!

Barnaby William is nice but still think Barnaby Benjamin is completely fine and you should go with that

Ellis is a welsh name so that fits in. Beautiful name.