Which Name Do You like Best for My Baby?

Updated on September 12, 2011
J.D. asks from Saint Paul, MN
71 answers

I am not interested in any other names besides these 4. We are just having a tough time deciding which one is best. They all go with the middle and last name well. If you really dislike a name, please tell me why. Thanks for your input.

Clayton "Clay"
Jethro "Jett"
Callan "Cal"
Percy

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So What Happened?

So, I showed all your responses to my husband who picked out and LOVES the names Percy and Jethro (but specifically he doesn't like Jett-that was my idea). Now, I think he FINALLY realizes that they are maybe not the best choices (thank goodness)! He also is starting to like Jett. So thank you ladies. Now, if we could decide on Clayton or Callan. Hmmmm. :)

Featured Answers

K.*.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm going to have to agree with S.K.'s post, although harsh, but it's true. I like Jett though! Callan is pretty cool too! It's tough picking out names, and not everyone is going to agree on any one name GOOD LUCK :)

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A.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

I really like Jett, but NOT Jethro (which sounds bumpkin), just Jett. It's cool and not too popular.

I like Clay, not so much Clayton. Clayton sounds a little nerdy to me.

Callan or Cal I like. It reminds me of Kellan, as in Kellan Lutz, the actor.

Percy sounds like an old British man. I actually like Perry better, but now that would make everyone think if "Perry the Platypus"

2 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

I like Clay and Callan. Just an FYI on Percy, if he is anything like my daughter she can't pronounce Percy correctly...three guesses as to what it comes out as.

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M.F.

answers from Dallas on

Clayton is my pick. I have always loved Clay :)

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

Edited:

I love Clayton(Clay) and Jett. (Not Jethro! Sorry! Plus, the goofball from Beverly Hillbillies comes to mind.)

Percy reminds me of a fish. Was there a fish named Percy??? Not sure why that came to mind.

I like the name Callan (Cal). I had a sweet student named Callan. He went by Cal.

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Percy is the sort of name that would get a boy beat up on the playground after school.

Jethro is the sort of name that depending on the age of teachers and classmates will give people "preconcieved notions" about his intelligence among other negative stereotypes (you can thank the comedy series "The Beverly Hill Billies")

Callan and Clayton are fine when measured against the "bully and relentless teasing scale." However, I personally do not like names that sound too "stagey" or like characters from romance novels or period movies. There's no way to know in the future how these names will fit the child or be percieved in the future because of trends socially or culturally.

I tend to think choosing more traditional names is safest...this after naming my first a name that I now consider too trendy...and regret the choice. It isn't awful, and it's certainly not a name that gets him beat up on the playground, but if I could do it again, I'd go more conservative. He has to live with it afterall....not me.

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L.P.

answers from Albuquerque on

Percy does also remind me of Thomas the Takn Engine, and since my 3 year old loves them and cannot yet say all of his Rs correctly, this name sounds like an inappropriate word. I would hate for your son or other children to sound like they are calling him that word (I am sure you can figure out what it is if you just drop the R)

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like Clayton....a lot. All of the Clays I know are down to earth, genuinely nice guys who are intelligent and successful.

Jethro sounds like s dumb backwoods type of guy. Sorry, you wanted honesty.

Callan is cool. I know a Callan and he is cool....and knows it.

Percy, reminds me of Percy Sledge....and I'm only 36. But yeah, Thomas the Train's friend....and everyone his age will know that too. He'll get teased.

We wait until our babies are born to name then and then we KNOW that the names we pick fit them. Not that you have to take this long, but it took us 13 days to name our last one, born almost 4 months ago. It took us 3 days to name our other kids....but their name all fit them like a glove!

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Personally I really only like Clayton and Callan. I think those names will mature with each age and the nicknames are great.

Now here goes my honest reasons regarding the other two...
Percy make me think of Thomas the Tank Engine characters...so I just picture a chunky train with a strange looking face on it.

And Jethro...makes me think of a throwback t.v. show based in the inner city hood.

Sorry...just my two cents.
Good luck and best wishes on finding the right name for your new little bundle of joy.

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A.J.

answers from Seattle on

I like Callan. I think is a very handsome name.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

My favorite is Clayton/Clay. I like names that not everybody uses, but the others are just a bit too different for me...Just my opinion, though. :)

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L.A.

answers from Dallas on

Callan. Clayton would be my second vote.

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K.D.

answers from Provo on

Keep all of them in mind and then look at your baby to see which one he looks like. We didn't name our son until he was 2 days old -- but we spent all of the time in the hospital trying to find one that fit him. The name we settled on fits him very well. My daughter we knew her name just before she was born, and her middle name the day after, again it was waiting to see what kind of personality she would bring to this world.
And I'm not fond of Percy. It's pretty old-fashioned, could be odd, and the issue already mentioned with Thomas the Tank engine series. Even if he doesn't have the trains, lots of his playmates will and will associate him with that name.

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B.F.

answers from Toledo on

I like Clayton
dont like Jethro...too jetsons
Callan is nice
Percy sounds too prudish

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S.T.

answers from Denver on

I like Callan. Percy reminds me of Harry Potter :) But that's not a bad thing!

1 mom found this helpful

E.D.

answers from Seattle on

Team CALLAN!!! Woop!

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A.S.

answers from San Diego on

I have an uncle Clayton, it sounds like an older man's name. Jethro, people will be thinking of the band Jethro Tull and giving him the rockers sign all the time. Percy. reminds me of the character from The Green Mile. I like Callan. It's unusual and I like unusual names. You are a brave person asking for advice on names. I hated the negative input people gave me on names. I am trying to be positive with my answer and sorry if it comes out negative but you can't really convey emotion in writing.

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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

My best friend has a dog named Jethro. It just doesn't seem like a "human" name to me. Percy reminds me of Percy Jackson (fiction books,) and I can't imagine a baby named Percy.

I do like Callan and Clay, but not Clayton.

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K.C.

answers from Seattle on

I like Callan (first pick) and Clayton (second pick). Congrats on the baby!!

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

I don't like Jethro, it just sounds very hick/country bumpkin to me. But I had a great friend whose name was Jett as a first name. It was perfect, loved it!

I like Clayton (Clay) and Percy. Not a fan of Callan (Cal) at all. Don't know why, just doesn't have a good sound to it.

I would say, Jett and Clay are my favorites.

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

I like Callan/Cal the best, followed by Clay (but not Clayton...can't say why, just don't care for the full name). Callan reminds me of G. Callan on NCIS Los Angeles. I dislike the other two completely. Jethro reminds me of Gibbs on NCIS (played by Mark Harmon, who I really like) so I don't dislike it as much as I otherwise would but I don't like Jett...don't think it sounds like a name as much as a vehicle. I don't like Percy, it seems to be an odd name (to me) and not very boyish even though I immediately think of an old man when I hear it.

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J.B.

answers from Phoenix on

I'm with T.J.. When I read Jethro it reminds of the Beverly Hillibillies guy and when I read Percy all I can think of Thomas the Train. I like either Callan or Clayton.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Id go for "clayton" the cutest of them all. :)

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K.

answers from Phoenix on

Callan "Cal" is really cute. Thats my favorite.

The one l like the least is Percy. Reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine too much which may stick with him as he grows older.
And its a real adult name too..

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L.D.

answers from Dallas on

Clayton or Callan

Jethro - Beverly Hillbillies :(
Percy - ? The train from Thomas the train? A cat? I dont know...

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I actually like the 3 nicknames better than the full name options and think that they stand well on their own. My preference for the nicknames as the first name is the order you have listed.

I don't like Percy, it doesn't sound like a strong name to me.

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J.D.

answers from New York on

I like Clayton the best. Jethro ryhmes with death row (sorry it just came to mind as soon as I said it outloud to myself), never heard of Callan but its ok and Percy is Ok too, Clayton is my fav

S.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I LOVE Callan (it's my BIL and nieces middle names).
2nd Jett but don't care for Jethro
3rd Clayton "Clay"
I don't care for Percy at all.

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

-I don't like Clayton, sounds too country for me..
-I like Jett because it's different.
-I like Callan but not Cal.
-Percy is okay...

congrats!

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F.W.

answers from Miami on

I like them all!! Sorry not much help but I always like old fashioned names and if they are not too popular that's even better. Nothing worse than when the kids get to school and they have the same name as another 3-4 kids in their class. I avoided those TOP TEN GIRLS/BOYS NAMES lists like the plague!! lol So out of them all I know 2 people who called there kids Callan, so I personally would pick one of the other three. :-)

OK OK Clay is my favorite as it sounds quite masculine and strong.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Clayton- Clay, unique and new.

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

I love callan, but don't like cal. I like Clayton and clay. Percy reminds me of the train too, and bethel of the Beverly hillbillies. Jett by itself is better.

A.G.

answers from Houston on

out of those i like Clayton the best..my least favorite is Jethro

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A.H.

answers from Omaha on

I like Clay and Callan the best! I also like Jett, but not crazy about Jethro.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

I'm with the others on Clayton or Callan. Jethro is too Beverly Hillbillies. Percy is one of the trains on Thomas.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

IMO, clayton and Jethro sound a bit "hillbilly" Cal and Percy are cute.

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J.A.

answers from Denver on

Don't like Jethro, but like "Jett" I have known two claytons in my life and both were idiots so I couldn't name my son that. I have never known a Percy, it's okay. I like Callan, but not "Cal". HTH :) Let us know what you decide.

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C.R.

answers from Seattle on

I like Clayton or Callan.
Jethro reminds of the Beverly Hillbillies.
Percy reminds me of Thomas the Train.
Happy naming!

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

I don't like Jethro or clayton. I have never known a Percy do its different but callan would be my favorite. Good luck and let us know :)

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A.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

I say Callan. If i heard the name clayton, I would think of the small town in northern nm.

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C.C.

answers from Flagstaff on

Isn't Clayton the bad guy in Tarzan?

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

A friend of ours had a little boy who loved Thomas the train, but they had to be careful when he said Percy in public because it sounded just like another name for kitty.
I vote for Callan or Clayton.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

I love Callan. I'm not a fan of any of the nicknames though.

J.P.

answers from Chicago on

My vote is for Callan. I like that name a lot, and I I like the nickname for it. Callan sounds like a fun, friendly, smart boy's name.

Okay... you want to know why I dislike the other names? (You did say to include that, too.)

Jethro reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies and Jethro Tull. (I do kind of like Jett, though.)

Percy sounds like some old man who is a detective. I am not sure why.... was there some tv show like this? It just doesn't sound great for a baby... that's my honest opinon. (Maybe for a penquin..... wasn't there a cartoon with a penquin named Percy??)

Clayton is okay but Clay just makes me think of actual clay that you shape on a potter's wheel.

Good luck with your final decision.

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Not a big fan of Callan or Percy.

Clayton is my fav with Jethro "Jett" coming in a close second.

J.I.

answers from San Antonio on

Best imo is Clayton.

Jethro - first thing that comes to mind is Jethro Tull

Callan might be okay. It's my second favorite. I guess what I don't like/know about this one is the correct pronunciation. CAY-lan or CA (as in apple)-lyn

Percy to me sounds like a characters name in a cartoon. Percy the Pig or something. It does not sound like a young man's name. Or thefuture president Percy! Eh no thanks. Percy is my very least favorite.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Jethro sounds very redneck. It also makes me tink Jethro Tull, nota good picture. I do like Jett though.

Love Clayton/Clay I have a friend whose son is a Clay.
I like Cal and Percy just fine.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

These are very "old" names!!! I like Jethro best - it reminds me of LeRoy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS!!!

Percy reminds me of a cat.

Callon - never heard it before.

Clayton - I like too - it would be my 2nd choice

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H.1.

answers from Des Moines on

Clayton best and second I like Callan

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go for Cal (Callan).
It gets my vote out of these!
The nickname Cal sounds cool.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

My favorite is Callan..I have a cousin named Callan and he is an awesome person!

Do not like Percy...sounds uptight...and reminds me of Thomas the train character.

Jethro is cute if you call him Jett. Like that.

It's your decision.

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K.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

I really like Clayton and Callan and the short versions of each. I like Jett but not Jethro- like others said, too hick. Percy doesn't even come close to being a name I would pick- it sounds wimpy I think.

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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

My vote is for Clayton.....it's my husband's name :)

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like Callan, but not really Cal. Percy sounds like a persnickety old man to me. Jethro reminds me of Jethro Tull, although I do like Jett. And, sorry, but Clayton reminds me of that old TV sitcom, "Benson." Remember that one? Clayton was the really annoying character on that show.

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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

I like Clayton. I do not like Jethro it reminds me of the guy from the beverly hillbillies and I think he will get made fun of. Just namel him Jett if that's what you really like. I don't like Percy either..too Thomas the Trainish!

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D.S.

answers from Phoenix on

My favorite is Cal, then Clay, and Jett. Do not like Percy at all. Remember that these names will be with him his whole life, thru the sometimes terrible teen years and adulthood.

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I love Jett! But Jethro will forever remind me of the Beverly Hillbillies :)
I think Percy sounds "prissy" I don't think a boy would like growing up with this name.
The other names are nice, especially Cal (we actually considered naming our son Calvin, after Calvin and Hobbes, and I would have called him Cal.)

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like Clayton. Callan is the second best.

Sorry but I don't like any of the other names. Hated Jethro.Please don't name your baby that :) Percy sounds like a girlie name and can be made fun of. I wouldn't like it for a girl too I think.

A.S.

answers from Iowa City on

I like Callan but I wouldn't call him Cal very often. I don't like Jethro because it seems hillbilly-esque. I don't like Clayton that also seems a bit hickish. Percy makes me think of trains.

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Whatever you choose, think about what future employers are going to think when they see his name on a resume! I'm a teacher and I really do feel sorry for those kids whose parents went crazy with names because they wanted to be different. What they accomplished, however, was giving their kid a name they're going to have to overcome the rest of their lives. To each his own, of course, but try to think about your son running for political office or running his own company.... is that a name you think is realistic?

Personally, I think all the names are classy except Jethro. I think it has too many societal connotations that would make the bearer of that name seem uneducated and dim. The other names are nice because they can be shortened for an informal slant but also lengthened to be more professional.

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like Clayton and Jethro. I also think Jett would be cute as a first name and not just a nickname.
Good Luck!

B.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Callan my vote. Best of luck

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Clayton - I like
Jethro - I don't like
Callan - iffy
Percy - I hate!

And I think it's interesting that you've got nicknames associated already. I don't like nicknames. I want to be called by my given name. I want my kids to be called by their given names. I purposely picked names that couldn't be shortened.
My oldest was Kirstyn. In high school, there was a Kristin on her team and it was confusing, so they called her by her initials KG. Some people still do. But overall it's always Kirstyn.
My son was Justin. In jr high, at camp, there was a leader named Justin and it was confusing. So they called him Baby J. He's 16 and those friends still call him that. But to everyone else, it's Justin.
My youngest is Hannah. No nicknames yet. Although I called her Hannah Banana when she was little, and at some point it became Hannah B. LOL

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Jett is cool. Jethro is not cute and your son will never get a girl friend (or boy friend-ya NEVER know) with that name.

Clayton is cool because of Adam Clayton of U2!

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J.W.

answers from Chicago on

I LOVE Jethro but only if you call him Jethro and not Jett. BEVERLY HILLBILLIES IN THE HOUSE

Clay and Cal are okay names. If you're having a puppy and not a human baby, go with Percy.

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S.S.

answers from Sioux City on

I LOVE Clay... But, that's because my middle son is Clay. We debated on using Clayton as well but, it didn't go well with Clay's middle name... So, now he's just Clay. That's my fave! :)

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

my vote is Clayton - Clay for short. LOVE IT

C.P.

answers from Columbia on

Callan. It seems you have a majority going for this one!

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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I like the name Callan but to me it is a girl's name. I have an 18 year old grandniece by that name.

Out of the other names, I like Clayton the best.

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K.G.

answers from Phoenix on

I like Clay but dislike Jethro. Jethro reminds me too much of The Beverly Hillbilies.

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Callan
Jett (no Jethro as others have said it's too Beverly Hillbillies, but I do like Jett)
Percy
Clayton (I've known a few and they were into trouble and deliquents)

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