Opinions on Names for Baby Boy

Updated on December 14, 2007
J.C. asks from Stillwater, MN
21 answers

Hi. I am looking for general opinions or impressions about three different first names we're considering for our son (due on December 19th). I think boys' names are hard, and since I'm so stuck between these three, I'm hoping others can help me choose.

We like:
1) Liam
2) Jonah
3) Gavin

Thanks,

J.

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So What Happened?

Hello everyone, and thanks so much for all the great feedback! The little stinker actually came a week early, and we named him Liam Michael (Michael after my brother). I really appreciate all your input, it made my decision a lot easier! We feel so blessed, and hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

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J.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'm partial because my 2 year old son is Jonah! It is just and not quite so popular, but recognizable!

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S.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

I hear a lot of Liam's and Gavin's. My vote would be the biblical choice of Jonah, don't hear it as often and the biblical meaning is dove, see http://www.biblical-baby-names.com

S.

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

We just had a baby boy three months ago, and also agonized over his name. We ultimately named him Jude, as that was the name of one of my kindergartners last year who was such a lovely child. It's also in the title of one of our favorite Beatles songs.
I will say that Liam was also at the top of our list for names, and I think it's a great name still. It's strong, and just unusual enough to be distinctive. I can honestly say that in all my years of teaching, I have only run across 2 or 3 Liams.
Good luck with whatever name you choose, and enjoy that baby boy!

K.

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C.K.

answers from Madison on

I think you should not worry what other people think and go with what you two like the most. I get so annoyed when people say that you should come up with something easy for everyone else to pronounce. Well, I have had a name that is pronounced incorrectly or differently, and it has bothered me a lot. However, it gave me character and strength. My last names have been long and difficult to pronounce, too. They are something I'm proud of and they show my ethnic background. Not everyone can be a John Smith, thank God.

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L.Y.

answers from Minneapolis on

Out of the three, I like Liam the best. It's not super common and still unique in it's own way.

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C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like Liam and Gavin. But then again my kids are Conor, Ciara and Ronan. All good Irish names.

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A.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like Liam and Jonah both. Gavin is a VERY popular name right now, so if you don't want your son to have more than one Gavin is school, I'd reconsider that one. Have you put all three names with middle and, more importantly, your last name to see if any feel better or worse when all put together?

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J.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like each of the names you have selected. Personally, I love the name Liam and it would be on my list too for a boy.

When my husband and I had our baby girl 13 months ago we elected to have a couple of names in case she looked more like one than the other.

You might want to keep the list you have and try calling him each of them before settling.

Congratulations on the addition of your son!! Happy Holidays to you also!!!

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T.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like them all! In order, I like Jonah best, then Gavin then Liam. How do the names fit with your girls names? Make sure none sound alike. Congrat's on the new little guy when he arrives!

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J.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Go outside on your deck and yell all of them three times! Sometimes that helps!! You will be saying whatever name you choose, A LOT! Make it something easy on the ear and easy to say! God bless! Mother of five

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K.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

I grew up with a maiden name that I always had to spell. That gets real old real fast. And that was my LAST name. I feel for kids that have first names that will always need to be spelled. In my opinion, Liam will fall into that category. The other two have much better odds of others already knowing how to spell them.

Here are some other things my husband and I considered when naming our children:
-What rhymes with that name? Their "friends" will come up with anything they can in those elem years. We had considered the name Lexy. I still love that name but we didn't want her being called 'sexy Lexy' so we didn't go with that
-Phonetics. When seen on paper, will others be able to pronounce it?
-As an adult, will they still like it? Especially boy names. You don't want your boy to become a man with a "cute" name.
-And finally, we did the "call them for supper" yell. We would yell the name as if calling them for supper. Was it irritating to hear it loudly? :)

Naming our children is a huge privilege and a huge responsibility. Thankfully, we usually have 9 months to decide.

I hope you'll let us know what you decided!

K.

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K.Y.

answers from Minneapolis on

J.,
All the names on your list sound good. See which one flows the best with the middle name. Also I feel when you write the names down on paper you generally write the one that interests you 1st. So maybe Liam is the one your really leaning towards.
Best of Luck!...

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J.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like Jonah. It is a good strong boy name. Gavin is the one I like next and then Liam. Good luck and congratulations!

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I love Jonah, and Gavin is great honestly not fond of the name Liam. Just my opinion.

Jonah is religous, different,strong and cute sounding. Gavin is newer, different, cute.

Liam sounds like a dorky boring name, momma's boy prehaps. Sorry if I offend anyone!

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P.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

How do you pronounce the first two? Is it like lim in lima bean? or like lie am? Is the second like John-ah?

I like Gavin the best.

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R.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I love the name Liam!!! It was on my list if my daughter was a boy. It is a name that seems like it will grow with the child - It will seem like a nice adult name. The name Gavin is too popular in my opinion and Jonah is a little too basic for me. But my daughter's name is Bijou, so I like very unique names! I think it is very important for kids to have unique names, so that they don't have the same name as other kids. It gives them their own identity. So I think Liam is a really good choice!!!

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G.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

Liam was on our list twice, and for some reason we never used it.
it is a form of the name 'William' and william is a family name for us. To me Liam seems like a strong Irish name.
I like it, but for some reason it didn't fit our boys.
Love Gavin - however, it has become pretty popular.
Jonah - can't really go wrong with Jonah - it's a biblical name.
all nice choices, go with your gut feeling and if there is any 'family' connections with any of these names, I'd go with that.

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M.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

HI J.,

Personally I LOVE BIBICAL NAMES, perhaps Jonah, and your husbands first or middle name with it. Or your own dad's first name or middle.........or your husband's first name or middle. along with Jonah. Like Jonah Mark last name or Jonah............and a family name that has been passed down for generations as a middle name. I have a brother named Thomas W jr, and his son is Thomas W the 3rd etc. and now the 3rd is passing down Thomas W 4th to his son. what a legency........Congratulation's on having a son.
merridee

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A.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I like Liam, it must flow with your last name though. Not sure what that is but, if you dont have a middle name I would use Liam Jonah in that order. Congrats on your baby

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I LOVE Gavin! Congrats on the new baby!

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M.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

I vote Liam. Congrats (BTW).

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