My second child, a son, is due in less than two months and DH and I are having an extremely hard time agreeing on a name. I'd like everyone's opinion on the four names that are currently on the top of the list. But first, some background...
DH is a third, sort of. He shares a first name with his grandfather and father, though they each have their own middle names. DH goes by his middle name. He wants our son to also go by his middle name.
The first name is Johnnie. I don't particularly care for the name, but I'm ok with passing on this tradition b/c DH, his dad and his grandfather are three of the most amazing men I've ever been blessed to know. However, I want to call the baby "John." I don't mind putting "Johnnie" on his birth certificate, but I want to actually call him "John." DH has spent his whole life correcting people when they call him "John" and does not like the sound of the name. He has begrudgingly agreed to consider this as a possibility, but really doesn't like the idea. I feel that this is a fair compromise since we're going to name him "Johnnie" even though I don't like the name at all.
All of that said, here are the four top considerations:
Johnnie Bryan - We'd call him Bryan. DH's maternal grandmother's maiden name was "O'Brien," which is where we got the name. This is DH's top choice.
Johnnie Andrew - Our 3-year-old daughter came up with "Andrew" and is insistent that this will be his name.
Johnnie Davis - We'd call him Davis, my great-grandfather's name.
Johnnie William - We'd call him "John." William is DH's maternal grandfather's name, who he was also very close to but I never met. This is my favorite of all of the choices.
So, Mom's out there - which would you pick?
Johnnie Bryan sounds like a great name! I only know of one Bryan and his daughter was named Brianna. That one sounds better than the last 3. Just my opinion!!!
I like Andrew as the middle name but the first I would put John on the birth certificate and just call him Johnnie. Although here in Tn. all grown men that can have the "E" ending on there name do.....Johnnie not John, Bobby not Robert, Billy not William, etc.... I always just thought it was some weird southern thing LOL. I try to imagine how the name will sound with DR. or President.... in front of it! LOL
Good luck!
All the names are great. I named my daughter after my best friend and my grandmother. My husband and I decided before I knew the gender of the baby if it was a girl I would name her and if it was a boy he would name him. Well she is a girl so I named her. Some of his family did not like it but they ALL got over it. She is 3 and I love her name and with both my friend and gma are in heaven now. I love to hear her name and everytime I hear it, I think of two of the most wonderful people I had in my life and hope one day my daughter will know she was named after two people that I loved so much.
I like Johnnie Bryan :) Has a nice sound to it.
I'm kind of partial to your 3 year old daughters choice. Johnnie Andrew. However, as some of the others have said, the spelling of Johnnie is a maybe need to change. Jon Andrew or Andrew Jon would be different.
I like the name davis i have never met a davis yet so it is not only a good name but it is not a every day name. Good luck. If your 3 year old insist than you could always call him drew that is a good name also. Congraulations on your new son and i am waiting for my new granddaughter haleigh elizabeth danielle to arrive. I know 3 names but whats a grandma to do. Have a great year and good luck
I have 4 names. A german tradition was to be named after all the aunts if it was a girl & all the uncles if it was a boy.
my Mom has 4 names I had 4 names & my brother had 4 names, that's an idea...
Here is another one... Since your husband was there to see the baby go in,... make sure he is there to watch the baby come out, sometimes when they see what the mother goes through to get that baby out... They dont care what you call them,
Another thing you want to consider is this.. What do the initials make... What does the name mean...
I know that the boy named Johnnie in school was always teased about Johnnie the applesead... & the boys with the John name got teased about "being the John" in the house...
SO either way... Look the name up see what it means & then choose out of love & not out of what someone else who has that name is..SAy it out loud several times see what you think
I like Johnnie Davis the best personally, but my advice is to pray and ask God to show you what your little boy's name should be. My husband and I had issues regarding the name of our son when I pregnant as well. Then I began praying and the Lord gave me his name when I woke up one morning. It was a name that I hadn't heard from anyone or read anywhere. I knew it was God's chosen name for him. His name is Brennan Cade. We love his name, but only God could have picked a name both myself and my husband could agree with. Hope this helps.
Whatever you name your son will be what he is called throughout his school years! My mother named us what she wanted us to be called. That made it easier on us all through school.
Hope this gives you both something to think about.
My newphew's are named Andrew & John William... so naturally I like both of those...
but
I really like Johnnie O'Brien, and you could still call him Brien
I don't really like the "Davis"
But if you want to keep it in the family... I would choose a name that meant a lot to you and your husband.
When my little boy was born, his dad was dead set on naming him .... Jr. However, I wanted to name him the same way his dad had been named (after both grandpa's; William Randolph) This debate was ongoing until he was born... that is when I finally give in... He knew my take, and I knew his... I gave him the paper's to go fill out to name his son.... He came back and my baby was named Jr. Well... that was his choice and after all it's just a name and it's not that bad since I had married the man with the same name
Point being... none of the names you have picked out aren't THAT bad and sometimes it pays to just take a back seat....
Have fun, and enjoy him whatever his name is, cause you'll love him just the same.
I am probably in the minority in suggesting this-----but I say that if you don't care for the name then don't feel pressured to use the name. I think that it is nice that you would like to honor a family tradition but if you think about it naming a baby one thing and then calling it another name really isn't honoring the name at all----rather it is a way of satisfying others (even if it includes your husband). I have a couple of friends who named their kids family names that they really didn't like and you can just hear a lack of enthusiasm in their voice when they introduce their child, which is kind of sad in a way.
My husband and I also had a hard time agreeing on a name but in the end we compromised and used a name we both liked. While it wasn't the first choice of either of us we both liked the name and can live with it. I know this can be difficult if family members all have an opinion, but ultimately this is you and your husbands decision. Just go with your heart.
S.,
Me and my husband had a similar debate. His dad and himself both share Steven as a first name but have different middle names (and both go by Steve). He insisted on keeping the name going. I saw how much confusion this caused having two Steves in one household and not even being able to call one Jr and the other one Sr. We are having a boy and plan to name him Joseph Steven. Since he was also insistent on Joseph I told him that I would compromise with him on that if he would put the Steven as the middle name. This seems to be working for us. Hope this helps!
I love Johnnie Bryan. It sounds great together & I love the connection to the maiden name. I also like calling him Bryan which I think is less common than John,and would solve the problem of having to correct people who will say Johnnie.
I like Johnny Andrew.
Me and my now ex husband had the same problem but it is easily solved. He picks one name and you pick the other. That is how both of my children were named. I still dislike my sons middle name because it is so plain but I call him by his first name (unless he is in trouble) it worked out well. With my son I was not waivering from Dakota so my husband chose Lee. With my Daughter he had his heart set on his mothers middle name and I was understanding of that so i thought for many months to find a name that I really liked that would go with Renee`. I finally settled on Brooklyn. (Dakota Lee and Brooklyn Renee`) If he isn't ok with that then he is being selfish and isn't allowing you to have any imput in your sons name. But here is a little piece of advice. The only person that has a say of the name on the birth certificate is the mother.
My advice -- Don't spell it Johnnie -- that's feminine and will lead to confusion (people reading the name will think it's a girl) and to teasing. Make it Johnny. All forms of the name John (John, Johnny, Jon, Jonathan) are classics, so you really can't go wrong. All the names are nice. There is no reason, however, to let your 3-yr-old choose the name unless the one she suggests is the one you like best. She can name her own kids when she has them. If you don't like Andrew, cross it off. Johnny Bryan is nice, though the others are good, too. Since none are "weird" you can relax even if you use DH's favorite and not yours. By the way, lots of grown men go by Johnny -- I know several.
They are all very cute for a baby and as he gets older as well. I'm with you I like John over Johnnie. I like Johnnie Bryan or Johnnie Andrew. I like the thought of your little girl chosing the middle name. I really like the name Andrew and if you wanted he could even be called Drew. Best of luck and congrats on your new baby boy!
I've got to go with your daughter. Andrew is lovely on its own and is nice as both Andy and Drew as well. Plus, clearly your daughter will feel very special and love the name. My second choice is Johnnie William. Third would be Bryan and I'm just not a fan of Davis.
Hope this helps and best of luck with the remainder of your pregnancy! :)
S.,
My husband goes by his middle name. It has been a pain for him all his life. We decided we would never do that to one of our children. Over the twelve years that we have been married, we have slowly changed his name to his first name intial and his middle name. But just today, we have run into a problem with his name. His boss got him airline tickets using his middle name. Since this is not what is on his driver's license, the tickets will have to be changed. What a hassle.
I like your daughters choice. But why does Johnnie have to be the first name? Isn't ie feminine?
Sorry just curious. But Johnnie Andrew is nice. Have you thought of Andrea Johnnie .....
GOod luck
Jan
you can write all the names down on paper and cut them out and fold them up and put them in a bowl and let your daughter pick one out and that would be ther name...hope this helps
Okay, I am not going to agree w/ any of the other responses. My husband has the same name as his father (James Ronnie), and part of his grandfather's name (James Preston). He and his dad both go by their middle names (Ronnie), and his grandfather went by his first name (James). He HATES IT!!!!! Everyone in his family still calls him "Little Ronnie" - even though he is 33 years old! And we always have to explain why he is "Ronnie" when his name is "James".
We have a 4 year old son and when it was time to choose a name for him, the "family tradition" name was NEVER a choice! My husband didn't want him to have to endure the title (Little-something) that he hates so much. We just chose a name that we both absolutely loved. It has no family ties whatsoever. It is a name that is just his so he doesn't have to share it w/ anyone else in the family. We don't use any part of his name as a nickname - we named him exactly what we want others to call him. His name is Jonathan Alexander!
Hi S.,
I had similar issues with my husband with our second child. In the end I won out only because my grandfather had just passed away and I had always wanted to name our baby after him. Now, 7 1/2 years later, it's a little bit of a sore spot. My husband wasn't crazy about the name Sam (which is my son's first name) to begin with, and we did agree to call him by his middle name, but I think his family and he were hurt that we didn't go with the original family name that we had selected from his side. If I had to do it all over again, I'd find something that didn't have so much emotional attachment to it for either of us and would probably allow my other child to help. That way, noone would be hurt, and your child could have his own identity. You could always use a family name as the mdidle name. I hope hearing about my experience helps you. I am still glad that I was able to name my son after my grandfather who was an amazing man, but I hate the sad look my husband gets whenever it comes up.
I wish you well and good luck with everything!
Andrew, then his sister will always be proud to have been part of the process.
Since O'Brien is a family name:
I like Johnnie O'Brien and call him Bryan.
I LOVE THAT !!!!!!!!!!!
That is my VOTE!!!!
Although I don't really like the name Davis... you said that it is a name on YOUR side. Seems like all the rest have been named after your husband's side. So my second choice would be
Johnnie Davis and call him Dave maybe.
When we named our DD, everyone in the family wanted her to be named after them (male and female alike).
My husband had had the first name picked out long before I ever even knew him. So, the middle name was left solely up to me. Family members constantly "suggested" names--usually their own or one of their favorite movie characters (Scarlet O'Hara for example).
Finally one day I heard a song the went "Josephine, you're so sweet, you must taste just like sugar and tangerines." I felt all warm inside when I sang it and started to cry. (OK, I was really hormonal).
I didn't officially decide until a few hours before my emergency c-section.
Just go with your heart. Personally, my heart said "don't get in the sticky mess of honoring one family member over another."
Johnnie Andrew ---- Make Big sister really feel important and that this is her baby too. Plus I like that name best.
Johnnie William --- Kids might call hime Johnnie Willy or just Willy. :( Nobody else will? John Will!!
Johnnie Bryan -- I like this one too. But with Cohon O'Bryan he might end up Johnnie O'Bryan. Lying Bryan.
Just to give you some thought. Think about what the kids can do with his name.
I still think Sis is right. You could tell her if you let her help name him then she has to be a big girl and help with the baby too. Like getting you diapers when you need one. My older daughter loved doing this when my youngest daughter was born.
I'm sure what ever name you chose will be the right one for the baby. And when he comes out, he might change your mind in an minute.
R. F.
I like all of the names...why not let your daughter's choice be it, sort of a compromise, then you and your husband won't have the argument of whose favorite name you used?! (Davis is my least favorite if that helps at all!) Good luck!
In my family, the son's middle name is the father's first name. My son is Wyatt Russell (Russell is my husband's first name) Maybe you could put Johnnie as the middle name to begin a new tradition. If you hate the name, perhaps your husband would compromise. I found that choosing a baby name is one of the harder things for my husband and I to agree on. Good Luck.
A Little About me:
Mom to an 8 year old son, expecting second June 9, 2008 (don't know yet if a girl or a boy)
I think your daughter is right....I Love Johnny Andrew!!!
I know someone who called their son John Andrew and they call him both names or now that he's older just John.Little sisters alwaya use nicknames like Johnnie or Drew-ours did.Andrew Bryan is good too. Good Luck-Pray about it! L.
Based on experience, don't name your child intending him to go by his middle name - it makes it h*** o* the child growing up, especially if he is shy. My first name is Jaclyn but I "go by" my middle name. I got so tired of explaining to everyone, especially teachers, that I go by "C." - invariably, they would look at my crazy and then I would have to explain why (b/c my middle name is Christine and my parents started calling me C. even though my "name" is Jaclyn). My advice is that if you want to name him Johnnie but not call him that name, make that his middle name so it's less confusing for him later. You are still honoring your husband - it's no less of an honor if that is his middle name. Trust me, your child will thank you later!
S.
I do to know what you are going through. My husband family also go by their middle names. Grandfather is James William who is william,my husband father James Thomas goes by Tom, my husband is William Edmond who is Eddie and our son is James William who goes by Jamie we had a hard time decide if he was to be James or William. I really like your last choice because it is what you like amd also give you the choice to call him John or Johnie if your Husband like that nickname better. Good luck! C.
I like your favorite the best. What is wrong with both of you calling him different names. My children are always switiching between the first and second names as they call them. Good luck on aggreing on a name.
M. S
I like Johnnie Davis the best! Good Luck!
I am from the South and so I would go with John William (using both names) or secondly I would choose Davis because there will not be a zillion other kids with that name in his school/church/playground, etc.
Both of my boys go by their middle name!
I like Johnnie Davis and call him Davis. That way it has both sides of your families involved. I personally love Davis for a boy!!! Good luck!!!
Congratulations on your soon to be new little boy! They are so much fun for sure!
I like Johnnie Andrew the best for many reasons.
1st looking up the meanings of all the names that you are choosing from Johnnie Andrew fit really well(the best in my opinion) God is Gracious,Mericiful(Johnnie) and Manly, Courageous (Andrew)
2nd -- my brother was 3 when I was born and he named me. My name fits better than the names that my parents had picked out before my brother spoke up.
3rd -- by using your daughters name it is a compromise on both sides which makes life a little easier.
In the end you have to make the decision that works best for your little boy.
Good Luck! Can't wait to hear what you name him
C.
Personally, I prefer your pick or your daughter's pick (Johnnie William or Johnnie Andrew). Davis would be my 3rd, but I don't really care for Bryan (it was popular when I was growing up and I know lots of 30-year-olds with that name). :) Good luck!
S.,
Every child should have a name to call his own. Not his father's, nor grandfather AND please don't call him by his middle name. He will spend the remainder of his life correcting every teacher and employer that he goes by "....". I go by my middle name and every year,it took forever to get them to call me by it. Of course, you should name the child what you want to. I am a firm believer that the father should have some say, but ultimately, you carried him/her, and YOU should have the final say. Npt sure if this helps as it is one-sided.
Good Luck!!
J.
Mississippi
I really like the last two choices...Johnnie Davis because not only does Johnnie carry his family name but also Davis because that involves your family as well. Should this happen to be your last child you will have taken care of two birds with one stone.
As for the name Johnnie William--I just like it because of the name William you could call him either John or Will. I just really like the name Will.
Good luck! Naming a child a child is such a tough job and such a lasting experience. Again good luck and hope he actually turns out to be a little boy just imagine if he came out and was actually a girl...had that happen to a friend of mine...room complete, baby boy clothes purchased....the whole nine yards and when born he was a girl! Had to do some MAJOR shopping and painting.
I like Bryan, though my fiance's name is Brian :)
I also like William, my dad, his dad, and my brother share that name. And in response to him being called "Willy", my dad & his dad always went by Bill. (William is my brother's middle name, he goes by his first name Ryan)
If you and your DH can't decide, perhaps taking your daughter's choice is not a bad idea! Andrew is a good name.
My vote is Johnnie Davis and call him Davis. I think it sounds cute. Good luck....
I like Andrew. No particular reason though. You should consider how the name you will call him sounds with your last name.
Good Luck on the name debate...been there, done that :)
I like Bryan and Davis, both are nice.
J.
Bryan is a hot dog company, I'd spell it Brien ( the Irish way) or Brian. I'd honestly choose Davis (since it's one name from his family one from yours) or William and call him Will. Find something comfortable for you both. Remember you will be calling this name for the rest of your life.
Good Luck!
Go with your daughter's suggestion. You can say that you weren't responsible if you choose. But more importantly it includes her in some of the hoopla surrounding the baby, and makes it hers. Besides Andrew, Drew, Andy, all good names.
I really like the name Bryan.
