Happy Labor Day everyone!! And happy feast day of our new St. Teresa of Calcutta!! đđđ (I also discovered her religious name was actually Mary Teresa, and she was named for St. Therese!)
Ella and her husband are expecting their fourth baby, a little green bean (=gender unknown) đ±! They have a really fun theme going that they’d like to continue with, which is where their dilemma comes in. Ella writes,
“I’m in need of baby name help! We didn’t really mean to name our kids after songs, but after the first two we had to keep going. Naming our third, a boy, was hard, but I love his name and it did come from a song. Now we’re having number four and can’t think of a boy name. We hope to be surprised, so we need a name for both genders. We have a girl name picked out … I’m not due till October, but I’ve never been this far without names. I’m even considering having the song part in the middle name.”
I LOVE themey naming! It’s so fun to come up with ideas that can fit in! Their other children are:
Daniel Thomas (“Oh Danny Boy,” also named after our dads and older brothers)
Layla Beverly (“Layla,” her middle name is my grandma’s name)
Carson Michael (“Runaway Car,” middle name after St. Michael the Archangel because my husband is a cop)
Such great names, right?? And very cool way the way they worked family names in with the song theme as well! I will say that I donât think itâs so obvious to everyone else that their kids are named after songsâI know “Danny Boy” and “Layla,” but theyâre such different kinds of music that I wouldnât automatically think, âHuh. Theyâre doing a song theme.â And Carson coming from âRunaway Carâ is kind of a stretchâa cool one for sure! But I kind of feel like if they  wanted to break the song theme, the only ones who will really know are Ella and her husband and anyone else they’ve  talked about this with.
All that said, there are a million songs with boysâ names in the titles! I perused this site for inspiration, and I also looked Daniel, Layla, and Carson up in the Baby Name Wizard book, as it lists, for each entry, boy and girl names that are similar in terms of style/feel/popularity. So I really just tried to figure out what boysâ names I thought Ella and her hubs would like, and then see if there were any songs with that name in the title. I also looked at song titles and added names to the list of possibilities when I came across ones I thought they’d like. (I should also add that while I love music and know a lot of songs, Iâm really bad at knowing artists, and a lot of the songs on this site were totally unfamiliar to me, so I havenât screened any of them for objectionable lyrics or artists that might be horrifying, etc.)
So! All that said, these are my ideas for this wee babe if a boy (in alphabetical order, not in order of favorites):
(1) Adam
Adamâs biblical like Daniel, but I think holds up really well with Layla and Carson too. There are several songs I found with Adam in the title, including “Adam Raised a Cain” (Bruce Springsteen), “Adamâs Apple” (Aerosmith), and “Adamâs Song” (blink-182).
(2) Xander (Alexander)
I feel like the nickname Xander is more this family’s speed, and it can stand on its own as a given name if they prefer, but Alexander would be the patron saint and the patron song. đ “Alexander and His Clarinet” (Irving Berlin); “Alexander the Great” (Iron Maiden).
(3) Benjamin or Bennett
Ben was my inspiration hereâI think Ben is easily a brother to Daniel, Layla, and Carson, and thereâs âBenâs Songâ by Sarah MacLachlin. The biblical Benjaminâs a match for Daniel, while I feel like Bennett might be closer to the style of Layla and Carson (and itâs a medieval variant of Benedict, so they get their saint there too!). Either one’s great!
(4) Elias
Elias was actually listed in the BNW as a style match for Layla! Itâs a variant of Elijah, so there’s the biblical connection, and Eliâs a great nickname. âEliasâ (Dispatch).
(5) Evan
Evan was listed as a style match in the BNW for both Layla and Carson, so I was excited to find âBallad of Tim Evansâ by Ewan MacColl. Evan is a form of John, so any of the Sts. John can be patron.
(6) Jack
Jack is such a sturdy, studly name. Itâs perfect as Danielâs brother, and totally holds its own with Layla and Carson. It can work as a nickname for John, or it can stand on its own as a given name. Either way, John would be the patron, and there are the songs âBook of Johnâ (Tim McGraw); âCaptain Jackâ (Billy Joel); âHit the Road Jackâ (Ray Charles).
(7) James or Dean
I like both James and Dean for them! âJames Deanâ (Eagles).
(8) Jesse
âJessieâs Girlâ by Rick Springfield was actually the first song that came to mind when I first read Ella’s âdilemma.â I would definitely use the spelling Jesse, and I love itâitâs got the Old Testament vibe and a cowboy vibe as well, really cool.
(9) Joshua
I love Joshuaâitâs biblical, and traditional but current, and Josh is a great nickname. âSong for Joshâ (Frank Turner).
(6) Jude
I actually canât decide if I think Ella and her hubs will like Jude or not. âHey Judeâ by the Beatles is the song reference, and St. Jude Thaddeus is the saint. I do think this name evokes thoughts of the song to many people, especially secularly, so if they really like the song theme, Judeâs a good one to pick.
(7) Sean or Flynn
As with James and Dean, I actually like both the first and last names of the title guy! Sean is a variant of John, so they can pick a St. John as patron; Flynn is kind of fun and Irishy and fits in well with their other kids in my opinion. âSean Flynnâ (The Clash).
And those are my ideas! What do you all think? What boys names would you suggest that fit in with Daniel, Layla, and Carson’s song-themed names?
My first thought was “Boy Named Sue.” Jkjkjk. đđđ
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The content is questionable but you could to Francis or John for “Frankie and Johnny.” (I know Frankie is a girl but I really like Francis nn Frankie). I’m going to continue trying to think of more! If we can venture out of popular music to musical theatre, I could come up with lots more!
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I don’t see why not! Especially since the family seems maybe a little weary of trying to keep to the theme while still wanting to, musical theatre might be a great way to expand their options while still being musical!
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Hahahaha!! đ
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My favorite of your suggestions are definitely Adam and Benjamin! Those two names really seem to fit into this sibset.
A fun way to break the trend, but kinda keep it could be going with a musicians first or last name! Jackson for Michael Jackson. Dylan for Bob Dylan (I love the idea of Dylan for them! And I love Bob Dylan). Miles for Miles Davis. Ellington for Duke Ellington. Just a thought.
For names from songs: (As found in my iTunes library)
Andrew for “Andy Warhol” by David Bowie
Oliver for “Oliver’s Army” by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Peter for “In Search of Peter Pan” by Kate Bush (love this song)
Quinn for “The Mighty Quinn” by Bob Dylan
Joseph for “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix
Maxwell for “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by The Beatles
Paul for “Paul Revere” by The Beastie Boys
William for “Bille Jean” by Michael Jackson (I know this song is about a girl, but I feel like it could still work!)
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I like the idea of musicians’ names a lot! I agree with you about Dylan, seems a great fit. I like your other ideas too!
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Just a data point for you on Jude as a song reference. I have an almost 6 year old Jude, and when he was a baby/toddler and people heard his name out and about, we got a fair amount of “oh you all must be big Beatles fans!”, etc. Those comments have totally petered out; I haven’t gotten one in ages! I don’t know if it’s because he’s older and people are less like to comment on a name that seems more set in stone than when it is a fresh baby name or if it is because Hey Jude and the Beatles are dwindling in the social consciousness. I suspect both. It’s a great name, though! Glad you tossed it in the mix, Kate!
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Oh interesting! Good to know!
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I will be honest, the song “Hey Jude” is all I think of when I see/hear that name. I didn’t even realize it was a Catholicy name until about last year. I heard it first when a Mormon friend used it and then one of our TV sportscaster/anchors.
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So funny how easy it is to be in a bubble and not even realize it — I was well into adulthood before Jude meant anything more than St. Jude to me!
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Some good ideas on the Facebook post too, including Gabriel! Love it! https://www.facebook.com/sanctanomina/posts/1649142358732873
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Joshua could also be for the U2 album The Joshua Tree.
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Nice!
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One of the highlights of my 3rd son’s, James, babyhood was playing “Sweet baby James” by James Taylor to him.
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Oh my gosh, we did that when our James was a baby! I can’t believe I forgot that one!
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Soooo sweet!
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Maybe because I married one, but my vote is for Jesse! (He did get announced at high school graduation as Jessica, but otherwise I think it’s an awesome & handsome boy, recognizable bu uncommon name!
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Ohhh hahaha Colleen! That made me laugh! Your poor husband! I love the name Jesse!
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I love the name Jesse and how weird that happened! I assumed most people knew the name!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE “Sweet Baby James” James Taylor*
More ideas (might not hit it perfectly style-wise, but since they’re open to middle names too…)
“Vincent” Don McLean*
“Matthew” John Denver*
“Jackson” Johnny Cash
Henry “Legend of John Henry’s Hammer” Johnny Cash
Sawyer “Tom Sawyer” Rush
Louis “Louie Louie” The Kingsmen*
“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” Billy Joel*
*Bonus points for being great Saints’ names too! đ
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Yes, great saints’ names!! Perfect!!
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I’m dating myself, but how can we not all love ” Johnny Angel!”
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Aww that’s true! That’s a great one!
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Okay, mooching off previous posters ideas, but I am totally digging Oliver but it has to be nn’d Ollie †Oliver. I also like Andrew, easily nn'd Drew or Andy, I think would be a cute addition to the sib set. If musicians are a go, I love Timothy (Tim McGraw), nicked or not, and I also LOVE Rhett (Rhett Thomas) his whole name could easily serve as a first and middle for this bitty baby, too!
If they decide their girl name isn't what they love after all, Joanna is a great name and a pretty good song đ I worked with a guy who sang it to me all the time and was just so sad I wasn't named from the song lol
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I also like Oliver as a suggestion, and another possible song is “Oliver!” from the broadway musical if they are open to musicals.
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I love Oliver â€
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Hahaha I LOVE this whole comment!!
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Bennett, Benedict, Benjamin all work for “Benny and the Jets” too, if that’s their sort of style!
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Or Michael Jackson’s “Ben” – but since it’s about a rat, maybe not…
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Yes!
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We always sing Benny and the Jets to out Benedict!!!
Also love Jude
Jack could also be for jack and diane
Let me also suggest:
Finnegan (Finnegan’s Wake)
Michael (as in row the boat ashore)
Thomas (“ground control to major tom” in space odyssey)
I know Oliver has been mentioned but I love the fleet foxes song “Oliver James”
Joseph (Cotton Eyed Joe)
David or Davison (Ballad of Davy Crocket)
That’s all I got for now
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There are so many great names in songs! These are perfect!
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I think there used to be a song about Dominic. Something about “Dominic-nic-nic-Nic…” I don’t know anything else about it, but my parents sang it every time they talked about using the name Dominic.
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Oh yes! It’s about St. Dominic! Here are the lyrics and the Sisters singing it in French! http://lyricstranslate.com/en/dominique-dominic.html
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This post reminded me of how my mom and dad used to call the local radio station and request “Joanna” by Kool & the Gang on my birthday. đ (I wasn’t named after the song; it was just a happy coincidence.)
My suggestions:
Kevin (song: “Cousin Kevin” by The Who)
Some form of Al — Alfred, Albert, Allen (song: “You Can Call Me Al,” Paul Simon)
Harry (song: “Harry Potter Theme” by John Williams (okay, that’s a stretch)
Robert, nn Bobby (song: “Me and Bobbie McGee, Janis Joplin)
Jeremy (song: “Jeremy,” Pearl Jam)
Maxwell (song: “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” The Beatles)
Thomas (song: “Space Oddity” by David Bowie – “Ground control to Major Tom…”)
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Great ideas!! That’s so cute about your parents đ
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Jack, for Jack and Diane
Jacques, for Frere Jacques
Jesse, for Jesse’s Girl
Jacob’s Ladder, a country song about a couple named Jacob and Rachel who marry despite family opposition.
Jeremiah was a Bullfrog
God’s Will, Martina McBride song
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Ooh I like Jeremiah! The others are great too!
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