Need name ideas

[jexia]

I'm 32 weeks with boy/girl twins. The girl's name has been pretty certain for a long time (Geneviève Madeleine). But hubby and I cannot agree on a name for the boy.

Notes:

• First or middle name preferably a form of "Stephen". This includes "Étienne" or "Esteban". My father-in-law passed away three weeks ago and we'd like to honour him. "Stephen" as the first name is probably a bit much too soon, though.


• Preferably cannot start with D, M, X, or A.


• Definitely cannot start with G, as don't want matchy twin initials.


• Has to work with "Bélanger-Taylor" as a surname.


• Preferably a first name that can be shortened, but this is less important.


• We are open to foreign or made-up names.

Gah, we had no issues naming our first son, but I guess we used our overlapping tastes up!

Comments

[afistinthefrill.livejournal.com]

William Esteban
Henry Esteban
Zachary Esteban
Jack Esteban
Jacob Esteban
Connor Esteban
Thomas Esteban

[jexia]

See, we USED to be agreed on Zachary (or Ezekiel) "if we ever have another baby" and now he doesn't like it!

[zaggytiddies.livejournal.com]

Benjamin Etienne (they could be Benny and Genny... lol)

(I went over to Nymbler.com and got these)
Elliot
Quinten
Simon
Charles
Caleb
Nohl

[jexia]

My ex's name is Benjamin, so no :P

The other names are mostly my taste, but not hubby's. Sigh.

[beepandetch.livejournal.com]

Louis Stefan
Chance Esteban
Rhett Etienne
Beckett Stephen
Sebastian Etienne
Carter Stephen

[velkoria.livejournal.com]

I actually do think Esteban Bélanger-Taylor sounds lovely... now middle names...

Esteban Benoit came to mind.

[eatmorepi.livejournal.com]

Esteban sounds silly to me, since half of your last name is French and your daughter's name is also going to be French. It's especially strange if you're not Spanish/Hispanic.

That's just me though, I'm not a fan of using names that are strongly associated with a particular ethnic group when they have no association with that group.

[jexia]

That's actually my reservation with Esteban as the first name.

Hubby's family is French-Canadian.

[eatmorepi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wouldn't do it. I have no issues with the name itself, but I think people would think weirdly of your son's name, with his French last name and French-named sister. Esteban is without a doubt a Spanish name, it can't be construed as anything else. I think people would just assume that you had some Hispanic background.

Esteban is a decidedly un-French Canadian name. I think Stephen or Etienne would work well, as first or middle names. I know someone named Paul Etienne.

[thellamaqueen.livejournal.com]

what is your other son's name?

[jexia]

Alexander Damien, Xander for short.

The girl will probably be Vieve or Vivi for short.

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

I think Etienne goes well with your surname and with Genevieve without sounding like a matched set. I think with the long surname and a three syllable first name the middle name for Etienne should be something short - John, Mark (or Marc), James... something like that.

[skittles22088.livejournal.com]

I definitely like Etienne as a middle name, especially with a French or part-French last name.

How about:
Finley Etienne
Lennox Etienne
Nicholas Etienne
Owen Etienne
Remy Etienne
Sawyer Etienne
Sebastian Etienne
Silas Etienne
Soren Etienne
Sterling Etienne
Sullivan Etienne
Sylvan Etienne
Valerian Etienne
Weston Etienne

These are the top names on my list. I hope this helps! =]

[speakingsoul.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love Genevieve. It's always been one of my favorites. Congrats on your twins!

Let's see...

Thomas Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Timothy Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Theodore Stephen Bélanger-Taylor (Teddy or Theo are nicknames)
Edmund Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Caspian Steve Bélanger-Taylor
Kenneth Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Walter Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Bernard Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Rupert Stephen Bélanger-Taylor
Vincent Stephen Bélanger-Taylor

Genevieve & Thomas
Genevieve & Timothy
Genevieve & Theodore
Vieve & Theo
Vivi & Teddy
Genevieve & Edmund
Genevieve & Caspian
Genevieve & Kenneth
Genevieve & Walter
Genevieve & Bernard
Genevieve & Rupert
Genevieve & Vincent

Stephen has 26 variant forms: Esteban, Estefan, Estevan, Etienne, Staffan, Steba, Steben, Stefan, Stefano, Steffan, Steffen, Steffon, Stefon, Stephan, Stephano, Stephanos, Stephanus, Stephens, Stephenson, Stephon, Stevan, Steve, Steven, Stevenson, Stevie and Stevy.

[jexia]

I've suggested Theodore and Vincent before and hubby says no :(

[speakingsoul.livejournal.com]

Too bad. I was really excited about Theodore going with Genevieve, actually.

have you tried nymbler.com? You could each put in 3 names you like and see if it suggests anything helpful.

[jexia]

We'll try that, thanks!

[eeangel44.livejournal.com]

Benjamin Stephen
Quentin Stephen
Christopher Etienne
Simon Etienne
Emmett Stephen
Everett Stephen

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Geneviève Madeleine Bélanger-Taylor is one seriously long name. Not that it's inherently bad, but it will NEVER fit on standardized forms.

I quite like Esteban and I disagree with the reservations against it due to cultural reasons. English is a language of borrowed, stolen, and meshed words. It's originally a Germanic name, but you don't hear people saying "Isabella is too ethnic! Go for Gertrude!"

Languages evolve, and I feel like as long as the English speakers can pronounce the name correctly (the one factor that would deter me from a name not currently in heavy English usage is pronunciation), I see no problem.

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

* It's originally a Germanic name LANGUAGE

[omfg----hxc.livejournal.com]

Spencer? The S could represent your father-in-law...

[tondelayo.livejournal.com]

Bélanger is my maiden name! Here are some names from my family tree:

Nazaire
Jean-Baptiste
Xavier
Seraphin
Lucien
Fabien

[plaidpineapple.livejournal.com]

Charles Étienne
Maximilian Étienne

[chirpygirly.livejournal.com]

I love creating names! :)


Here are my suggestions:

Jerome Istvan Bélanger-Taylor nn Jerry
Jordecai (Mordecai with a J) Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Jordi or Cai
Leomar Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Leo
Regineau/Reginaux (Rezg-uh-no) Stephan ("stef-ahn") Bélanger-Taylor nn Reg or Reggie
Sylvan Stephan Bélanger-Taylor nn Van

Istvan (eesht VAAN) is a Hungarian version of Stephen so it may be one to consider for a first or middle name.

[jexia]

I LOVE Jordecai. Wonder what hubby thinks...

[bambiblake007.livejournal.com]

i like Jordecai or Leomar (nn Leo), with Istvan as the middle name, just my two cents, LOL

[jexia]

Hubby says an emphatic NO to Jordecai. Bah. I've tried Jerome on him before and that was a no, too.

[chirpygirly.livejournal.com]

Aw shucks he didn't like it! I would keep a list of the names you are fond of that he turned down and if you still haven't decided on a name before birth, then suggest those names again after you have your babies, and your hubby might be more easily swayed haha.

Here are a few more suggestions using names I created, like Jordecai, though these ones are a bit more out there, just to warn you haha.

Benforje (Ben-FOR-jay)Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Ben or Jay
Bengairsun ("Ben-GAIR-sun")Istvan Bélanger-Taylor nn Ben or Gary
Benralto ("Ben-RAWL-toh")Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Ben
Eanijuh ("EE-un-eye-juh")Etienne Bélanger-Taylor nn Ean, like Ian ("Ee-in") but starting with an E.
Elanzio ("Ee-lawn-zee-oh") Etienne Bélanger-Taylor nn Elan ("Ee-lawn") or Zio.
Judeniah ("Jude-uh-nye-uh")Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Jude
Ozzian ("Aw-zhun") Etienne Bélanger-Taylor nn Oz or Ozzy
Shaunovin ("Shawn-oh-vin")Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Shaun
Weslan ("Wes-lun")Stephen Bélanger-Taylor

This one I didn't make up, it's a last name, but thought I would suggest it.
Ludano ("Loo-dan-oh")Stephen Bélanger-Taylor nn Lou, Ludo, Dan, Danny, Dano.

Two of those names are anagram names created from the name I created and used for my second born son: Adunijeh "A (as in add)-done-uh-jay". The nick name I wanted to use for it was Jay, but my husband was adamant on using Adun ("add-done") and since he agreed to using a name I created, I said OK to using Adun for the nick name. :)

I'm interested to know what you and your hubby will finally agree on it! Congratulations on your babies! :)

[jexia]

I really like Elanzio!

We've got a few that we're both like "eh, that's okay" on, but nothing that we both adore. I'm sure we'll get there. I will post when they're born and we decide!

[samaside.livejournal.com]

Rheinallt Etienne
Constantine Etienne
Darione Etienne
Leonardo Etienne
Leonidas Etienne
Maximilian Etienne
Nathaniel Stephen
Nathaniel Etienne
Olivier Etienne
Oliver Etienne
Quinten Etienne
Quinlan Etienne
Phineas Etienne
Samuel Etienne
William Etienne
William Stephen

[jexia]

Hubby likes Constantine, I'm not so fond of it. We kind of like Darius but has the same initial as me. I like Quintin but he doesn't.

[samaside.livejournal.com]

I don't think having the same initial is an issue. My dad is Scott and I'm Samantha. It's never been a problem and it's never stood out to anyone as a theme or anything.

[jexia]

Nod-- it's one of our less-fixed rules. No "G" is for sure, though!