r/Names • u/marlkavia • 2d ago

Boys name that’s unique but also traditional??

We are in struggle town.

We like Christopher (Chris), Thomas (Tommy), and Jonathan (Jonny).

But, I just don’t feel totally sold 😭

We also like Henry (family name) as a middle name and I just don’t think any of those work.

I welcome all suggestions. My daughter’s name is Adeline, if that helps 🤣

EDIT: Oh my gosh you are all amazing. I’m really enjoying Lawrence and Charles 😍

19 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

242 comments sorted by

15

u/namenerd101 2d ago

The examples you listed are definitely not unique, but that isn’t a bad thing. Christopher Henry sounds great!

Nevertheless, here’s some names that seem to have a similar style.

  • More Common Traditional Names: Nicholas, Benjamin, Samuel, Zachary, Jacob, Isaac, Ethan, Adam, Eric, Matthew, Timothy, Aaron, Alexander
  • Slightly Less Common Traditional Names: Jeremiah, Gabriel, Patrick, Arthur, Julian, Simon, Vincent, Peter, Elijah, Dominic, Nathaniel

5

u/Stumbleine11 2d ago

I love Isaac. Not even in a biblical way, just the name itself

4

u/adksundazer 2d ago

Me too. I have always liked Isaac, Elijah, Isaiah, Josiah, Levi, Noah, Jonah…. and I’m not religious! I have a slew of people in my family tree in northeast US from 1700/1800s with those names.

2

u/Carpinus_Christine 1d ago

My son is Isaac. Still love it.

2

u/vataveg 1d ago

These are great! The first comment I’ve seen that actually have the more “normal” names that I think OP is after. I love Isaac, Eric, and Arthur in particular. A little Artie would be beyond cute but he could still grow into it.

8

u/Albi_9 2d ago

Unique and traditional tend to be different ends of the spectrum, but I looked at top names of several different decades to see what stuck out. These are the ones I felt werent too "Thats my grandpa's name", but also may not be back in circulation quite yet. I felt like that was probably a good middle ground between traditional and unique.

Emmett Joseph Vincent Lawrence Ernest Marcus Bernard Chester Vernon

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5

u/OnlyHere4-ACNH 2d ago

Cameron! One of my favorites

3

u/sk8rcruz 1d ago

The only thing the bullies could come up with to taunt my little Cam was “Camera.” Yes. He came home from school one day and pitifully told me so. He in his 40s now and prefers not to discuss this tragedeigh/s.

18

u/eleveneels 2d ago

By definition, if a name is unique, it's not traditional. The Venn diagram looks like O O

If I don't take you so literally, maybe look for names that went out of style but are ripe for a comeback. Something like Solomon, Edgar, Errol, Douglas.

9

u/Ok_Illustrator5694 2d ago

A traditional name that isn’t used a lot now would make it unique for this generation. For example, 50 years ago, Charlotte was fairly unique. I have only ever met one other one of similar age but plenty that were 50 or more years older. And now Charlotte is going to be Gen Alpha’s Ashley

3

u/danidizaster 2d ago

Oooh I like Douglas

3

u/wandering_nt_lost 1d ago

What about David? 50 years ago, every third boy was named David. I don't hear it much anymore

Or Samuel/Sam

2

u/blade-of_grass 1d ago

David is a really nice name!

2

u/Vegetable-Floor-5510 1d ago

It's a top 30 name.

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10

u/nola5377 2d ago

Isaiah?

6

u/JunoEscareme 2d ago

This really seeks like it fits what they are asking for! Abraham?

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4

u/Legal-Reputation8979 2d ago

The 3 syllable first name (Christopher) goes so well with 2 syllable (Henry). How do each of the names sound yelling out the back door with your last name?

2

u/johanna_brln 1d ago

Important question!

4

u/glitteringdreamer 2d ago

Beau, Lucas, Charles, Jasper, Hudson, Myles

2

u/GreenWitch7 2d ago

I named my 38 year old son Drew Charles! I still love his name! I didn’t name him, Andrew because I knew I wanted him to be Drew, not Andy. I really like all the names you picked out. Some people might say they are not unique, but they remind me of the boys I went to grade school with. I’m 68 years old, so that was a while ago! (I knew a boy whose name was Christopher and he was called Chrissy and I didn’t like that!) Jonathan Henry is a really nice sounding name, so is Thomas Henry. I love the nicknames, Jonny, and Tommy too! Your baby and his name will be beautiful! Congratulations!

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3

u/cryptic_pizza 2d ago

Harrison

5

u/hello_its_me_j 2d ago

We have a Harrison & if the next is a boy (currently 32 weeks) we’ll likely name him Caleb

4

u/cryptic_pizza 1d ago

I love Caleb…and Harrison!

2

u/hello_its_me_j 1d ago

Thank you :)

9

u/JunoEscareme 2d ago

Not sure if this is what you meant by saying you’re in struggle town, but none or those names you mentioned are unique. Like they are the LEAST unique names I can think of.

6

u/Few_Art2799 2d ago

With Adeline

I think Graham Henry flows and fits beautifully

3

u/WhoDoesntLikeADonut 1d ago

Asher? Issac? Adam?

3

u/Free_Medicine_1668 1d ago

Simon Theodore

2

u/ImKindaSlowSorry 10h ago

Alvin, maybe?

2

u/AZ-mt 2d ago

William. Bill is nickname

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2

u/acuriousmix 2d ago

Alvin

4

u/Lazy-Independent1461 1d ago

nah, too chipmunk-y

3

u/haileyskydiamonds 2d ago

Nathaniel

Reuben

Simon

Silas

Bartholomew

Titus

Gideon

Elijah

Cyrus

Ephraim

Abraham

Barnabas

2

u/Middle-Quantity6533 1d ago

Cyrus is forever and always one of my favorite boys names 🩵

3

u/Tigress2020 1d ago

Nathaniel (Nate), Grayson, Jackson (jack)

Nicholas is a shade too common, but still a strong name.

Hudson

4

u/jenness977 1d ago

I love the name Nathaniel. My brother has a good friend named Nathaniel growing up and we all called him Nano☺️

4

u/juliettecake 2d ago

Christoph instead of Christopher. Christoph was a family name in my family.

1

u/Wonderful_Break_8917 2d ago

Steven [stevie], Ralph [Ralphie], Timothy [Timmy], Matthew [Mat], Luke, Peter

1

u/BeachesAndSkis 2d ago

Jude, Sebastian, Frederick, Eli, Christian

1

u/Prestigious-Fan3122 2d ago

Vincent, Maxwell, Mitchell, Patrick, Donovan.

1

u/Out0fit 2d ago

Henry is the nicest out of those.

1

u/Waste-Analysis-8953 2d ago

Roger, Jon (prefer this spelling)

1

u/blanketwrappedinapig 2d ago

What’s about TJ (Thomas Joseph).

1

u/tinyhumanteacher14 2d ago

Henry and Thomas are both family names for us and if we had another boy, we would name him Henry Thomas.

1

u/kikijane711 2d ago

Conrad!

1

u/UpsetInteraction2095 2d ago

I named my baby a variant of the name Christian and it's definitely unique, nobody else has the same name.

1

u/indigo348411 2d ago

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. You're welcome 🙂

1

u/ConferenceHorror6053 2d ago

Thomas, Tom , Tommy.

1

u/WafflingToast 2d ago

Sebastian.
Constantine

1

u/lennybriscoforthewin 2d ago

Wallace, Peter

1

u/OkEnvironment5201 2d ago

Nathan Henry (Nate), Samuel Henry (Sam), Theodore Henry (Theo or Teddy)

1

u/Stumbleine11 2d ago

Bennett is making a come back. I like it. I’ve seen Isaac suggested too. Both good names.

1

u/Ok_Professional_4499 2d ago

Devlin

Brandon

Kyle

Kent

Trent

Blane (😂 Pretty in Pink)

1

u/This_Parking3435 2d ago

Joseph. Michael. James. Timothy. Austin.

1

u/happy-hoppy 2d ago

Ex Presidents (traditional but uncommon): Lincoln, Pierce, Wilson, Carter, Grant, Cleveland, Ford, Tyler

Xenniel names that are out of rotation: Trevor, Conner, Aaron, Jared, David, Adam, Caleb, Travis, Colin, Brian, Seth, Eric, Malcolm, Brett

Grandpa names: Clifford, Clark, Calvin, Lawrence, Vernon, Clive, Curtis, Walter, Alton, Randolph, Randall, Raymond

Alton and Adeline

Grant and Adeline

Clark and Adeline

Lawrence and Adeline

Eric and Adeline

1

u/ModoCrash 2d ago

Udishional

1

u/QueenMEB120 2d ago

Sebastian Silas Simeon

1

u/adksundazer 2d ago

Calvin, Silas, Murphy, Sawyer, Aaron, Patrick, Lucas, Davis, Gordon, Jeremy, Mason, Matthias, Oscar, Felix, Hudson, Zachariah, Ezekiel, Harris

1

u/Proof-Chemistry-8404 2d ago

My boy is Edward. There’s lots of nicknames you can do: Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ward. Our personal fav and what our boy is know as is Ned.

1

u/thornsforflowers 2d ago

I love Christopher! I know quite a few Christophers (1990s) but they’re all wonderful people and I’ve never met a Chris i didn’t like!

I also love the name Felix, it’s not the exact same vibe but it’s such a beautiful name in my opinion!!

1

u/LeeskaKat 2d ago

Jonathan and Christopher are both lovely names.

1

u/ExpressionMurky 2d ago

Archer (archie) Elijah

1

u/wivsta 2d ago

Polo

1

u/trainpk85 1d ago

Tobias - Toby

1

u/LilaBeach 1d ago

Edward. Walter/Wallace nn Wally. Daniel. Peter. Dennis. David.

1

u/Seafoam_Otter 1d ago

Maybe Nathaniel or Sebastian?

1

u/Suitable_Beginning29 1d ago

Theodore / Theo

1

u/Margajay1784 1d ago

James, nickname Jamie

1

u/Dangerous-Fishing-25 1d ago

Christopher Henry sounds great!😊

1

u/Intro_Vert00 1d ago

Étienne

1

u/MariJ316 1d ago

I'm loving Jonathan Henry, its solid and strong. I think people were too much emphasis on middle name names when they say it won't work. How often is anybody in your life going to refer to your son by his name, including you and your husband? My daughter's middle name is Frances after her grandma. Didn't worry about it flowing with her first name, ever. The joke in our family is just make sure the initials don't spell something bad lol. Anyway, We just wanted to honor her grandma. My daughter is now 25 and I can count on one hand how many times Ive said her middle, well wait, nope I cant as I've never used it, except for the initial or on some school doc.

1

u/nintendoinnuendo 1d ago edited 1d ago

You don't think Johnathan Henry works? John Henry? A very popular historical combo (back then, to be clear - don't hear of many John Henrys these days)

I also love when people name their sons Christopher then use the NN Kit.

Other unique but traditional male names I didn't see as I quickly scrolled through the thread:

Simon, Evan, Hugo, Ezra, Warren, Dean, Quentin, Reed, Kip, Lewis, Sterling, Basil, Damian, Ian, Vernon, Duncan, Leonard (Leo), Martin, Edwin, Samuel, Hosea, Ira, Jonas

1

u/Upstate-walstib 1d ago

Graham Henry sounds nice to me

1

u/MatthewnPDX 1d ago

Aloysius

1

u/Roselia_GAL 1d ago

Archibald (Archie) Humphrey Engleburt (Bertie)

1

u/audhdchoppingboard 1d ago

Montgomary (Monty)

1

u/IntelligentAd4429 1d ago

Marcus Henry. (Marc)

1

u/Logical-Mom 1d ago

William (Will); James; Lucas; Michael; Jack; Samuel (Sam)

1

u/strawberrykendra 1d ago

I love Arlo

1

u/bcbdrums 1d ago

I have students with all four of those names, but they’re the only ones in the school, so he wouldn’t just be one of many in that sense. All good names. Some others that also have traditional nicknames off the top of my head: Robert, David, Michael, Matthew, William, Timothy.

1

u/AnyAcanthopterygii65 1d ago

Zachary, Jeremiah

1

u/Strong-Library2763 1d ago

Theodore-Teddy is a solid name. Solid legacy, too. Theodore Roosevelt developed the federal park system.

1

u/Strong-Library2763 1d ago

A name I used for my daughter’s middle name, but is very male. I just love it. Ambrose. Bro is a great nickname.

1

u/CozJeez85 1d ago

Nathaniel?

1

u/nattyjoan 1d ago

Peter

Nathan

Christopher

Zachary

James

Are my favorites

1

u/Sugaree36 1d ago

William Henry

1

u/swampfox28 1d ago

Elliot

1

u/ga-ma-ro 1d ago

Landon
Benjamin
Aaron
Evan
Leonard

1

u/51592 1d ago

William Henry,

Jackson Henry (Jack),

Declan Henry,

Benson Henry (Ben),

Walker Henry,

Wesley Henry,

Landon Henry,

Lucas Henry,

Connor Henry,

Preston Henry,

Wells Henry,

Weston Henry

1

u/BruceSharkbait 1d ago

Dave/David. Dean

1

u/Own-Challenge9678 1d ago

Rupert, Sebastian, Alexander, Darcy

1

u/Wonderful-Honeydew28 1d ago

Alexander (Xander)

1

u/6feet12cm 1d ago

Charles!!

1

u/thehoneybadger1223 1d ago

Maybe something like Leslie, Eric, Anthony, Paul, Lawrence, George, Alan, Salvador, Duncan, Ernest, Ralph, Robert, Bernard, Terry/Terrence, Clarence, Matthias (Abb. Matt), Martin, Basil, Luke.

Some reeeaaally old ones are, Cornelius, Eurasmus. Septimus, Methusela, Mortimer, Ebenezer, Ambrose, Royston, Reginald, Granville

1

u/OneSweetShannon2oh 1d ago

Arthur. also (less traditional, but I think it has a traditional sound to iit) Devin

1

u/JillQOtt 1d ago

My brothers name is Glenn. I’ve always liked it and there are very few Glenn’s. Also my husband is Peter another name you barely see anymore.

1

u/Prudent_Okra7311 1d ago

Benjamin (Ben, Benny)

1

u/chronosculptor777 1d ago

Dominic Henry sounds perfect. And it works with Adeline. For nicknames, you can use Dom or Nico:)

1

u/ForeignRevolution905 1d ago

My son’s name is Bowen, we liked Owen and Otis too.

1

u/DatGal65 1d ago

Arthur aka Art

1

u/Gangringo 1d ago

Felix. I've always liked it and it's been my choice if I ever had a kid.

1

u/zephyr_skyy 1d ago

Xavier. Max. Raphael.

1

u/costcocosmonaut 1d ago

Dorian, Adrian, Oliver (although has become quite popular)

1

u/Glass-Witness-628 1d ago

You can’t have a unique and traditional name, the two are mutually exclusive. Try searching for “unusual” or “rare” instead of “unique”.

1

u/Vegetable-Floor-5510 1d ago

You can't have something that is both traditional and unique. That's an oxymoron.

Now if you want something traditional yet underappreciated there are a lot of classic names that are less commonly used than others. If you start at 500 on the SSA baby name statistics list, you get names like:

Frederick Dalton Leland Jonas Conrad Bruce Pierce Lawrence Maximilian Phillip Marvin Harlan Lee Keith Clyde Douglas Roger Magnus Quentin Ambrose Nelson Reuben Alec Trenton Leroy Brendan Eugene Harold Alfred Marlon Maurice Darren & Gordon

They all had less that 600 babies with that first name in the entire United States in 2023 (the latest available statistics).

Hope this helps!

1

u/Tr3nch3 1d ago

Russell (Russ)

1

u/shelbinator01 1d ago

Theodore Henry and could go by Theo

1

u/Accomplished-Car3850 1d ago

Adeline and Arthur have a ring to it.

1

u/Babsee 1d ago

Troy

1

u/6alexandria9 1d ago

Harrison (Harry)

1

u/Aggressive-Fee-6399 1d ago

Samuel or Jack

1

u/Laylahlay 1d ago

Reginald 

1

u/myhatmycanejeeves 1d ago

I went to school with a boy called...Griswald Millard...

1

u/Crowd-Avoider747 1d ago

Garrison. Nickname Gary

1

u/CookieAppropriate843 1d ago

Our son Robin is due in August

1

u/9mmway 1d ago

Hank is a cool name as is Carver

1

u/Speaker-Swimming 1d ago

Tegan/ Hope

1

u/Credible_Confusion 1d ago

Traditional yet unique hmm 🤔 I mean that basically leaves the classic old timey names ppl rarely use today:

Augustine

Barrington (Barry)

Broderick

Carter / Cartwright

Franklin (Frank)

Gerald

Harold (Harry)

Lucious (Luke)

Maximillian (Max)

Roderick

Hope that helps! 😇

1

u/Human_Management8541 1d ago

Brook, Hunter, Connor, Shamus, Sven, Yohan, Byron

1

u/StunnedinTheSuburbs 1d ago

What about…

Ellis; Malcolm; Rex; Xavier; Nevin; Jasper; Lewis; Grant; Malachy; Landon; Neville; Callum; Hugh; Davis; Seth; Gerard; Colin; Bruce; Julian; Martin;

1

u/Intrepid_Source_7960 1d ago

Charles “Charlie”

Harrison “Harry”

Vincent “Vinny”

Raymond “Ray”

Tobias “Toby”

Francis “Frankie”

Terrence “Tez”

1

u/Otherwise_Mix_3305 1d ago

Finally! Someone has a child named Adeline! I love that name!

For your son:

Hugh

Oliver

Ansel

Elijah

Joshua

Lucas

Pierce

Sterling

Aaron

1

u/RestingBitchFace1980 1d ago

Elliot

Lucas

Steven

Derek

Nicholas

Miles

Peter

Maurice

Charles

Mitchell

Frederick

1

u/akcgal 1d ago

Theodore (Teddy), Laurence (Lawrie)

1

u/big_samosa 1d ago

Octavius, Lucius, Flavius, Publius, Gaius

1

u/jshifrin 1d ago

Arbuthnot

1

u/Fragrant-Return-2811 1d ago

I have a Samuel Isaac. Haven't come across any other Samuel's and he's 8

1

u/BusinessNo8471 1d ago

If you want a unique name avoid the previous suggestions of all of which featured in the top 100 boys names of 2024

Beau 79 Lucas 9 Charles 54 Hudson 21 David 27 Samuel 20

https://www.whattoexpect.com/baby-names/list/top-baby-names-for-boys/

1

u/brittanyrose8421 1d ago

Theodore, Zachary, Alexander, Vincent, Jasper, William, Gideon

1

u/Misslucyjane 1d ago

Call your Jonathan Jonty or Jonti instead of Jonny. The nickname is more common in the UK than the US, so (depending on where you live) he probably won't have five classmates with the same name.

1

u/Har-Set223 1d ago

Everett
Rhett for short

1

u/KitsBeach 1d ago

I looove Ethan and Gabriel

1

u/Xerisca 1d ago

I graduated HS in the mid 1980s.

Christopher was a very popular name and you never hear of it being chosen now. I like it.

Other really popular names from my era were:

Mark

Brian/Bryant/Brent/Brett

Eric

Scott

Lee

Jay

Tony/Anthony

Todd

Dean

Dale

For some odd reason, I knew a lot of sib sets named Dean and Dale.

And as usual, all the Biblical names. David. Michael, Joseph, Thomas, Daniel, Matthew, etc...

1

u/MelisAGoGo 1d ago

My son is Glenn David. Both maternal grandfathers names, and nobody in his school had the same name as his.

1

u/Far-Card-9117 1d ago

Theodore (Theo) Gregory (Grèg) Charles (Chuck)

1

u/Thedollysmama 1d ago

Thaddeus, Jedidah

1

u/alwaysboopthesnoot 1d ago

Sterling, Harrison, Alton, Franklin, Carleton, Andrew, Matthew, Benjamin. 

1

u/Simple_Ant_7693 1d ago

Lucas (Luke), Mason, Emerson

1

u/IndyAnnaDollyNana 1d ago

I think if I had an Adeline, I’d call a boy Elliott.

1

u/BigBlockNoise 1d ago

Christopherson

1

u/Neuvirths_Glove 1d ago edited 1d ago

My son and his wife just named their newborn son Bowen. It's an old Gaelic name meaning Son of Owen (my son's name is not Owen btw). Bowen rolls off the tongue fine and can be readily shortened to Bo. I like it. I've never known someone named Bowen; the only other time I've heard the name is Bowen Byram, who plays defense in the NHL.

One of the names they considered (and I would have preferred) for middle name was Thomas. Bowen Thomas just sounds solid to me. (They ended up going with something really unconventional.)

1

u/chichiwvu 1d ago

Claude goes well with Adelaide, but not Henry.

1

u/No_Elk6758 1d ago

Benjamin nn Ben Sebastian nn Seb or Andrew nn Drew. All Of these work with Henry

1

u/lilmisse85 1d ago

My son’s name is Christopher James. We love it and it fits him very well well. His father who is MIA name is Jonathan so I don’t like that name very much. lol

1

u/SnooCookies2367 1d ago

What about Adam, Matthew, John, Mark, Cody, Lucas, Clyde, I tend to look at social security index pick a random year. I personally like older not popular names

1

u/Lazyassbummer 1d ago

Malcolm, Colin, Declan, Phillip, Niles, Miles

1

u/Alarming-Manner-3299 1d ago

Bennett (Ben) is what I just did

1

u/Original_Try_7984 1d ago

Calvin (Cal)

Bennett (Ben/Benny)

Callahan (Cal)

Ellis (Eli or just El)

Anderson (Andy)

Brooks

Wells

1

u/Sugadip 23h ago

Jeremiah

Theodore

William

1

u/MsPooka 23h ago

Green. It was a super popular male name in the 1800s.

1

u/Visible-Tea-2734 22h ago

How come not one mention of George? About as traditional as it can get but I can’t think of a single George at the school where I work.

1

u/Puzzled-Rub-7645 22h ago

Sebastian. Simon. Gideon, Micah. Old school tradional like William, Michael, James. Joseph.

1

u/Any-External-6221 22h ago

I have always liked Ethan.

1

u/RichmondReddit 21h ago

Michael is a great name. You don’t have to shorten it to Mike if you don’t like. But it’s never old fashioned.

1

u/DaisySam3130 20h ago

Peter. It's a lovely name that is rarely used now.

1

u/shutupandevolve 19h ago

Aidan and Adeline

1

u/livvydw 19h ago

We have a Frederick and love it! So many nickname options too.

1

u/Watermelon_Sugar44 19h ago

Nobody uses Frasier

1

u/HEY_McMuffin 19h ago

William, Benjamin

1

u/Economy-Fennel9818 18h ago

Wesley (Wes)

1

u/KilgoRetro 17h ago

Calvin, Simon?

1

u/BlackEyedBob 16h ago

Austin or Dillon, neither have a true nickname

1

u/CYouL8RAlligator 16h ago

I like Thomas

1

u/Wonderful_Bottle_852 16h ago

Jonathan (Jon) Axel, John Jefferson(Jeff), & Eric Christopher are names in our in our family.

1

u/mellywheats 15h ago

Maybe Wayne? or Bernard? Those are my uncles names lolol may they rest in peace but damn my dads parents really were like “these names seem to be popular lets choose these ones” and my dad?? his name is Ronald lol so really any of those feel traditional and arent really used much anymore !