Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions are shared and discussed. The goal is to rely on thoughtful community feedback to help expectant parents narrow their choices. Thank you in advance for your insight!
Lisa writes:
We’re expecting boy-girl twins in January, though they may arrive sooner. The journey to get here has been difficult, and we hesitated talking about names until now.
For our son, we don’t want him to inherit my husband’s full name. He’s a III, and while the family hopes the tradition continues, my husband prefers not to pass the exact name on. We’ll use James as his middle name instead.
We’ve considered giving him two middle names—using my husband’s full name, James Oliver, as double middles—but we’re undecided. Our surname is a common two-syllable H name, so a longer full name is fine.
Choosing a first name has felt hard. Our shortlist is:
- August — but is that odd for a winter baby?
- Jude — although JJ bothers me
- Wesley — but I’m not sure about Wes as a nickname
Any of these could work for us.
For our daughter, we’re less certain. No first name feels quite right, and I don’t have a family middle name I want to use. There are some options from my husband’s family, but I worry my family might see that as too much. The only name we both don’t dislike so far is Maria, but it doesn’t feel like the perfect fit.
Where do we even begin?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Lisa —
First, congratulations. Naming twins doubles the task: you want two names you love and names that feel balanced together. That can feel weightier than naming a single sibling.
Let’s start with the boys, since you’re close to a decision.
AUGUST, JUDE, OR WESLEY?
Your taste leans toward gentlemanly traditional names—masculine and polished rather than rough-and-tumble. They feel thoughtful and sturdy.
Wesley is a name that often comes with a default nickname: Wes. Many people named Wesley go by the full name, but the likelihood of Wes sticking is high. If you dislike that nickname, Wesley may not be the best fit.
Jude James could end up as JJ, but that isn’t automatic. Children pick up nicknames from peers in many settings, and JJ is possible, but not guaranteed. Even if others call him JJ, you would not be obliged to use it at home.
August is frequently associated with summer because of the word, but its origin is different: august means venerable, linked to the title Augustus. It doesn’t need to be restricted to babies born in August. The name works with a variety of images—from seaside to fireside—and pairs well stylistically with Jude and Wesley.
Between August and Jude, I’d slightly prefer Jude simply because it avoids the seasonal question. But let’s pick a girl’s name too, and then re-evaluate how the pair sounds together.
NAMES FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
Maria could work as a sister to Wesley, August, or Jude, though it might not feel like the most natural match to you. If you want something feminine, traditional, and stylish right now, consider these options:
Alice — Storybook charm with quiet strength.
Eleanor — Classic and refined.
Juliet — Romantic and lyrical, closer in mood to Maria.
Nora — Timeless but modern; widely loved.
Ruby — Simple, vivid, and warm.
Stella — Meaning “star,” elegant and bright.
Thea — Short, energetic, and on the rise.
Willa — Homespun and complementary to August.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
If you narrow the boy’s name to August James or Jude James, consider a daughter’s middle name that acknowledges family ties without repeating the exact name. Olivia is one option that subtly references your husband’s family name without duplicating it.
Other middle options could be Elisabeth, Elise, or something that nods to your own name—Lisette, Lys, or even Lisa-inspired Isla (an anagram of Lisa).
Pairing ideas:
- August James and Willa Olivia
- August James and Juliet Elise
- Jude James and Ruby Olivia
- Jude James and Alice Elisabeth
- Jude James and Nora Elise
- Jude James and Thea Olivia
My personal favorite from this list is Jude James and Thea Olivia: both names feel balanced, modern-traditional, and warm together. But all of these pairings could work well depending on which vibe you prefer—softer and romantic, homespun and warm, or classic and polished.
What names would you suggest for Lisa’s boy-girl twins? Any tips for handling the family name issue?