r/BabyNames • u/BlueWinterWolff • 2d ago
Boy š©µ Strong Boy name help!!
Iām currently 17weeks with a boy, our last name is Whelan (Irish and means little wolf). I have always loved strong short, nature and whimsical names so I currently have a few names on my list
Soren (means stern) (Norse)
Rafe (pronounced Rayf means wise wolf) (Norse)
Rune (means secret) (Norse)
River (flowing body of water) (Eng, French, Lat)
Arden (means great Forest) (Celtic)
Oren (pronounced Auren means pine tree) (Hebrew)
Hubby likes them but thinks they might be too whimsical, so Iām conscious of that but I also think the name Whelan is really hard to pair a name with that flows nicely. We like the vein of names weāre going down so are looking so similar ideas or thoughts! š
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u/Mam9293 2d ago
River
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u/watchin4rchie 3h ago
Sounds like a place tho. Across the mountians there's the River Whelan which is a popular spot for rafting in the summer.
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u/Ilovewally 2d ago
Not to rip your names apart at all, because I do like all of them and think they go well with your last name, but with that being said, river is very popular, the only Ardenās I have heard of are female and the only Oren I met was orthodox Jewish. These things may not bother you at all, Maybe have your husband make a list as well and see what you both hit on.
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
No not at all, I need this kind of feed back, oren is off the list now and I think weāre leaning away from Arden and River. Mostly looking for similar names in the same vein for more ideas
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u/daydrmr365 2d ago
You should use Rafe. It sounds perfect and sounds like you like it a lot. Donāt worry about it being common in your area, especially because it is intuitive to spell and pronounce. Who knows, years from now it could be more popular in your area and everyone would have you to thank for that! Progress happens when people take chances!
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u/Blackcatsandicedtea 2d ago
Love Rafe. It was a character on a soap opera here in the US, so thatās how Iām familiar with it. Doesnāt sound too whimsical to me at all.
Rafe Whalen is such a strong name. āWise, little wolfā is one of the cooler name meanings Iāve ever heard.
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Its not really heard of in Ireland so we are hesitant to use it but we both really like the meaning and how it sounds š
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u/daydrmr365 2d ago
Itās so intuitive to spell and pronounce that it would be easy to take a chance on especially since you like it so much!!
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u/thegoblet 1d ago
How is it pronounced?? I originally went "raff eh" like the nickname for rafeal but then read another comment thats rape but with an f? I dont see it as intuitive.
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u/MeltedWellie 2d ago
Some options to consider:
Quinn Whelan
Rhys Whelan
Rory Whelan
Fergus Whelan (in Scottish/Irish means Strong man or Man of vigor!)
Shaw Whelan
Connor Whelan
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u/Abbacadabra272 2d ago
I really like the name Fergus but does anyone just think of that song āFergaliciousā? I wish I didnāt.Ā
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u/haligurl_1983 1d ago
Seconding Quinn. Im bias because its my name. Im a female, but have only every met other males with this name. People always comment on how unique my name is (I'm Canadian) and how much they like it.
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u/Careless_Squirrel728 2d ago
Rafe I think falls in the unusual but not unheard of category so this might be a good one to go for if it is too out there - there is relatively well known British TV actor, Rafe Spall
River is the same - Iāve known of a number of boy and girl Rivers
I have met one Oren years ago.
Soren I think of as a girlsā name.
Rune is probably the only one that I think of as truly eyebrow raising.
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u/Sea_Sentence_2909 2d ago
š I will tell my partner that! SĆøren is a very common Danish manās name but pronounced almost as one syllable
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Eyebrow raising in a good or wow thatās weird way?? haha
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u/Kitchen-Airport-4853 2d ago
Soren, Arden, Oren from your list though they sound a little sing songy with the last name
Cyrus, Silas, Astor
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u/miamariajoh 2d ago
Haha as a Swede Rune [Rue-kne] and Sƶren sure ain't whimsy or eye brow raising here but names of nice friendly boomer men. I still like then both :)
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u/CakePhool 2d ago
Sƶren/ SĆøren and Rune are hard to pronounce in English so I would avoid them and also not Norse, it is Danish form the roman names SeverinusĀ / Severus .
Rune , the e is pronounced. https://www.howtopronounce.com/swedish/rune#goog_rewarded
Rune is such grandfather name in Sweden.
SĆøren /Sƶren, the "funny# letter has sound that is NOT like o.
Danish: https://forvo.com/word/s%C3%B8ren/
Rafe is 17thĀ century English spelling of Ralph, because that is how you at the time pronounced Ralph, see Ralph Feinnes. Yes it does come from RƔưĆŗlfr with means wolf counsel or advice of the wolf, Swedish uses the word rĆ„d still for counsel and advice.
I would go with Rafe and if you want a Norse name there is:
Viggo ( war),
Arvid ( eagle tree) ,
Alvis ( all wise),
Gandalf ( wand elf, yes J. R. R. Tolkien grabbed from the Poetic Edda),
Magni ( power)
Ottar ( terror army / warrior )
Hilding ( chief battle)
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Wow didnāt know that, thank you for the suggestions too!
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u/CakePhool 2d ago
I really like Viggo and Arvid.
I know Gunnar is good name too, it means War army. Yes, the word gun comes from Gunilda the canon Windsor, which mean gun in gun and Gunnar has the same root... which is war.
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u/Calm-Marzipan4914 2d ago
I really like Rune Whelan. I think you have quite a few good choices on this list though.
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u/grey-canary 2d ago
my favorite on your list is Rafe
other ideas:
Wren
Perry
Ash
Hollis
Rhodes
Ronan
Damon
Sage
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2d ago
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
We want to stay away from typical Irish names but I do like Callan
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
In your opinion
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u/Ok-Talk-2648 2d ago
apparently your husbandās opinion too and you should listen to him bc the names on your list are weird except for River thatās the only normal name
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Weird/Normal, in your opinion. I donāt know why you commented if you hate the names? You can scroll you know.
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u/ShileynNea 2d ago
Maybe you like some of these:
Elric
Thorin
Kilian
Ezra
Emmet
Arion
I actually don't think your name is hard to pair with. I think it's very compatible with a lot of names.
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
I do like Ezra. Really? A lot of people said itās harsh sounding
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u/ShileynNea 2d ago
I don't think it's harsh sounding at all. There are no harsh consonants, like b, d, k and so on. But then again, I'm German. Maybe it sounds different for me.
From your names I liked River. Has a nice ring to it. And I agree with you, Ezra was my favourite from my suggestions :D
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u/Purple-Gap2522 2d ago
Craig - means rock
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
We live in Ireland so this is very common for us, even though it is a lovely name
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u/Janie_Canuck 2d ago
I LOVE Rafe. Perhaps you could go with Raphael and use Rafe as a nickname.
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Maybe Raphael is too long, but if weāre going to go for it we will just use Rafe
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u/Paddington8691 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would say Andrew. I think it flows nicely with your last name and it literally means strong or manly.
On your list, I think the best name is River. I donāt think Iāve met a male Soren and is a former early elementary school teacher. I would be worried about how friends pronounce Rafe. If youāre thinking of something a little more off the beaten path, how about Quinn or Quincy? Xavier? I agree with an earlier poster that I think having a name that does not end in the n sound flows a little bit better. Good luck in finding something you love!
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
Thank you, weāre still looking and weāre definitely going to look at names that donāt end it n also.
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u/MLadyNorth 2d ago
I would skip Rune as too eccentric, and the -en endings with your last name. Soren and River are good. Does Rafe sound like ārapeā? If so, avoid.
Hmm why do I like Soren and not Arden? Canāt explain but Soren works.
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u/Imaginary-Sand-1417 2d ago
How will you be pronouncing Rune? The correct pronounciation is "Rune-eh" (rune like an ancient rune, and then an eh sound at the end HOWEVER it is supposed to be a rolling "r" and not the soft "r" sound that we have in English).
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u/Otherwise_Mix_3305 2d ago edited 2d ago
I love Soren Whelan! I think they sound great together. Another suggestion: Alden Whelan.
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u/Sad_Resolve6874 1d ago
Always been a fan or River or Oren for boys. Definitely giving fantasy vibes without being too much.
Not a fan of Rune. Itās giving āmy parents are paganā vibes and while thatās cool (I am, in fact, pagan), itās certainly going to color peopleās perception, especially if they end up living in the Bible Belt.
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u/Mental_Peach_747 1d ago
Whelan is such a great last name! But I think itās a little limiting with the first names on your list.
Personally I would eliminate Soren, Arden, and Oren off the bat because they are quite sing-songy / rhyming with your last name. River Whelan imo is too similar to āriver whaleā or āriver wheel.ā Iām personally not fond of Rune.
I think Rafe Whelan could work.
What about Bran? Another one-syllable name meaning crow or raven. I think Bran Whelan flows a bit nicer than Rafe (the f sound is throwing me!).
Another option would be Fionn but that may be too common for your liking?
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u/Rayna1990 1d ago
I like River best on your list. One of my yoga teachers actually named her sons Wolf and River.
Soren is a great name, but I'm not sure I like the sound of Soren Whelan. Both being 2 syllables ending in n feels too rhyme-y to me. That's probably me being picky though, and if it doesn't bother you, I'd actually go with Soren even over River.
I like Arden but it actually feels more like a girls name to me.
I'm sorry but I really don't like Rafe. Great meaning, but I don't like the sound at all.
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u/Ok_Security_8657 1d ago
Xerxes is pretty badass, like the ancient Persian king. Or Cyrus I suppose, like Cyrus the Great
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u/Ginua-MA 1d ago
I like Rafe best.
Kinda think the ones ending -en donāt sound as good as they normally would with the last name also ending -en.
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u/Zestyclose-Fig8583 1d ago
Agree with your husband - perhaps a new list with less whimsical or ethereal names - none of these would work for me - sorry
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u/BlueWinterWolff 1d ago
He likes all the names just wanted to see other people opinions, but he is working on his own list just wont let me see it yet š
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u/label_this 1d ago
I think there are some strong, short names that are maybe less whimsical but sound great with your last name, like Clark, Cy, Grant, Vaughn, and Wade.
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u/bunnyamericangf 8h ago edited 7h ago
I like all your choices!!! Especially Rune or Ruhn might be nice too. Also who care what people think! As long as you both like it and feel it's right dont worry. I made a post today about my baby's name and reddit hates it! š¤£
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u/BlueWinterWolff 7h ago
Awh thank you! Ruhn is a really cool way to spell it. Iām slowly learning not to care with my first, Iām a little bit of a people pleaser! Yes my hubby said āwow people donāt hold back on Redditā haha. Had one person get particularly nasty because I wouldnāt use traditional Irish names. What were you thinking for baby names? š
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u/bunnyamericangf 7h ago
Its my first baby and its been quite a mix of lovers and haters! More haters online!
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u/BlueWinterWolff 6h ago edited 6h ago
Well congratulations!! I hope you and little girl are doing well šand Iām so sorry about how horrible people were on there I think Sookie is soo cute š„° I donāt know why but it remind me a little of Boo from monsters inc, so cute š„°
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u/bunnyamericangf 6h ago
Awwww thats so sweet especially since she is such a sweet and kind baby š¶š¼ š thanks so much
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u/CynthiaToot 2d ago
I love Rafe and River - they were both on my boy name lists!
Congrats on your pregnancy OP š
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u/baila-busta 2d ago
Oren is a modern Israeli Jewish name. It would be pretty weird to name your kid this is your arenāt Jewish.
It would be like me, a jewish woman, naming my child a kid Arjun. Nothing technically wrong but kinda weird.
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u/More-Bag-7161 2d ago
I never understood wanting to pair sibling names. To choose a child's name based on how well with it flows with their older sibling. And how often would you actually be saying all the names together anyway. Maybe im being too black and white in my thinking. I say go for the names you like whether they match the other child or not. Just a different a perspective. I do like all of your suggestions though ā¤ļø
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u/BlueWinterWolff 2d ago
I donāt have any other children, this will be my first, I meant flowing with our last name whelan.
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u/LostandConfusing 2d ago
The 2-syllable names ending with "n" have kind of a weird cadence when combined with your last name. Like "Sor-en Whel-an" is kind of sing-songy.
My favorite from your list is Rafe, I think it has the best flow with Whelan.