damn, Emmett was my first thought and then i finished the rest of the sentence. Rliey and Emmett sounds so lovely together…put it first instead! We’ll all come up with another middle name…

Evan is sort of like Ethan, but not the name of your boss. I like Evan.

If I had a boy, he would have been Jonas, so I like that one too.

Dex is a cool ass nickname.

I hate Cody. Sorry!!

whoa..Riley. fast fingers way too excited about this obviously.

Use quotation marks around the titles of short works: newspaper and magainze articles, poems, short sotires, songs, episodes of television and radio programs, and chapters or subdivisions of books.

Use italics for longer works: book titles, magazine titles (as in, Newsweek), newspapers, pamphlets, long poems, (like Paradise Lost, plays, films, television programs, raido programs, musical compositions (Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, choreographic works, works of visual art, comic strips, software, and Web sites.

I got that from my Bedford Handbook. It’s an awesome grammar book. And I am a big nerd for calling a grammar book awesome.

Some off of the top of my head:

Nicholas (or any spelling variation thereof)
Henry
Liam (possibly too trendy, but dude – it was my great-grandpa’s name)
Simon

I kinda dig on the more “normal” names, as opposed to the Creightons and Willoughbys I’ve seen lately.

I agree with Jean – I dislike Cody too. And Casey. Neither are very masculine names. Think about a grown man, maybe an executive, named Cody. Or Casey. um, no. Of your choices above, I really like Jake. Strong and simple! It works at all ages.

I also like Garrett. And what do you think of Griffin? I’ve liked that name ever since it was Jennifer Love Hewitt’s boyfriend’s name on Party of Five, a hundred years ago.

Oh I love Garrett! Garrett and Riley, kewl.

I like Garrett, so much so that I married one.
I like Parker, too… so that’s what we named out daughter.

http://www.opaqueprintproduction.com/jbblog

Yeah, why not Emmett first?

The MFA program taught us book titles are underlined, but if you’re writing it online, it’s common to italicize so it doesn’t look like a link when it isn’t a link. Article/journal articles are italicized.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide#United_States

I’m pretty sure the Chicago Manual of Style is standard for all non-academic applications, but I used Turabian in school and I’ve become accustomed to it.

I like classic names, like James and Robert and Michael. I’m also a fan of Sam and Max, Sebastian and Jack, and the previously mentioned Simon. And if I may, may I also join the nixers on Casey and Cody.

How about Grant? It’s like Garrett, only just a shade more masculine.

Also, absolutely NO to Dexter. Dexter is a dog’s name. I only say it that plainly because you asked. Otherwise, I would never just hand out a$$vice like this – just not the way I roll. :)

Other names to consider:
Jonathan
Charles (Charlie)
Connor

Good luck!

Might be too out there or Southern for you, but I really like my brother and dad’s name: Slade. I want to name my son (if I have one) that, but I guess I can’t steal it from my brother if he wants to continue that line.

It’s definitely not a name that he’d ever be able to find on a keychain though. Whenever I found (half the time) was able MY name on a keychain when I was younger, I’d feel sad for my little bro. I don’t know if he really cared.

Also, I used to think shortened names were weird (Jake in lieu of Jacob), but I know a Mandie, a Rob, a Bob and a Danny. All their actual given names as stated on their birth certificate. I think Jake as a given name would totally work.

Well, I like Garrett, but not with the middle name: “Garrett Emmett” is too repetitive, and somehow doesn’t roll off of the tongue.

Why can’t you go with Jake, and leave Jacob out of it? (This, from a woman named Niki, not Nicole.)

I agree that Cody is a bad idea. A second boy with a -y ending may end up sounding cutesy.

Finally, I think it’s good to consider the meter of the whole name. If the first name is two syllables, I’d think they’d sound better if they’re very different from Emmett. And, of course, think about how they sound together. Because Emmett begins with a vowel sound, ending the first name with ‘n’ might cause problems. (Example: Jason Emmett could easily end up sounding like “Jasah Nemmett”)

Congratulations on your second boy. Whatever his name, I hope you all bring each other much joy.

We were going to name Eric “William Robert” which also translates to “Billy Bob” no way! So we named him Eric Robert. If I had another boy I would want to name him William because I like the name Billy.

I love the name Dexter too! That would actually be my first pick off your list.

Rae stole my grammar thunder. Boo.

Boy names are HARD. How about Adrian, as a kind of sideways nod to your almost baby girl? Or is that weird?

To quote from “The Sure Thing”:

Lady in Car: What are you gonna name it?
Alison Bradbury: What?
Lady in Car: The baby.
Alison Bradbury: Well, if it’s a girl, Cynthia, and if it’s a boy, Elliot.
Lady in Car: Those are lovely names.
Walter (Gib) Gibson: Elliot? You’re gonna name the kid Elliot? No, you can’t name the kid Elliot. Elliot is a fat kid with glasses who eats paste. You’re not gonna name the kid Elliot. You gotta give him a real name. Give him a name. Like Nick.
Alison Bradbury: Nick?
Walter (Gib) Gibson: Yeah, Nick. Nick’s a real name. Nick’s your buddy. Nick’s the kind of guy you can trust, the kind of guy you can drink a beer with, the kind of guy who doesn’t mind if you puke in his car, Nick.

I love baby name discussions!!

Boy names I love:
Caiden (but maybe too trendy?)
Dustin
Finn
Griffin (I like that one too Sadie)
Tanner

I like names that are sort of unusual, but not to strange or scarring for the poor child who has to wear it their whole life

I am a big fan of classic names, we have a Charles (Charlie) and our other choices were Jack, William and George. I do really like Dexter and think Cody is pretty cute too, but I agree two ending in “ee” might be a bit much.

We Changed our minds off and on until a week before when it was glued to his wall in rope (cowboy themed nursery) and would have peeled the plaster off to change it.

My choice would be Scott. It is a strong manly name. Also it is the name I gave my son.

There are little boys in my kid’s daycare class named Garrison and Finn. I like both of those with your middle/last name.

There’s also a kid named Linus. PLEASE GOD WON’T SOMEONE USE LINUS? If I never meet another Linus I shall be Very Sad Indeed.

Think about the name as it is applied to a grown man. One day, he will be a man. Will he want to be a Cody? I wouldn’t. I think Ethan’s my favorite. It’s easy to say, spell, and is good for a male of any age. Classic and defies fads. Emmett’s my dad’s middle name. I’m partial to it as well.

I really dislike Cody. Not a big fan of Casey, either.
I really like Jake, I wouldn’t worry about it not being short for Jacob. What about:
Jack or Jackson
Henry
William
Daniel
Oliver
John
Charlie

The grammar thunder has totally been stolen, but the general rule that helps me remember is this: If it’s published independently, italicize or underline it; if it’s published as a smaller part of something bigger, quotes. (So, a song would be in quotes, but the album name would be italicized; and a TV show episode name would be in quotes, but the name of the show itself [not the individual episode] is italicized.)

I love both Ethan and Jake. And I think a name like Dexter, which could be shortened to Dex, is absolutely to-die-for adorable while simultaneously being a kick-ass name for an older boy/man. In short, it will be a name that is good to him throughout his life.

If we had a boy, his name would have been Henry. I love James. I really like Garrett too. Andrew. Edgar.

LOGAN

-Janet in Miami

Ooohh, I do like Garrett. I personally have to suggest Avery and Daniel.

I do not like Casey (too girly) or Cody (too, ummm, “Duuuuude”-sounding, for lack of a better word).

Ethan is the name of my youngest, and was definitely a “good enough” choice. For my oldest, his name was a no-brainer, it was the only one we considered and the only one that ever fit. For Ethan, though, we never had that lightbulb type moment. We actually would have preferred Evan, but my husband has a family member (one he doesn’t get along with too well) with that name so it was, unfortunately, out.

I should have read all the other comments but I didn’t. Forgive!

I like:

Barrett
Jack
Tanner (although I used to like it much more than I do now)
Carter

And I think we’re naming our boy (if we have one; when we get knocked up): Kyler

I’ve always loved the name Keegan for a boy but my neighbor named her son that (what are the chances?!). ‘Riley and Keegan’ has a nice ring to it. ;)

How about Gavin? I think that goes better with Emmett than Garrett, though I do like Garrett.

I also like Jack; I babysat a kid named Jackson which they shortened to Jack and I liked the long and short versions of that name.

Liam is one of my favorite boy names.

Aaron sounds good with your middle/last name combo too!

Here’s some I like:

Mason
Chance
Wyatt
Wes
Jesse
Dalton

:)

I also like Logan. But, quite possibly, because of my wee obsession with Veronica Mars.

Oooh, I had forgotten Keegan, but I do love that name and agree that it works will with Riley.

Lowell? That’s a family name of ours I like.

I know a lovely little boy named Dexter, so I’m in favor of that name…

Here are my favorite unused boy names for my second son – we ended up naming him Ethan, and his big brother is Will (William). Feel free to use any of them:
David
Patrick
Owen
Liam
Malcolm
Wyatt
Jeffrey
Gregory
Matthew
Michael
Nigel
Daniel

It doesn’t depend on the medium as much as it does the style you’re writing to. In Chicago and AP, it’s all different, and I’m sure in another style book (MLA?), it’s even MORE different. AP will tell you to put it in quotes, as italics aren’t used in newspapers or wire services, while Chicago will say to use italics, and when that isn’t available (like in a plain text e-mail), they’ll tell you do use underscores in front of it, like this:

_The History of the Siege of Lisbon_

That little puppy was taken directly from the CMOS online site. I have never read the History of the Siege of Lisbon.

Anyway! I write and edit in both, and I can never remember this point exactly because they both use them so differently, that I’m always using both online manuals until my fingers bleed.

Aaaand, with that, I don’t know how else to say this to Jamie, except that Dexter is on our short list for boy’s names. Buuuut, maybe not anymore, given that it’s a DOG’S NAME in some people’s minds? HAHAHAHAHA.

(Lest this be misconstrued, I love Jamie, and we’re actually friends. No drama, I promise!)

This is getting slightly popular, but I think Cooper is a great boy’s name.

I like also like the name Jensen.

I usually don’t respond to posts like this (mainly because it isn’t something I would feel comfortable asking for advise on myself), but the name I have always loved but can’t use now because it doesn’t work with my SOs last name is Owen. Owen Emmett Sparks has a nice ring to it. So does “Riley and Owen”.

Good luck with the naming!

Congrats on another boy!
I vote for Jake, but only because Garrett sounds funny with Emmett. Also like Grant, Oliver and Simon. (Oh look, here comes Riley and Oliver. Those Sparks boys are the most suspicious kids I’ve ever known.)

I love Nathaniel. I tried desperately for my hubs to go for it with our second boy, but to no avail. Nate is such a cute nickname…And I second the Logan. Another one my husband wouldn’t agree to.

I love Henry!
“Henry Emmett Sounds-Like-Sparks” = hot guy

Also: Benjamin, Charlie, Nolan, Nathaniel/Nate, Timothy, Mitchell, Theodore/Teddy, Ryan (too close to Riley – I know), just plain Jake, Christopher, Edward/Ned, Luke, Alexander/Alex, more to come.

I never had a nickname. I always wanted one. Can you tell?

I think that if the new boss is the only thing holding you back from Ethan, you should go for it. It’s not likely you’re going to know him forever and I doubt either would get confused when you’re referring to the other.

I think those names are all stellar, but you might want to make up a cover story if you name him Dexter. “Uh, he was my great uncle, not a dude with serial killer tendencies or anything.”

Oh, Jonniker. What can I say? My mind, it has strong opinions. :)

I have trouble with ANY name that could be perceived as a dog’s name, and similarly, I don’t understand people who give their pets human names (unless they’re funny, like old men’s name. I love a cat named Wilbur). It’s just my own narrow-mindedness, I guess. I will never have a son named Hunter, Cody, Cooper, Tucker, or Dexter. Because in my mind’s eye, those are dogs. Similarly, I will never name a dog Emma or Charlie. I really don’t judge others – it’s just my own bizarre criteria.

Perceptions of a name is different, but I have to admit I like a lot of these suggestions, Sundry. Especially Keegan and Wyatt. And I hate trendy names, so that’s really sayin’ something.

I actually know a child named Dexter, as well, and I don’t HATE it. Cody and Casey – not so much. First name probably shouldn’t end in “T” if the middle name is Emmett. Nathan? Zachary (I’ve always liked that one)? I like names that you can make a good nickname from…probably because my name isn’t necessarily conducive to nicknamage. It does rhyme with lots of first-grader versions of mean, though. (Jelly. Smelly. Belly.) I also like Brandon and Patrick.

Umm, apparently I’m so fired up about names that I flipping forgot to do a self-check on my own grammar. Whoopsie.

Finn
Beckett
Simon
Owen
Henry
Patrick

And my personal favorite, Ivan, which is what we named our son!

Caden Emmett
Jackson Emmett
Cooper Emmett
Carter Emmett
Finley Emmett
Parker Emmett
Drake Emmett
Levi Emmett
Miles Emmett

I like those, I love Riley and Caden though, Caden is my favorite.