so sweeet! i think Gideon is fine name.
I was just thinking of names myself today because it's my niece's birthday and my late brother was spending the week at my house when she was born. we spent the week trying to find the right name and he was so excited at finally having a girl. i have to write her a birthday letter today.

The name thing is always fun. The first fun part is the one where your wife shoots down your choices and you shoot down hers. Then you get to the short list. You know which one you want when that's the one you want. Really - it just happens.

I rather liked Meb - it's different. I also like Jackson or similarly Austin (always liked that name and the city is full of great music). That brings me to Danny Elfman who is a major comeptitor to my friend Chris Young whose real name is fantastic - Gilchrist. Also a very talented film score composer.

I think your list is quite long enough but for a good time go get a book of lists of names. Very fun. Try searching Amazon on "list of names baby" to get a list of books.

Very excited for both of you!

Liam. I have a fondness for just about any L name.

How about John (TV medical doctor John Dorian) or Jesse (male version of an awesome female you happen to know). I know it's a tough choice. Was just trying to make your job easier ;)

But oh well you already have some good choices and I suppose you'll end up picking a name that was YOUR or SMSMHs idea. Go figure...

:)

My brother's name is Daniel("Dan"). Are you a fan of Danny Elfman? That'd be cool. I love his music (along with a dozen or more other movie score masters).

Those are some great names. I wonder how many runner's in the US named their boys after "Pre"?

hmmmm... I'm coming up dry at the moment.

But, ya know, these things usually end up being magical or inspired by God - in the end, it will just come to you and feel instantly right.

Exciting!

As the possessor of a more rarefied name, look at some other variations on the fandom plank:

Runners/Running-related: Achilles, Nike, Asics
Endurance athletes: Pete (Pete Penseyres, RAAM champ), Lance, Floyd, Matti (first name of many Scandinavian XC skiing champs)

Or you can go the route of Penn Gillette, and use the middle name for some creative license (e.g. the middle names of "Moxy Crimefighter").

Or you could go the route of William Joseph James Robert - thus Billy Joe Jim Bob.

Ah, yes, the name game. No matter what you decide you are sure to get a reaction out of people and you'll know whether they like your choice or not. My advice is keep them close to the vest, only share the name after the baby has arrived. Noone ever dislikes the name once there is a cute little bundle of joy attached to it.

How exciting!

First of all - write them down with your last name, see how they look. If you have a list of possible middle names as well, write them all together, say them outloud. Sometimes a name sounds great in theory until you look at it that way, then you hate the way they go together.
Keep in mind that the kid has to learn to spell it, that they will have to live with whether or not other people can both spell and pronounce it (and it is a major upset to kids if other people can't spell or say their name properly).
You can also look up the meaning of the name, see if that helps - if you don't like the origin/meaning of a name, that can also shorten your list.
Good luck!

First of all - write them down with your last name, see how they look. If you have a list of possible middle names as well, write them all together, say them outloud. Sometimes a name sounds great in theory until you look at it that way, then you hate the way they go together.
Keep in mind that the kid has to learn to spell it, that they will have to live with whether or not other people can both spell and pronounce it (and it is a major upset to kids if other people can't spell or say their name properly).
You can also look up the meaning of the name, see if that helps - if you don't like the origin/meaning of a name, that can also shorten your list.
Good luck!

I kind of like the name Susan, because it works well for a boy or a girl. But it that doesn't float your boat, I vote for Meb. It doesn't get any cooler than Meb.

did you hear Nick Cave sing on the Pirate ballads and sea chantys? It's so good!

I say open up your back door, and scream the name 10 times as loud as you can. if you still like it after that, go with it.

Meb and Liam are my favorites from that list. but a recent suggestion in the office "Jo Mamma"

everyone loves jomamma!

My husband and I found that we were able to whittle down our name lists after observing annoying people attached to each. I'm with Darrell -- keep quiet and nobody will (publicly)say anything because the choice is made.

Since your last name is common, I think you have to go with something really uncommon for the first name!

Jeff, just caught up with the amazing news!! Oh my!!!!!! How amazing, how cool. My prayers for you and Lori as you work through this new twist.

Re names: My buddy Darrell has it right, IMHO, once again. It is intensely personal and goes way beyond sports or any other trendy thing. Do look at the initials of the entire name, to make sure it doesn't spell anything offensive or wierd. But make it yours and make it meaningful to you both. And have a reason for it...it will be an inspiring story for the boy eventually. Shoot, even my basic name, Joe, has a story as my Mom told me. Very special.

I'm sure happy for you!!!!

loved no names before the birth. a friend walks into the hospital room and takes one look at the infant boy and says, "he's a merry old soul."
we passed on king but we did name him cole.
sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

You should name it Ellis.

Or Monkeyhumper.

THE HIP!

I really like the name Stephen! Nice strong name!

The key to selecting a name is to scream it in an angry tone, and to make sure it gets attention.

Hence, with our kids - Nate! and Jake! both are attention grabbers, but when you roll off the full bit - JACOB NOAH GET OVER HERE THIS INSTANT! it works like a champ...

wow, that is cool news. As for names well I spent hours and hours trying to come up with the "perfect" name for my youngest daughter and finally we decided on Laurie Anne. Wait that's not what we called her as in the middle of delivery I changed my mind. Her name is Carrie Anne. Thankfully her father knew better then to argue with a woman in labor...lol.

My vote is for Danny Elfman! Good luck--I hope this works out for you (adopting the baby, I mean.)

Hi Jeff,

Wow, I'm stopping by to get caught up on your life and it has taken a crazy turn. Wow. Congrats on this new development. You have so much support from this online community, but I wanted to put my 2 cents worth of support in as well.

Meghan

I like the name Troy...but I'm partial to that name...

I think it would be fun to let the RBFers pick a name....doesn't that sound like fun to you????

Okay, so maybe you guys could just draw straws or something....

Hey, nice new pic!