A no-name by any other name would, in fact, smell sweeter

First off, I want to thank you guys for your thoughts on the last post, and I specifically want to address Alexicographer's very sensible comment. I hope, fervently and without reserve, that my kids and I share some natural interests, some mutual passions. But if we don't, what then? That's where I feel like I'll need to reach out, go beyond my comfort zone and try my best to embrace and enjoy whatever it is they're embracing and enjoying. I want to stay connected to them as they grow up, stay relevant in their lives; I don't think it's a matter of seeking their respect, exactly, but perhaps there's an element of that as well.

I have been thinking of the example provided by Jeff's family (and wondering why I didn't think to quiz his parents on this topic before they left for the summer). They are an unusually happy and close bunch, with Jeff being the key silk-spinner in the family web. He and his father share an obsessive love of the Giants; he and his mother share a taste in books. He and his brothers bond over dozens of things, and Jeff--ever the elder brother--serves as the central conduit between his brothers and his parents. Those connections even branch out to include me, since our kids form the basis for the strongest mutual interest of all: every member of his family has embraced Josh & Olivia for all they're worth. (Case in point: Even when his brothers were single, they would schedule vacations three or four times a year just to fly out, sit around our house and play with the kids. This has really blown my mind.)

So, no big ideas to share on the subject, just an update to say that I appreciate the comments and that, if every happy family is happy in the same way, I guess I have the template right in front of me.

. . .

And on a completely different topic, I need your help: We need to decide on a name, and we're lost. I'm at 23 weeks and so far we've called him "Baby," "No-Name" and "Nameless," and keep saying to each other that we really should give him a name soon, then proceed to turn on the TV and ignore the question for another week.

We've looked at lists, reviewed family trees, revived discarded options from the four-year-old Joshua pile, considered the names of all the nicest guys we've ever known and...stumped. Totally stumped. We've even asked family members to weigh in--a sure recipe for disaster. ("Harold" was suggested, quite in earnest, so we beat a hasty retreat.)

Ethnically, we are a very boring European mish-mash, with a very boring, short and common Welsh last name. So even slightly exotic names sound a bit pretentious when paired with both our surname and our pigment. Add to that that we already have two children with quite common names, and adding something unusual just doesn't feel like it would be in sync. But for all that, we are being stupidly picky and don't want something completely boring. And of course Jeff isn't keen on the few names that I'm very fond of, and vice-versa.

So here is a challenge for anyone willing to help: What reasonably-traditional-but-not-too-boring boys' names do you love? No restriction on number of syllables, but probably best not to end in an L or an S. Oh, and we need two names--first and middle--so if you have combinations, bring 'em on!