Since a lot of our friends and family members already know, we figured we might as well go ahead and spill the beans: we’ve settled on a baby name! Actually, we’ve been settled on a baby name for quite some time, but we’ve been waiting to see whether or not another name would come along; I think we wanted to keep our options open.
And we did, for a long time. We’ve been looking and asking and researching, and no matter how many other names we find and love–Asher and Atticus were two top contenders–we keep coming back to the one we loved first. And so, it’s decided: our second baby boy will be Elias Lake Aquiline.
We found the name Elias much in the same way we found the name Finn–and before we were even pregnant a second time. We knew we were trying. We knew we hoped for another boy. So, we kept our eyes and ears out, listening for names that caught our interest. Then, one night we were watching a not-very-good TV show, and a character introduced himself as “Elias” (pronounced uh-lye-us) in a long southern drawl. Sona and I looked at each other and smiled. We both loved it immediately.
A couple of days later, when I was texting with one of my BFFs about having found a name we liked, she reminded me that she had actually told me about that name a while ago, as it is one on her possible someday list, too. (Don’t worry, I’ve asked her permission a thousand times, and she’s completely okay with our poaching it.) Though I didn’t remember having heard it before, something about it must have stuck with me.
So, the name went on the list, literally. Here’s an iPhone note I’ve had on my phone for well over a year:
Looking at the list, it’s pretty obvious that, while we were still a little unsure about Elias, we absolutely knew we wanted a middle name that speaks to our love of the water.
We chose the name “Finn” because we loved how sweet it sounded. We chose his middle name, “Atlas,” because of what it means. In Greek mythology, Atlas is the god who holds the world on his shoulders; he’s known for his strength. As a baby being born into a same-sex, mixed race family, we knew it was going to be important for little Finn to be strong, too. Using Atlas as a middle name was also a nod to our love of travel–and to the ways that having Finn has helped Sona and I navigate what’s important in our own lives. He’s shown us the way.
For our second boy, we immediately knew that we wanted a middle name that connects to the water. We both love the ocean, and we have had our happiest memories as a family while at the sea. We also fell in love with the city of Chicago, in large part, because of Lake Michigan, which we’ve always joked is like our own little freshwater ocean. When we bought our home, one of my requirements was that we be within a short walk of the lake–and we are. We love that “Lake” not only reminds us of the water, but it will also always remind us of this part of our lives–of the city we love, of our first home, of raising our two little boys in Chicago, spending our summers by the lake.
A few posts ago, I’d alluded to the fact that, though we’d found a name we liked, we were apprehensive about using it because we didn’t want people to default to a nickname. As much as we love the timelessness and tenderness of Elias, we don’t really see our little guy as an “Eli.” So, we are going to do our best to discourage folks from resorting to any kind of nickname.
Finn is able to say Elias perfectly–and HOLY COW is it adorable when he does. We figure that if he can manage it on the first try, everyone else can, too.
So, it’s settled, then. We have two sons: Finn and Elias. We chose their first names because they struck an emotional chord–they just felt right. We worked hard to choose middle names that had value to us–and, hopefully, to them.
When they are older, we can’t wait to tell them the story of their names–and the story of how hard we worked to make our little family. These two little boys are our sun and moon and stars and ocean and everything else that is good in the world, and we can’t wait for them to meet each other.
See you soon, little Elias. We’re so ready for you.
