2nd boy name
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2nd boy name
| Thu, 01-05-2006 - 1:28pm |
2nd boy name
- DS-Maxwell (Max), new boy name Maddox
- Maddox is too similar to Max
- No, they are different enough
You will be able to change your vote.

They are very close, and I suspect if you had given several choices for Max's little brother, most people would have chosen something else, even if they love Maddox on it's own. That said, if you really, really love it, it's not impossible, with one caveat. If there is any chance at all that there might one day be a DS#3, what names might you consider for him? I'm usually not one to advocate perfectly matching sibling names, but once you've got a Max and a Maddox, adding a Spencer, Thomas, Aidan, etc., will inevitably sound a little off... a variation of Matthew/Matteo or of Markus might work, but that's pretty limited choice, and gives you three very similar names to contend with.
If you're really stuck on Maddox, might you consider Maddoc instead? Maddox is a contraction of Maddoc's son, so they come from the same root, and losing the X gives it a little more distance from Max. (It doesn't help much with a nn, though, Max and Mac is possible but sure to get confusing. Doc would be a more quirky option. Maddy, which you asked about in another post, I wouldn't consider too girly except that it is very, very common as a nn for girls named Madeline, Madison, etc. right now, which makes it quite risky for a boy.)
Think realistically about the likelihood that Maxwell and Maddox will have to contend with mix-ups from teachers, friends, and occassionally even from you as they grow up. Most parents confuse their children's names at least once in a while, even when they are quite distinct in sound, and I've known a number of teachers who do the same when they've taught two or more siblings one after the other. Consider the possibility of a third son, perhaps more. If you're comfortable with all of that, and it really feels like *the name*, Maddox (or better Maddoc) is doable. Trust your instincts.
Josie