Occupation names: A Labor Day celebration

I think you mean Drover rather than Dover! The name is actually on my boys short list! Fitting, I think, as he would be a 5th generation cattle rancher!

I use to love the name Booker until it was brought to my attention that it sounds an awful lot like “booger!”

I adore Cormac and would use it in a heartbeat even though he sounds funny with my other kids. (Leo, Simon, Josephine & Cormac? ) : D

Reeve is wicked cool as are Ward & Baxter.

I like Tolliver.

While occupational names are not my style, there are some that I find appealing (or not!).

Booker: Being a bookworm myself, just the sound of this name appeals to me And being very similar to Cooper, I see it as a stylish alternative to a very popular name.

Brenner: Very similar to the masculine Brennan and the trendy, feminine Bryn/Brynlee – I have a feeling that this would make a great cross-over name for some parents.

Chaucer: This name appeals to me more for the literary aspects then anything else!

Collier: Okay, a bad review this time But, truly, this name makes me think of a Border Collie. Besides, wouldn’t “Collie” be the obvious nickname here?

Mercer: I feel that this name has a WOW factor! It’s soft, yet strong. It share the beginning “M” that a lot of trending-popular names currently use (Mason, Max, Micah, Miles, and Malachi to just name a few), plus has the hot “er” ending. It’s got a history of use for those parents who want something they can claim is an actual “name”, but isn’t popular and has never been so.

Painter: With Smurfs making a small comeback, this name is not for everybody. Some hip parents might feel comfortable sliding it into a middle name position, especially if it has extra-meaning for them. However, the truly Bold and Hip parents will be able to pull this name off easily. I know of one family that has a Paisley (g), Indigo (b), and Mavi (b) – they could easily use Painter as a name!

Quiller: While this name really doesn’t do anything for me, it might be a perfect solution for parent’s looking for a alternate to Quinn/etc. names…

Sumner: Another bad review This name seems to close to the feminine Summer to be readily used today.

Tolliver: A great alternative to the popular Oliver. Plus you could use Tolly or Olly as a nickname

Wheeler: My mom’s favorite. I think it could find a very receptive audience once the general public “rediscovers” it.

Bard: Once again, the bookworm in my comes to the fore. I love the sound and feel of this name!

Overall, this is a great collection of names. If anybody is looking for some alternative occupational names, this is definitely a good spot to turn

I know guys with many of these names. Farrar and Reeve appeal to me because they’re family names.

I once met a girl named Baxter. I always assumed it to be a more masculine name. She said it was her mothers maiden name.

You forgot Luthier, which is a maker of stringed instruments. It’s one of my absolute favorites.

@dotmyiis, I knew a grown up Booker. It was very handsome on him, but then, I didn’t know him in school … it might be tough to be a 12 y.o. called Booker. (Then again, I think it is just plain tough to be a 12 y.o.!)

Someone mentioned Ranger maybe a year ago, and it took me a while to warm up to it. But I must say, I’m really in love with it these days. It isn’t for me, but I’d love to meet one.

I’m not a huge fan of occupational names but there are some great ones here…

Boyer
Brenner
Collier
Currier
Farrier
Fletcher
Forester
Foster
Mercer
Smith
Sumner
Thatcher
Carbry
Cormac
Devin
Reeve
Smith
Steele
Ward

Although like others I’m not really into occupation/surname type names, there are some of these I really like. Here are a few which jumped out at me:

Baxter – I can totally see this on a sweet little boy, plus it sounds a lot like Dexter which I just adore.

Booker – So cool

Collier – Although I do like the sound of this I could never use it; living in an area where there are A LOT of ex-colliery towns, and therefore ex-colliers. It would certainly get a few strange looks, but then again it’s a nice way to honour heritage…

Dexter – Adore! I know the sweetest little boy named Dexter (brother to Philippa ‘Pippa’ and Finlay *swoon*)

Granger – Like, but when I say it, it’s always followed by ‘Hermione’

Hopper – Very… hip. God praise anyone brave enough to use it.

Miller – I’ve always loved Milla (same pn. not Mila) for a girl, so Miller seems a tad feminine to me.

Painter – Spunky, but unusable imo.

Potter – Again, I think ‘Harry’

Quiller – I genuinely really like this. Probably a little too out-there for me, I think.

Sayer – Similar situation to Miller; I’ve always liked the girl’s name Sayah/Saya so Sayer for a boy seems silly to me.

I like this list. Last year’s was nice too. I like some of the fresh, new occupational names like Keeler, Sumner, Lander, and Tolliver. I also tend to appreciate surname names though.

I’ve really warmed up to classic surnames like Smith or Jones as a first name.

I also love Baker.

I’d be tempted to suggest some of these for twinsets. Barker and Tanner, Collier and Brenner, or Hooper and Keifer! Or maybe something a little less silly like Booker and Devin or Jagger and Fisk. I also think Webster could be revived for girls’ use. But I’m pretty sure, with a few exceptions, these are all used for last names much more than first names anyway.

You forgot Mason (Fem: Mayson). Another great trade name!! And getting more popular