Names in the Fifth Dimension
By Sophie Kihm
Though five is twice is double the number of the classic American “2.5 kids” average, plenty of parents are still forming large families. But having so many children, we can use up our favorite names pretty quickly. If you’re in need of some fresh inspiration for baby number five, I may have the answer. A name that means “five” or “fifth” is a fun tie-in to the child’s place in the family line-up. Plus, with so many great options, it’s hard to resist.
Enu– Enu is a West African name meaning “fifth born.” It’s a unisex name, and would make an outstanding middle for a boy or a girl.
Five– Why not take a page from the celebrity baby name handbook and simply call your fifth child Five? Celebrity designers Bob and Cortney Novogratz gave this name to their third son (Their other children have interesting names as well—Wolfgang “Wolfie,” Bellamy, Tallulah, Breaker, Holleder, and Major).
Fritz– I know of a V who goes by Fritz. Does it work? I vote yes. Fritz sounds enough like “fifth,” and by the time you have five men with the same name in one family, you’re bound to run out of nicknames.
Gorou– Gorou is a traditional Japanese name for the fifth son. He’s practically unheard of in the US, but that doesn’t make him unusable. If you’re unable to take the plunge, you could always use Gorou as a pet name for baby number five.
Quentin– Bring on the Q names! The Quen and Quin suffix mean “fifth,” so really any Quinn name works splendidly for a fifth born child. I picked some of my favorites to highlight, including Quentin. He’s got a classic aura , is now Number 483, and has been used by writers from Sir Walter Scott to Faulkner. Quinton is a variation that is sometimes used.
Quincy– Quincy is an intriguing French name that used to be solely masculine. Nowadays, it’s considered unisex, but still is heard much more on boys. However, that might not be for long. I predict Quincy will go the way of Quinn, eventually the numbers will even out, and then I believe that Quincy, in this age of unisex names and gender-bending, could even be seen as more feminine.
Quinto– This handsome Quentin variation would be ideal for a family who loves the sound of Quinn, but not its popularity (or unisex factor). No less than forty-three saints bore this Latinate name. For girls there are also Quintina and Quintana.
Quinty- If Quincy isn’t jaunty enough for you, how about the girls’ name Quinty? She’s a modern Dutch name derived from the equally usable Quinta. Quinty has a jovial spirit; I would love to hear her used in the US.
Pompeo– Pompeo is an Italian variation of the Latin name Pompey. Both mean “five,” but Pompeo is the more wearable option, especially for an American baby. With a handsome sound and historical origins, Pompeo would be a fantastic choice for a fifth-born baby.