Finding a middle name for Lucas once you’ve decided on it for a first name can be tough! As a parent of three children, with a little girl on the way, I have done my fair share of baby naming. Second names are tricky because, on the one hand, you might want to make it fun or interesting, but on the other hand, you don’t want it to be too weird.
There are many middle names for Lucas to choose from with classic, modern, and more unique options. Here are the best second name ideas for boys named Liam.
Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect name, but it is possible to find a name for your baby that you truly love. Let’s go over some tips for finding the right middle name, some things to avoid, and finally, some great suggestions to get you started!
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The meaning and history behind Lucas
Lucas is a very trendy variation of the name Luke that has been growing in popularity over the years.
In fact, Lucas reached the #8 spot on the list of popular names in 2018.
As I said, Lucas is a longer variation of the name Luke which was derived from either the Latin name Lucius or the Greek Loukas. Lucius comes from the root word lux, which means light and Loukas is a contraction of the name Loukanos which literally translates into the man from Lucania.
Historically, the name is also a Biblical reference to Luke that traveled with the apostle Paul as his doctor. Luke wrote the Book of Acts from the New Testament and has become a saint in many Christian faiths. The modern form of the name Lucas has been around in the English world since around the 12th century.
Whatever your ancestry or reason, Lucas is a great name that has a strong sound that stays classic and trendy at the same time.
Help finding the right middle name
After spending all of your energy on the first name, finding a second name can feel stressful.
Don’t let that take away from finding the perfect follow up to the first name that you took so long to pick! Heck, you could even decide to include two middle names or even leave the name blank! In the US, you are only legally required to have a first and surname on the birth certificate when you leave the hospital, so it really is your choice.
Still, most Americans typically stick with the traditional three names.
Don’t be afraid to have a little more fun with the middle name, by the way, because they are an opportunity to show a little more personality and creativity. In most cases, middle names aren’t often used, and they can serve as a way to honor family or make an otherwise more traditional name more fun.
Where to find inspiration for the middle name
Since it’s not as common to see the middle name, you can pick whatever you want without much fear of judgment from others. Still, it can be overwhelming when you start to think about it, so here are four ideas for where to find potential inspiration:
- Family or traditional names – The names of family members are an excellent choice for finding the perfect middle name, and many parents use this trick. Look through the list of grandparents, uncles, and old maiden names long enough, and you can find some real treasures. Using these names will preserve their memory and gives honor to loved ones at the same time.
- Your second choice for the first name – If you were battling between a few different first names before you made your final decision, then you could still let one of those names live on through the middle name! Luckily, most first names also make great middle names!
- Two can be better than one – As I said before, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one middle name if you don’t want to. You might find a combination that flows well together, or you might feel too guilty not to honor both granddads. You will also rack up bonus points for sounding like an English prince!
- Memories or favorite places – Place names are obviously very trendy for first names, but they also work well for middle names. Think about your favorite destinations, trips you have taken with your spouse or family, or anything else that has a special meaning for you. Great examples here could be Cairo, Essex, or London.
What to watch out for when you choose the middle name
It can be a lot of fun to think about middle names, but there are still a few potential issues that you need to watch out for that could cause problems with the name as a whole. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Potential nicknames – While you don’t have to throw out a name for fear of an unfortunate nickname, it is definitely something to consider. Put yourself into the mind of a mean child and explore what you can come up with if you were trying to make fun of your child’s name yourself.
- Initial spellings – There will be many situations where your child’s initials will be written down, printed on a form, or otherwise displayed in public to others. With a name like Lucas, it would be bad if the initials spell ‘L.I.E’ or ‘L.I.K.’ Don’t be one of those parents that don’t think about this!
- Monogram spellings – Monograms won’t come up nearly as much with boys because they are primarily a girl thing, but it is still something you might want to write down just in case. Just don’t forget that the initial monogram order is in the FIRST, LAST, MIDDLE order.
- The overall flow of the name – Once you decide on your favorite full name, you should jot it down on paper and even yell it loudly a few times. This will help you see how the whole name flows. Try to avoid hard stops or all the names starting or ending with the same sound, or things will sound awkward. One trick you can use is to scream the full name out like your child is in trouble and then read it out slowly as if he were walking down the graduation line. If you can’t take it seriously, then you might want to reconsider.
So without any further ado, let’s get the name list started! I’ve scoured internet forums and books to find a ton of great-sounding middle names for a little boy named Lucas. Some of these have a classic feel, others modern, and the last category is a bit more unique or interesting. I hope that you find one you love!
Classic middle names for Lucas
Conventional or traditional middle names are great because they are timeless. Centuries of parents have trusted these names to help give their child a strong name that he can be proud of throughout his life. While they might not be the most fun or unique, they aren’t likely to draw any criticism or judgment from others when they are heard on the roll call.
Lucas James
Lucas Alexander
Lucas John
Lucas Gabriel
Lucas Anthony
Lucas Stanley
Lucas Elliot
Lucas Henry
Lucas Jackson
Lucas Charles
Lucas Timothy
Lucas Benjamin
Lucas Oliver
Lucas Oscar
Lucas Paul
Lucas Daniel
Lucas Scott
Lucas Abraham
Lucas Gregory
Lucas Adam
Lucas Quincy
Lucas Edward
Lucas Michael
Lucas George
Lucas Blake
Modern middle names for Lucas
To punch things up a little from the classic category, you could choose from the more modern second names for Lucas on the list. These will still have a solid feel but won’t sound as old as the classic list. Many of these names can also be found as trendy first names in recent years.
Lucas Riley
Lucas Flynn
Lucas Cameron
Lucas Spencer
Lucas Jago
Lucas Aaron
Lucas Jack
Lucas Wyatt
Lucas Tate
Lucas Coy
Lucas Lee
Lucas Vaughn
Lucas Norris
Lucas Marc
Lucas Joel
Lucas Austin
Lucas Warren
Lucas Benedict
Lucas Finley
Lucas Dean
Lucas Ryan
Lucas Dane
Lucas Clark
Lucas Martin
Lucas Cole
Lucas Finn
Lucas Holden
Lucas Taylor
Lucas Ford
Lucas Ray
Lucas Evan
Lucas Monroe
Lucas Arlo
Lucas Todd
Lucas Quinn
Lucas Ronan
Lucas Rafferty
Lucas Connor
Lucas Evander
Lucas Remington
Lucas Fletcher
Lucas Bennett
Lucas Brett
Lucas Kurt
Unique and fun middle names for Lucas
Finding something truly unique means that you will need to consult your own creativity, but I have a lot of potential ideas here to get you started. Using a more fun and interesting middle name for your boy named Lucas can inject a little more personality into the name as a whole without compromising the first and last name. Here are some names that I like!
Lucas Zavier
Lucas Jace
Lucas Cruz
Lucas Kai
Lucas Andre
Lucas Fox
Lucas Beau
Lucas Maverick
Lucas Valentine
Lucas Ronan
Lucas Blaze
Lucas Bowie
Lucas Ace
Lucas Cale
Lucas Drake
Lucas West
Lucas Zane
Lucas Zeke
Lucas Griffin
Last Thoughts
I genuinely hope that you were able to find some inspiration here with these name lists. I love to look at baby names, and making this list has me wanting another son to name Lucas!
Just remember – don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with the process of picking out a second name for your son Lucas! Unless you waited until the absolute last minute (let’s hope not!), you should have months to let names you like kick around inside your head until you make your final choice.
Also, just because you loved a name early on doesn’t mean that you will necessarily love it a couple of months later.
Also, be careful about sharing too much about your naming journey with others. Sometimes friends and family have a way of discouraging names that you enjoy and, ultimately, it is you and your spouse’s choice! Have fun with it!