Boys's names - running out of time now!

[neverthoughtidask]

Dh and I still can't decide and are arguing discussing this on an almost daily basis!

So what do you think of these:

Oliver - dh loves, I think is too common popular
Nathanial - dh loves, I don't!
Ralph - I love, dh doesn't and keeps making jokes about gay landowners (think Harry Enfield!)
Jonathan - so so
Edward - dh not keen

New one that I love:

Keir

Any opinions? Our DS1 has a very popular name that was dh's choice. I have a very popular name too and was hoping to give our DC something a little more original so they're not always one of many wherever they go!

Oh, and dislike alliteration, so can't have any names beginning with A or D!

TIA

[neverthoughtidask]

apologies for the stray 's' in the title - I blame tiredness!

[electra]

From your list I like Oliver and Edward. When I was pregnant I had only 2 names I liked - Miles and Lucian.

[hulabula]

Oliver - too common/popular
Nathaniel - don't like
Ralph - I love
Jonathan - I like
Edward - nice but quite common/popular
Keir - not sure

Other suggestions of slightly more original names (that don't start with A or D):

Tobias
Quentin
Patrick

[hulabula]

Yes, Lucian is nice too.

[Phoenix]

I like Nathanial (but don't like Nathan) and Keir from your list.

I have Lewis and Noah

[EasyEggs]

From the list I like Oliver and Edward too but agree there are quite a few Olivers about.

How about Theo?

[Hulababy]

I love the name Oliver, and really like Edward too.

[neverthoughtidask]

electra, which name did you choose?! I like Miles, not so sure about Lucian.

Don't think I'd get away with Quentin with my socialist background - think my dad would pass away with shock! Like Patrick, and also love Lewis but dh doesn't .

I'm really getting quite keen on Keir (so to speak!) but dh prefers long names that can be shortened!

Anyone know any Keirs? What do they get called? Is anyone going to think I named him after Kir Royale rather than Keir Hardie?!!

[neverthoughtidask]

x-posted! Our surname ends in 'O', so Theo wouldn't work, love it though!

[Phoenix]

I think of the newsreader/reporter Keir Simmons cos i've never heard anyone else with that name

[cookielove]

i don't really like nathaniel but love nate so i put forward nate

there are lots of olivers out there tis true, and i don't like any of the others

ooh love cole but i sense you won't

[thisisyesterday]

hmm well if dh got to choose the first one i reckon you get to choose this one1

[cookielove]

oh wait i like ralph to, ralphy would be sooo cute, can't see it on a teenager but can as an older man

[neverthoughtidask]

thisisyesterday, that's exactly what dh said! But I would also like him to like the name and we just can't agree . But then I wouldn't have chosen the name he gave to DS1 so maybe I shouldn't worry about his opinion so much!!

Hmm, Cole, no, bit too different for me .

See, I think Ralphie is a lovely name but dh's parents' neighbour is called Ralph and he is a little old man of 85 and that is all dh thinks of when he thinks of the name - that or The Fast Show!

phoenix, I'd never heard of Keir Simmons so had to google him!

[Ninjacat]

Ralph makes me think of that Judy Blume book "Forever" that I read when I was about 10. If you have read it you will never call your child Ralph, it would be too disturbing.

[jkklpu]

I know a baby Keir in NZ, much less common than the likes of Fergus, which is in the same category for me. If you like Scottish names, how about Ranald, Tammas, Angus or Tavis?

Agree Oliver is incredibly popular, as is Nathaniel/Nat (if MN threads to be believed, at least). But Theo more popular than lots of others.

If you're not sure about Edward, how Edmund, which is more unusual, or Eamonn, Irish form of Edmund?

[devientenigma]

Hi, I love Kier. Also like Efram and Corin. My ds is Brynley. HTH.

[skybright]

I like Kier have know quite a few ,i met a little boy called Tate today,quite like it ,i think.

[nooka]

Keir is pretty cool if you have socialist leanings I think. We were going to call ds2 Ezra, which I still think is n excellent name, but he turned out to be dd instead

[Clary]

Oliver - very popular, one in every class. 3 in DS2's yr of 20 boys

Nat - pretty popular, don't persoanlly like the full version (bit of a mouthful)
Ralph ooo no
Jonathan - has the merit of originality
Edward I really like, quite a few about tho

Keir oh yes, good leftwing credentials. DS1 is named after a famous leftie we are a fan of (not that many people know that! it's not quite as obvious as Keir)

Rather liking Keir. I don't know a single one of anyage if that helps you

[coralanne]

I know a dad called Oliver, his son is named Dexter, very cute little 3 year old. My son is Christian.

[pippylongstockings]

I love Ralph - I really wanted to call our DS2 this but my DP always thought of the little boy who is bullied on the Simpsons.

Felix, Edward (Ted), Stanley, Wilfred, I like old man names - sorry!

[piscesmoon]

Jonathan and Edward are lovely.
Oliver and Nathaniel are OK.
Keir and Ralph-horrible.

[MmeLindt]

I like Oliver but think that it is too popular at the moment in UK.

Nathaniel - I like, also like Nate. Sounds cool.

Ralph - makes me think of permatanned Ralph Lauren so no.

Edward - not keen

Jonathan - bit boring

Keir - ok

My suggestions:

Thomas

Phillip

Joseph

Matthew

[neverthoughtidask]

Lol, well this goes to show how much names divide opinions!

I'm still liking Keir, although slightly concerned that a couple of you have spelt it Kier - does this mean poor DS is going to spend his life spelling his name like I do .

Edmund - Blackadder?
Christian - I'm an atheist!
Joseph - lovely, but would be shortened to Joe and again doesn't go with our surname
Matthew - dh's name!
Dexter - serial killer
Philip - just makes me think of the queen's hideous husband!

Thanks for the other suggestions - keep them coming .