I still need help with boys' names - long post - sorry

[LuluF]

I'm convinced I'm having a boy - though don't know for certain.

I've posted about this before but we're no nearer any kind of list, let alone a shortlist.

This will be my 4th DC, I have 2 girls and one boy. I have no problem with girls' names at all. We named DS after FIL and it's a name that's relatively well used and traditional. It's certainly in the top 20. Our DDs have more unusual/less popular (for now at least) names, one described on here as 'frilly', the other 'old lady chic'.

I'd like to refer to my father's name in some way (but it's not essential) - but his name is definitely not a name I like - a name with the same meaning and derivation is Rufus (which I love but DH likes), but it also contradicts one of my 'rules' about repetition of initials - one DD's name begins with R. The only other name we have considered is Edward - with nn Ted as this was my Dad's nn in the army (for some unfathomable reason) - but I just don't love it.

As I've said, I've posted before listing the sort of names I like (but DH doesn't), and although it helped - I didn't find 'the one'.

Names I like are:

Benedict (but not keen on nn Ben)
Lucian
Sholto
Titus
Angus (DH likes this a lot - but it's the name of our cat)

Now - I know that DH would never go for these, but then he did get to name DS and he likes names like 'James' - which is a fine name though it doesn't really do it for me, but I know he likes it because it requires no effort on his part, being a sort of family tradtion.

One name I love (and one I really could consider) is Patrick with nn Paddy. Unfortunately, DH's nephew is Patrick with nn Paddy and has the same surname. Another name I love is Hamish - but we've used this as a mn for DS.

My rules are no alliteration/repetition of first initials (so no names beginning with L, W, R, N or J), nothing with an 'ee' sound, - though this might matter less for a boy's name than for a girl's. Our surname is Irish (though the FIL is Scottish) - it begins with an 'F' so no names beginning with an 'F' either.

Any suggestions? I'm going slightly mad.

[TBJP]

Ted as a nn from Theodore?

I would agree Patrick/Paddy are out, because of the cousin (and with the same surname).

[LuluF]

Theodore would sound a bit odd with our surname, I think. Will sound DH out about it.

Also, there's already a lot of name sharing within that side of the family and it's something that I find weird - but then I find myself in this position and can't tell if I love Patrick because I know I can't use it, if that makes sense.

[rachel234]

Love most of your suggestions, especially Lucian, Sholto, Titus and Angus.
Less keen on Edward/Ted or James - perfectly safe but a little dull/common.

[Hedwig3]

I really like
James
Patrick
Hamish

Others I feel are similar
Adam
Peter
Stefan

[SE13Mummy]

How about Adam or Aedan?

Adam is 'son of the red earth' and Aedan 'little firey one'. The first being Hebrew and the second Irish but with similar meanings to Rufus.

Or Gabriel? No colour meanings but nn could be Gabe or Gaby.

[LuluF]

I'm not all that keen on Adam - but not sure why.

I've tried Gabriel out on DH before but get .

Thank you for all your suggestions so far - please keep them coming!!!

[Kathleen123]

Angus is my fave, and Gus is a lovely nn.

[janeite]

I love Benedict and Lucian. Am also quite liking Titus.

Hate Sholto and Angus.

[LuluF]

Yes - I agree - but I can just picture our huge black and white cat coming, thinking it's tea time whenever the name is called.

Mind you - it turns out I named DD2 after a budgie I once had and TBJP suggested 'Theodore' - that was the name of my rabbit. Maybe I should just stick to naming pets?

[LuluF]

I love Rollo but get 'the face' from DH.

I knew a Saul when I was growing up - he was one of the local objects of teen lust. Not sure how I feel about it, given the connotations is has for me.

Cassius could work - though I have a female relative with a similar family nn - but when we were having DS (before we knew he was a DS) I liked Cassia for a girl and female relative didn't object. And DH like Mohammed Ali - so he might like the connection - will sound him out.

Keep them coming please!!

[mathanxiety]

How about Roland instead of Rollo?

Rowan (red)?

Another name that is related to Rufus is Ruairi or Rory.

Ruadhan (ROO-awn) is another Irish name that corresponds to Rufus.

Patrick in Irish would be Padraic (pr Paw-rick) or Padraig (Paw-drig). Patch is a nn sometimes used for Patrick, and Paid ('Pawd').

[LuluF]

Nope - DH didn't like Cassius...

Mathanxiety - 'Roland' reminds me of a UK kids tv programme called 'Grange Hill', so a no from me.

And I know Rowan is a unisex name, but I've known quite a few female Rowans and I think it would be hard to not associate it with them.

Rory - is nice, but a friend of mine has one and so would be awkward to use the same name I feel.

I'm being really fussy aren't I? I'm so sorry. To make it worse, DH has just got home and has started to quote back to me names I have previously suggested which he has rejected. Grrrr!

[seashore]

I have a def fav here as our ds's name is on your list so I'm not going to say it!

[coffeefestival]

Arlo
Samuel
Miles
Isaac
Thomas
Reuben
Aaron
Elias
Gabriel
Evan
Peter
Alexander
Dylan
Ch arles
Sebastian
Milo
Elliot
Silas
Daniel

[LuluF]

It is, Imarriedafrog, though you never know - he might start quoting it back to me in a few months.

He said that the poor child would have to go through school and through the teen years and the other kids will be mean. I said the other kids will be called Jasper, Caspar and Rufus and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary. The other name apart from James he'd suggested was 'Graham'. I mean, who's being unkind there?!!

[takethatlady]

Have you tried this website?

You can search by the meaning of the name. There are 20 pages of names meaning 'red' (though I think that includes names whose meanings have anything with the letters 'red' in them, like 'tired').

I say relax the first letters rule. I completely understand you don't want patterns emerging which make two of your children look more/less special than the others, etc, but you have enough variation in your family for it not to matter, I would say. And then you could have Rufus or Rory!

[LuluF]

Takethatlady - that's a good site - I can see I shall be playing with that for a while.

I just re-read my original post - I meant to write that DH doesn't like Rufus. But I think you're right, I'm starting to realise that I might have to relax the rule about repetition of initials.

[LuluF]

I'm still hoping that I'll come up with something that DH won't just say 'no' to straight away. He definitely doesn't like Lucian either - I checked.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Love Rufus and Angus (and Fergus but I see your surname starts with an F. I do like alliteration though )

How about

Seth
Saul
Lorcan
Fraser
Alexander
Barney

[DinahRod]

Can see you might be relaxing your rules a bit, so:
Marcus
Finbar/Finn
Jonty
Ossian
Arthur/Arty
Gus
Stanley
Hamish
Alistair
Rufus
Ludo
K it
Jeremy

[eatyourveg]

Rufus Rufus Rufus -

its my all time favourite name - does having a rule about initials really matter?

You can, after all pass down clothes without taking out all the cash's nametapes!

Be brave - ditch your principles and go for Rufus!

[coffeefestival]

Yes Rufus is great!

A few more in case you relax the rules.....

Frederick
William
Jasper
Nicholas
Leo
James
Niall
Fergus
Lawrence
Jonathan

[LuluF]

coffeefestival - I see what you did there!!

DH is William - so as much as he would love to name a baby after himself (!). And there is a cousin with my husband's name and potentially a new baby? So I don't see that could happen - unless nn Billy?

I do like Leo though.

There's a a cousin Nicholas and a Jonathan in extended family already.

I do quite like Fergus.
Lawrence - I'm not sure about
Niall - don't think I like it
Frederick - was my great grandfather's name, so it has its appeal
James - I just can't do it
Jasper - weird conotations for me
Alistair - i like, have suggested, got 'the face'
Barney is nice too - but we know a dodgy Barney which has kind of ruined it.

A lot of these suggestions, though great and I like them, I know DH wouldn't even entertain - he's very conservative.

I shall have another go at Rufus.

What do you think about Hamish given that we've used it for DS's middle name?