Baby boy a week old and we're struggling to agree. Alex something, Hugh Alexander or Johnny Leon

[HMSwater]

Our first boy was born last week (a fab homebirth) and my husband and I cannot get close to agreeing! He really likes Alex but, while I lover Alexander for a middle name, I don't like that it's not clear if it's a boy or girls name. To me, it sounds like a girls name...

I love Hugh Alexander but would be happy to name him after my husband's Uncle John if we use my grandfather's name Leon as a middle name...which my husband does not like at all.

He thinks that Hugh would get teased about his name and that it sounds pompous. I think it sounds like a man's name. Solid, known but not well used.

He's a little brother to Bianca and Eloise (though I gave up the name i love, Sylvie, for our Eloise and have some regrets at capitulating so easily).

Shall I just dig my heels in and wait him out? Any new suggestions we could consider to break the deadlock?

Thanks for your help!

[HMSwater]

These are the other names I suggested we consider:

Gus
Quentin
Eric
Heath
Victor
Frazer
Gene
Alexander
Spencer
Carter
Leon
Johnny
James
Robert
Rory
Sage
Francis / Frank
Vincent
Finn
Theo
Quinn

No sparks from my husband for any of those however! So frustrating.

[Scatterplot]

I like Hugh Alexander, though it depends what letter your surname for him starts with. I really don't like Johnny or Leon.

I think Alex is either boy or girl, and it wouldn't bother me that it's ambiguous. Would Alexander Hugh work? How about Leo Alexander?

[emmyloo2]

I do love Alexander and it is the middle name of our son, who is George.

I like Hugh but prefer Hugo. Most of the names in your list above are fabulous but my favourites would be Gus (although I prefer Fergus, Angus or Augustus), Spencer, Carter, Rory and Theodore. I don't liike Finn because it's a bit faddy for my liking. Also like Quentin. They all go with your daughters' names.

[Stellan]

Alexander - tick
Hugh - tick

Great names.

Leon - not to my own personal taste but it's got a nice family meaning for you and will be a nice middle name.

Johnny - really dislike: slang for a condom! But I do really like John and think it's a brilliant name for a little boy. I'd just want John to fall back on in the teenage years/adulthood even if I were Johnny as a child.

I think you ought to name him Alexander, nicknamed Alex, since it's the only one you both like and it's important it a name you're both happy with.

[Stellan]

Just to add - Hugh could be Huey as a boy if your husband thinks it needs adapting for a child.

[zxcv123]

I don't think that Hugh would get teased about his name - sounds similar to Bianca and Eloise to me.

I love the name Alexander and think Alex is more of a boy's name than a girl's. There are definitely many more male Alexes than female round here. But if you are uncertain about the nn Alex you could always use Al, Xander, Xan or Ali (although the last one can also be used for a girl.)

[sonniebonnie]

I agree that Alex sounds a little unisex (perhaps because dd's best friend is an Alexandra, known as Alex). There are also quite a lot of Alex's out there already.

I like very much Hugh - classic, underused non-trendy name - great! Hugh Alexander sounds lovely.

But my favourite combo would be Quentin Alexander (which you could shorten to Quinn) - love it!

[rachel234]

Congratulations! I can't see anything teaseworthy about Hugh and agree it's a great underused classic. Also like John/Johnny, Eric, Vincent, Theodore and Quentin/Quinn and think that they go well with Bianca and Eloise. Alex is a little dull (and unisex) in comparison but I agree that Alexander would be a lovely middle name!

[SneakyBiscuitEater]

I have always liked James Alexander as a classic solid name, I don't know if this is close enough to John for you?

[mopsyflopsy]

Hugh is lovely and goes well with your girls' names. Don't see what would teaseworthy about that at all... I don't really like Leon or Jonny . Alex is ok but a little bland, but you could shorten to Xander. I do like Alexander as a middle name e.g. Hugh Alexander.

Also like Gus, Theo, Quentin, Rory, Victor from your other suggestions.

[flowers123]

My son is named Alexander and has several male friends of the same name. There does tend to me a lot of boy alexanders here and no so many girls.

[dreamingofsun]

i have a close relative called Hugh - teenager and he's never been teased about his name. He loves it. I think Hugo sounds a bit lardy da myself but not Hugh. its the sort of name that works well in any environment.

[Janoschi]

I love Johnny Leon. it's just fab.

[iseenodust]

Johnny Leon is just not fab.

Hugh Alexander sounds like a man with backbone.

[girlgonemild]

DS is called Hugh (Huey as nn) and I love it. It's a name everyone knows but not met another child with the same name yet.

Hugh Alexander is a great combination.

We also liked Hamish, Fergus, Benedict and Arthur... might they be useful?

[GoPoldark]

Johnny Leon sounds like a French popster.

Not good!!!

Hugh is great, suggest Hugo instead? I can't at all understand his position on Hugh: why would he get teased? There is a Hugh at my DD's nursery - perfectly normal, and a little bit different - really good choice actually.

You gave up on your first choice last time, I would dig my heels in here, because you have the better choices by far.

(If it were me though he'd be Heath Alexander.)

[Longdistance]

Have you got a picture of him? As this usually helps. When we had dd1, we had a list of 5 names, and then chose the one she suited the best.

[spiderlight]

I love Leon! Also like Rory, Finn and Theo from your list.

My friend has a little Huw (we're in Wales) and it suits him down to the ground. I much prefer it to Hugo.

[PercyFilth]

Not really seeing your problem with Alex, but if you don't like that shortening for a boy, you could call him Alec which is unambiguous.

Otherwise I think that Hugh, Leon, Alexander and John are all splendid names and work well in lots of combinations. (Not Johnny though!)

[bigbluebump]

I think Hugh Alexander sounds lovely. Alex is ok but I do know both girls and boys named this so understand your 'unisex' issue. It is also much more popular than Hugh, whereas your girls' names are less common (and lovely!).

I also like Quentin (we have one, so biased ), Eric, Theo, Victor, Rory and Quinn. How about using Alexander as a middle name?

[HMSwater]

All great input, thanks so much! It's given me more resolve to stick it out for Hugh. Heath, Rory also firm favourites. Johnny / John would always be my compromise.

I was at an all girls school with a couple of Alex's. One lovely, one not so. Also, Al works as a NN but we already have an Eli (Eloise) and our surname starts with S.

He's so gorgeous! Totally unbiased opinion of course :) My girlfriends are spoiling me with a coordinated food roster for 2 weeks!

[rainbow2000]

Dylan Alexander or Zak Alexander

[CarriMarie]

What about Jonathan Hugh or Leon Alexander, both have a nice flow.

[sashh]

I would not think Alexander was a girl, I would expect a boy.

[GoPoldark]

The other thing is, your girls names are recognisable, pronouncable, but slightly unusual, as in just less well used - both interesting but not CRAZY names. Hugh fits that.

Alexander on the other hand is a great name, but totally run of the mill - they are everywhere. So I would say Hugh is the better choice on that score too.

Glad you are enjoying your lovely baby :)