Joel or Nathan ... or something else?

[Wednesbury]

Trying to find a name for DC3, who is a boy. 7 weeks to go. We already have a DS1 Alexander James.

I like Nathan, DH has suggested Joel as a maybe but doesn't really like Nathan. Our surname starts with a J but I quite like the consonance. I'm not averse to Joel (and I don't like many boys names) but I'm not sure either.

I don't like any of the 'ie' names, Archie, Monty etc, prefer the name to end in a hard sound. I'm looking for the elusive classic without being too popular or out there. I probably prefer names starting with or including A, C, J, N, S, Z (have synaesthesia and have strong preferences for letters). DH doesn't like Zach or otherwise I'd consider Zachary but not keen.

I also have a friend with a DS called Nathan but he is known as Nate - I'd stick with Nathan or prefer Nath as a shortening. Dh has said he could live with it but is not keen so I'm trying to find other suggestions.

Other names I've sort of liked: Adam, Saul, Asher, Fraser.

Which do you prefer out of Joel and Nathan? Do they pass the 'high court judge' test?!

Any other suggestions welcome!

[M27J5M]

Both are nice but given the choice I'd choose Nathan! Like Adam from your other choices too

[HopefulHamster]

I've got a Nathan Alexander, so I know which I prefer, but Joel is nice too :)

[Wednesbury]

It's such a lovely balanced name, almost a palindrome and made up mainly of A and N which are both lovely clean and structured letters. This sort of reasoning sounds like madness to DH though!

I also think it goes better with DS1's name and DD's (Elena) than Joel does.

Thanks for your replies

[moxon]

I also prefer Nathan, but do like Joel. Adam is good too. How about Sachin? Jasper?

[BikeRunSki]

Nathaniel?
Much prefer Nathan to Joel. The Nathaniel I know is known as Nat.

[Leviticus]

I really wanted Joel but DH didn't. Thoroughly excellent name.

[Sophronia]

I prefer Nathan, it's a handsome name.

[Wednesbury]

Jasper is a bit too velvet jacket for me, I like Sachin and also Sacha but we have no Indian connection and also Sacha is a Greek version of Alexander, I think?

I definitely prefer Nathan to Nathaniel but hadn't thought of Nat as a shortening. I do like Joel in that you don't hear too many of them and it's a straightforward name. I think I'd like Nathan Joel, ideally.

Hmm. I like things to be organised in advance and am treading a fine line not wanting to push DH too much on it!

[pilates]

Much prefer Nathan.
How about Jacob or Ethan?

[mathanxiety]

I think Nathan sounds a bit nasal, and Joel always seems a bit like Joe with an extra unnecessary letter tacked on.

I also have synesthesia and the N and Th plus As in Nathan make it a much darker name than Alexander im[very weird]o.

I would combine sounds to some extent and go for Nathaniel as suggested by BikeRunSki, which sort of matches Alexander for length and formality and [synesthesia alert] lightness conferred by the letters I, E and L. You could use Nat as a nn.

[squoosh]

I prefer Nathan to Joel, Nate is a nicer nickname that Nat.

Joel is a be-mulletted mechanic from New Jersey circa 1984.

[RiverTam]

I prefer Joel to Nathan. I love Zachary but hate Zach.

Sacha can be French, or Sasha is the Russian diminutive of Alexander.

I have a Baby Nmes book on my desk. What about:

Aidan
Carl
Jason
Simon
Zain

they're all quite short, aren't they?

[ParsleyCake]

Joel

[Angelto5]

My sons(michael) best friend is called Nathan & is a pretty cool teenager. Only just found out his full name is nathaniel! People usually call him nathe for short.

[CPtart]

Adam (I have one)
Luke
Edward
Isaac
Dominic
Evan

Not keen on Nathan or Joel, Nate is an awful nickname. Joseph?

[Artandco]

Not keen on either tbh

Similar to Alexander :
Henry
Theodore
Sebastian

[AmITwirly]

I much prefer Nathan or Nathaniel over Joel.

I know a family of 5 boys - Joel, Nathan, Benjamin, Samuel and Michael: any of those any good?

[LuckyLopez]

Oh I know brothers called Nathan and Joel.

[youbethemummylion]

Nathan but I'm biased. I do think Joel is a bit or a wishy-washy nothing sort of a name much better as a middle name than a first name

[CarriMarie]

What about Jonathan, goes well with Alexander and plenty of nn options, including Nathan, or Joe ?

[northgoingzax]

Joel is really nice - so is Jonah.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Nathan is my number one boys name, love it!
Joel is fab too and was on our shortlist along with:
Hayden / Aidan
Christian
Dominic
Joseph
Marcus
Leon
Zachary
Ciaran


Also like Simon, Daniel, Rowan, Tobias, Owen, Drew, Shaun, Anthony and Harris.

[bialystockandbloom]

I have a ds called one of these, and a nephew called the other

Of the two I prefer Nathan but I'm biased

Also love Zachary, was our no.2 name but we ended up naming him after my grandfather. Also Jacob - lovely name. And Saul is gorgeous!

Dominic? Daniel? Isaac? Damon/Damien? Casper?

There must be a swathe of us kind of folk who like these kinds of names. Make a change from the plethora of oscars, Georges, Archies etc too, which are nice, but not so original any more.

[Kleptronic]

I knew a Nathaniel, he was known as Than, said as in thankful, rather than more than.