What do you think of these boys names?

[Figuregettingbigger]

I am 31 weeks pregnant with DS1. We are finding it really hard to decide for definite on a name. We have finally whittled it down to three options, but would be happy to hear any other suggestions.

Christopher
Shay
Tom

[Teawaster]

I like Christopher . Def no to Shay. Tom is ok,depends on surname. Not good if surname is short. Always a Tommy risk which I don't like

[SaulGood]

They're a strange collection. They don't have a lot in common with each other iyswim. Can you explain why you chose them and if they have any particular meaning for you?

Christopher is a classic, slightly out of fashion, very well established name with lots of nicknames available.

Shay, I'm not sure what it is as a name. Google seems confused too. Could be Celtic, maybe Hebrew (but that would be Shai I think), might be a boys name or a girls name maybe, perhaps unisex. Maybe it's short for Seamus? Google thinks it might also be a nickname for Shaelyn, Shaelee or Sheavon. Oh dear. Compared to Christopher, it's a very different sort of name.

Tom is a nickname. It's fine if you want to use it on its own but I don't think of it as a full name. Thomas is lovely and similar in feel to Christopher but nicer and consequently, more popular.

[SaulGood]

I'd suggest others but I can't work out what sort of names you like from your selection.

[elQuintoConyo]

Christopher. And don't shorten it. Tom is dull. Shay is a girl's name.

Congratulations

[squoosh]

I love Shay when short for Séamus. Doesn't sound girlie to me, it reminds me of a big meaty man swinging a hurley.

[MamaLazarou]

Thomas is a lovely name. I don't like Shay at all.

[BertrandRussell]

Christopher and Thomas are both fab. Classics- with good shortenings.

Shay is only good as a shortening for Seamus- and I really do think you have to be Irish for Seamus.

[wigglesrock]

I like Tom, but not Thomas or Tommy. Christopher is nice, you don't hear it as much any more. I don't think I know any under 25, but I really dislike Chris. My kids go school with a couple of Shea's (just Shea, it's not shortened), I like it- I always think of Shea as being very handsome, sort of like Joe or Jack.

[FishCanFly]

Shay. More interesting and there won't be 5 of them on every corner.

[ButterDish]

Séamus is great - Shay, however, for me, is Shay Healey in his naffest 'What's Another Year?' phase. It's definitely not a girl's name, though - what an odd idea.

[Sophronia]

Christopher, maybe with nn Kit.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Hate Shay.

I like Tom as nn for Thomas.

[RabidFairy]

Christopher.

Random fact: apparently Kit Harrington didn't know his name was actually Christopher until he was 11.

[Figuregettingbigger]

Thanks for the feedback! I think as pp have noted, the names are sort of unrelated and don't follow a particular type of name which is probably why I'm finding it so hard to choose a name.
Shay would be chosen after my dad, (Seamas). I'm Irish so it's pretty common over here.
Christopher and Tom I just like the sound of. Athough I'm worried about them morphing into Christy/ Tommy...

[Figuregettingbigger]

*Seamus! you'd think I could spell my dad's name

[ButterDish]

Why not Seamus in full, though, Figure?

[cece]

Tom

[BothEndsBurning]

In that case, Seamus would definitely be my choice.

Then Christopher, then Thomas (not Tom).

[squoosh]

I didn't know Shay Healey wrote 'What's Another Year'! How shameful for him.

I used to have a part time job in a shop when I was in college and he was always a lovely customer.....I cannot lie, this has sullied my memory of him ButterDish!

[PrimalLass]

My DS is called Thomas. He was meant to be Tom but it just wouldn't come out of my mouth once he was born He definitely needs his full name.

[ButterDish]

I met him too, Squoosh - a million years ago somewhere in Connemara, I don't know what I was doing there, far less him - and he was enormously nice. But (despite the fact that he's done insane amounts of things, like write novels and musics and material for Billy Connolly, and present Nighthawks etc etc), the name 'Shay' for some reason puts me into full Johnny Logan 'What's another year, for someone's who's LOST EVERYTHING THAT HE OWNS????' mode.

[theconstantvacuumer]

Definitely not Shay!

Tom is a great, timeless name.

[squoosh]

Poor Shay Healey, what a burden to carry through life.


But at least he didn't write Hold Me Now, Wikipedia tells me that's entirely Johnny's doing.

[Saltedcaramel2014]

I love the name Shay. Especially given the link to your father. I would have chosen it myself but don't have a strong enough Irish link to justify it (and thought people would assume Che as in Che Guevara instead). Go with your gut but I really like that one

[Figuregettingbigger]

Well if nothing else, at least I now have a mental picture of a young Johnny Logan belting out What's Another Year..sooooo handsome...