Really struggling with boys shortlist...please help!

[marmitecheesetoast]

I'm 36 weeks today and starting to panic about names a bit! We're totally sorted for a girl, have 2 names that both DH and I really love and we will pick one of them at the time if baby is a girl. If baby is a boy however, we're really stuck! We have a sort-of shortlist of names that we like, but we just don't 'love' any of them and don't feel sure enough about any. Our current sort-of list is:

Alfred
Alexander
William
James
Fraser
Angus
Alasdair


Alfred was DH's original choice and it's grown on me quite a lot, but I'm sure it would get shortened to Alfie which neither of us like. Al or Alf are nice nns but I'm pretty sure they would end up as yet another cutesy Alfie?

Alexander, William and James are the traditional, classic, timeless names we both like. But not sure if they are a bit... unimaginative? Quite popular at the moment?
I like William as we both have Williams in our family but not totally sold on it.
Alexander is probably our strongest contender at the moment, I like that it's a classic timeless name with good nn potential. I'm Scottish and like Sandy as a possible nn as well as Alex. But I know of quite a few baby Alexanders at the moment and wonder if we'd wish we'd chosen something else?

Fraser and Angus are the two Scottish boys names I've suggested that DH hasn't really objected to (I like Euan too but DH hates it). I'm pretty sure he won't be brave enough to go ahead with Angus though and I wonder if it's a bit much. Can't decide if I like Fraser enough.

I also like Alasdair/Alastiar (so many spellings...) but DH not sure.

DH also likes Arthur and Harry which I'm not keen on....

I have also floated Magnus but DH tells me this is the hormones talking and firmly vetoed it

If you've got to the end of this confused muddle then any opinions very welcome! Also open to suggestions... Thanks

[Snap8TheCat]

James is my favourite by a mile. Beautiful timeless classic and not at all boring.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

In order of preference for me:
Alexander
Fraser
James
William
Alistair
Angus
Alfred

I do think you're right in thinking about nicknames too. I love Alex, hence saying Alexander is my favourite. Xander is quite cool too, though not keen on Sandy. WIlliam will become Will / Billy possibly Liam I suppose... James will be Jim / Jimmy... Alistair / Ali... Angus / Gus... Alfred / Alfie / Alf / Fred...

Other suggestions:
Spencer
Murray
Cameron
Gregor
Marcus
Niall
Owen

[marmitecheesetoast]

Thanks guys. Butterfly I've also had Gregor and Murray on my list but they were vetoed!

[Loyly]

Angus is my favourite.

[Gummibears]

Magnus and Angus are lovely

[DramaAlpaca]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those names.

The only one I'm not keen on is Alfred because I don't like Alfie.

The most important thing is that you both love the name, if you do then its popularity won't matter. My DS has one of the names on your list and I've never regretted it - and have actually met relatively few of his age, given how supposedly popular it is.

[CakeRattleandRoll]

Love Alasdair. Gives you the Al nn, without the possibility of Alfie. Or nn Adair is cool.

I like Fraser, too.
Lewis
Harris
Lachlan
Ross
Rory
Robert
Andrew

[marmitecheesetoast]

This is what I said Cake! I guess you can also use the Al nn with Alexander too. Lewis is already a close family member so can't use that (which is a shame as I really like it) as are Robert and Andrew. We quite liked Harris too for a while but don't think it goes with an H surname.

[florascotianew]

OP, as you're Scotttish, I'm sure you know, Alasdair is the Gaelic version of Alexander. Perhaps that might help persuade your DH??

Another poster has said recently - on a different thread - that the correct spelling (following Gaelic rules) is Alasdair. 'Dair' as a nn is a possibilty, as well as Al, Sandy, Aly, and might appeal to a boy with a certain sort of character. I also know more than one Alasdair nicknamed 'Ala'.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Alasdair and Fraser are probably the more unusual names so he's less likely to be one of many. All your names are nice though so it's hard to pick a favourite.

Also to consider:
Crawford
Dougray
Logan

[marmitecheesetoast]

Thanks Flora Yes I had mentioned that to DH but think he still prefers Alexander. Dair is quite a cool additional nn possibility that I hadn't thought of though, and I hadn't thought about using Sandy with Alasdair either - will mention these tonight!

[Sophronia]

Lovely names! I really like Alfred

Suggestions...

Aaron
Arran
Andrew
Arthur
Benjamin
Christopher (nn Kit?)
Calum
David
Dominic
Fergus
Frederick
Henry
Hector
Innes
Jacob
Joseph
John
Jonathan
Lachlan
Matthew
Morgan
Miles
Nathaniel
Nicholas
Philip
Peter
Robert
Struan
Thomas
Wilfred

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

If you like Euan, how about Struan.
I like Fraser from your list.
Fraser William
Fraser Alexander

[1horatio]

Alfred: I really like the name but wouldn't recomend it if you dislike Alfie. You could try calling him Fred and see if it sticks? It's a bit of a gamble

Alexander: It's ok. Really popular...

William: Inoffensive

James: popular and ok.

Fraser: cute

Angus: My favourite on this list. Be brave!;) It's really lovely!!

Alasdair: I personally dislike this name

[marmitecheesetoast]

We had a bit more of a chat on names this morning and have decided we should probably drop Alfred from the list as we don't like Alfie.

DH has said he's never going to go for Angus or Alasdair so I think they are out...

So that currently leaves us with

Alexander
James
William
Fraser

Fraser is the only one on there that's a bit different, but neither of us can decide if we really like it enough. I just feel a bit meh about them all


Seeing as the only names we seem to be able to agree on are classic traditional names we are considering adding

Charles/Charlie
Richard

As possibly slightly less popular classic boys names?! But again, not really convinced by either Why are boys names so much harder?!!

[marmitecheesetoast]

Sophronia from your list we both like Frederick but I find it a bit difficult to say so that would probably be annoying! I also like Calum but DH doesn't, and we like Thomas and Nicholas but no more or less so than the other names we have on there...

Sugarpie I'm not a fan of Struan I'm afraid. Fraser Alexander does have a nice ring to it though...