Re. 'Nicholas is too normal' - well, thing is that right now Nicholas isn't normal at all. Right out of fashion. And that's names for you - all names are 'normal' to different people (with maybe a few exceptions) - what makes then unusual or not is just fashion.
Choosing a name because you want to reflect the fact that you are different and unusual - be really careful. There was once a time (early 70s?) when hordes of parents were very pleased with themselves for happening on the different, exotic and unusual name of Sharon for their DDs. Now that name is seen as totally unfashionable and really 'of that era' - largely because it was unusual until then. Plenty of Rachaels and Kates from that decade who are now very pleased not to have been 'unusual' as babies!
I think you're falling into that trap, especially with Phoenix. Because it isn't a classic name, it is likely to date, and thus end up more stereotyped and seen as uncool because it smacks of the try-too-hard choice of 2009-2012.
Give an unusual name by all means, but make it classic, or one with a special meaning to you, eg from literature. Avoid names of celebrities, or classic names spelled differently. Look at baby name lists and you will see what unusual names seem to be creeping into fashion. Remember when Ruby and Alfie were utterly unusual? Lovely names, but now they reference this decade.
There are lots of names that will never be in fashion, but will also never be foolish -
Struan
Barnabas
Fergus
Maxim
Roman
Jared
Raphael (Rafe)