Opinions on our boys shortlist please!!

I can't see that Sam or Joe (which are the logical shortenings of the names on your list) are any less 'cool' than Jack. Quite similar I would have thought. I like your names better overall, you have better taste, not to mention you're the one who's going to have to give birth! Stand your ground, OP.

I know it's hard but te y not to worry about choosing a name ahead of baby's birth. We had a list and after lots of indecision and the trialing of a name (just between husband and I) which didn't stick we finally named our wee boy on day 4. It wasn't on our list and husband had previously not been too keen on it. It just fitted and it's perfect for him.

I'm sure your husband will come round to understanding that you both need to love the name - and importantly both feel that it fits your son.

I agree with PPs who recommend a full name on birth certificate eg Alfred rather than Alfie. It's easy for an Alfred to be an Alfie when he wants to be but not the reverse. I also think that this will date less.

Like me, you seem to like biblical names - how about looking at slightly more unusual biblical names that may have a "cooler" nickname that your husband may like too.

I'm sure things will fall into place. I got so stressed about naming my boy. Now that I'm expecting no 2 I have more confidence in the right name becoming obvious once baby is born.

Your names are fantastic infinitely preferable.
What about Edward?
Just tell your husband - one persons cool is another persons twatty.

Theo and Raffety or Rafi are my favourites the others .... Especially Jack are common!

Also I agree with this.

If you want an Alfie give the child the dignity of Alfred to use in his future professional/adult life. Same with Jack - it's a nickname of John - and Archie, which is short for Archibald.

Except for Jack which I think is accepted by nearly everyone as a name in its own right.

I like Samuel on your list op, that's my favourite. Your dh's list is alright but all those names are so popular atm which puts me off a bit.

What about Arthur? It's similar in feel to Archie/Alfie but a but more solid?

Anything but Archie or Alfie. I can think of many words to describe them, but neither are 'cool', and they're far too overused.

Jack is the best on your list.

Theodore.

Lovely name :)

Any but Rafferty it's really not a good name for a boy it's wet weak and going to be like Ashley a little common. Alfred will give you more options than Alfie i.e. you could use Freddy or Fred , Archibald instead of Archie, Jack is popular but a solid boys name, Theodore is nice could be Theo or teddy/Ted.
What did YOU really like?

What names do you love OP?

I think you should both compromise so there should be names on the list that DH doesn't love too.

He doesn't get to decide which names won't be entertained by himself.

Theodore is fab, Archie OK, don't like the others. Jack is a respectable name (though I would be tempted to do John for the birth cert) but will date him.

eek, the only one I like is Jack and there are lots of them about. Rafferty sounds ridiculous to me and the others are pet names in my family so remind me of cats!

Theo. I wouldn't worry about a name being popular. All these people desperately seeking an original name are just buying into the current popular trend for 'unique' names. The anthropologist Kate Fox calls this trend 'eccentric sheep'.

all these names are on my shortlist apart from Rafferty. My personal fave is Teddy.

Love Theo. Also love Jack but there are a lot of Jacks about... Which may or may not bother you!

Jack is the best from your list.

Rafferty is my least favourite.

I'm not keen on shortened names such as Archie and Alfie, although schools are full of them so I'm obviously in the minority!

All nice bar the raffish/ clownish Rafferty but as pp says, I'd go with John, Theodore, Alfred, Arthur or Archibald. They are also all v popular at present in the UK.

Jack is the only one I like. I like Alfred but not Alfie.

Theodore.

If you want an Alfie give the child the dignity of Alfred to use in his future professional/adult life. Same with Jack - it's a nickname of John - and Archie, which is short for Archibald. They won't be infants forever and names that are cute on a three-year-old are a handicap to adults who want to project a bit of gravitas. "Judge Alfie" "Dr. Alfie" - "Dr. Rafi"

Rafferty sounds weird for a first name. "Rafferty, Rafferty, time to come home for dinner!" Can you really envision shouting that out? I suppose it depends on what surname it's juxtaposed with. Rafferty Smith or Rafferty Jones perhaps, if there really is no other alternative. Rafferty Pargeter or Rafferty Kowalski or Rafferty Maloney - just, no.

And I agree with a PP, Rafferty has a connotation with raffish and Raffles (the fictional thief or whatever he was) - just fyi.

Raphael if you want a Rafi or a Rafa or a Rafe.

I don't really love my son's names (well, I do like ds1's name, which is Theo). I think boys names are sooooo hard.

Just wait til he is here and see what suits him/sticks. We didn't name ds1 for five days, and ds2 for a week or so! (Big family and all the nice names had been taken).

They're all ok apart from Rafferty. That's a bit common.