Having a wobble on his name!

Imo you have chosen the right name - Samuel is a gorgeous classic name that suits all ages and won't date (has mostly stayed in the top 100 over the last 120 years - only leaving briefly in the 60's and 70's). Samuel is also currently on a downward curve in popularity, so there should be fewer about in a few years.

Arthur and Elliot are lovely names but much more trendy/ less timeless - statistically most Arthur's are either 60 plus or under 12, and most Elliot's under 30. Elliot will also get constantly misspelt - there are Elliot's and Elliott's in almost equal number.

I also personally think Samuel has the nicer nn potential - Sam/Sammy has a more friendly sound than Art/Artie or El/Lee do to me. Hope this is reassuring!

Sam isn't common at all or plain.
Elliot he would be having to spell out his whole life and jeez Arthur he will be one of 200 in school. You did right

Arthur is such a dreary sounding name. Elliot is nice but Samuel/Sam is great. I know no baby Sams and haven’t taught any for years so it feels fresh.

I think Samuel is a classy, timeless and gorgeous name!! You made the right decision IMO. Arthur and Elliott are also lovely names but becoming overly popular which would personally bother me.

I prefer Elliot.

Sam is a little dull. I know lots of female adult Sams (Samantha) and lots of little boy Sams (Samuel).

But go with YOUR gut feeling! Good luck.

I'm flying in the face of popular opinion.....Samuel is soooo boooooring. It's one of those names you just know people use because it's safe.

I love Elliot ......FFS it isn't difficult to spell. Elliot Arthur works well. As does Arthur Ellliot. (I may be biased about Arthur as it's my dog's name 😂) Both names are far superior to Samuel/Sam/Sammy (the last being the most nauseating)

I found it so stressful choosing a name for my daughter and on the day of registering her was still undecided between two. I also doubted my choice for a long time afterwards but now I really love her name and think it suits her. I don't know if changing the name is going to help- I think you just have to commit to one name and stick to it. It's really hard when you've just had a baby as emotions are absolutely everywhere (thanks hormones!) so it's hard to think straight at the best of times!

I like it

Samuel is classic. Elliot and Arthur will date.

Samuel is the best, then Elliot then Arthur. I would stick with it.

It's the right name. You asked MN for advice: the majority said Samuel. It works brilliantly with your other DC's names and it's lovely.
Congratulations

Oh no! It’s so hard 🤦🏼‍♀️ Especially naming a boy it seems, I’m having the same problem right now! Someone told me to narrow mine down to two then toss a coin and if you’re secretly gutted its not one of them you’ll know which one it should be! All three are lovely names. Arthur and Elliot were on my list. Samuel is lovely and I know a boy called Samuel. It’s good because he can be Sammy when he’s younger then Sam or go by Samuel at school. Elliot has always been one of my favourites but I think out the three I’d choose Arthur 🙈 maybe check how popular it is right now in your area to see if that puts you off any. If my sister hadn’t already used the name Arthur I think that would be my little boy’s name

Sam and Elliott are fine, Arthur is awful

I only know 2 Sams, both friends of my teenage sons. Sam 1 and Sam 2 are BOTH kind, smart, funny and fabulous boys.

You have made a great name choice

Sam is by far your best option, Elliott and Arthur are a bit weak.

Sam is the best of those I think. Arthur is popular and a wouldn't always be pronounced correctly. I don't like Elliot much. What made you change your mind last minute?

Samuel is lovely OP - as pp said, if you’re chopping and changing maybe it’s not about the names themselves?

Fwiw I really don’t like Arthur. There are zillions of them and in the SE it’s pronounced Aaa-fa. Bleurgh. Elliot/t is lovely (well, I know a gorgeous one) but trickier on spelling.

I have a Samuel, he's nearly 16 now 😍 he was sammy when little, now he's alway known as Sam, unless he's really oissed me off then he's Samuel!! 😂 😂 😂 It's a great name and he loves it

Samuel is a great name, so is Sam - and nowhere near as popular as it once was

I like Sam best. It sounds manly. Arthur will be shortened to Arth and Elliot sounds okay but not as good as Sam.

Samuel is a lovely name .
Arthur sounds awful to me because of the dreadful Shepherd family & their spoilt bratish children , the worst being Nellie !
Sorry too much lockdown tv !

You're having so many changes of heart that I suspect you'll always have second thoughts about the name, whichever it is.

It will stick, though, and you will not be able to imagine your boy being called anything else.

My DS got my second choice, and I think it suits him perfectly.

Samuel is fine, and a breath of fresh air compared to all the "unique" names that have become popular.

@becallo I like samual best!!! Sammy for a baby is so so cute!

Samuel is lovely, I would keep it.

Sam is really nice. My friend has a 6 year old Sam but apart from him, I’ve not met another for years. I do like Elliott too. There’s a definite ‘trend’ for old man names where I live and there are a lot of Arthurs. I think it’s the ‘Alfie’ equivalent of a few years ago.