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Baby names

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Original poster

Challenge - what's our middle ground?!

47 replies

Timemysticaltime · 14/12/2023 23:38

Hi fellow namenerds, I have a challenge for you.

My husband and I are expecting a boy next month and are poles apart in taste. Wondering if you can suggest names that would fit in between us both?

My husband likes I'd say slightly harsher sounding Americany names and surname names: Everett, Edison, Emmett, Lincoln.

I prefer softer names, often biblical, sometimes with Irish/Welsh/Scottish roots: Jude, Isaac, Asher, Felix, Finn, Jonah, Cassian.

We have a shortlist of 5 that we both kind of like, 1 I would say from each of our own styles and 3 that fall somewhere in between. I won't say what these are so as not to sway answers but will reply if you mention any.

So please help! What names would you say meet in between these two different styles? Bonus if they are in that sought after sweet spot of unusual but not too weird.

Some names we both do love but can't use for various reasons: Zachary, Sebastian, Noah and Robin.

Thank you for any ideas!!

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user1492757084 · 20/12/2023 04:36

Flynn is great name for a generous man with vision - Think, Flynn of the inland who started the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Isaac
Elijah
Rohan
Rowan
And I like all from your new list.

Vittoriosa · 19/12/2023 19:18

From your list I like Rowan and Flynn

ltappleby · 16/12/2023 22:32

I would go for Rowan, it has the same feel as Dylan to me

Seamist22 · 16/12/2023 22:16

Ewan, Elijah, Dominic, Joseph, Rowan, Sullivan, Archer, Flynn.

I really like Joseph and Ewan - my favourites from your list.

Elijah (Eli), Dominic (Dom), Rowan and Flynn are all great too

Sullivan and Archer are not to my taste

magicravioli · 16/12/2023 21:33

What about Blake?

FleasAndKeef · 16/12/2023 21:06

Tobias

NonSequentialRhubarb · 16/12/2023 21:04

I'd lean into the "names that are also surnames but completely sounding first names by themselves" vibe.

I have a son with a name which is also a surname, but not a common one. If you'd asked me casually I'd have said I hated that trend, and I didn't even realise my son's name fit it until he was nearly 2.

Cameron
Owen
Ross
Bradley
Russell
Connor
Dennis
Fraser
Grant
Spencer
Mitchell

Aquamarine1029 · 16/12/2023 20:51

Jameson nn Jamie

dressedforcomfort · 16/12/2023 20:48

Logan
Lachlan
Duncan
Cameron
Fraser
Fergus

Pinkpinkpink15 · 16/12/2023 20:07

How about names that appeal if one uses the full name and the other a shortening?

examples more than suggestions!

Harrison/Harry
Jackson /Jack
Nathaniel/Nate

please post when you've decided. I don't usually bother too much, but you have me intrigued at what you can agree on & both love!

Whataretheodds · 16/12/2023 19:48

Surnames as male first names is a good Scottish tradition so you could lean into that: Finlay, Cameron, Blair, Ross, Lewis, Campbell, Lennox, Harris, Hamilton,

Or the biblical: Joel, Jonathan, Jonah, Joshua, Asher, Ezra, Benjamin etc

WombatBombat · 16/12/2023 19:45

We have a Lachlan and Flynn & Rohan (prefer this spelling) are on our list for DS2.

I also like Stellan, Jago, Callan, Conan and Conrad.

Something with an -n sound at the end is your best bet, comparing your lists.

herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 16/12/2023 19:41

Dylan
Ewan
Flynn
Joseph

All beautiful classy names for boys

Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:48

NotFastButFurious · 15/12/2023 13:37

@Timemysticaltime do you mean Harris would be perfect?
If so then maybe:
Brodie
Struan
Blair
Duncan
Cameron
Ross
Douglas
Gregor
Laurence
Murray
Ramsay

Oh no sorry I forgot to quote the right post, the name that's being brought up a lot is Dylan!

OP posts:
Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:46

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I like and will suggest to DH: Caleb, Rory, Barnaby, Franklin, Ivo, Ellis, Chester, Corey, Dexter, Harvey, Huxley, Cameron, Ozzy. There are soooo many names here as well that I absolutely love but he has vetoed.

Lots from our longlist and shortlist have been suggested too so that's encouraging for me that maybe we have found a sweet spot haha - Ewan, Elijah, Dominic, Joseph, Rowan, Sullivan, Archer, Flynn. Any favourites from these?

OP posts:
NotFastButFurious · 15/12/2023 13:37

@Timemysticaltime do you mean Harris would be perfect?
If so then maybe:
Brodie
Struan
Blair
Duncan
Cameron
Ross
Douglas
Gregor
Laurence
Murray
Ramsay

Ineedanewsofa · 15/12/2023 13:32

Arthur
Nathaniel (Nate)
Seth
Theo
Jesse

user1492757084 · 15/12/2023 13:31

Do you like ..
Rupert
Crispin
Edward
Thomas
Elliot
Adam

Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:28

This seems to be the most suggested name here and it is a perfect suggestion and I love it but we absolutely cannot use it as it is my husband's name!! Typical 🤣

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EstherE · 15/12/2023 13:27

Though also Harris?

EstherE · 15/12/2023 13:27

Hamish*

EstherE · 15/12/2023 13:27

Cameron fits for me. Lachlan, Hamis, James, Gregor?

Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:26

DelphiniumBlue · 15/12/2023 10:55

Do you know why he likes surnames as first names? What impression does it convey to him?
Personally, I really don’t like them, to me they say brash and loud and try-hard. But to him, those names convey something different , and if you discuss and agree on what it is that you want the name to say about your son, you might find it easier to pick one together.

Yes I know surnames as firsts aren't popular on here from my browsing! I really like this train of thought though. I have asked him about certain names before and why he likes them and he has said that, for example, Everett to him sounds like he would grow into a respectful and kind young man so I suppose it's more of a vibe from each individual name that he's getting?

I will ask him about this in a bit more detail and it's probably worth considering why I like the names I like too and what it is about them that draws me. I think it's probably softer vowel sounds make me think of a kind and sweet boy though that's a bit silly as the sound of your name has no bearing on your personality! Interesting to ponder though isn't it!

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Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:20

PlipPlopChoo · 15/12/2023 06:25

Everude
Edisac
Emmeash
Lincolix

Haha very funny 🤣 I did think these were a bit odd until the penny dropped!

OP posts:
Original poster
Timemysticaltime · 15/12/2023 13:18

addler · 15/12/2023 04:31

No name ideas, but we really struggled with boys names and when DS was born and was in fact a boy we looked at our shortlist and chose three. Then we took the first night and each ranked them privately, then the next day compared rankings and although we had different number 1s our number 2 choices were the same, so that's what DS was called.

Now I can't imagine him being anything else, and even though his name was never top of either of our lists at any point during pregnancy it seems perfect for him.

That's really helpful advice, thank you! I think I'm being held back by the fact that our compromises do feel like compromises and I want to love the name we choose but I just can't see it happening at this point so it's really good to hear that you were both happy with the name you chose even though it wasn't a favourite.

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