Boys names shortlist/ideas - second child

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TheeNotoriousPIG · 01/08/2026 17:24

I like Ivor and Patrick.

Lulutortoiseshell · 01/08/2026 17:16

How about Donal, I think it sounds well with Marla x

Tryagain26 · 27/07/2026 16:47

Flint2923 · 22/07/2026 00:19

@Sparklinggreen Vincent is my FiL's name - I like middle names to honour a family member, but don't really agree with using family names as first names as I'd like the child to form his or her own identity with their own individual name. Sebastian isn't my cup of tea, too posh sounding to my ear.

@Floppyearedlab I never said they needed to match, just that they go together or at least aren't starkly different. For example, having Marla alongside Elizabeth or Victoria just wouldn't sit right with me as the latter are more formal and give me a totally different vibe. Interested to know why you feel friends can choose diminutives but not family?

@Stressymcstress there are, but we live in England and I suspect they'd probably spend their life (or at least the first few years, depending where they end up) having to clarify the pronunciation and spelling to everyone. Including to my family who would likely struggle. That said, I would seriously consider Darragh but my nephew has it as a middle name and I think it's too similar in sound to Marla. I like Fionn too but the only one I know of is female and not sure how I feel about unisex names. We have associations with Connor too so that would rule out Conal for us which, again, is a shame. We do have Clodagh on our girls shortlist, but in my heart of hearts I don't think it would quite work.

Very interesting as I think Maria has the same vibe as Elizabeth and Victoria. They are all old classic names
It illustrates that we all view things differently.

I wouldn't worry about an Irish name and surname with an English accent. My grandchildren have obvious french first names with a French surnames but they live in the UK and have English accents. It hasn't been a problem.

Italiangreyhound · 27/07/2026 16:32

"Jonah and Isaac definitely give me similar vibes."

Is you like biblical boys names here are a few of my favourites

Ezra, Elijah, Thaddeus, Benjamin abd Joshua.

Original poster

Flint2923 · 27/07/2026 08:22

I've been asking my DD to repeat names to see how well she can say them (she's 2) so that's been quite fun/interesting. Best result so far is Paddy! As much as some people have tried to put me off Paddy I'll keep it in the mix, as I would go full name Patrick and then when he's older he can decide himself if he doesn't like us calling him Paddy.

Thanks to everyone who responded. We'll probably stick with our shortlist for now but considering swapping Ivor for Ivo and I think it's helped narrow down the front runners. We'll wait for the baby to arrive, find out if it's actually a boy or a girl, and then see what feels like a natural fit.

OP posts:

Original poster

Flint2923 · 27/07/2026 08:14

@Italiangreyhound yes I really like Jonah too, the problem we have with that one is there is already a child named that in the wider family on my DH's side (one of the only boys amongst a sea of girls so using the same name would likely stand out more). Jonah and Isaac definitely give me similar vibes.

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theonlywayback · 24/07/2026 17:53

Patrick yes but paddy no
Isaac maybe
don’t like any of the others

Anlabrador · 24/07/2026 17:31

I like Fergal

Italiangreyhound · 24/07/2026 16:31

Isaac is good.

Like Jonah and Keir too.

SpringingOn · 24/07/2026 16:27

I don't think of any associations with Ivo - that is partly why I like it. Ivor will always be the little engone for me.

SpringingOn · 24/07/2026 16:27

I don't think of any associations with Ivo - that is partly why I like it. Ivor will always be the little engone for me.

Original poster

Flint2923 · 24/07/2026 11:51

@Wildefish well yes, we will be choosing a name we like, but we don't just like one and I'm trying to narrow it down/explore other options, hence the post. But I do agree that people we know will have to like it or lump it once we've decided on one!

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Wildefish · 24/07/2026 10:13

Just choose a name you like. Not everyone is going to like every name. I didn’t like my granddaughters name when I first heard it, now I love it.

Original poster

Flint2923 · 24/07/2026 08:59

@SpringingOn curious to know if the name Ivo has any particular connotations for you?

@RingInTheNew I do know what you mean, it feels like there's more range of boys names we could go for - I think that's why we have a girls name in mind, the choice has been narrowed down, but struggling more with boys. That said, some boys names I like are now ruled out because the sound is too similar to Marla and would end up being a bit of a tongue twister. Also, there are certain ones that give me a completely different vibe, like Jayden for example - I just don't think they go.

@mathanxiety I've not really made the association with Ivor sounding like 'I've a' - I say it more like I-vuh, but I do see what you mean. What do you think of Ivo?
Not sure I get your point on going for an Irish first name because they'll have an Irish surname. We won't be living in Ireland. Besides, my DH's family are Irish Catholic but none of them have particularly Irish names, they've all got names which are well used in Britain also.
Interesting you mention Fergal and Dermot are uncool, but Eamon is not? I'd put that in the same category as those other two, but I guess I've got a different cultural view of those names.
So many people suggesting Vincent - it seems to be the in name! I'll have to tell my FiL when I next see him, I think he'll be quite bemused.

@Ladygodalmighty two of the full name suggestions are names of close family members, but they go by slightly different diminutives.

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Ladygodalmighty · 24/07/2026 08:35

Terence (Terry)
Gabriel (Gabe)
Nathaniel (Nat)

mathanxiety · 24/07/2026 03:39

Your husband is 100% correct wrt Fergal. It is deeply uncool.

Dermot is really uncool too.

Flynn is a Disney name thanks to (iirc) Rapunzel.

Suggestions:
Finn
Fintan
Cormac
Austin
Eamon
Barra
Vincent
Van

mathanxiety · 24/07/2026 03:32

Flint2923 · 21/07/2026 20:54

@Mumofgirls2017 I've always liked Ivo since hearing it on Child of Our Time years back. What slightly puts me off is I wonder if it has posh connotations? Might have got that idea because of Ivo Graham, not quite sure. Also I like the r ending of Ivor as think it flows well with the surname and also matches my DH whose name also ends in r.

If it was solely my choice I think Ivor would win hands down, but DH really isn't sold on it (left it on that list in the hope it may be a grower). Perhaps Ivo could be a compromise for us.

Stanley - have a family friend with one
Flynn - not keen on names I mainly associate as surnames as first names
Leonard - my sister really likes Lenny but I'm not sure on it
Jude - like but too popular for my taste
Vincent - FiL's name
Jasper, Orson, Silas, Torin - sorry, they just don't endear themselves to me for some reason

I don't think Ivor would go well with a surname beginning with R. It would end up sounding like I've-a Rsurname.

I can't help thinking that the names on your list all sound a bit too British for an Irish surname, with the exceptions of Fergus and Patrick.

LovageSage · 24/07/2026 01:07

RingInTheNew · 23/07/2026 22:54

I would have thought any boy’s name that doesn’t start with M would go with Marla? I mean you could go for pretty much any Irish boy’s name but also names like Jack, Edward, Oscar, Otto, Hamish, anything really would work. Marla has the feminine ‘a’ ending and you don’t get boys’ names ending with ‘a’, so that’s already the point of differentiation.

There are a fair few Irish boys names ending with an a though…Dara, Éanna/Enda, Fiachra, Iarla, for example.

Also some popular names from other cultures end with an a, eg Joshua, Luca

RingInTheNew · 23/07/2026 22:54

I would have thought any boy’s name that doesn’t start with M would go with Marla? I mean you could go for pretty much any Irish boy’s name but also names like Jack, Edward, Oscar, Otto, Hamish, anything really would work. Marla has the feminine ‘a’ ending and you don’t get boys’ names ending with ‘a’, so that’s already the point of differentiation.

Am99 · 23/07/2026 22:00

Flint2923 · 21/07/2026 16:30

Expecting my second child later in the year. Don't know the sex, but if we have a girl I think I know what we'll end up going for. Boys names, however, we find a lot tougher.

We have a DD called Marla and it is important to me to have a sibling name that goes with it - at the very least, not something that is starkly different. Surname is Irish, begins with R, three syllables. I get quite fixated on the flow of first name and surname - I like it to be memorable (although trying to avoid alliteration as DH feels it's 'too much'). DH is Irish but we live in England.

Our shortlist currently:
Sidney
Patrick, known as Paddy
Ivor
Fergus
Issac

None are perfect for various reasons, but interested to hear people's thoughts on them. I feel like we've gone through every possible name in existence, and ruled most out, but interested to hear other suggestions too.

I like Patrick and Fergus :)

Original poster

Flint2923 · 23/07/2026 21:59

@beeble347 thank you for the reassurance. I think I'd feel more confident in the choice if the surname wasn't obviously Irish as well - I just worry it's too in-your-face Irish for someone who is not going to sound at all Irish! If we were living in Ireland I think it would be a no brainer for both of us, but we're not living there, so I think we'll just need to see if it feels a natural fit once the baby arrives (if it's a boy!)

@LivingTheDreamish I do prefer Fergal to Fergus and would be more inclined to go for it, but DH says it's considered an uncool name back home. Not sure if that's accurate or he just knew someone at school with it who was dorky and he can't get passed the association. Dermot is ok, but I can't get too excited by it.

@Teakettletrio I hadn't made the Ivor 'I've a' connection. DH isn't keen on it because it reminds him of the word 'either.' Idris I like as a name on it's own, but I think everyone would immediately think of Idris Elba.

@Wildefish @Sheepsmellnice why is Ivor in particular a bad choice? I'm curious.
In terms of it 'going' with my first child's name, it would just really irk me if I they had two names with totally different vibes. Difficult to put into words, but I would find it innately irritating. I know they will both grow up to be their own individuals, but for a long period we'll (hopefully) be a family unit and our names will be said all together.

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SpringingOn · 23/07/2026 21:57

I like Patrick and Isaac.
I don't like the others. Love Ivo or Idris.

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · 23/07/2026 21:48

Isaac is lovely but please spell it conventionally - one s two a s

Sheepsmellnice · 23/07/2026 20:41

Not Sidney or Ivor.
The others are nice. Why does it have to go with your first child's name ?
I can never understand that he should have a nice name in his own right regardless of what your other child is called.

Wildefish · 23/07/2026 19:57

Not Ivor please.
love Patrick