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Baby names

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Original poster

Boys names shortlist/ideas - second child

57 replies

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.

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Original poster
Flint2923 · 22/07/2026 23:41

@ScoobyG I do really like the full name too. I've mentioned it in another comment, but the drawback with it is that I have a relation on my side with that name - not close enough to be named after him, not distant enough for his name not to come up. I like Paddy as well as Patrick and thought it may help differentiate.

Cillian my DH is keen on but I just can't take to it. Seamus I would consider, but DH and I pronounce it differently. I'm saying it 'Shay-mus', is that right? DH seems to add more 'shhh' into it than I do and it all comes out sounding a bit Sean Connery. For various reasons, I can't see the others working for us.

OP posts:
beeble347 · 22/07/2026 23:55

OP Paddy is lovely (obv use Patrick as the full name). I've known two English raised Paddys in my lifetime, I don't think it's odd at all. People just assume Irish heritage which they both had

LovageSage · 23/07/2026 00:04

7238SM · 22/07/2026 21:30

I assume YOU are joking now, but if not, just google 'Paddy walks into a bar' jokes.

Show quote history

Surely people don’t tell those sort of jokes anymore?

LivingTheDreamish · 23/07/2026 02:33

Fergal? I like Fergus but I do get the Fungus issue.
Dermot (since you mentioned it upthread)?

Calliopespa · 23/07/2026 08:32

Flint2923 · 22/07/2026 22:56

@beeble347 Trying to avoid alliteration as DH not keen on it, surname begins with R - it's a shame as I find I'm drawn to R names.

@user1492757084 @Calliopespa DH has a brother called John so that wouldn't work for us. I don't mind Angus, I think we could justify using a Scottish name as we met in Scotland so have a connection to it. I just don't feel overly drawn to it.

@Stressymcstress maybe they'd get used to it, but I can see them stumbling or hesitating every time they go to say it. I do have a tendency to affectionately shorten names to one syllable nicknames, so Conal is just too close to Conor for me.

@Helenbelena I like Finn related names, but we have a friend called Finn, he's the only one we really know, so think we'd always associate the name with him, whatever the variation of the full name. I quite like Magnus but want to avoid another M name. Quentin not to my taste. Another suggestion for Leonard - interesting, I wonder if it's on the rise?

@7238SM Fergus is more my DH's choice, I'm not convinced. I try to keep our name ideas quiet with people we know, but he's mentioned it to a couple of people and not got very positive reactions. Never had any reference made to fungus though. I think Paddy is well-known enough not to associate it with a Paddy joke - I feel like those sort of jokes are a bit of a bygone era, but I could be wrong!

@Calliopespa I'm not familiar with Ivor the little engine, think it must have been before my time. I love the idea of Ive as a nickname with that one. DH associates it with Eastern Europe (which we have no connection to) but think he's getting mixed up with the name Ivan.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Paddy could be quite sweet. Just not sure how well it would work with an Irish surname and an English accent/setting.

Yes, Ivor is really old. We actually have it on dvd but it isn't well-known now.

Teakettletrio · 23/07/2026 18:54

The risk with Ivor is the old ‘Ivor Biggun’ type jokes.

But Ivor the Engine has made me think of Idris?

Feduptryingusernames · 23/07/2026 19:18

Patrick. My sons name, love it.

Wildefish · 23/07/2026 19:57

Not Ivor please.
love Patrick

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.

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · 23/07/2026 21:48

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

SpringingOn · 23/07/2026 21:57

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

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.

OP posts:
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 :)

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.

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

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.

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

Ladygodalmighty · 24/07/2026 08:35

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

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.

OP posts:
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 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!

OP posts:
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.

Italiangreyhound · 24/07/2026 16:31

Isaac is good.

Like Jonah and Keir too.

Anlabrador · 24/07/2026 17:31

I like Fergal