Boys: help!! Bruce, Eugene, Leonard, Lawrence, Otis, Patrick, Abraham, Reginald, Peter, Donald

[Leapoffaith]

38 weeks and still struggling for a boy's name, having known our girls' choice from about 14 weeks...

This is our list, I like them all, but I'm not in love with any of them...
Bruce
Eugene (on bc, but may shorten Gene)
Leonard (Lenny)
Lawrence (Laurie/Lol)
Otis
Patrick (Patch)
Abraham (Bram)
Reginald (Reg)
Francis (Frank)
Peter
Donald (Donnie)

I don't think my criteria are too demanding...

1. Classic but not too popular (I know it's virtually impossible to tell what will be popular...)

2. Prefer something with a few nickname options so that DS can shorten as he wishes later.

3. I'd also hoped to find one that wouldn't indicate a particular class/background, but think I might have to ditch that criteria.

Comments and suggestions welcome - please

Patrick is a fantastic name, but not keen on any of the others. Not too popular either. My eldest son is a Patrick, he is 10 years old and we have never come across another of a similar or younger age.

Patrick would be my choice. Unfortunately none of the names really jump out at me

Peter or Patrick. Not sure about the Patch nickname though

Thanks, Patrick looking popular then, that's the only one on the list I haven't run by DH yet!

I know an Otis (aged 9), a Patrick (8) and a Francis (4).
I like Otis but the others leave me a bit cold. Including 'Patch' which sounds a bit kind of Boden to me. Sorry.

Reginald (Reggie?)

Gene or otis.

I love Patrick too

No worries, nearlytoolate, you don't have to be polite! Is it because you don't like those particular children, or just the names?

Peter or Francis

or Patrick

I too am stuck for Boys names.
I love Patrick but tis my brother's name - he is Patch from family ONLY. Everyone else calLs him Paddy. (we're not irish btw)

Well 2 of those names are my DS's names so in addition to having excellent taste, you are both classic without being dull and trend-setting rather than following.

I like Patrick, Peter, Lenny / Leonard. I love the name Laurence but sadly blighted forever for me by a twattish former colleague of that name.

Otis Redding is my hero but I think Otis is tough to pull off.

Tondelayo

And do your sons like their names? No raised eyebrows when you announced them? I'm assuming, possibly incorrectly that they're called Patrick/Peter/Lenny?

Olivia, we're not Irish either (well great-grandparents on both sides, so not too tenuous, but not proper Irish).

Not sure that really bothers me. We've got Bruce and Donald on there too, and we're not Scottish either

Sorry for confusion OP. I have one DS with two of those names. Not Peter, Patrick or Lenny.

It's an unusual enough name (40 odd little boys in UK called it year he was born) to make me paranoid about privacy / identification so I will send a message to you.

Lots of Patricks in Germany (and Ireland & USA of course)

also know two quite posh older generation English Patricks too.

My second choice would be Francis but I don't particularly like Frank as a nickname.

Good luck with your decision!

My favourites from your list are Bruce and Leonard (Lenny). Both Classic.

Peter. Fab.

2nd choie Patrick

Ta Lynette, I'm leaning towards Bruce /Gene at the mo, but I sway daily!

oh OTIS I just love it wanted to so much for a boy but dh said no

Really like Bruce and Leonard.

Not keen on the others.

I'd choose Patrick, Peter or Laurence from that list (Laurie is a great nn)

Prefer Paddy to Patch, but think Patch is sweet for a young child.

From your list, I'd go for Laurence, Patrick or Francis.

Have you considered Nicholas? It fits all your criteria (IMO), and is a lovely name. I may be biased though, I have one myself :)

1st choice Patrick
2nd choice Francis

I LOVE the name bruce. unfortunately we have a very close friend called Bruce so that's out. Boys names are so hard!! Go for Bruce (middle name Patrick) and good luck with the birth!