In total meltdown over boys names, help!

[Crazycatlady]

Expecting DC2, we're sorted for girls names options but having a complete crisis over boys...

So far we have on the latest shortlist:
William (DH likes, I think it's too popular)
Hugo (mad scientist?)
Arthur (too Eastenders?)
Stanley (dustman?)

Or a combination of two of the above for first and middle names. Not 100% loving any of them yet.

We're looking for an old-fashioned but not too popular name that will sit well with a polish last name beginning with K, and will complement DD's name which is Beatrice Clementine.

Needs to be a good strong name in its own right and also have decent nickname potential. We live in London so unusual names not really a problem in school etc but I don't think I could go as far as Artemis for example.

What do you think of the names on our shortlist and can you suggest any similar?

Have browsed all the name threads for days and can't see much I like

That's my worry about Benedict too Rockbird. (Plus it's a bit too papal for my liking!)

Shame about Alexander - it's a brilliant name but 'Alex' is horrid IMO.

George is nice, but suffers the same popularity issues as William, and I think I prefer William.

Will my child hate me if I call him Stanley?

Going round in circles

Since I am liking all your name suggestions Crazycatlady, I'll thrown in DS1's name - Isaac - again we liked this as a "proper" name, traditional, good strong examples in history. Neither of us like Zac as a nickname, but he is often "Ikey" which no doubt he will reject as soon as he is bigger - but for now it works well (he's 3).

And I know a 3 year old Stanley, I think it's a great name.

Alexander is a brilliant name, please don't let Alex put you off. Xander and Lex are equally established NNs, if not as common as Alex.

Laurence is also great, no problem in combination with your DD's name as far as I can see.

I really like Stanley but IMHO it's an odd combo with Beatrice.

From reading Mumsnet and speaking to friends, Stanley seems to be a name you either love or hate - no middle ground!

I love Xander as a nn for Alexander.

My favourite boys name is James

I also like
Theodore
William
George
Harrison

my boy names were Alistair, Frederick, Eric. Of the ones mentioned on here I also like Gregory. Other ones I like are Richard, James, Jonathon.

I think I just spelled Jonathon wrong. Is it normally Jonathan. I can;t decide now, they both look wrong.

I think it's normally Jonathan, although I have seen it once or twice with an o.

Does Stanley really sound odd with Beatrice? Beatrice and Stanley, Stanley and Bea...? mmm... Beatrice and William, Billy and Bea...

I love Isaac, Tamasine. If our last name didn't begin with a K I'd be very tempted by it indeed. It's just too many hard c/k sounds.

Liking Laurence quite a lot this evening.

I've known a couple of child Stanleys, so have got used to the idea. My mum is keen for us to use it as a middle name as her father was Stanisław.
I think it sounds fine with Beatrice.

I would agree that Billy is not at all common - Williams tend to be called by their whole name.

Benedict is lovely I think - and can be shortened to Ned, which is a winning combination for me, but DH doesn't like it so you may have it ! :)
The only thing is that Beatrice and Benedick were a couple in Much Ado About Nothing.

I have a Rufus chosen because it old,English and not that common. Gets called Rufie and Ru

Maybe too "s ey " with your DD's name? Cheap to put on to name tags and stuff though!

DH and I have been perusing all the messages and decided we like Laurence Benedict. Laurence and Beatrice ahhhhh.

ooo just thought ah actually no....scrub that wont go with Beatrice. But will mention it anyway Rory.

Robin?

Laurence Benedict is brilliant.

Love Atticus and Ellis too. I want a boy now! DD1 would have been Laurence Asher but actually I now want a ds called Laurence Atticus! :)

Laurence Benedict is brilliant!

I thought Laurence is the feminine form of Laurent? I know a lovely French Laurence in her 30s.

Yes, in French

Laurent = male
Laurence = female

Like Florent/Florence.

I can't give a boy a girl's name can I

Are you French?

In England, Laurence has been a boys' name for donkeys years.

Huey instead of Hugo?

Phew, you're right BG, just double checked in the Penguin Book of First Names.