Here are some names we like, please suggest more!

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DC2 is due in a few weeks, and we have a girl's name, but are completely stuck on a boy's name! Some that we like but aren't sure about/can't use are:

Cameron (used by close relative recently)
Zachary/Zachariah (not sure about Zach as a nn, for some reason)
Jasper (no nice nn, we like big names with shortenings in this family)
Rafferty (DP thinks he will be beaten up at school)
Nathaniel (DP hates it)
Maximillian/Maxim etc (love max, don't like any of the long versions)

On the whole we like long names that can be shortened to a nn, but are acceptable in their own right. Don't mind being a little bit unusual, but nothing too terribly adventurous.

Help!

I'm with your DP on Raferty and Nathaniel.

How about Alexander (Alec, Alex, Sandy etc), or Benedict, Christopher (Chris or Kit), Theodore (Theo's quite nice as a nn IMHO), Joseph ... Nothing particularly unusual, but then working in school I see what happens to kids with weird names....

Abraham (Abe)
Bartholomew (Bart)
Ezekiel (Zeke)

Thaddeus / Tad
Bartholomew / Bartie
Matthias / Matt
Laurence - Laurie

Personally I love the name Rafferty, Alexander is lovely too! I used to really like the name Cameron until I found out the meaning ...crooked nose Not a fan of Jasper, Zachary or Nathaniel I'm afraid.

How about:

Benjamin - Ben
Christian - Chris, Kit
Damien
Harrison - Harry
Ignatius - Iggy
Leonardo - Leo
Montagu - Monty
Nicholas - Nick
Sebastian - Seb
Solomon - Sol
Sylvester - Sly
Wilfred - Wilf

I too like Max but not Maximilian! A few other versions of Max: Maxence, Maxim, Maximus, Maxley, Maxson, Maxston, Maxwell ..I think that's it

I love the nickname Cass for a boy, as suggested by lockets. How about Caspar, nn Cass?

Another variant of Max is Maxen/Macsen, which is Welsh and lovely. Personally I prefer Max on its own - it's one of those nicknames that's more dignified than its fuller forms. The only Maximilian I know is mortified by his name.

Patrick.

Well, if you and seeker are at it, TSC, I'm going to suggest the names of my sons - Joseph and Angus (Angus got Patrick as a middle name though!)

Casper -- nn Cass
Isaac -- nn Zach, maybe a negative.
Conrad -- nn Conn
Anthony/ Anton -- nn?
Samuel -- nn Sam
Daniel -- nn Dan/ Danny
Adam -- no nn jumps out at me here...
?

I think Max is nice on its own. I really like Solomon and Thaddeus too.

I think your DH is right about Rafferty and Nathaniel.

Also Josiah -- nn Joe

Leonard - Leo

Ross

He's just fab, thanks TSC. He's 5 weeks on Sunday and he's got chubby cheeks and lovely chubby legs. I could eat him. How old is your lovely boy, now?

We have a Maxx just that as hated longer options and a Zak again just that . Then a rafferty who is known as RAF never been bullied now 18! Good luck choosing and how weird that people like groups of names ie like one and like all the other choices!!

Cameron ..liked before DC got in
Zachary/Zachariah..like Zachary/Zac alot
Jasper ..OK
Rafferty....dislike
Nathaniel...dislike but like Nathan
Maximillian/Maxim ..dislike thos but like Max

Also how about

Matthew
Evan
Euan
Sean
Ryan
Lucas

Jeremiah (Jez)

Really? 6 months? No way!

I know what you mean! I'm going to have to forbid visits from grandparents, who will, if the last ones are anything to go by, are determined to get my children crawling or walking as soon as they can. I like the fact that there is a period where they stay where you put them and I'll actively encourage Angus' siblings to bring him everything he needs so he doesn't need to crawl .

I know what you mean about big heads - all mine (apart from this one) have had enormous heads.

Love all your name choices to be honest! And I know what you mean about long names you can turn into nicknames. Saying that, our girls' name is short but I can imagine lengthening it to make a nickname, IYSWIM.

Max is nice but I had 3 in my class!

What about:

Sebastian (Seb)
Alexander (Alex)
Frederick (Fred/Freddie)
Dominic (Dom/Nick)
Joseph (Joe/Joey)

We also liked long names with a few nn possibilities. Ones which were on our list were:-

Dominic
Laurence
Barnaby
Alexander
Fergus (which we finally went with. He is mostly Ferg, sometimes Fergie and occasionally Gus)

I was going to suggest Macsen! I think its a fabulous name and you can either nn to Max, or use the whole thing, far classier than any of the English alternatives.

Lots of good ones here - other names

Jeremy nn Jem
Christopher nn Kester, Christie or Kit
Theodore nn Theo (very popular now though I think)
Edward nn Eddie / Ted

Ooh, thanks for all the ideas! Off for a proper peruse....

OK, I am loving:

Josiah/Joseph, but DP says no as he doesn't like Jo/e as a shortening

Bartholomew - my absolute favourite so far, love Bart as a shortening. Generally love this. DP is unconvinced and is alarmed by Bart Simpson link. I said there were worse things to be named after than an iconic character of the 90s, even if he is yellow...

Alexander - def would have used this is v v close friend hadn't just used it

Harrison - quite like this, not sure if we're brave enough.

Had never heard of Macsen/Maxen - will sit and think on that one. Have welsh family/upbringing, so could probably pull it off.

More ideas v welcome!

And you're all definitely on the right track - DS's name has been mentioned more than once