Still stuck between two names and now two weeks old! Help!

[Sparklies]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my first thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1208667-8-days-old-and-at-this-rate-were-going-to-be-stuck-with-Nigel-Help

Baby boy is two weeks old now (took us three weeks to name DC1 so we're not doing so badly..) and we really have narrowed it down to two names - Raphael and Gabriel with possibly "Flynn" as a middle name. Not really considering any other first names at this point.

Raphael pros:

• Love the nicknames (Rafe/Raffi etc) and feel they suit him
• It's quite unusual
• Love the meaning ("God has healed") as it reflects the journey to get him

Raphael cons:

• Doesn't go so well with our existing children's names
• Might sound a bit "foreign" - baby boy is fair skinned and has red hair but I've heard people say they think of a Raphael as dark haired at the very least - often a bit Mediterranean in appearance.
• Does not go as well with "Flynn"

--

Gabriel pros:

• Love the long version
• Goes with our other children's names better as it sounds less "foreign" despite both of these names being almost identical in origin
• Goes better with "Flynn"

Gabriel cons:

• I really, really HATE "Gabe", and "Gabby" sounds too feminine - this is my big issue really
• It's a lot more common, especially in the US where we may move (#24 or something)
• Sounds more religious and we're not religious
• The name meaning doesn't mean a whole lot to me

This is so hard! Honestly, it was easier to decide whether or not to get an amnio than it was picking his name..

Any thoughts welcome!! We're pretty much stuck and need something to help tip us one way or the other without regrets.

I think Bethan, Catherine and Flynn sound great together.

Voting for Raphael.

We have a baby boy called Rafael. And we love the name. As you said you can play with the name so much. He is often called Raffy. Sometimes Raf, Rafiki etc. We had so many people saying to us what a lovely name it is.
I was not really thinking about nicknames before he was born but I think they are important. A lot of people call him by it and I would be quite upset if I didn't like it.
By the way he is blonde and has blue eyes and very English surname and it's all O.K.
I had that problem with girls names. I love the name Isabel but I was so worried people would call my baby girl Izzy. I really don't like that nickname. Or Natalie - Nat. Well it was a boy at the end!

I preffer Raphael but wouldn't use it with Flynn either. I don't like Gabriel much but I like the nickname Gabo.

Could you not have Flynn as the first name? Flynn Gabriel sounds ok.

sparklies really feel for you we had to pick between 2 very similar names for dd one which dh loved one i loved . in the end we chose a completely different name and use the nn for dh's choice as her pet name and used both of the other 2 as middle names .still feel sad that i did n't stick to my guns and go with the name i loved . a year on still not sure we made the right decision.
maybe part of the reason your struggling is deep down you really want to call him flynn.
personally i think bethan , catherine and flynn sound lovely together .
sorry no help or advice to offer other than putting both names in a hat and drawing one .
fwiw they are both great names as is flynn which i'm sure doesn't help .

I have a Flynn, it means 'son of the one with red hair'

If you hate Gabe then do not name him Gabriel as he WILL end being called it.

Out of interest, do you always call your Catherine by her full name? Just asking as I'm guessing Catherine is the name you feel is a bit similar sounding to Flynn?

You may regret not going with Flynn in the future if Catherine ends up being a Katie . Just a thought.

Gabriel.

Raphael is frilly.

Raphael. Better to be an artist than an angel.:)

I love both names - my shortlist had slight Polish spelling variance of Rafal (pronounced Raff-ow).

I used to know a Raphael who was Spanish, his nn was Fally (which I thought was really cute)

Prefer Raphael to Gabriel, but it doesn't go with Flynn.
Flynn as a first name sounds good with your other children's names, but not with either Raphael or Gabriel as a middle name.

I think Flynn goes best with your other two names!

I would go for Gabriel or Flynn - both lovely.

I'm not massively keen on Raphael anyway, but it doesn't go with your other children's names at all.