Ariel and Seraphina...too pretentious?

[Climbthewall]

Ariel has been my favourite boys name for years, pronounced A-ree-al. But now it comes down to it i'm worried its too different. Same with Seraphina (Sera for short). I really want my child to have a different, (but not rediculous) name.

My other ideas are:

Girls:
Astrid

Boys:
Benedict
Saul
Max
Cassius (though the meaning of this name put me off a lot)

Please give your opinions and offer alternatives

Yes, sorry. And I would have thought that with Ariel the mermaid being so well known that it would not be a good choice for a boy's name.

Astrid is lovely, classic but not boring.

Love Benedict.

I think of Ariel as a boys name (and Shakesperean), but if it's been Disneyed it might be difficult to live with.

Max is used pretty frequently (two or three in every year at DC's primary), I'm not keen on Saul, but like Cassius and think Benedict is great (but you will get the nn Ben, and together with Benjamins it means it won't seem different).

I think Seraphina is a lovely name and wouldn't hesitate about it. I don't think Astrid is a patch on it.

Some people might say Ariel is Disney. I still like it. I like Belle too. But not Genevieve.

Seraphina will just be Sara so your efforts to be a bit unusual may result in a child called Sara....?

I don't like Astrid much. Ariel is nicer.

Your boys names are nice and Saul is my favourite. A beautiful underused name.

Saul used to be towards the top of my list, but i got a lot of bad responses so i considered bumping to middle name status. Also, valiumwitch, I ment Ariel for a boys name, not girl

If you call your dd Seraphina and shorten it to Sera, she will fit right in in Glesga...

In short, Yes (in answer to your actual question)

Yes

Love Astrid, but Seraphina is a bit poncey IMO. Ariel is a bit 'trying too hard'. Love Max but over-used, sorry don't really like any of your other boys names. So Astrid it is!

Love Ariel for a boy (Lots of male Ariels, e.g. Ariel Sharon etc). Simple, classic and easy to pronounce/spell. The mermaid will be forgotten in a few years time, if not already.

Seraphina is beautiful - feminine, elegant and it works in many languages. Lots of nickname potentials imo.

Astrid sounds very harsh and masculine to my ears, sorry. Also, the nickname As/Assi would't be great.