Sorry for long post - bottom line is which do you prefer: Aidan, Ashton or Ryan - feel free to skip the rest of my rambling post and just vote!
We've been going around in circles for MONTHS now... please help!
I tend to like traditional names - easily recognisable as a girl's or boy's name and not too troublesome to spell (give or take minor variations) or pronounce. It is important to me not to have overly-popular names - we managed a name for DD which is not even in the top 100.
I've liked Aidan for some time, I like the meaning and I'm Irish so lovely to have a name of Irish origin, a good solid been-around-for-centuries name. Ranked 91 in 2010 but if combined with Aiden would be around 45th and if Hayden added would be around 28th. I think it's been quite popular over the last 10 years. (Aidan spells Nadia backwards but I think i shouldn't worry too much about that). Not sure I like the nn's Aide or Dan/Danny.
Then we hit on Ashton which DH and I really loved until recently, now we are starting to question it. We are wondering whether... no offense here.... is it a bit chavvy / trying too hard, or will date easily, or is a bit career-limiting (says 'working in Tesco' rather than 'goes to university', and although (currently) a cool name is it not quite friendly / cuddly enough for my little boy? I want a name that is stong and manly for an adult but that is also friendly and nice, IYKWIM? It's in the top 100 but I think around 77th in 2010, in the 400's in 2000 so becoming more popular. Could be shortened to Ash to make it more friendly, but that almost seems a bit of a non-name, it that makes any sense?
Ryan is next on our list but seems a bit too popular? 30th in 2010 but around 15th in 2000. Also reminds me a little of Ryanair.
Oh dear. Can you tell that we've been over-thinking this for that last 6 months?
DD's name is Sylvia, so the name has to sound ok with hers.
So... what do YOU like? (apologies again for the unnecessarily long post)