classic but unusual boys names ... help

[whoseshoes]

Bump has been nn Horatio, but not sure about it as it's quite a mouthful with no sensible shortenings. However we are now struggling to come up with something similar as we

A - don't agree on anything
B - have a very common surname so are hoping to avoid anything in the top 10 at least

I like Arthur, Dorian, Edward - (we cant use this one), you get the idea

I really like Nimrod but everyone is a bit as am I, but I still like it!

Alternatives gratefully considered or any suggestions for nn/shortenings for Horatio

I was thinking Orlando, as have a few others! Would you use horatio as a middle name?

Horatio makes me cringe.
Emerson always makes me think of Miss Emerson.
There are lots of nice names in Gwennan's long list.

Raymond.

Miles? My mum had twin uncles- Horatio and Miles

Horatio is a great name. Do it.

Ambrose

Seeker, yes I had noticed that Stella's kitten is called Horatio. What I referred to was the nickname Ray, which imo is a great alternative to Harry as a shortening for Horatio.

Cato?

(I only know this name because DH is an Iris Murdoch fan!)

Nathaniel - means 'gift from god' and can be shortened to a cool Nat or Nate

Lots of great suggestions thanks.

I'm not sure if i like any of the shortenings for Horatio - except possibly Harry which is too common with our surname and also a bit of a stretch

Boys names are sooo much more difficult than girls!

Bluestocking I like John, but we already have a close relative called that!

Close family names are also Anthony, Albert, Barnaby, Daniel, Edward, Frederick, George,Hugh, James, Joseph, Peter, Rupert, Theo, etc.. obviusly we haven't considered all of these but it's quite difficult!

Edwin
Oswin
Redvers

Hi whoseshoes - I would have loved to call our DS John but DP vetoed it on the grounds that it was "too boring". I'm on a campaign to revive the name!
How about Geoffrey, Nicholas, Peter, Edmund, Christopher, Benedict, Frederick, Martin, Roderick?

Hi Naming, how do you pronounce Redvers? We went to Carisbrooke Castle in the summer, which belonged to the Redvers family, and the guide pronounced it Red-vair. Would you pronounce it like that?

Anselm

i love Horatio too though.

Hi Bluestocking, in my family it is pronounced as spelt - Red-vers

I don't think I'd shorten Horatio at all. It sounds great and isn't too long imo.

Orderic
Alaric
Wulfstan
Siward
Edwin
Morcar
Edmund
Edgar

I'll join Bluestocking's campaign to revive John!

Isn't Horatio pronounced Hor-ray-shee-o? Finding the T and Tio nicknames a bit odd to my ears.

Another vote for Lawrence nn Laurie. I love it but DP isn't keen

I'd say Hor-ay-sho. I think it is a great name - cool, classic, easy to say/spell and not overused (yet?). Go for it!

I've always liked Atticus - but it really depends on your surname. (Cos of the to kill a mockingbird character).

Love Horatio. Shortening is Horry, obviously!

Ambrose, Amos, Bartholomew (Tolly), Solomon.

I have 2 in your close family names list, and dh is also there. We are traditional kinda people!

Bump names have been Pugh, Barney and Cuthbert.