DH's name choices are all very American sounding

[whatiminterestedin]

So we have a Zack and now we are having another little boy. Which trying to pick a name with my DH is driving me insane. He literally hates everything I like and he likes very American sounding names. This is maybe because he spent part of his childhood in America.

I'll give you some examples

Jessie/Jesse- He says its sounds like a cute boys name (he must have got this from the series Breaking Bad.(You know, the druggy) Great! I can only think of the saying 'Big Jessie' or it sounding girly.

Brandon-He thinks it sounds like a good looking chap who will get loads of girls when he is older..Agh again really American sounding

Austin -American

Reece- I just don't like it

The problem is Zack is spelt the American way ( only spelling DH would agree to).

I don't know, I need some inspiration- I want them to be able to have names where people are not going to pigeon hole them to a particular class and can work whether they want to be Dustmen or Lawyers.... I like names like Cameron (DH doesn't like names that sound like surnames) and has vetoed all the following too, Flynn, (thinks it sounds like ( Flyd), Archie, Oscar, George, Noah, Xander, Theo, Albie ..But again although I like these none jump out at me really, so I'm not putting a good case forward either.

We did toy with Jared-But again I just cant see me calling out for Jared. and still a bit too American . Maybe its me who is the awkward one..

We have picked a middle name -Evan but we both don't feel for us its strong enough as a first name

Names we cant use due to family etc
Oliver
Harrison
Riley
Ethan
Liam
Jacob
Ryan
Samuel
Joseph
Thomas
Max
Rory

Help. I'm 33 weeks now so need some new inspiration

I like Jared and love Zack!

We also considered:
Nathan
Leon
Theo
Leo
Aidan
Hayden
Caleb
Justin
Christian
Louis
Anthony
Drew
Marcus
Gabriel
Simon
Daniel
Joel

Austin is Irish not American, is it the fact that it is a surname type name that makes it feel that way?

What about:

Dylan
Jonah
Logan
Ciaran
Connor
Callum
Marcus
Miles/Milo
Aaron
Saul
Alister

Elliot

I really like Jesse and would have considered it for a boy. Never felt like an American name to me.

Reece soelled Rhys is Welsh

I dont like his other names.

Elliot as suggested.above is great!

Travis.....Tristan....Joel....Seth.....Lawrence

Damon?

I wouldn't use Jesse as I know one who is mercilessly teased for his girls name.
I know about Jesse James etc but the other kids don't know or care, to them he is the boy named Sue.

Amos? I know a Zack and Amos set of brothers.

Jake
Fynn
Josh/Joshua
Tommy
Luka

I think Joel is lovely and has a slight American slant ("billy Joel") but not too much so. I read an Californian lady's blog and she has 7 gorgeous sons, tanned and blond with names that would sound ridiculous and chavvy here but are just perfect for her all-American brood

What's the blog Sydenham? (Nosey!)

Lol I thought i might pique someone's interest. It's called resolved to worship ( it's written from a Christian perspective) but unfortunately she shut it down. I'm hoping she has a change of heart as it was a good read and she posted great pics

Hi what you said that your DH doesn't like names that sound like surnames - but Austin and Brandon sound like surnames to me

Jesse has 'big Jessie' connotations for me too, I'm afraid.

Some great suggestions on here - I especially love Callum, Joel and Leon.
Elliot and Travis are great too.

Arlo
Ellis
Guy
Rohan
Rufus
Stefan

your middle name choice (Evan) is an awesome name! maybe you should give it another try - it's a perfect fit with Zack, I can just hear you saying "my two boys, Zack and Ev"

Think it's a bourbon name in America so surely passes DH's Yankee test?

Jethro

Popular name for boys here in the US is Joshua, shortens to Josh which would suit your DH's preference for something American. Also Nathan is popular here, Nate for short.

Dustin?

I quite like Austin and Aiden. Please please consider Fergus. It doesn't go with our surname so I'm offering it up relentlessly to anyone else as I love it!

He doesn't like surnamey names, but he likes Brandon and Austin?

I know a 9 year old Jessie, the name really suits him. I also went out with a Jessie in high school, admiddedly American. I like it. I also love Jared....name of a boy on the tennis team I really fancied in high school, again American.

I really dislike Jared. Also Caleb.

Austin is a great name and not too American imo. I knew several Austins in Ireland as a child -- they were friends of my dad's so all aged 40 and over when I knew them back in the 70s. They were both from County Mayo coincidentally, and the DCs also knew a boy whose middle name was Austin whose family were from Mayo too..

Would you consider Brendan instead of Brandon? Brendan is more Irish. I know a lot of American Brendans nevertheless -- in fact many more American Brendans than Brandons.

Jesse is too 'Jesse James' (outlaw, murderer and possibly a Confederate who wouldn't accept the defeat of the South) and I would avoid it even as American names go.

I also think Evan would work with Zack. I know several American Evans.

I think the names your H has vetoed sound very British and by that I mean a bit wet to an American ear.

Would you go for a name like Kevin? It's very MC American. Pity you can't use Liam or Ryan.

How about Alex? Goes well with Zack and very popular in the US.

Second mathanxiety's suggestion of Brendan rather than Brandon. Former sounds solid, timeless etc and Brandon is.... 90210

Ps what about Saul. I like that and think it goes witjh Zack. I can imagine a new yorker called Saul. It doesnt sound American in that tylertaylorbrandon kind of way. Just i can imagine an american called saul! (He's a writer. Lives in a loft. He's had some work done. He hasnt had therapy himself. His parents are therapists)

Edward known as Teddy (like Roosevelt)
Howard
Corbin
Aubrey
Jaden
Lewis
Eric
Gabriel
Gregory
Christian

I like Austin! All the Austins I know are Irish or Scottish.

How about James? Can't go wrong with James.