Long sorry - struggling with boys name and cultural references

[ilovetosleep]

Hi, I have namechanged for this as I am convinced I will out myself.

Just found out we are having a second boy which I am struggling with as we had one, perfect girls name and it seems to be impossible to feel the same about any boys names!

We have some criteria...

DS1 is named a popular, relatively common Arabic name S--I. He is 1/4 Middle eastern, Arab (christian) and is baptised. (Also that side of the family is fairly present in our lives) I love his name but I am beginning to regret having chosen an arabic, family name as a) people expect another to follow suit and b) I feel we can't choose a name from another culture/religion as it would seem so irrelevant next to DS1. But I can't find another Arabic name I love.
The only one that really grabs me is Isa, but that would be ridiculous given that it means Jesus in Islam and our child will be christened.

Here are the names I love (and reasons why I feel uncomfortable using them). I really don't want to offend anyone but I have to be honest:

Otis - I love it, but not sure DH loves it enough. It doesn't seem to suit a tiny baby. DH wants something that can be shortened, could Otto be a nn here? I think Otto in itself is a little germanic although they stem from the same origin.

Asa - I LOVE this - but we think it might be too Hebrew? I know this sounds weird given that so many common names are OT but with our family expectations/opinions there are names that can be considered 'too jewish', awful as that sounds. I don't really know if this name does fit into that bracket, I kind of assume it is only widely used among Orthodox but I might be v wrong.

Rafa/Rafael - Too Spanish! (or Italian with other spelling). I really like it despite it becoming pretty popular, but like I explained before it seems odd to introduce another nationality into the mix which we have no link to.

Pablo - As above! Although this is current fave.

Diego - No idea why I am so drawn to spanish names! as above...
Rudy - I think two boys ending in 'ee' is a bit much.

Ted/Theodore - too popular. Was forerunner til last week when an aquaintance named their baby Ted.

Argh. Am stumped. I really love Asa. Ace would be so cool. Please help! I have been through every name book and website, i really don't think I can find anymore names.

Oh and also, my girls name is Etta FYI. I am hoping for a girl in the future so I can use this name, so anything I pick must go with this and obv DS1 name.

Thanks in advance

Asa is fab!

I knew a white Christian Acer (same pronunciation). He was truly admirable. I like either spelling.

Ali, or something that abreviates to Ali like Alistair?
Omar?

Asa really is good, isn't it.

Thanks for the suggestions but I really don't like Ali or Omar. I think I'm going to have to pick from that less than perfect short list as I have read every name list under the sun.

Is there anyone out there with christian Arab background, how do you view the name Asa?

I should have said in my oP, family names are not all arabic and it is very normal to use European names, mostly of French origin. This is actually more common in later generations than arabic names.
I just feel that Spanish is a bit tenuous!

Otis is my fave from your list.
Other names I like are Elias, fabrice &Alphonse.
You will never please everyone, so pick the one YOU love the most. Others will learn to live with it I'm sure.

I love Asa!! Go for it!

My Arab Christian friend is Joseph, but I think his dad calls him Yusuf.

Yep, Asa is lovely!

Asa is lovely. I had DD2 yesterday burning she's been a boy, she was going to be Xavier or Otis so Otis gets a thumbs up from me.

*but if, not burning

like Asa a lot and it would go nicely with S.....I
fwiw Raphael could also be thought of as 'too Jewish' or indeed 'Theodore'

Emile?

Isa means Jesus in Arabic, not 'in Islam' so it would be a lovely name for a not who was baptized if you wanted to use it.

Love Otis!

You love Asa, use Asa.

Seriously, all these issues seem important now, but in a decade's time when they're just the names of your boys, NO-ONE will be thinking of these things, or wondering whether they go together - they just WILL, because they'll be your sons. S__i and Asa. Fab.

Don't think about it. Just go with Asa.

THanks for all the pro-Asa posts. I am coming around but still a bit anxious about it.

Sorrypottering yes you're right re Isa, bad explanation, I just meant to convey that it is a name used for Jesus by arabic muslims/in the Qur'an - arab speaking Christians apparantly refer to Jesus as Yasu. But for us, as we are English speaking Jesus is Jesus.

Isa is, I think, commonly used by Christians in the same way Jesus is common in Hispanic Christian culture. I just feel we are not religious enough to name our baby Jesus, much as I love Isa. (also I think our priest would laugh us out of the church. He was a bit about S--i, as well as our choice of music at our wedding!)

I think Asa is frontrunner followed by Otis...

Bruno - you're right about Rafael, although it just seems so integrated into European culture that it seems more easily looked over. Theodore, however, I thought was of Greek origin? I might very well be wrong though...

What are peoples thoughts on Pablo?

Theodore is indeed from Greek.

I can't like Pablo.

What about the French versions of some of your ideas (Paul for example!)

ooh no really don't like Paul! knew too many at school...

I love Asa! I know (only) one whose mother works at the same place as me, so I think she must have got the idea from this chap (who has a connection to our workplace) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Briggs,_Baron_Briggs

He sounds a rather splendid chap all round. It would never have occurred to be that it was a particularly Hebrew name. I'm going to start lobbying my friend who is expecting a boy to use it.

Asa is nice, but Otis is my pick from your list. I think it would be adorable on a wee baby. And it makes me think of Otis Redding.

I love Ariel, nn Ari and Avram, nn Avi.

More love for Asa, good to see.

Ariel to me means Ariel Sharon - a big no - and avi does sound v cute, I've never heard it before, but just googled and it is basically Abraham which I wouldn't use.

DH keeps saying 'lets see what he looks like' but this time around I'd really like a fixed name in advance to avoid days of nameless baby like we did last time! He likes both Asa and Otis but thinks Asa just reminds him if his Acer computer. hmm.

Love Asa, fab name. Alternatively, what about Zaki?

I didn't know that Asa was a Hebrew name. I think it's a really good name, and Asa Briggs is a thoroughly admirable man. If you love it, you should use if!

Yes asa Briggs was pretty amazing.

Hmm. I am so sold on both asa and Otis I almost wish I was having two of them :)