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

How about Rafe? Works in Arabic and English.

Sami (just guessing), Rafe and Etta sound great.

I just love Otis its one of my favourite boys names.

Love Asa too.

Would Asher work?

asa and otis are fab. adam however was our solution in a similar situation.

Don't like Pablo but what about Paulo? I know you don't like Paul. Other Italian disciples .... Luca, Marco and Matteo (Matt) would work well.

Thanks everyone... Pablo clearly not a winner although I do still love it for some reason. Not keen on Paulo or the other Italian names. I know waaaay too many Lucas and have a bad association with both Marco and Matteo!

Rafe is ok, I do prefer Rafa though. But yes those three names do sound good together. I think too many kids with the same ending sound doesn't seem right, so maybe Asa and Etta don't go too well together. Although I may never have my Etta! I may end up with an Otis and and Asa one day!

I hate these decisions...I really feel the need to consult some family but I vowed never to do that again after last time... We were put off so many lovely names by peoples reactions!

What's the history behind etta? Is it Arabic? It's a lovely name but have only ever heard of etta James and never thought about its meaning etc.

I have an Otis and an Etta. I have nothing to add other than kudos on the super name choices.

No not Arabic - just a name we've both always loved even before DC1.

I'm not necessarily just looking for arabic names, just ones that don't come at odds with our existing DS's name. So we'd be happy with a name used commonly here but it just seems weird to add another nationality into the mix when we already have an Arabic name.

I know that seems silly as so, so many common names are of Hebrew origin and more and more so French/Italian names are being used - like I mentioned Luca, Amelie etc. I wouldn't feel strongly about it at all if DS's name didn't have any family relevance. It just seems to make other names seem irrelevant and faddy in comparison. Like saying 'yeah we did care about heritage then, but we can't be bothered any more. It's proving too hard...' Does that make any sense at all? I really hope I don't sound twatty.

Actually re Etta, I have a feeling its a bit of a made up name, I think it should probably be short for Henrietta or something.

Hobbes I am very jealous. What a perfect match. And very jazz.

Does your Otis ever get shortened?

we have an Arabic Christian relative called kareem

So do I jillycar, my cousin!

No, never shortened, although he's only two so I don't know what will happen when he goes to school.

Dekel?

Tho I love Otis and Asa from your list!

Just a thought - does te fact that so many people on here love Asa and Otis mean that they are due a massive rise in popularity? I want a name that's going to stay out of the top 500 and from memory they are both around 600-700 mark at the moment...

I know a Christian (Lebanese?) origin boy called Jad.

Also while reading your posts Ari popped into my head.

I like Zaki as suggested above. A friend of mine also has a Hari, but I think that's more Indian than Middle eastern.

Fwiw to u asa as a hebrew name is pronounced ass-ah, and its not really so common,the only ones I know are secular israelis..

Just to chime in, are you pronouncing Asa 'Acer'? - if so that is a really English way of saying it (eg Emma as 'Emmar') and not at all like the one male Asa I know. I live in the US.

When I lived in London I knew two little girls called Asa (one with a Swedish mother so pronounced more like 'O-sa', one like 'acer'). Also, all of the Isas I've ever met are female & Spanish/Latin American (as a nn for Isabelle).

I have an Arab Christian friend called Baha, which I think is a lovely name (helps that he is so nice!).

Lovely names on your list though and I hope you find one you love!

What about Asher ? It is Old Testament with the same roots as Asa I think. It's becoming popular here in the US at the moment. Never heard of it until a friend called her son Asher and I have grown to like it now.

The only Asa I have ever known is a 50 year old guy of Indian-ish origin, so I was unaware of any Hebrew connection. I'm thinking your DS1's name has an AF in the middle? In which case Asa would go with it really well.

Ooh more replies, thanks!

Didn't know that about difference in pronunciation of Asa. I always assumed it was pronounced acer.

I know it as a Swedish girls name too but never heard of Isa as a girls name - do they pronounce it Ice-a or like the beginning on Isabel?

I love Baha but to me that is a girls name as I know a lovely (Arab) girl with that name.

Asher - I only know of it used by Jewish friends - to me it seems 'very' Jewish if you know what I mean. Its a great name though. That is my concern about asa, especially as it stems from the same roots. But from opinions on here that isn't really the general view so it's still on the list!

mad no DS has an M in the middle but close. Still think it sounds great with Asa. Or Otis for that matter.

I'm now on the hunt for boys names that end in O. Pablo is out I think, Arlo I like but can't use for various reasons. Any others? Might need to start a new thread for this one...

Milo?