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

Already know two baby Milos...

Hugo
Draco

I like Pablo but if your children are mostly English with a bit of Arab/ME thrown in then a Spanish reference will just confuse the hell out of everybody.

I know an Irish Isa, she pronounces it Eye-za.

They pronounce it 'Ice-sa'.

How about Shiloh/Shilo?

Asa reminds me of the historian, Asa Briggs. Love Fabrice ( Nancy Mitford's fictionalised lover in love in a cold climate.)

But don't be worried about uniqueness at the expense of all else.

Otto?

Timo? Pronounced tee mo.

Carlo
Leo
Ricardo

How about Idris? Or, running through the Arabic boys I've had in class, Yacine, Kadda, Mohand, Slimane, Nasir, Farid, Lyesse?

Our short list for boys is currently; Gabriel, Elias, Ilan, Isis and Niall. All Arabic names due to hubby's heritage.

None are sticking as yet. Still on the hunt though!?!

Nothing wrong with Isa.

Jesus might be Jesus to you, and I've only ever come across one English speaker who called their child Jesus, but it is common in the Spanish speaking world.

It's not on your list and can be considered boring but Adam cuts across English and Arabic.

I love Idris, but not allowed to use because of Idris Elba (Bit of a crush on him...) and Elias, but we know a few of those. Isis is lovely but was on our girls list? I 've never heard of it being a boys name?

I must admit I do find Adam too boring and knew a lot in my generation so not really feeling it for a baby.

I know Jesus is very common in Spanish speaking world. And I really do love Isa. But I just can't bring myself to use it for those reasons unfortunately... I guess I shouldn't care too much what people think but I know it would go down as being a bit odd.

Idris Elba (swoon) - I'd be barred from using idris (which I love!) for the same reason

Another fan of Asa.

Just for info, in Scotland 'Isa' (Eye-suh) was used as an abbreviation for 'Isabel' or 'Isabella'. Once it was quite well known. Now it's mostly only heard among older ladies.

Arab-speaking people I have worked with have pronounced 'Isa' (=Jesus) as 'EE-sah'

posted too soon - should be 'Arabic' of course. Sorry!