A name like Jonathan, but not

[PetShopGirl]

Having more or less set our hearts on Jonathan (nn Jonny) for DS2, we've suddenly realised that this is the name of SIL's ex DP with whom things ended quite badly. I know it's a bit odd not to have noticed before, but ex was only ever know as Jon and we just hadn't made the connection. So, it's a no-no apparently .

DS1 is Christopher (nn Kit) and I really want something with a similar vibe - ie not overused, yet still quite classic and with a cuter boyish nickname.

Names that end in an s don't really go with our surname, and I'm also keen to avoid what I would consider to be particularly 70s/80s names (ie boys I went to primary school with!) like Peter, Matthew, Michael and Simon, as might seem a bit themed alongside Christopher.

I quite like Dominic, but other than that am stumped. There are basically like, NO, names for boys...

Names I do quite like but can't use (and I realise don't necessarily fit with the above criteria either) are:

Barnaby
James
Hugh
Nicholas

Any ideas? I'm going to be really fussy about this though, sorry .

Thanks!

I don't think any of the Ferguses I know are Scottish (and it would have been DD2's name had she been a DS2 instead, and we're not (or only very fractionally by heritage)).

Stephen
Richard
Paul
Justin

Fraser

Tobias/toby

Augustus or Angus /Gus

Sebastian/Seb

I don't think you have to be Scottish to use fergus.

Lots of Scottish people use English names.

What about

Finlay
Sebastian
Nathaniel
Alexander
Douglas
Donald
Bartholemew
Stanley
Bradley
Walter
Wilfred
Bernard
Andrew
Matthew
Mattais
Olivier
Benjamin
Jeffrey
Jeremy
Sullivan
Jackery
Tobias
Joshua
Ferguson
Fernando
Cameron
Roderick
Donovan
Finnigan
Raphael

I like Fraser but can't use. Ditto Sebastian and Gus. DH is very anti Toby for some reason.

Have thought about Marcus and I don't hate it, but s ending is not great with our surname.

This is one of the problems with having a large extended family and being a bit behind on the breeding front - all the better names have been taken!

Frederick, nn Fred/die
Jolyon, nn Joly or Jo
Kenneth, nn Kenny
Gavin

I have it petshopgirl, ready?

Solomon/Sol
No thanks needed. Think you can relax now that little problem has been attended to!

Only read your OP, but I think of Anthony as in a similar bracket to Jonathan and Christopher. Is there no way you could use Jonathan though as you had your heart set on it. Could you call him Jonathan, but say you are happy for family to call him Joe or Nathan if it will save hurt feelings or something?

Thomas, Tom/Tommy

I like that confidence chicken ;)

Have thought about Marcus and I don't hate it, but s ending is not great with our surname.

Mark then?

Benjamin
Richard
Stephen
Michael
Nathaniel
Gabriel
Anthony

Matthew nn Matty?

Seriously though, I would be choosing a name you love,not ruling it out because it's been 'taken'. This is your child, and you all have to live with it forever! I had cousins names the same name (Robert). No-one ever thought twice about it.

We have a Johann which is the German/Dutch version of Jonathan as my dad is Jonathan. (pronounced Yohan!)

Dominic is nice.

Nathaniel nn Nat or Nate
Daniel nn Dan or Danny
Arthur
Alastair / Alistair nn Ali or Ally
Andrew nn Drew or Andy
Benjamin nn Ben
Frederick nn Freddie
Gregory nn Greg or Rory
Maximilian or Maxwell nn Max
Magnus nn Max or Mags
Nicholas nn Nick, Nicky, Nico or Cole
Nicolas nn Nico
Samuel nn Sammy or Sam
Vincent nn Vinnie or Vince
William nn Will or Billy

Adam? (Can't think of a good nn, but Kit and Adam sound good to me.)

If you can't name him Gus, then don't choose Fergus because that's what it'll get shortened to.

I like Patrick a lot, nn Paddy or Patch. Or how about Rupert / Rufus (Roo)?

Are you sure you can't use Jonathan if you had your heart set on it? There are so many possible nns you could use whilst he's small (Jonty, Jonjo, Nate) to differentiate him from your SIL's ex. I'm sure that after a while, he will become the name to your family rather than reminding them of her ex.

Gabriel (Gabe)

My brother is Jonathan and has been Jon since a teen.

Edwin
Edgar
Eric
Tristan
Douglas
Bruno
Gilbert
Gideon
Duncan
Rory
Anthony
Leo
Victor

If Jon/Jonathan was that emotionally devastating, maybe he has wiped free the negative association to Edward, and Ted can be considered again.

I like Laurence too but also wonder if it is 'manly' enough to use. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on this.

Laurence Olivier
Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence)
D. H. Lawrence
Laurie from Little Women
Laurie Lee

Why would it not be manly enough?

MsCoconut, this is exactly what DH and I discussed today! He reckons we should go for it, particularly as we didn't go with Edward first time round partly in order to spare J's feelings!

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Rufus has been added to the list too.

Adam

Phillip/Pip - I think that goes with Kit really well!