Why are boys names so difficult?!

[sweetpeame]

I already have DD1 who has a beautiful, classic, top 10 name. I love the name and don't regret picking a top 10 name for her (we have yet to come across someone else we know/in nursery etc with the same name) but would like something slightly less popular but NOT unusual/made up for DS1 who is due in June. Happy for it to be top 100 but maybe not top 10-20, although not out of the question!

I just cannot find any boys names I like and DH and I can't really agree on much. The shortlist so far looks like this:

Miles - my absolute favourite but DH is not sure. DH is German and he thinks people there might pronounce it Meel-es rather than Miles. I'm not so worried as once you tell people a couple of times, they'll get it.
Ted - we both like this but I'm not crazy about Theodore or Edward and want him to have a "full" name on his birth cert. Theo is an option nn Ted but again I'm not 100% sure, I certainly don't love it, although we both love Ted. Theo would be pronounced Tey-o in German which I quite like.
Hugo - I'm slightly going off this but DH is keen. I'm Irish and concerned it might sound very posh there ;-)
Conrad - quite different to the others. In Germany (where we may live one day) it's quite old fashioned I think. I like it for a man but not sure if it's a bit severe for a baby/boy?

Names we considered but have now rejected:
Oscar - too popular
Felix - family member has used it recently

And that's the list!! And opinions on the above greatly appreciated. Neither of us like surname names iykwim. Surname is German and begins with S so no names starting with S. Also no J names as the sound is very different in German :-). And preferably something short. So all in all, not a big ask at all!!

I think ted works fine on its own. It doesn't sound like a nn imo.

What about Edmond or Edwin, you could still use Ted as a nick name?

I love Hugo I think its very cute but woks for a man too.

Not keen on Miles but only because I knew one once who I didn't like. What about Milo?

Quite like conrad.

What about
Rex
casper
Max
Rufus
Hal (could be short for Henry)
Finlay

I like Miles, although I'd spell it Myles. I know what you mean about Hugo, I'm in NI and know a little Hugo and I have to be honest I think of it as wild posh . If you like Conrad but are worried about it sounding too harsh, you could shorten it to Con.

What about Nicholas or Dominic ? I know they're not particularly short. I have 3 daughters and could name girls all day long but we really struggled to come up with boys names when I was pregnant.

fishfingersarnies - also not keen on Edmond or Edwin :-( I feel like Milo has gotten a bit too "trendy" for me, whereas Miles to me sounds more classic. Plus my DD's friend has a little brother called Milo. I like Casper and Max from your suggestions though, thanks!

wigglesrock - thanks for the Irish opinion on Hugo, love your "wild posh" description. DH likes Nicholas and Dominic so maybe they'll come back on the list...

I like Ted for Theodore. Prefer Milo to Miles. How about-

Gabriel
Luca
Rudy
Leo
Caspar

Biased as I have a 5yo Conrad

I like Conrad!