Can't agree on a boy's name

[VT82]

Our criteria is as follows:

Joint criteria:

• At least two syllables in the full version of the name, as the surname is one syllable.
• Not too effeminate (we are a gay male couple, so don't want to make things any worse for him at school than they might already be!)

OH's criteria:

• Needs to be in the Quran (including the Bible, so most likely from the Bible!)

My criteria:

• Don't want a really common 'now' name. Or at least if it is popular at the moment, wouldn't have stood out as weird twenty years ago (so no 'Noah' or 'Elijah', but 'Jacob' would be OK).

We thought we had settled on Cameron, but I've got bored of it from talking about it too much.
We still both like Zachary (Zach), but I don't like the fact that Elton John got there first, and the start of the surname is a 'K', so I think it would clash with Zach.
I like Joshua (Josh), but the OH knows someone he'd rather not emulate who has a son called Josh.
Adam could be on the shortlist, but I'm not mad on it, and know one already who I wouldn't want to think was being copied by me.

Any more ideas for the shortlist? I thought this would be the fun part, but we just can't agree! Thank you!

how about Alexander?

mentioned in the bible, more than 2 syllables, pretty classic , can be shortened to alex or alex or sandy or sasha..

Isaac
Ezra
Jonah
Aaron
Solomon (Sol)

All 2/3 syllables and mentioned in the Bible/Quran. Isaac's quite popular now but was definitely well used 20 years ago. Also really love Gabriel/Jibril, but I know some people see it as a tad effeminate. Adam is nice.

Don't know if it's in the Quran but I liked similar sounding names to you. I have DS1 Alexander and DS2 Nathan. On our very short list were Adam and Joel.

Alexander & Aaron - I quite like, but they're taken by people nearby, so won't make the list

Isaac - was on the shortlist, but I vetoed on a whim, and now I'm remaining steadfast :p

Solomon - on the longlist

Gabriel - used to be OH's number 1, but I've always hated it, and have thankfully got my way :D

Ezra, Jonah & Joel - nope, not for me

Nathan - one to add to the longlist :)

Thanks for your suggestions so far!

Tobias
Samuel
Michael
Joseph
Zain
Benjamin
Samson
Amos

(not sure if they fulfil your criteria)

Daniel
Moses
Lucas
Matthew

Ishmael /Ismael

I absolutely love this name and would use it if I could..

An alternative to Isaac could be Isaiah

I also like Abraham or Abram- think I might be alone on this one though. That have a good nickname too: Bram.

What about:
Benjamin
Amos
Boaz
Caleb
Ethan
Gideon
Paul
Samuel
Saul
Seth
Simon
Jason
Jethro
Levi
Jude
Lucas/Luke
Marcus
Matthew

There are all the other - iah names:
Josiah
Jeremiah
Micah
Zebadiah
Obadiah

Asher
Amos
Benjamin
Elijah
Emmanuel/Immanuel
Ibrahim
Ishmael
Jethro
Josiah
Judah
Jonah
Micah
Moses
Reuben
Samuel
Samson
Solomon
Tobias

My personal faveorites of the list would have to be Asher, Ishmael, Jethro and Micah.

Adam
Daniel
David
Jacob

Ezekiel (Zeke) - that's manly, in the old testament etc

Would like Lucas, but there's someone in the family who I don't get on with called Luke.

Love Zain but it's too short (and the OH hates the One Direction connection!)

Not a fan of the overly religious sounding ones (Caleb, Ishmael, Josiah and all the other 'iah's') - don't want him to sound like he's a mormon.

Love Tobias/Tobey. Keeping that on the shortlist :)

Nicholas/Nikolas (Nik)?
Gregory (Greg)?

I'd also have liked Zain if it wasn't for One Direction!
Tobias is nice.
I like Mateo/Teo.
Also Theo (but I'm not a fan of Theodore!)
Asa (love that name)
Asher
Jethro - which could be shortened to Jet? Not good if you're not a fan of Katie Price though
Reuben.

Good luck!

What about Ethan or Thomas?

Am terribly sorry if I have misunderstood, and wish you and your partner all the best, but how did Cameron - which you say was a favourite name - possibly fulfil the criteria you have just listed? It's Scottish Gaelic and a family name and comes from two words meaning 'crooked/broken nose'.

From the Bible (these repeat some earlier suggestions): Philip, Luke, James, John, Barnabas, Matthew, Saul, Paul, Joseph, Mark/Marcus, Abel, Jacob, Raphael, Michael, Jonathan, Simeon, Simon Peter...

Of course, there is also David and Ethan and Ezra and Enoch and Amos and Japhet and Jesse .... all Biblical. And many more - see the Old Testament.

Gabriel
Raphael
Moses
Joseph

flora I presumed it was based on the name Kamran but could be completely wrong :)

I mean not wrong about Cameron being Scottish Gaelic, I could be wrong about it being an attempt to "anglicise" Kamran. - if that makes any sense...?

Nathaniel?
I think it fits your criteria and as I have one I can state it is a very handsome and gorgeous name that gets lots of compliments!

OP Kamran - which is a perfectly good name with encouraging meaning - has very different origins.
Further info here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamran

I think Cameron is back in the running, with the new spelling of Kamran :)

I'm fairly sure it was that version of it that meant it passed OH's criteria originally, and now with that actual spelling, it's got a new lease of life with me!

I have a Zach with a 'c' surname.

We weren't sure it went and tried hard to find another name we liked but decided, sod it, we like it we'll go with it. He's a Zachary on his birth certificate and when he's in trouble but he only likes Zach.

It's a great name.

Lazarus - Lazar for short