Boys' names...

[CaptainKit]

38+2 today and BH are playing up, driving me back to my names shortlist... Originally had all but settled on Kester John D___, nn Kit but as of the last couple of weeks I've pretty much gone off that; it just doesn't seem real. I typically like uncommon names, but all the ones I'm coming back to are top 50, so am all at sea!

Short list;
Oscar John
Lucas John
Edward John

Thoughts? Oscar's my favourite but at number 8 on the ONS list would DS be one of many in his age group?

Any alternative suggestions? Has to be a multiple syllable name to balance up the single syllable middle and last names.

I like Edward John.

Tristan John
Peter John
Samuel John
Alexander John
Wilfred John
Edwin John
Elliot John
Alfred John
Henry John
Gabriel John

I like Lucas.

Austin
Chester
Winston
Vincent
Fabulous names that were on my shortlist.

Also like
Victor
Casper
Solomon
Edwin/Edmund
Noel

I like Kester and Lucas from your list. Oscar and Edward are very common and especially Oscar may fall out of favour and sound dated soon.

I really like
Austin
Quentin
Elliot
Caspar

I like both Kester and Kit as nns for Christopher or Christian. Have you definitely gone off it?

Oscar, Lucas and Edward are super popular round here. Oscar is the new Oliver, IMHO.

Boys' names are really tricky, though, because they seem to be either really popular, or really obscure. It really doesn't feel as though there's a comfortable middle ground like there is for girls.

I really like pps' suggestions of Tristan, Chester or Austin.

"It really doesn't feel as though there's a comfortable middle ground like there is for girls."

I disagree. There are lots and lots of lovely classic boys names that are neither top100 or 'obsure'. Have a look at the ONS lists that list all boys names used in each year, there are literally thousands!

And many of the suggestions on this thread would fit this 'middle ground' imo:

Kester
Tristan
Austin
Caspar
Quentin
Edmund
Gabriel
Peter
Victor

Conrad
Edgar
Godwin
Kenelm
Oswald
Julius
Marcus

Pipi, perhaps obscure was the wrong term.

I have three sons and no daughters. Each time, it felt that every boy's name we considered was either very safe, or very brave. Names for girls felt more spread along the spectrum.

My 5 week old Ds is Oscar. The popularity did concern me (I generally don't like picking names in the top 10.) but we both really liked it and that's all that matters really.
Edward is also a favourite of mine. Not keen on Lucas.
Kit is fab but you might get a few Rooney-references. Still i really like it

I like Lucas and Edward. Not so keen on Oscar.

I like Oscar, not keen on the others. My favourite boys name is Alexander

Thanks for the opinions - it helps that they're so varied; I don't feel quite so fussy.

My problem with Kester is that I can't see myself calling it in a playground. The Rooney thing was a mini jolt, but I was already having second thoughts. Don't like Christopher due to a horrid colleague with that name, and am not keen on the religious connotations of Christian.

I love the name Elliott, but have a pet with that name, so have stolen it from myself! Tristan is a favourite name of a close relative so, although I sort of like it, I wouldn't want to face the drama that might arise from 'taking' it, especially as I only like it rather than loving it.

Alexander is nice but my name starts with an Al so it would be a bit close for my liking.

Oscar is currently my top choice, but I think Edward might date better. I'm assuming the blasted Twilight connection will fade into obscurity and it'll go back to being a fairly classic name. Plus there's plenty of choice of NNs.

I like Austin, but like Kester I can't see myself calling it.

Yes, while Oscar is nice, I agree that Edward will "date" better and there are a lot of nicknames so you can always choose one that is less popular. Eg there are loads of Teddys around at the moment but no Neds or Eds/Eddies. Maybe go for Edward with one of these are a shortening?

Good luck