Edward, Joshua or alternative?

[MauiChristmas]

We can't decide on a boys name... Sadly because we are older parents loads of our friends and family have 'taken' other names we love (Benjamin, Daniel, Olivier). We want something traditional and both really like names which can be shortened if the child chooses to, so we don't want a name like Noah.

So what do you think of Edward or Joshua? Or do you have other ideas we might love?

I have a Joshua so obviously like the name, but there are loads of them around. If I call my son's name in public, at least three boys look round.

Samuel (Sam) was our other option, but it's also very popular. Edward is nice but I'm not personally a fan of Ed or Eddie.

Nathaniel?

Both lovely names! I think I slightly prefer Edward but it's close.

How about:

Theodore (Ted / Teddy / Theo)
Alexander (Alex / Xander)
William (Will / Bill / Billy)
Tobias (Toby / Tobes)
Thomas (Tom / Tommy)
James (Jim / Jamie)
Lawrence / Laurence (Laurie)
Sebastian (Seb)
Patrick (Pat / Paddy)
Christopher / Christian (Chris / Christie / Kit)

I've a Joshua (always need Josh really) and I like Edward, Ed, Eddie. What about William, Thomas, Matthew, James.

I have a Joshua (Josh) and an Edward (Eddie or Ed).

Lovely names.

I have a Joshua so am biased. I love it but was adamant when pregnant that it wasn't going to be his name as it's so popular. Nothing else suits him.
Edward is my brothers name but I love that too. My friends Edward is known as Ted which is lovely.

Edward (Ed) is lovely. So are William (Will), Sebastian (Sebby or Seb), Alexander (Alex), Nathaniel (Nat), Julian (Jules or Jude). Also James which can be lengthened to Jamie!

Joseph
Jonathan

I have a Joshua so again im biased, i also have a Joseph

You see OP? You see??! Loads of Joshuas!

Horsey - I see!!

Thank you all - food for thought. DH has veto'd Joseph that I love, I like nathaniel and Samual....

Don't get me wrong, it's a great name. But I think it's this generation's version of Matt for my generation (I know eleventy-billion Matts in their 30s and early 40s).

I have a 6 month old and there are tons of Edwards/Teddys. It's the most popular name in our baby group. Just FYI.

Yeah, Edward is not quite as popular as Joshua, but it's close. Seems kind of pointless vetoing one because it's popular/common and not the other.

Either you don't mind that, or you do. If you don't, then I think Joshua is a much nicer name.

Bella please can I ask where in the country you are? I haven't met any other Edwards in my Surrey / sussex region... I wonder if there are geographical variation in name use?

I was bullied at school for having a different name - I'm actually all for 'normal' or popular.

So if it doesn't bother you, then ignore popularity. Remember that even the most popular boys name in the country (Oliver) was only given to 1 in 50 boys last year. Joshua was 1 in 100. Edward 1 in 138.

It's all relative.

And it is very dependent on where you are. I don't know a single Oliver.

I picked a popular name for my dd Sophie shes actually the only one in her nursery. My son Joseph is one of three in his class, it being popular isn't a bad thing if you like the same, I don't like my name its not massively popular although now theirs a famous brit award singer so many people reference that when they hear my name but growing up i never encountered anyone with my name.

Joshua and Edward are both lovely. I would lean Joshua out of them.

Henry
William
James (Jamie)
Christopher
Reuben
Dominic
Oscar

I like both, but slightly prefer the Edward nicknames to Josh.

How about...

Charles
Christopher
Frederick
Francis
Gregory
Jacob
Josiah
James
Jonathan
John
Luke
Louis
Laurence
Matthew
Michael
Maximilian
Nicholas
Nathaniel
Patrick
Reuben
Robert
Thomas
Theodore
William
Zachary

Joshua is Very common which I didn't realise til after I name DS. Edward is also nice, I'd use Teddy as a nn.
How about Seth, Louie, Lawrence (Lorry for short), Mitchell (Mitch), Andrew (Andy)

My ds1 is Edward. He goes by Teddy or Ted. Ds2 is Samuel nn Sam or Sammy. I too like names that can be shortened if the child wants to. I like William and Thomas too. Good luck choosing!