Which boy's name do you prefer

[MockCroc]

Hi

Be kind please! I am 36 weeks and therefore a bit sensitive

We have a shortlist of boys names, which we have REALLY struggled to agree and I am wondering which you like best. I would prefer not to hear that they are awful or that you really dislike any of them in particular because obviously we are considering them all. But I would love to hear which you genuinely like.

So, here goes:
Toby
Rory
Rufus
Benedict ("Ned" for short)
Sebastian ("Seb" for short)

Thank you!

MC x

[Stonewash]

I like Rufus best. It sounds a bit quirky and arty. I also like Benedict.

[Cosmicglitterpug]

All good names.

I'd go for Benedict, Ned is a great nn. I have a BIL called Benedict who gets Ben.

[MollyHuaCha]

Toby - lovely name
Rory - yes, really nice
Rufus - not that keen
Benedict ("Ned" for short) - yes, lovely
Sebastian ("Seb" for short) - love it

[Molehillfromamountain]

I love Ned as nn for Benedict. I'd wait and see what suits him when he arrives. Good luck!

[MockCroc]

Thank you everyone!

If we go with Benedict I suspect we would call him Ned at home from the beginning and see whether it sticks (we have a few friends with Edwards who have done this with Ted). My elder daughter also has a long name and has insisted from the age of 2 that it is only used in its whole form, so I agree we would have to recognise that he might get another nickname once at school. I quite like that though - it gives them a chance to take ownership of their own identity.

You have all been very kind and I am feeling much better about our shortlist which we have kept pretty much completely private until this internet outing!

Thank you for the good wishes. xx

[TheNaze73]

Rory is the only one I like

[Booklover123]

Congratulations!
Rufus and ned are great names

[Iris65]

Not a fan of the name Rufus but the others are fine. My partner is glad we didn't have children as I love the name Florian for a boy.

[MerryMarigold]

I don't like Toby and Rufus (bit too try-hard imo), but all the rest are good.

[goldenrachita]

I like all of them. The only thing I'd say is that I think Rufus should be given only to redheads. For me calling a boy with dark brown hair Rufus is a bit like calling your daughter June when she was born in October or calling a November baby 'Summer'.

[mum2bejen]

I think they are all lovely names! From your list my favourites are Toby, Rory and Sebastian (love the nickname Seb too!) Good luck deciding :-)

[Pluto30]

I'd abandon the idea of Benedict being shortened to Ned. It's a traditional nickname for Edward. Benedict would more likely be shortened to Ben and would get looks by others if shortened to Ned.

Sebastian is my favourite of your list, but I like them all except Rufus.

[Joeybee]

Toby is great, but I'd go for Tobias, and use Toby as a nn.
Benedict is a fantastic name too, and love 'Ned' as the nn you've picked out.
Sebastian was on my list, but Husband hates it. I feel this is one of those names that people either love or hate.
I suppose when baby arrives it'll be easier to pick, maybe he'll look like a Toby or Sebastian

[BadToTheBone]

Rufus
Sebastian
Toby
Rory


Benedict

My friend has s Seb, his brother is Gabriel, which are nice together.

[17caterpillars1mouse]

Rufus! Love it

[n0ne]

I really like them all! Tough choice. Love Rufus, that was on my list but DH hated it. But you can't go wrong with any of those.

[Aebj]

I like Toby

[Proudmummytodc2]

Toby

[Knittedfrog]

I love all of them and can't pick!

[mummylove2monsters]

I really like Rufus x

[Abetes]

Sebastian for me.

[Brollsdolls]

Toby and Sebastian

Love Tobias too.

[calzone]

I love them all apart from Sebastian.

[Pipilangstrumpf]

I like Rufus. Cool, strong and not overused.

Sebastian is ok but I find the nicknames Seb/Basty so weak an wet sounding.

[NameChange30]

I love Toby! It was in my top 3 but DH doesn't like it as much as I do.

I also like Sebastian and Benedict, although I do think it's likely to be shortened to Ben.

I've read a few comments (on this thread and others) about Toby and Seb being "wet" but I completely disagree! God forbid a boy's name should be at all feminine (although I don't think it is actually)... Never mind all the threads on here about people giving their daughters boys' names!!