Opinions on/Rate our boys shortlist

[marmitecheesetoast]

Posted a boys names shortlist a month or so back and since then we have managed to refine it a bit further.

Neither DH or I 'love' any of these names the way we do with our chosen girls name but we both like all of the below enough to consider them. I'm hoping if it is a boy we will know the right name/grow to love the name..

Alexander
William
Angus
Finlay
Fraser
Ben (Benjamin on birth cert)
Charlie (Again I would put Charles on birth cert but DH says he hates Charles so this may be a stumbling block)

Thank you

All nice solid names though I know 4 Finlay/Finn/Finley under 3 in the south of England alone so maybe too fashionable so will date. I couldn't settle for Charlie unless allowed full name on certificate, I agree. I love Angus, Fraser and how about Fergus or Hamish?

Like Alexander & LOVE Benjamin. Don't like the rest.

Really like Fraser, and would consider it Scottish rather than American.
Alasdair would get you nn Al (or Adair) rather than Alex.

Thanks for all your comments so far, really helpful.
Sounds like Finlay may well just get lost in the sea of Finns and Finleys so that may well drop off the list.
Also Charlie was probably our least favourite from the list so maybe best to let that one go too based on some of the comments too.

Fraser - no nn potential though I was thinking this too and can't decide if that matters or not. We do both really like the name Fraser but something is holding us back, not sure what

cakerattleandroll I had Alasdair on my list for that reason but DH thinks it's dull in comparison to Alexander

DHs clear favourite is Alexander.
I do like it a lot, but worried about
a) popularity
b) I don't love the nn Alex, he can't stand the nn Xander. Although there are other shortened versions we do both like

would people say William or Alexander is more popular?

Both very popular these days.

Finlay is the best

I like Fraser and Angus best. I really don't like Alexander and Finlay is very popular. William, Ben and Charlie are pretty normal nice names

Alexander - love (front runner if I have another DS so biased!) - the full name is very usable but also has oodles of diminutives and nickname options, I like a name with flexibility. Xander is a bit quirky/cool, Sandy is warm, Alex is solid, Sacha is cosmopolitan...
William - OK
Angus - bit too harsh sounding for me
Finlay - bit too much in the current 'Finn' trend
Fraser - like this, good Scottish name but not harsh like Angus
Ben - I prefer Benjamin / Benji but Ben is OK
Charlie - OK, but I agree it needs to be Charles as a given name on BC (hate hate diminutives as given names) and I am not keen on Charles.

Alexander - I am biased as I have an Alex(ander) - was going to use no Xander but it never suited him (I call him Lex/Lexi and am the only person who'd get away with it)
William---- - love, this is on my shortlist
Angus - love but dh says it reminds him of burgers
Finlay - not a fan
Fraser - I knew one who when asked to call an ambulance in an emergency asked what the number was so would put me off!
Ben (Benjamin on birth cert) - very popular
Charlie - don't like

Fraser, Ben and Alexander (lots of possible nicknames e.g. Sandy, Alex, Ally, even Alec) are my favourite.

There are absolutely loads of Finlays around-I would avoid this one

Alexander - not keen, know of one with the nn Eck
William - hate this name (sorry) especially with the nn billy
Angus - cute
Finlay - love!
Fraser- not keen
Ben (Benjamin on birth cert) - nope
Charlie - I have a Charlie so I may be biased but he suits his name so much & I still love it, he's Charlie on his bcert as I don't like Charles either!

Alexander - strong, lots of short options, attractive written down, international.
William - lots of short options, a bit naughty little boy in my mind.
Angus - know a red haired Scot age 6. Adorable, cheeky.
Finlay - Do you have to say LAY when you say it? Or is it said 'lee'? Can't imagine this name on an actual grown man.
Fraser - Nice, very Scot
Ben (Benjamin on birth cert) - Like the full version. Short version a bit nothingy.
Charlie - Friendly, easy going, I like it even having known one I didn't like.