Raphael, Edward, Rory, Kit or...?

[LittleMouseontheDairy]

I’m expecting DS3 and really struggling with names. I seem to hanker after names that are slightly more unusual/ romantic but end up going for more traditional ones! As this is my third and last I’m trying to balance a desire to be a bit bolder with picking a name that will still suit a child/ teen/ man and not embarrass them! Most of all I just want to love the name!

I seem to like names that are either two syllables or can be shortened. Names beginning with L or A would ideally be avoided (DS 1 and 2 are Leo and Alexander).

DH is being a bit useless at coming up with suggestions so I’d love some feedback and further ideas!

This is the short list so far:

Raphael (Raffy) DH not super keen

Edward (Teddy as baby then Ed/ Eddie/ Edward)

Rory (previously a favourite when pregnant with DS1 but worry about the two ‘r’s)

Kit (Christopher). Like this but someone on one of these threads said it rhymes with shit so now I’m worried about that.

Long list includes:
Jude
Josiah (Joey)
Laurence (Laurie)
Oscar
Rufus
Hamish
Jacob
Benjamin (Benji)

Any feedback/ suggestions?

Oh, also I don’t like names with a ‘negative sound’ in them - like Noah (no) or Elias (lie).
I don’t like surname-type names or the very ‘old man’ type names like Stanley.

DH favours traditional names but isn’t averse to ‘interesting’ at the same time

Rory is lovely

Thanks all, that’s really helpful! It looks like Rory is in the lead with Kit and Edward vying quite closely.
DH will be pleased that Raphael isn’t getting much love.
My mum will be delighted - she adores Rory and campaigned hard for it last time. (I won’t tell her anything until we decide though).

If it makes any difference, our surname starts with an A and rhymes with Lady (there was a newsreader with the same surname). Tbh I suspect Edward/ Teddy works better with it than the other two but I’m not going to get too het up about it.

Thanks for the suggestions. I do actually really like Gabriel but I’m not so fond of the shortenings.
I did consider Rafferty too but it slightly felt a bit too surname-y for me, and I like Felix! - just not enough to make it onto the long/ short lists.

I like Benjamin and Jacob best from your list. Edward/Teddy has exploded in popularity recently. Not that that's necessarily a problem but something to be aware of. He'd probably be one of several in his school.

I agree, I know that Teddy/ Edward is really popular at the moment but it doesn’t seem to be the case where I am in the SE at the moment. I know of one Teddy (Theodore) in the last couple of years but he’s in London.
It’s my brother’s middle name so I feel like that justifies it a bit, which is stupid!

I’ve been lucky (as it were) with Leo- I hadn’t realised how popular it was when I chose it (Rory was the name I was going with until after he was born) and he’s the only one in his class and there’s only one other in the school. (Not a big school though!)
So the popularity of Teddy could put me off a little but like I say I don’t know any near me at the moment.
(Lots of Joshua’s! That might have been a contender if not).

*lots of Joshuas
(Doubting my typo..)

Hamish

"If it makes any difference, our surname starts with an A and rhymes with Lady (there was a newsreader with the same surname)."

So your surname is Adie? (Like Kate Adie, the journalist.)

Rory Adie
Edward Adie / Ted(dy) Adie / Ed(die) Adie
Christopher Adie / Kit Adie

Based on the nickname-surname combinations I would rule out Edward tbh. I still prefer Kit but I think Rory works too.

Not Hamey Shady then.
Jacob goes well. Most of the others e.g. Eddy Adey sound a bit naff

If you choose Raphael and you already have a Leo it gives a teenage mutant ninja turtle vibe. So although it's a nice name I wouldn't recommend it.
What about Rupert?

Yes the surname is Adie.
Rats, you might be right that Eddie doesn’t really go...

Did also occur to me re Raphael but thought might get away with it because it’s Leonardo not Leo....

Although Eddie is my least favourite of the shortenings, so he’d likely be Teddy then Ed/ Ted/ Edward if that makes a difference?

You don't get to choose when he gets older. It's him and/or his friends who will choose.

And tbh Teddy Adie sounds silly. Sorry.

I'm not keen on Teddy but Ed Ady sounds cool. Misspelt names to protect Ann O'Nimity.

How about James? It sounds great with the surname.

Another vote here for Rory! DS1 is Rory and I love it, had no problems with people saying it, with the double rs. Kit is cute too!

I do like James actually - but would probably use Jamie/ Jem sometimes. Does that run into the same surname problem as Ed/ Eddie?

Looks like Rory is the right one after all... (maybe Rory Edward).
Will NC soon!

Thanks DeltaFlyer - did ponder Rupert but have a feeling DH nixed it.

Jamie Adie?

Yeah, too much of a rhyme! It’s a tricky surname actually.

Another vote here for Rory!

Kit surname sounds a bit too similar to the name of a well known journalist first name Kate.
Jude will sound like Ju-Daydee.

I like Rufus and Lawrence (Laurence is a girls name in France)

A 1 syllable name sounds best with Adie.

Or longer - but not 2!

I really like Rory (on my list )
I also like Jude
Oscar (we've used that already)
Jacob is gorgeous but hate Jake.

I also think Rupurt is really sweet too :)

Jean is a boy's name in France.
Yves is a boy's name in France.

I don’t think Rory Adie works.

Laurence, Hamish and Edward work best with Adie imo.