Shortlist- please help me decide!

[fireworkbaby]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant with baby number 2, we don't know the sex. We have a son called James so it needs to sound ok with that. We are decided on middle names which will be William or Elizabeth.

Boys:
Gabriel
Theodore
Samuel
Benjamin
Noah

Girls:
Clara
Matilda
Iris
Josephine
Astrid

Benjamin or Matilda

Boys:
Gabriel - not keen
Theodore - really dislike
Samuel - like
Benjamin - like
Noah - No

Girls:
Clara - don't like. Cara is nicer
Matilda - overused
Iris - not keen
Josephine - lovely
Astrid - lovely but very popular

I like them all. Least keen on Benjamin and Clara.

I find Gabriel wet, and Noah and Theodore are far too popular currently for my taste (although I absolutely love Theodore). I'd choose between Benjamin and Samuel, based on whether you prefer Ben or Sam.

Can't stand Matilda, but seem to be the only person in the world to think so! At least on MN. Like the others pretty much equally... would probably come down to the exciting Iris or more classic Clara (which is on my shortlist). Josephine seems very unusual, somehow... So maybe that, if you like Jo?

Benjamin and Matilda are my favourites.

I think you should go with

Theodore Gabriel and

Astrid Clara

Since when is Astrid popular??

Noah
Iris

Since when is Astrid popular??

Back in the 70s I would have said.

Your shortlists both have beautiful names! I would go for Gabriel for a boy. My all time favorite boys names. If I have another boy this will be his name!
I can't choose between Clara and Matilda! They are both lovely. Matilda may have a few more options for nicknames though.

Gabriel and Clara