Finley Otis Barney or Zachary

[Clownfish123]

I might be posting a few threads in the next few months as we he have found out dc2 is likely to be a boy!
These are our current top 4 names but they change a lot. I like Barney but DH can't help feeling it is a bit of a joke name so it will probably get vetoed. His favourite is Otis which I like but don't love.
We both like the other two names but again neither feels perfect.
Baby will be half Irish which makes Finley quite appealing and DS1 has an Irish name. Also likely to be blonde and fair if that makes any difference!
Loads of names are ruled out as DH is fussy and we have friends who have already used names. DH doesn't like anything royal, posh or old manish (although he does like Leonard) I'm more open minded.
Thanks

I really love Finley

People on MN tend to think it’s v popular (which it is) but it’s got no where near the same numbers as names like Oliver and Harry on the official statistics. I’ve actually not met any Finley/Fin’s near me

Are you concerned with popularity anyway OP?

Could Barney be a nickname for Barnaby?

I really like Otis

How about

Rudi/ Rudy
Eli
Ellis
Peter

LOVE Barney ❤️ Don’t think it’s a joke name at all? It’s lovely! Barnaby is also lovely!

I don’t like Otis. I don’t hate it either, but it feels strange to me. If I met one I wouldn’t be like though - it’s not terrible.

Finley would be lovely but it’s just been done to death, in my opinion. I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but in my hometown the last 4 baby boys who have been born that I know of have been Finleys. Finn is a nice nickname but I feel like Finley is the male equivalent of Ava or Isabella or something - the nice sound is lost by the boringness of the name caused by how common it has become.

Zachary is nice.

What about

Rory
Jude
Felix
Jasper
Casper
And I second Rudy - fab name!

I like Finley out of those, but would spell it Finlay

Barnaby is out as it's too posh according to DH. (I think its lovely) he would consider Barney though. Same issue with Jasper.
I'm surprised some people think Finley is done to death as it's only ranked 30 in the lists but I have heard it a few times lately, especially when you add all the Finns too.
Eli has been on and off the list.
I dont mind popularity but would prefer something that isn't ridiculously popular. I am generally less bothered about popularity with boys names than girls.

Rudy is too close to DS's name which is on ariamontgomerys list
Jude is lovely but doesn't go with surname.

Finley is super popular. Especially when you consider all the Finlays and Finns.
I do love it though.
Flynn is a good alternative?
I like Barney a lot though prefer Barnaby.
I love Otis.
Zachary is ok but I find it a bit dull as I know so many.

@clownfish123 yes I agree about popularity being less of an issue for boys’ names. My husband has a very common name but loves that it’s not unusual. Whereas I wish mine was slightly less ubiquitous.

Anyway you’re right Finley isn’t that high on the name charts and even if you add together all the Finlay/Finn etc together, the name is still no where near the numbers of Harry or Oliver type names. (Can you tell I’m a total name geek 🤦‍♀️)

Finley’s popularity has also levelled out now (and is on a downwards trajectory), so it’s very different to names like Roman and that are still on a massive upward trajectory and are likely to reach top 10 soon. I think those names will date very quickly given the explosion of popularity in a short space of time. They could begin to disappear and be this generations Nigel or Keith

names.darkgreener.com/#finley

Yes how about Flynn OP? What about Seth or Milo or Rex

• I meant to include Arlo as a name that’s exploded in popularity and increases year on year whereas Finley is stable and actually on the decline

Love Barnaby!

Finley/Finn is so overused and dull and will inevitably fall out of fashion and sound dated.

How about Quinn?

Barney is super cute and is on our list for boys names!! I think Finley a lovely name but quite popular now Zachary again is lovely but will you be happy with Zach as I’m sure it will get shorted. Otis is fine but not my favourite of your list! Congrats

How about Flynn which overs have suggested? Not as popular and still a lovely name

I like the Flynn suggestion

Otis. I don't like Barney.

I like Milo as a suggestion. I do like Flynn but we have a short surname beginning with F. It works well with Finley and Fin, but I feel it's a bit of a tongue twister when you at the L in.
I'm so surprised at how popular Finley is. It's a shame as it fits with DS name so well being Irish. I'm trying to decide if that's enough to put me off. I think Fin is a nice name for a teenager and a man as well as a small boy.
Dh says no to Seth as he doesnt like names with 'th' in them. He says Quinn is a surname. I like Quinn. Maybe I should get a new DH?
He likes Owen, Otis and Seamus but would compromise on Zachary or Finley.
I do like Zac but do you think it's quite a harsh name?

Finley is very popular here, teenagers as well as younger children. I'm not keen. I dislike Zachary but could tolerate Zach so I could use Isaac and shorten to Zac. I love Otis and Barney (but slightly prefer Barnaby).

If your first son is Rory, I'd pick a name that doesn't end in a Y for your second son. Rory and James is better than Rory and Barney. (Not that I think James is up your alley; fill in the blank.)

I don't really mind both ending in Y. I wouldnt go for Rudy and Rory or Remy and Rory as it's too matchy but I think Barney and Rory are different enough.
I don't want to add any more rules to this!

What about Finbar? Similar feel, but not as 'done to death'

I like Barney.

To me Barney and Otis are dogs names. I cannot imagine a child with either of those names! Finley is lovely and not that popular around here.

Barney is awful! That bloody dinosaur!

Seamus is good.

I like Finn but not Finley. How about Fintan?

@Firsttimemama2017 Finley not that popular round here either

Plus popularity of the name now declining so it will be even less popular by time baby arrives

I like the name Zac and don’t find it too harsh. It’s a solid name whereas the Archie type names are a bit cutesy

Otis is very posh & Finley is v....the opposite

Depends if that bothers you. I like Zachary as it’s a nice name that fits in anywhere.

Finlay - boring
Zachary - lovely, like zach. Goes well with Rory
Otis - aardvark
Barney - don't mind it actually, prefer as nn for barnaby but it does go nicely with Rory. Maybe you can work on your DH re barnaby? I don't think it's posh.