Boys names - Fionn, Rowen, Jack?

[Leahd89]

I'm having a boy, due in September and we can't agree on names. Our first DS is called Oisín, an Irish name ranked at about number 15 where I'm from but probably not popular elsewhere.

All other names I just feel a bit meh about, before I became pregnant we agreed on Rowen if we had another boy, which happened to be the name of DHs close friend (I know it's usually spelt Rowan) not I'm not too sure.

MIL likes Fionn/Finn and doesn't like Rowen, DH likes Finn, Rowen and Jack in no particular order. BIL is called Jack so I'm not keen

I think adding up all the Fionn, Finns, Finlays, Fintans etc it's actually the most popular name there is

Any other suggestions?!

That's what I thought about Finn at first but then people said it's fine

And now I'm really not sure!

Maybe go back to the drawing board for a bit? @Leahd89 you’ve got a long time, don’t worry at all you’ve not found ‘the one’ yet

For what it’s worth I actually think Finn Duffin is cool and has a great symmetry to it

Ruadhán would go nicely with Oisín

I don't think Dylan Duffin works - Dylan is Welsh and pronounced correctly is DULL-ann. So both names would start with a 'duh' sound.

Dylan pronounced Dill-un isn't correct.

If you'd like to consider other Celtic names in addition to Irish ones then how about:

Jago (Cornish for James)
Siôn (Welsh for Seán)
Alasdair
Hamish
Euan
Tomos (Welsh for Thomas, pronounced TO-moss (both Os are short, as in moss))
Macsen (Welsh for Maxim, pronounced MAX-en, with en as in pen or hen)

Thanks, had a chat with my parents and they HATE Dylan! I mean really
Hate it I don't think I could pick a name my mum hated so much so it's out

I think it's between Rowan and Fionn now so at least I have it down to two

Fionn Duffin is awful! Would you like to be called findufin? Fin-du-fin. Without that surname attached, Fionn is a gorgeous, albeit heavily overused, name

You’ve got til September and you don’t seem keen on either name so I personally think you should go back to the drawing board. There’s no rush. Find a name you’re both really happy with. 🙂
You say you don’t want a name that’s too popular but you’ve choosing between two of the most trendy names currently out there! I’d be hard pressed to pick a more trendy set of names to be honest. There is a LOT of Finn/Finley/ Roman/Rohan/Roan/Rowan/Rowen’s. Having said that I do really like Finn and have a real soft spot for it. Rowen is a girl name to me and I don’t like inevitable nn Row.

Ps. You’re placing a lot of emphasis on what your parents think. Who cares if they don’t like Dylan? They’ll get used to whatever name you pick. It’s not their child. They’ve had their turn to name a child. It’s your turn now.
What names DO they like? You’ve already said they don’t like Rowen either (I agree with them on that one)

No to Dylan. Don't like it and not with your surname, same for Fionn..
Jack and Finn are very popular.

Oisin is nice. Osian is pretty popular in Wales (OSH-ann). The two names are from the same source, cf. Niamh and Nia.

I's look for a nice old Irish name. Rowen just looks wrong, and there are so many similar names popular at the moment.

Cian
Patrick
Cormac
Kieran / Ciaran
Michael / Mick
Sean
Peadar
Liam
Shane

In your position I’d go with Rowan. It’s lovely, family are OK with it, and no issues with your surname. I’d spell it the usual way though.

I wouldn't go for Finn with Duffin either. Fionn would be okay if pronounced Fyun, but not as Finn. To be honest I don't know if I'd choose Fionn if I had an Oisín anyway, as Oisín was Fionn's son in Irish mythology. That might just be me though! Of your choices I'd choose Jack, but I actually think some of the Irish name suggestions others have mentioned would work better. Love Cormac personally. Congratulations too

A few people have said names like Roman, Rowan being/becoming very popular, it must be a regional thing, where I am Roman barely made it into the top 300 last year and Rowan just into the top 200. Only 19 combined in the whole of NI, although could be we're a bit behind and could catch up in a few years

Finn number 18 and Fionn 60

Lizzieant agreed with the Oisín and Fionn mythology, that had made me thought they're abit too close and also like we're trying to make them match

Names can fly up the charts without you knowing. I wouldn't be surprised if you are slightly later to pick up the trends. Not criticising, but once people know of someone with that name, they are more likely to use it. Often it will be someone like a news reporter or presenter on the BBC or someone with the name, people at home will think ooh that name's a bit nice but is it too different...

Before you know it the nurseries have 3 or 4 Gethins and Elodies.

@Leahd89 those are interesting stats!
In England and Wales, if you google the fastest rising names for the most recent year we have official statistics for (2018) the top risers within top 100 were Roman, Rowan, Hunter and Grayson.
If you look at the US statistics on websites like “behind the name” or “nameberry”, both Roman and Rowan have rocketed. Look at the graphs on those pages and look at how they’ve shot up from nowhere. Completely boomed.
So potentially NI will be slightly behind the curve and catch up soon. Or maybe it wont who knows. But it just depends if that bothers you. I find them all very same-y and run of the mill now. A few years ago it was different.
Good luck choosing x

Oran?

Rian

Pearce

Aodhan

Sorry meant to say 2018 stats also

I had a look through stats for NI and Republic of Ireland (off work on lockdown ) and Rowan has been really steady year on year for the last 10 years, in and around the high 100s and low 200s, did jump to the high 100s in 2017 but back down again in 2018.

Did see Rowan has entered the top 100 in England and Wales for the first time in 2018 and is growing in popularity, I don't think this would put me off as it does depend where you live so it's still in the running

Also I see it as a completely different name to Roman, I know there's only one letter difference but to me they're very different. Maybe something like Cora and Cara I would view as similar but not something Rowan and Roman, not sure why.

Also there was me thinking we thought of Rowan because its our friends name but we probably have subconsciously picked up on it elsewhere

Yes I used to think of Roman and Rowan as two separate names. Until I had my baby daughter (called Rowan). I hadn’t realised how popular Roman is becoming and it’s only getting worse. There’s 2 Roman’s at the small local nursery and it does get confusing. If I phone up everyone ends up saying “is this Ro_an with an M or a W” 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ It sounds like it wouldn’t bother you though so that’s good. It does upset me but not much I can do about it now.
I see even more celebs are choosing Roman, last week it was another Towie cast member x

Sorry meant to tag you @Leahd89

Don't use Sion in Ireland. He'll get Sean, and the two don't sound exactly the same.

Sion an Sean might be a bit dated anyway.

and not an. Sorry too lazy to do accents