A boy's name that fits these rules

[piratehugs]

None of our shortlist feels quite right. Can you suggest a boy's name that matches these criteria?

• It's not an outlandish name, but you can count the number of people you know of with that name on the fingers of one hand.
• Ideally two syllables.
• Can't end in an -ee sound (as it would rhyme with his surname).
• Straightforward to spell (mine isn't and it's irritating).
• Ideally isn't also a surname (as his surname could also be a first name - could be an admin hassle).
• Sounds strong but also friendly (obviously this is subjective).

I was convinced it was going to be a girl called Thora. Had no idea it would be so hard to find a boy's name that ticks all the same boxes.

Fraser

Owen
Evan
Robin
Peter
Asher
Jordan
Jonah
Victor
Stefan
Angus
Orson
Rory
Edmund
August
Roland

If not Torin, what about Torben? I worked with such a lovely Torben that I’m biased, and then a cousin called her newborn Torben so I’m double biased.

Only reason not to give DS a name similar sounding to Thora though is if you have DD later and still want to use that name... suppose you could hypothetically consider a name that sounds good with Thora ?? (Or am I massively overthinking on your behalf).
Thora and...

Angus
Brandon
Liam
Conrad
Douglas
Seamus
Edmund
Roan
Caleb
Ernest

Ronan
Ethan
Ciaran
Joseph
Cormac
Donal
Thomas
Luca

Surprised no ones suggested Arlo yet

Vincent

Miro
?
(not because of the painter, but for it's Slavic origin)

Not read all replies but Thorin / Thoran ?

Dylan
Liam
Thomas
Levi
Kevin
Martin
Stuart
Patrick - my fav

Peter
Duncan
Tudor
Aaron
Ian
Daryll
Marcus

Ronan
Thady

@Popskipiekin

If not Torin, what about Torben? I worked with such a lovely Torben that I’m biased, and then a cousin called her newborn Torben so I’m double biased.

Only reason not to give DS a name similar sounding to Thora though is if you have DD later and still want to use that name... suppose you could hypothetically consider a name that sounds good with Thora ?? (Or am I massively overthinking on your behalf).
Thora and...

Torben is good. I could get behind Torben. DH has mustered a surprised "maybe" for it too, so it's gone on the shortlist.

Can't find it now, but someone mentioned Carsten earlier. I hadn't thought of that before. Hmmm. l'll let it wash around in my head for a while.

Rory

Torsten

Corin
Cormac
Torin
Laurence

Roman
Quentin

Luca

Jago

Baxter
Wilfred
Dylan
Conan
Connor

Andrew
Matthew
David
Richard
(I don't know many boys with these names, as they're 'older' iyswim)

Evan
Eben
Rex
Ronald
Michael
Darius
Matthew
Robert
Leif
Anders
Tobin
Drew
Ash
Martin
Milo
Miles

I know you says nothing too surnamey, but the problem with boys’ names is that they mostly could all be surnames.

Ivor
Ewan
Matthew
Eric
Adam
Frank
Owen
Alex
Oscar

@ILoveStickers

Torsten

Torsten is great, but DH isn't keen. When I suggested it, he countered with Thurston, which I like too.

Thurston doesn't meet the criterion of being easy to spell though (there are at least two ways people would get it wrong) and it's quite surnamey too. I just imagine the poor kid having to deal with a lot of admin errors, with a double-barrelled surname, a first name as a surname, a surname as a first name, a dad whose nickname is part of the kid's name, all topped off with a bit that people can't spell. But maybe that happens to everyone and he'll have to suck it up.

If you like those what about Tristan?

I don't like Tristan. I don't know why. I think when I was at primary school, everyone thought it was a poncy name, and it's stuck.