Second guessing short list for our boy

[Buffyanne]

I'm having a boy and not due until December but after narrowing down the list with my husband, I'm second guessing now.

I'm worried our choices dont sound "sophisticated" enough. We kind of like "cowboy" style type names but I'm hoping to balance a masculine, rough and tumble type name with sophistication/maybe a bit if nerdiness as well. I want a handsome name. I worry about popularity but I also want something that fits in with today's style. I'm American by the way but looking for well-rounded perspectives. I posted before but before my husband weighed in so now we have a more narrow list.

I'd really like to know the perceptions on the following options and the ones with two middle name options, which one and why!

Marshall Breccan
Marshall Elliott

Elliott Reese

Wyatt Asher

Brantley Austin
Brantley Noah

Rhett Callahan - ideal but sounds clunky with surname

Rhett Landon

Thank you for your help!

Personally my favourite from your list is Elliott Reese. I think Elliott is a strong name for a boy and reese goes perfectly with it. Sorry i dont like any others from your list. Can i also add Ethan as a suggestion i absolutely love that name for a boy!

Hope this helps a little.

Elliott Reese is my favourite too

Another vote for Elliott Reece.

Thank you! I love it too.

A couple questions- does Elliott have any wearable nicknames? My husband vetoed Elias but yet likes Elliott but I dont think you can use Eli for Elliott?

And - Reese or Rhys? I know Rhys is the actual correct spelling but it's one of those that looks off unangelized but at the same time I honor authenticity. Thoughts?

I think Eli is fine as a nickname! Erm hate to say it but I believe the male spelling is Reece or Rhys. Reese is female (eg Reese Witherspoon). My brother is a Reece which I prefer to Rhys.

Not keen on Marshall at all, plus it’s a dog in paw patrol.
Elliott is a nice name but not rugged or handsome imo - more bookish to me.

Wyatt I like the best - are you the same person that asked about Wyatt the other day or was that someone else?

Brantley - please no, this is awful sorry.
Rhett - Not keen but it’s not as bad as Brantley.

I like Rhett Callahan, and don’t mind Elliot Rhys spelled this way.

Elliot (spelled that way) Reece (spelled that way) unless you can say Rhys the Welsh way.

Marshall just makes me think of Eminem so not a fan and I find Brantley a bit down market. I'm also not a fan of Rhett, I just think it's an ugly sound.

On the other hand I live Wyatt Asher - gorgeous. I also really love Elliott but would prefer Elliott Rhys and I see Reese as the girl spelling

Elliott.

Wyatt Asher sounds good although not generally my style.

Marshall fits more of the boxes of what I think you want in a name (long standing, sophisticated)

Marshal Elliot
Marshall Asher

Thank you! There are different spellings for Reece but good to know Reece is more masculine than Reese. Fun fact, it's not Reese Witherspoon's real given name and she got it from a family surname! But I'm sure she has made that spelling popular with girls.

I'm warming up to the Rhys spelling as well.

Thanks to those who like Marshall and Wyatt!

I didnt know Marshall was a character on Paw Patrol. Maybe that's worth looking into. I'm not an Eminem fan but I dont think he will stay relevant and since he goes by Eminem also I think it's not huge dealbreaker.

I do love Wyatt but it's just gotten very popular.

I agree Elliott (I like the symmetry of adding the extra t but at the same time reducing amount of letters is not the worst idea so could just do Elliot) is my most bookish name. That's not a bad thing to me but at the same time I feel like i waver on it a bit. I do really like Wyatt and Marshall.

Brantley doesn't seem well-liked although consider the nickname Brant.

Rhett - I like it but I almost wish I could use it for a middle name instead. Apparently its controversial because of Gone with the Wind but honestly that's a very dated association.

I've never heard Brantley. I really like Elliott but it would drive me mad if people didn't pronounce the 't' at the end - most likely most kids at school will use the glottal stop and Elliott, Wyatt and Rhett will get lost in diction, especially Rhett, which looks nice on paper but will just sound 'Reh'.

Just seen Asher, that's nice and Ash is lovely for short, too.

I feel like in the US, we dont drop t's at the end of names or words as much but I'll think about diction! It is odd that many of the names end with t - I guess I like that sound!

Wyatt and Elliot are OK.

Have you considered Trent and Hywel/Howell? (Both names came to mind when I saw your list).

Trent is my friend's son's name. Have not ever heard of Howell. Our surname starts with an H and has an l in it so I think it might be hard to say/have sounds that get jumbled together but I appreciate the suggestions!!! Thank you!

If you’re worried about American/cowboy sounding then go for Elliott, this has zero cowboy vibe.

Elliot is the most sophisticated I think. What about emmett? (If you're looking for other suggestions?)

I like Wyatt Asher but I also think Asher Wyatt sounds good too.

I do like Wyatt Asher a lot! And I also love Marshall. Does anyone have middle name suggestions for Marshall?

I defintely prefer Elliot from your first names. I’m not so keen on Elliot Reece. I like Elliot Breccan.

Wyatt is by far the nicest. I don’t really like Elliott as it’s quite popular in my area.

@Buffyanne

I do like Wyatt Asher a lot! And I also love Marshall. Does anyone have middle name suggestions for Marshall?

Could you use a middle name from your original list, e.g. Marshall Hudson or Marshall Wyatt?

Otherwise, how about Marshall Bryant or Marshall Zachery?

I like Elliot Rhys