Help desperately needed!

[FingersXssd83]

Right, baby was born a week ago. Need a name. I keep flip flopping.

Surname begins with a T and is two syllables. Middle name begins with R and is two syllables. Not sharing as it's a massive give away if we know anyone on here.

So the options are:

Joseph
Thomas
Dylan

With Joseph, concerned that ppl might call him Joey. Fine with Joe - actually really love it for 5 years onwards and think it gets better with age. We're not big on religion and mindful that it's a biblical name so that's a con.

Love Thomas but we have a surname beginning with T so I don't want the name to be considered tacky or for baby to hate it when he gets older. Love Tommy if it's shortened but again worried it's a bit cartoonish with the T double syllable surname. Also love Thom as a shortened version but DH isn't a fan and this shortened version doesn't flow too well with surname.

Like Dylan as a third option because it's simple, whimsical and can't be shortened but not in love with it like I am Thomas or Joe.

All comments appreciated! Finding this really difficult!

Right well based on your comments I'd cross Dylan off the list and you're down to 2

I'd personally pick Thomas because I love alliteration. Would DH mind the shortening if he never used it

I think all your names are lovely, you can't go wrong. My first name and surname both start with the same letter and I don't mind it at all, in fact I really like it - I think it makes your name more memorable.

Narrow the list to the ones you love - Joseph and Thomas. Both are good names which will serve him well in any walk of life.

Alliterative T names can sound a bit comical, but it depends hugely on the names.

Tom Todd - not great.
Tommy Tickell - not great
Thomas Thackeray - great

Thomas is also a biblical name, but I don't think most people see either Thomas or Joseph as religious names.
You're clear that you like Thomas and Joseph better than Dylan. I know several children called either Thomas or Joseph, ( I work in a primary school) and whilst Thomas is often shortened to Tom, only about 50% of the Josephs are shortened to Joe. I don't know if that helps or not! Often it's the child who chooses by about 7 or so, you won't necessarily get the choice yourself, although you can just keep calling him the version you prefer and hope it sticks!
I quite like Joss as a shortened version of Joseph - is that something you might try?

Yes, it depends on your surname whether Thomas goes well. Thomas is a biblical name, too. I like all your names.

I like Dylan best, but it can be shortened to Dyl.

Dylan - can't be shortened
Yes, assuming you are saying it as Dillun, to Dil.
Whimsical - not at all, it's a naughty boy's name.

Thomas - depends on the surname. Forget the middle name as it will hardly ever get used. Thomas Telford, Tom Tyler...

Joseph/Joe - fine

Oh no, the "naughty boys name" old chestnut.
The Dylan I know is 8. Studious, serious and very polite, so not all Dylans are tearaways. Having said that, Joseph is my favourite ever boys name. I have one!

Take Dylan off the list. Thomas or Joseph. I'd go for Joseph, I don't think of it as religious when I see it (I'm no at all religious, could that be why?). Also, in the UK many of the more traditional names do have a religous connection especially a Biblical one so don't let that put you off Joseph. It simply comes with having been a predominantly Christian country for so long, it's part of our history & culture.

Joseph and Thomas are very 80s/90s names. I don't know any boys with these names now. They've had their day IMO.

I would go with Dylan. It's classic and simple.

I'd go for Joseph.
When they are little, people take your lead in what you call them, and then as he gets to school, it is much more likely to be Joe than Joey. Though once he gets to secondary, it could be anything in the wrld, which is nothing to do with his name, or might be something to do with his initials which you've either not thought of, or hasn't been invented yet. Or he could end up being really tall, so they'll call him Titch, and so on and so forth.

Joseph. X

Sounds like Joseph from your post 😊

@GeorgiaWeLoveYou

Joseph and Thomas are very 80s/90s names. I don't know any boys with these names now. They've had their day IMO.

I would go with Dylan. It's classic and simple.

I know many boys with these names now! I don’t know many babies, but I am a Cub leader, and we’ve had multiple Thomases for about 5 years, and often more than one Joseph.

None of the Josephs I know get Joey as a nn. It's always Joe. I love that name best. Thomas is nice too but I agree the alliteration might sound a bit comical.

Dylan is gone (even though I love it). I think from what you say, it has to be Joseph(shortened to Joe) which is lovely.

Joseph.
I only know 3 (and my children are in their teens now).
One is always Joseph.
The other two are Joe sometimes and Joseph sometimes but that's their choice - and never Joey!

I have alliterative initials and I love it! Go for Thomas x

I'm very biased as I have both a Thomas and a Joseph. They get shortened to 3 letters. Don't know anyone that says Joey though.
The poster that said that they're 80s/90s names that have their day is talking through their arse. They are timeless names.

I like Joseph best nn Joe. Doubt he’d get Joey especially if you correct anyone who says it. Of course if he prefers Joey when he’s older that’s what he’ll get. I don’t like alliterative names but that’s just my personal preference. Don’t agree that Joseph and Thomas are 80’s/90’s names. There’s still plenty of them around.

I'd go with Joseph

Thanks lovelies! Your comments have all really helped (well, maybe not the 80/90s one 😂)

Decided to plum for Joseph as I had a few too many doubts with the alliteration of Thomas. The more I look at him, the more he is a Joesph or Little Joe 💙

I agree with your choice of Joseph. It isn't THAT biblical, and I would never expect anyone to shorten it to Joey if you live in the UK. Surely that is more American?

Not a huge fan of alliterative names, and whilst I think Dylan is fine, I much prefer Joseph.

I prefer Dylan with the correct Welsh pronunciation.

Thomas and Joseph are both lovely and although biblical they are used enough that they don't give off religious vibes in the same way a name like Jedediah would.

Thomas is my favourite, but it depends on your T surname as PPs have said. For example:

Thomas Thompson - no
Thomas Townsend - yes

I think I would go with Joseph. All the Josephs I know are Joe or Joseph, none of them use Joey.

Missed your update - Joseph is lovely, congratulations