Alexander, Christopher, Robert? Or something else?

[GlennRheeismyfavourite]

Just that really! We have a very short 1 syllable surname (very like Ball) so I quite want a longer first name. Trouble is boys names often shorten to one syllable names - not keen on 1 syllable first name and surname.

So far we quite like Alexander, Christopher and Robert. What is your favourite out of those three? Has anyone any other favourites? I really want a name I love and just haven't found one yet!

All excellent choices! I had all three on my list, along with Joseph, John, Daniel, James and Matthew.

If I had to pick one of your three, if your family would all pronounce Alexander the same, I'd probably pick that (my family is spread across the north and the south, so would pronounce in two different ways and that would bother me). Otherwise, Robert is so classic and underused!

Alex
Chris
Rob

Is what they will likely get but I love all 3. Robert is nice as not popular at the moment.

Tobias - shortens to Toby
Conrad- can't really shorten that much
Peter

Robert can also be shortened to Bert or Bertie which is quite fun.

Adam is a cool name. Can't be shortened really

Also, I have a one-syllable first name and one-syllable surname, as does my sibling, and we've always had loads of positive comments on how snappy our names sound!

But if you're really against one-syllable nicknames, just always refer to your baby as the full version of their name and almost everyone will follow suit.

Alexander is my favourite

Christopher is my favourite of the three. I also really like Daniel.

They're all fine - not really my taste, I find them all a bit boring (sorry!) I think out of the three I'd go for Robert - a bit more unusual at the moment and I quite like Bob or Bobby as a nn. Other names you might like -

George
Jack
Aaron
Samuel
Henry
Harry
Fred / Frederick / Wilfred

they are all fine names.
how many children do you intend to have...

I know you don't want a one syllable name but your choices will leave them with a one syllable nn anyway

I think Mark is due a revival. Cannot be shortened.

I know lots of people with both a one syllable first name and surname, they sound fine to me! But if you don't want that, don't use Christopher - it will most likely be shortened to either Chris or Kit.

Robert is a classic that would be refreshing to hear these days and would most likely be Robbie (or maybe Bertie), but he might well get called Rob as he grows older.

Alexander is your best/safest choice I think - it's a lovely, perennially popular classic which never goes out of fashion and has the most nickname choices (but he will most likely be the two syllable Alex or maybe Xander).

Thank you so much for all your comments! Particularly to the poster who said she liked having a 1 syllable first name and surname - that's really reassuring!

I suppose of the three i like Robert the least but like the shortening Bobbie or Robbie for a little one the best! I have a little girl and she has a 3 syllable name I love but it doesn't have an obvious abbreviation. I didn't really think about affectionate shortenings with her which does bother me a bit so I want to get long name and short name right this time!

My father is called Christopher and although everyone calls him Chris my mother has always called him Christopher so I've always heard it as a long name IYSWIM!

What does anyone think of Sasha as a shortening for a bit for for Alexander? Or Alexei? (I'm really into a Russian stuff!!)

I'm biased towards Alexander and Christopher, but then they are middle names for 2 of my dc, Aubrey Alexander and Elliott Christopher. And I very much prefer the longer versions rather than shortening the names. Oh and not Sasha, that makes me think of a girl.

Thanks Phillipa - I did think that about Sasha in this country - people definitely assume girls name!

Assuming you are in the UK, Sasha as a nn is nice and well heard of - although you may get the odd person who thinks it's feminine (similar to the unisex Alex I suppose). Alexei is quite strongly Russian sounding, so you'll likely get a few people wondering/asking why you named him that if your surname sounds very British. There's also the Scottish origin nn's Alec or Sandy if you want more nn choices!

All lovely especially when shortened.

I’d add Ben, Edward and James

@GlennRheeismyfavourite

What does anyone think of Sasha as a shortening for a bit for for Alexander? Or Alexei? (I'm really into a Russian stuff!!)

Weird. But then I find preselected nicknames weird.

Like my friend who named her son Alexander but insisted everyone called him Xander. If you name a child Alexander call them that.

I do know what you mean about preselected nicknames - I totally get that my son will have his own friends who come up with whatever they want! It's more I want a name with a shortening that I know I want to use! I do like Daniel and Matthew which have both been suggested. I just wonder if I'm missing something really special!

I had a thread similar to this a couple of days ago. Also a 1 syllable B surname. Current boys are daniel and oliver. We like Samuel, Matthew, Christopher, Alexander. Less keen on Robert though it works fine but often shortened to Bobby. Jonathan also works.

I really like Jonathan but it's an exboyfriends name so won't be going with that!!

I have sons with two of those three names Neither ever gets shortened by friends or family or anyone but me. It's not inevitable they'll get shortened.

Alexander is my favourite on your list. (Mine tried out Lex as a NN but has stuck with his full name)

Robert or Christopher, both more unusual in the current generation of babies being born.