Boys Names List

[Bruce2]

What would be your top pick of this list

Damien
Dominic
Tobias
Jonathan
Nicholas
Gabriel

Jonathan is my favourite, I also like Tobias and Dominic.

Damien would be at the bottom of my list.

I think I might be a victim of the Gabriel trend as I'm suddenly loving this name too! It's so strange how everyone can suddenly start liking the name and it crops up everywhere.
It happened with Jesse too.

With regards to your question it definitely has religious connotations but that's not a bad thing, although I'm not certain I would go ahead with it. I would worry about the nickname Gayboy. I know, I know that shouldn't matter in this day and age but I imagine it still does happen.
Damien just makes me think of the devil, it's silly really as I believe it all came from that one film. I'm sure that association will fade but it hasn't yet.

I really like Jonathan actually nickname Jonny.

That’s where my brain goes with Gabriel (the angel).

Damien - eeek no. And you have better choices
Dominic - like, but not as good as some others here
Tobias - good, actually much prefer Toby, but it's popular
Jonathan - great, underused but classic - jackpot. Love with Jonty for short and Johnny/Jon is a great adult option. The best
Nicholas - another great underused classic, but second choice as Nick is pretty boring really.
Gabriel - love, but it's pretty overused these days. Used to be a brilliant left-field choice and now it's a pretty middle-class standard option. Today, Nicholas or Jonathan would be a much fresher choice.

Jonty!

@YoniAndGuy

Damien - eeek no. And you have better choices Dominic - like, but not as good as some others here Tobias - good, actually much prefer Toby, but it's popular Jonathan - great, underused but classic - jackpot. Love with Jonty for short and Johnny/Jon is a great adult option. The best Nicholas - another great underused classic, but second choice as Nick is pretty boring really. Gabriel - love, but it's pretty overused these days. Used to be a brilliant left-field choice and now it's a pretty middle-class standard option. Today, Nicholas or Jonathan would be a much fresher choice.

Jonty!

Like Jonty as a NN Good shout

Hubby has vetoed Tobias & Gabriel - says with a West of Scotland accent it just doesn't sit right and can't see himself telling his mates he's named his son "something like that"
I like both but what can I do!

So the favourites he are

Nicholas
Jonathan (Nn Jon or Jonty)
Dominic (nn Raab or Cummings )
Damien - again it's a least favourite

Thanks all xx

My son is Nicholas John. No regrets.

@Diana22

My son is Nicholas John. No regrets.

Ok so quick question

Do you shorten Nicholas at all to say Nicol or Nic? Or just keep full name?

And also...really silly one I know. Do you find people have trouble with the S at end
Like Nicholas's or just Nicholas'
Before you say anything...I understand it's a totally irrelevant thing to query but that's the one thing that I gave a reservation over.

I love the name but a friends son is Lucas and it sometimes people say too many "S" sounds at end and it annoys me
"Lucas's's jacket"

My son is a Nicholas who is generally referred to as Nick. Or Nicky.

I don’t find people do that with the S at the end. Our surname starts with S so sometimes his full name can become a bit of a tongue twister!

@ReeseWitherfork

My son is a Nicholas who is generally referred to as Nick. Or Nicky.

I don’t find people do that with the S at the end. Our surname starts with S so sometimes his full name can become a bit of a tongue twister!

Ok that's good to know thanks

Felt really ridiculous asking that question!

I really like Nicky on a little boy.

@Bruce2 I know what you mean about an S ending! It put me off the name Otis. 'Otis's socks' I think it's more noticeable when a name is short. It wouldn't be a real breaker though if it had been my favourite.

Deal*

Not a ridiculous question at all! I don’t think I considered it because I wanted a Nick more than a Nicholas. If he’d been a James it may have been different.

(Trying to pick a name that couldn’t be shortened and have failed, but my brain can’t think of an alternative.)

Oh if there's Scottish family, they will be pleased with having the option of Johnny I imagine. Good solid one.

Nicky on a boy sounds a bit off to me, as it's also the short for Nicola and much more associated with that, it sounds feminine. I feel the same if a Nicola goes to Nick! Feels as if Nick belongs to Nicholas.

Coincidentally, my sister is called Nicola and she gets shortened to Nic. My son is only called Nicky in conversation, never written down. And my sister is only ever called Nic in conversation, rarely written down.

I’m not massively keen on “Nicky” for a boy either but he ends up being called that as a term of endearment more than anything else and it works.

So with the Damien = devil connotations
Does no one think of Gabriel = Jesus/Catholic/religious type connotations or it does but it's more widely accepted?

I think society is so secular now, that pop culture trumps religion in most peoples references. Michael is such a popular name, I wouldn't automatically think of the Angel, similarly with Gabriel now it's been in the top 100 for a while. I would have been hesitant using Gabriel 10 or 20 years ago (when it was less popular) but that would have been because of the "gay" sound in the name (bullies being what they are) rather than because of religious connotations.

I love Tobias (but dislike Toby) so that would be my top pick

Damien - it makes me think of the Oman, maybe as Ive read it and seen the film, I don't know

Dominic - lovely classic, but underused name

Jonathan - I really like it, another classic but underused name

Nicholas - like it, though I've met a few young Nicholas' recently. I think Nicky is a cute nn for a young child

Gabriel - like but not as much as the others, though more than Damien

@ReeseWitherfork

Coincidentally, my sister is called Nicola and she gets shortened to Nic. My son is only called Nicky in conversation, never written down. And my sister is only ever called Nic in conversation, rarely written down.

I’m not massively keen on “Nicky” for a boy either but he ends up being called that as a term of endearment more than anything else and it works.

Yes I like it more as a term of endearment. Knew a bloke who was completely known as Nicky - think eg Nicky Robertson and EVERYONE assumed woman until they met him! Just looked so odd written down.

Dominic would be my favourite

Dominic or Tobias.

Fab list!

Excellent list.

My top choices would be Nicholas, Jonathan and Dominic which were also on my list for the DC. Tobias is great too. I also like Damien but agree it does have connotations, as does Gabriel.

Top choice if I get one vote would be Nicholas. Or Jonathan. Or Dominic. Love them all.

Thanks again everyone :) do appreciate the opinions and love the list is getting. So refreshing to hear people still like the traditional non popular names these days.

Dominic or Jonathan firm favourites within the household
Damien now moved into 3rd place (this will change when we wake tomorrow and it'll be that "nah can't call him that" debate again)
Nicholas 4th

Nicholas John was mainly referred to as Nicky as a very young child.
At 12 he is called Nick, I have asked him about it and he really likes his name.

Oh and to answer your question, he will probably not be called Nicholas much at all so don’t worry about how that rolls.
My Nicholas is only ever called that by new teachers and myself when cross.
It is still a strong name to go by if that is what they want to be called by as an adult though.

Another issue with Damien (apart from the obvious horrible one!) is the short form.

Damo?
Dame?
Dam?

None of them are good! Remember, it's really the short form which will probably end up being that everyday part of your lives and what you associate with your child and what most people call them. Would you rather live with a Jonty/Jon, a Nick/Nicky, or a Dame/Damo?