Samuel, William, Otto or Blaise?!

[alrightbab]

Hello! Just had DS2 so the clock is ticking to choose a name. Really struggling with this second time round after being delighted with our DS1’s name.
Anyone have any thoughts on our shortlist? DH isn’t super keen on Otto but I think he could be persuaded; he likes Blaise but I don’t think it goes with our surname. Our other two choices are obviously much more popular.
Also ideally we would like the name to work both in the UK and in Germany as we’ll be spending quite a bit of time in Germany in the next few years (including potentially some schooling/kindergarten time).
Grateful for any thoughts

[SHB2021]

I’m biased as I have a William and love it!

[Stevearnottsbeard]

I'm biased as I have a Samuel but it really is a great name!! William would be my second choice, don't like the other 2.

[SuperbOwls]

Ooh Ivo is a great suggestion, that's one of my guilty pleasure names too.

I can't believe so many people are perplexed by the name Blaise. I would have thought Blaise Pascal was well known enough...

[Quaggars]

Love both Samuel and William out of your list.
Don't like Otto or Blaise at all, sorry.
Otto makes me think of the hippy type school bus driver in the Simpsons

[Moonface123]

Congratulations,
I love the name Samuel.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Oh, Ivan / Ivo is lovely.

[Sunshinegirl82]

How about Ivo?

[ElderMillennial]

Yes pronounced like Blaze.

[PPCD]

Definitely Blaise

[Sunshinegirl82]

How is Blaise pronounced? Like Blaze?

I hear Blaise/Blaze and I think "and the Monster Machines"! My 2yo DS is obsessed!

[ElderMillennial]

Blaise is a real name, the name of a saint.

I like it OP but the meaning is lisp or stutter which put me off.

[NautaOcts]

Sorry..... Blaise???

[CabernetSoWhat]

Samuel or William get my vote

Otto... von Bismarck
Blaise.. and the Monster Machines

[lottiegarbanzo]

Blaise sounds very Jilly Cooper smouldering seducer to me.

[Fyredraca]

Otto is old fashioned in Germany, and not having a revival.
Kevin is really popular in Germany right now

[derryrose1980]

Love Blaise. Popular enough in Ireland-remember being taken to Mass every year on feast of St Blaise to get my throat blessed.

[FolornLawn]

What about Sebastian? For me that’s in the same camp as Alexander.

[knitpicker]

Can’t believe the hate for Blaise - I am friendly with two, one man and one woman, both are awesome people. I know of a baby called Blaise after the man. I know another man called Blaise but less well. It is a Saint’s name so relatively well known in Ireland.

[campion]

Samuel is lovely and suits child and adult. Often shortened to Sam but that's ok, though I still prefer, and use, the full name on DS.I do admit to much bias here but I still love it.

William's good too. Otto I like but no idea about current usage in Germany if that matters.

Blaise. No, not really.

[alexdgr8]

Samuel or
William

[Poorlykitten]

Otto sounds like a dog’s name,

[Holly60]

Otto or William for me.

[user1493494961]

Samuel is lovely and William's nice. Not keen on Otto, although it seems to be getting popular. Blaise is awful and compared to Alexander, he would definitely have drawn the short straw.

[alrightbab]

@SuperbOwls

I think Otto is quite dated in Germany at the moment? Sort of like calling a baby Keith or Trevor over here...I have a real soft spot for Blaise, mostly because I knew a super cool one years ago. Samuel and William both nice, or something like Felix maybe? That's a pretty popular name in Germany.

I like felix too but sadly husband doesn’t and it doesn’t work very well with our surname.

[LunaL0veg00d]

I love Otto.

I know a Blaise who is a girl.