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

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.

Otto or William for me.

Otto sounds like a dog’s name,

Samuel or
William

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.

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.

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

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

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

Blaise sounds very Jilly Cooper smouldering seducer to me.

Samuel or William get my vote

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

Sorry..... Blaise???

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.

How is Blaise pronounced? Like Blaze?

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

Definitely Blaise

Yes pronounced like Blaze.

How about Ivo?

Oh, Ivan / Ivo is lovely.

Congratulations,
I love the name Samuel.

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

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...

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.

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