DS2 is now 10 days old but doesn’t have a name - Otto or Rafe

[Newdadadvice]

Hi All,
Our DS2 is now 10 days old and we haven’t been able to make a final decision on names! We’re looking for something that isn’t stupidly popular but also not too far off the beaten track. Our two final options are Otto and Rafe.

If it matters we’re based in SE England near London and surname is Carroll.

I’d welcome any opinions on either name - as we can’t pick between the two!

To answer a few questions
DS1 is Benji (Benjamin)
We’re considering either Otto Leo or Rafe Otto as first-middle name combos
Whilst DS2 is 10 days old he did spend 6 days in neonatal and we decided we weren’t going to focus on names until we were home - we’ve been trying to use names, however have found that between missing my wife between sleeps and childcare for DS1 we’ve not had much opportunity to use them in conversation!!

Otto Leo is too ‘o’-ey.

Otto.

Rafe is too posh and close to ‘rape’

Leo is a lovely name, why not use it as a first name?

Rafe Otto for sure. Sounds great with the surname. Otto Leo is too 'o'ey, as the PP above said, and Otto Carroll doesn't go as well as Rafe Carroll. With Rafe Otto, you get both the names you love and Rafe Carroll sounds amazing too

One issue with Otto is that there is a surname O'Carroll - so it may sound like Ott O'Carroll. Though this depends where you are/your family background.

I actually like Leo, even though technically it has the same problem, but I think the name and surname flow better. But of the two would prefer Rafe.

Otto is the best one.

I like Leo the best followed by Rafe but I'd make it Raphael. Seems odd that DS1 gets a full name and DS2 only gets a nickname.

I prefer Leo out of your names too.

Prefer Rafe with your surname. Would you spell it that way to ensure correct pronunciation, or spell it “Ralph”?

Just throwing out a few wild cards:
Robert Leo Carroll
Leo Elliot Carroll
Leo Rafe Carroll
Rafe William Carroll

I don’t know why but “Otto Carroll” just doesn’t have the right flow to it somehow.

Leo Rafe! Otto doesn’t go with your surname and Leo and Otto don’t go with each other.

Dominic is defo Benjamin's brother

Rafe- goes much better with your surname.

Rafe is the better option of the two

Agree with a pp. Dominic. Or Joseph. I like Raphael.

Rafe

Some other suggestions (I do like Leo, though)

Alexander (Alex or Xander)
Ethan
Isaac
Ivo
James
Max
Toby
Zachary (Zach)

You can't pick because neither is right.

How about Darrell or Pharrell, or William.

Leo is nice but I don't like Otto or Rafe. Otto is too ottery and Rafe is Ralph spelt differently.

Rafe. It’s cool, sophisticated and goes better with your surname.

Rafe I love

Why not Rafael and then shortened to Rafe? I do think he might have a hard time with the ‘tape’ comparison and Otto doesn’t work with Carroll

Rhett Otto Carroll

@NuffSaidSam

I like Otto better.

I think Rafe is too 'posh', too nicknamey and too close to Rape.

I went to an utterly shit school, but had a lad called Rafe there. Nobody picked on his name - and this was a place you'd imagine only existed on TV.

I think it goes far better with the surname than Otto.

I'm not fond of either name with your surname to be honest (sorry!). As per the poster above, how about Rafael? That's much nicer.