Why are boys names so difficult with our surname?

[Gallante]

Our surname is Valentine and really struggling for a boy’s name due to initials.

I want to avoid names beginning: B, C, D, H, I, N, T

So far on list but we can’t agree on any 100%:
Alexander
Arlo
Kai
Rowan
Zachary

[Crunchygrass]

I think Alexander Valentine is a beautiful name.

[weathervane1]

Anthony?

[ZandathePanda]

James or Joseph goes nicely.
I would be tempted to go for Xavier and have XV as initials.

[Pricklesinperil]

Scott Valentine
Robert Valentine
James Valentine
Edward Valentine

Personally, I think a J as the middle initial works well with your surname- e.g Scott J Valentine or Robert J Valentine

[Penfelyn]

I frankly couldn't be arsed to care so much about initials. Stick a middle name in there if you're concerned. Even if his initials were DV so what ? Do you think most people really would associate these random letters with domestic violence ?

I don't say this to be harsh, I just mean you're making your own life harder than it needs to be. I'd understand avoiding initials like BJ or SS but at the end of the day every single letter combination can probably be an acronym for something.

For what it's worth initials didn't hurt Johnson's political career.

[larkstar]

When you say you are struggling why exclude so many names without giving a good reason - it doesn't make sense? Fair enough if your surname is Hole and you want to avoid first names beginning with A.

[DGay]

@Crunchygrass

I think Alexander Valentine is a beautiful name.

I like Alexander too

[MissedItByThisMuch]

I think you’re way overthinking the initials thing, but Alexander Valentine is nice. I think pretty much any name goes well with Valentine. Not sure what to suggest - that’s a pretty eclectic list! Agree with pp that James goes well too.

[octoberfarm]

Ooh, I love Alexander Valentine! Perhaps also William?

[Cindie943811A]

@Penfelyn Boris’s parents avoided the problem with the initials — his first name is Alexander

[Cindie943811A]

DV is also used for diarrhoea and vomiting and I wouldn’t want to risk the names other kids could make out of that.
I think you have a very attractive surname OP. There are so many name combinations that sound quite distinguished .
Alexander would be my choice.
Jonathan
Kerry
Kenton

[Mammyloveswine]

Id embrace your surname and go for Romeo Valentine...

Or Beau Valentine..

[Thefruitbatdancer]

Alexander James Valentine is a beautiful combination of names

[Thefruitbatdancer]

You'll have two nn's with Alexander: Alex or Xander

[Eleusa]

It’s a lovely surname and I’d be tempted by a classic name- James, Edward, John/Jack. On your list I like Alexander, not so keen on the others.

[Starbeach]

Oliver, Michael, James,

[1some1]

I'm not understanding the initials problem, just barely get worry about D&V.
There's a lot of alphabet left to you.

I thought the surname would be Coxswain or Smoron, at very least.

[AmberGer]

Vincent (VV)

[Mumofgirls2017]

I like all your names, Alexander probably fave

milo
Edward
jasper
ivor
rory
louis
sebastian
otis
leo
magnus
maxwell

[Fivebeanchilli]

I think most of the initials are fine.
I think you need to embrace the cool surname. Alexander is great.
Kai is too short and inconsequential with Valentine. Kit works better if you want a shorter name.
I also like:
Alastair
Barnaby (I think B - middle initial - V is fine)
Freddie / Frederick
Hector
Henry
Oscar

[FayCarew]

Go for a shortish name with hard consonants.
Alexander is too long
Arlo is too vowelly
Kai - lots of people dislike it
Rowan too unisex
Zachary too long

Vincent and Xavier make the name combination seem lispy, so a No from me

People usually get called by first name and surname, more so if the first name is very popular

Names that will work with the surname IME
Mark
Lewis (but not Louis)
Thomas
George
Matthew
Noah
Hugo

[Belephant]

I really, really wouldn't worry about initials...

But from your list, Alexander Valentine is such a good name!

[emmathedilemma]

I agree that you're overthinking the initials thing, I don't even know what some of those you've ruled out would stand with a V attached to them!
Your list is all ok apart from Kai which doesn't really flow with Valentine (and is a pretty awful name).
Joshua Valentine
Jacob Valentine
Rocco Valentine
Patrick Valentine
Rueben Valentine
Adam Valentine

[Eleusa]

Patrick Valentine is an amazing name.

[AliBaliBears]

Love Alexander Valentine! And the PPs suggestion of Xavier Valentine is great too.