HELP…rate my boys names?!

[RateMyNames]

My partner has vetoed every name I’ve suggested but hasn’t bothered to put forward any names himself 🙃

Helpfully…he’s said he’d like “us” to choose a name that nobody we know has and that isn’t too popular. Our daughter is Cora and we both fell in love with the name when I was expecting her. Her name is Greek in origin but has Scottish and English meanings. Something similar would be great but given my OH is so fussy I don’t think we can be too particular!

I’ve had to let go of some lovely choices (I think anyway) and I’m not sure I love any of these yet but here goes…can you rate them?

Innes
Calan
Irvine
Nicol - Scots version of Nicholas
Cohen
Blake
Caden
Emmett
Flynn
Ezra
Reuben
Errol
Rafe

Open to other suggestion too 🙂

I loved it when we were looking for boys names but I have no Scottish connections so we ended up with an Edgar :) I think it's very stylish and unusual! Please use it.

@RateMyNames Yes I think Cora/Ezra too matchy.
Adding more suggestions,
Finlay, Lachlan, Lewis, Lyle, Niven, Scott?
I'm still loving Innes and Nicol though.
I only ever hear comments about spelling or being mistaken for the opposite sex on this site. In the "real" world, you tell people what your baby's name is and that's that.

@Bideshi this is something that came up (think I spotted it on a similar thread) when we were looking for names for our firstborn (long time ago) and I had completely forgotten. So thank you for reminding me.

I like Cohen, Reuben and Rafe

Innes - I like it, but too similar to Ines/Inez for a girl which is on the up I think so will cause confusion (unless you are actually in Scotland)

Calan - Bit nothingy. Corin or Caleb maybe better

Irvine - quite like it. I think it needs a nn though..

Nicol - Scots version of Nicholas - alright, I like Nico as a short form.

Cohen - especially weird if you aren’t Jewish, but odd as a surname anyway.

Blake - meh

Caden - no, Caleb is better

Emmett - I don’t like it but it’s fine

Flynn - great

Ezra - great

Reuben - nice but v overused

Errol - behave yourself

Rafe - great

Rufus

Kester (Scots version of Christopher)

Casper

Silas

Jerome

Jethro

Ivo

Struan

Hamish

Angus

Alistair

Lorne

Patrick

Ronan

Rory

Alistair

Gregor

Gillies

Duncan

Douglas

Donal

Donald

Alexander nn Sandy

Robert

Gawain

Idris

Ethan

Jared

@Adultchildofelderlyparents yes I agree! I’m not put off by the spelling thing. My name is so common in my age group - think Hannah - and I sometimes have to spell it when I’m on calls. So I don’t think it matters how popular or unusual your name is, there will always be instances where you have to spell it out.

Most of those names are out due to connections, sadly. Lyle I like but my little one started singing Lyle, Lyle Crocodile when I mentioned it in front of her. Niven is lovely!

Innes - ok. Means island I think
Calan - can be a Welsh name meaning eve (as in Christmas eve, not Adam's wife)
Irvine - not keen
Nicol - Scots version of Nicholas - not sure. Too much like nickel?
Cohen - Jewish surname
Blake - not unusual
Caden - will blend in with the Jayden, Kayden, Aiden tren
Emmett - sounds weak
Flynn - lots of Finns and Flynns
Ezra - popular
Reuben - very popular
Errol - You Sexy Thing
Rafe - not unusual

Rupert?
Peter?
Arthur?

Innes - lovely. Not sure it works with Harris though.
Calan - I like this but it feels a bit matchy for me with Cora
Irvine - it's ok.
Nicol - Scots version of Nicholas - I like this
Cohen - no I dislike this a lot - especially with Cora
Blake - no
Caden - no
Emmett - no
Flynn - nice
Ezra - nice
Reuben - nice
Errol - no
Rafe - gorgeous

Innes- no
Calan- no
Irvine- no
Nicol - Scots version of Nicholas- ok but might get mistaken for nicole
Cohen- no
Blake- no
Caden- definitely no
Emmett- like
Flynn- love
Ezra- meh
Reuben- meh
Errol- like but most won’t!
Rafe- love

I'm really sorry, but you did ask. They're all awful. Really, really dreadful. I'm not sure if you're serious

@Fivebeanchilli @Mumofgirls2017 thanks. The constructive responses are helping me narrow down options and I’ve added a few others. It’s hard starting from a place where your OH has said no to any names you love. And I’m still not sure I love any on the new shortlist! So tough!

Might start another thread some time. That’s if my poor pregnant heart can keep taking a flaming 😅