Stuck between two

[hiraethx]

Elias or Caleb?

Both nice names...I prefer Caleb slightly more though....I know little boys with each name so rising in popularity for sure.

Caleb

Prefer Caleb, but they’re both nice names

They’re both really nice in fairness. I would choose Elias just for the totally personal (and ridiculous) reason that I think Caleb was the mean grandpa who didn’t like Ryan in The OC. I also like Eli for a nickname possibly.

Bugger! My eldest name skyrocketed after I chose it and he's one of 3 in his class. I thought I was being more unique with these ones!

Elias by a mile.

I like Caleb best, I only know one who is a 2nd cousin and that's it in the past 10 years.

Ooh I don’t think they’re really unique. With a name like Elias as well, I wouldn’t just look at where it is on the charts but I’d also count where Elijah and Eli are. I know they’re different names, but it’s like Emilia/Amelia/Amelie. All those parents think oh number whatever, that’s not bad, but it feels sooo much more popular because there’s also so many extremely similar (basically the same) names. So if you’re going for not popular I’d totally avoid an Eli - I know loads from babies to my oldest son’s age. I’ve never met a Caleb though.

Maybe Cyrus or Silas? Similar sound to Elias. Or there is a website, can’t remember the name, where you type in names you like and it gives you a long list of similar type of names. You could use something like that to find a similar but less popular name.

Yep...I have same problem OP. My DC is 7 and I now personally know 5 others with same name (3 of whom "copied" us...saying how nice a name it is)...and now a kid in school with the name!!! I think "old fashioned" Biblical names are making a come-back. We have no Jacks/Harrys in DC class! Lots of girls with names ending in "a" though!!!!

I love both of them a lot, it would depend on surname, middle name and any siblings?

Middle name likely to be James
Surname I think goes with both
Brother is Theo

What letter does the surname start with? Some names roll together better than others

Caleb.

Love Elias! Eli is also a great nick name. Not so keen on Caleb as it ends rather abruptly. There is no such thing as a real name that is also unique, so go with what you like. Plenty of names that were unheard of 20 years ago are now popular and John and Mary have all but vanished.

OP You can check name popularity and trends here (for England and Wales):
names.darkgreener.com/

Elias is rising in popularity quite quickly and is now just outside the top 100: names.darkgreener.com/#elias
Caleb ranks no. 76: names.darkgreener.com/#caleb

Much prefer Caleb

Elias

I actually can't stand Caleb - it just sounds totally weird to have a name ending in 'eb'...

I've seen a couple of threads on here when I searched the name saying about the 'eb' sound. I feel like it sounds more like 'ub' similar to Jacob, it sounds perfectly normal to me?!

Elias

Elias

I like them both. Though both are pretty popular.

Elias would be my choice.

I’d go with Caleb.

I like them both but swinging slightly more towards Elias

Both nice, but I lean more towards the sound of Caleb with Theo (maybe it's the two syllables?).

But yes, both Elias and Caleb are more popular than they used to be if that a concern - but I really don't think they'll reach Theo levels as that boomed from Leo's popularity and the trendy "o" ending (Milo, Arlo...) . If you want uncommon, short Biblical maybe Asa or Jared?

Elias James is absolutely lovely