Help with boys names - Clem, Louis or Leo

[Penny19]

After years of miscarriages and IVF, we are finally going to have a baby boy in November. My name was always rare and loved being the only one. I know it is a little harder for boys names, but I would like it to be a little unique but not out there. I like Leo and Louis but I know they are so popular right now (despite not being that common when we first started to try!) I also like the name Clem which is obviously less common (clement, which i am less keen on, but could always be called clem) I know someone lovely with that name, so maybe I am a bit biased. Would love any thoughts, open to honest (but kindly expressed!) thoughts. 😂

I quite like clement, clean is fine as a shortening. If you want unusual don’t go for either of the other 2. Clemmie and clem are quite popular for girls though

As several PPs have said, Clem rhymes with phlegm. But also where I'm from a clem is a testicle, so it wouldn't be a name used round here.

As an aside, I loved the name Clementine but couldn't use it for this reason.

Louis and Leo are equally lovely in my opinion.

The only Clem that came to my mind too!

I'd go with Louis tbh

Firstly, thank you all so much for your replies! Really appreciate it.😍

@MrsSamR thank you! And for your suggestions, I love your choices. We did have Herbert as a contender but it doesn't really go with our surname I don't think, but I do really like herb / herbie, esp for a little boy.

Clem got the polarising reaction I thought it would 😂Which is to be expected with less common names - always a bit marmite. Some of the pushback on it is fair and helpful, except I don't think the rhyming with phlegm is a show-stopper, as most names can be made to rhyme with something negative e.g. louis rhymes with pooey! The male Clem(ent) I know is often called clemo or cle (pronounced clay) which are nice nns (I think)

@Rainbowfruitpunch - I really like the connection with Clem Atlee too!

@ItsNotRocketSalad - I forgot about that clem, he was a nice demon though!

Feedback on Louis also v helpful - the spelling thing is a fair point but I think Prince Louis may help with that - although the fact it is a royal name isn't a positive for me personally.

Leo is no.2 in my area (london). So our current favourite 2 options are either super common or completely unusual. Perhaps will just have to decide when we meet him!

Just want to say congratulations, IVF is a terribly hard journey. People will always have an opinion whatever you choose to call him so just go with your gut xx

I love Clem and have known it used for both boys and girls.
If you want slightly more unusual names how about Jago?

Not keen on Clem tbh. Sounds soo much like phlegm. Leo or Louis is much better.

I was trying to work out why Jago had come to mind, then realised that Clemo is another Cornish name.

Clem sounds like an std

Louis
Lawrence
Liam
Leonardo

There was a lovely Clem in the book The Diddakoi (televised as Kizzy). He was the only one of the big boys to stand up against the bullies.

Clem is horrid - sorry. Just a horrible sound and the only Clem I know of is a member of the Manson family so not a great association! Leo and Louis are lovely.

Also Clementine is an extremely trendy name for girls recently so a little boy Clem might be displeased to find he shares a nickname with a lot of little girls

Clem

I love Clement. It's a gorgeous name.

Louis and Leo are very nice. I don't think you can go wrong between the three of them.

Oh I love Clement/Clem please use it!! Agree that if you want unusual Louis and Leo are out although both lovely.

I feel like Clem has exactly the vibe you describe and as you say names can be made to rhyme with anything - Louis/pooey, Kit/shit, Bertie/dirty just to take some examples from this thread.

I think Clem/Clemmie is becoming increasingly popular as a girls name, so that’s something to consider if it would bother you (or him).

Leo is very popular to the point it does feel overused to me (it’s number 6 currently).
I like Clement but really dislike Clem.
Louis is gorgeous, I’d go with that.

I have a Leo. He’s 10. I absolutely love the name and there aren’t too many in his age group although there are younger ones popping up everywhere!

I would say go with a name you love regardless of popularity.

I like Clement (less keen on Clem). I also love Giles for another idea.

Clement - Clem is great.

Louis and Leo are also but they are very popular, as you say.

Other handsome C names ..
Claude
Clive
Clyde
Cedric
Clancy
Crawford
Clifford
Craig
Colin
Columbus
Chester
Charles
Cecil
Cahil
Caspar
Cassius
Caleb
Cuthbert

Tbh it sounds like an American hillbilly name to me.

Clement/Clem is lovely. I also like Leo more than Louis.

Clem is awful, sorry but makes me think of phlegm 🤢 Leo & Louis both gorgeous names, 2 of my favourites and suit a little boy as well as a man 💙

No to Clem, sounds like phlegm to me.

Love Louis and Leo.

What about Lincoln or Lleyton?