Challenge - what's our middle ground?!

[Timemysticaltime]

Hi fellow namenerds, I have a challenge for you.

My husband and I are expecting a boy next month and are poles apart in taste. Wondering if you can suggest names that would fit in between us both?

My husband likes I'd say slightly harsher sounding Americany names and surname names: Everett, Edison, Emmett, Lincoln.

I prefer softer names, often biblical, sometimes with Irish/Welsh/Scottish roots: Jude, Isaac, Asher, Felix, Finn, Jonah, Cassian.

We have a shortlist of 5 that we both kind of like, 1 I would say from each of our own styles and 3 that fall somewhere in between. I won't say what these are so as not to sway answers but will reply if you mention any.

So please help! What names would you say meet in between these two different styles? Bonus if they are in that sought after sweet spot of unusual but not too weird.

Some names we both do love but can't use for various reasons: Zachary, Sebastian, Noah and Robin.

Thank you for any ideas!!

Jasper
Casper/Caspian
William
Carter
Tobin
Abram
Leo
Jacob

One on my shortlist felt (to me) like it had both of these elements: Linus.

Jasper was my first thought and I see it's top of @octoberfarm's list!

Also
Lucas
Archie
Jacob
Thomas
Oscar

Xavier
Reuben
Cormac
Hector
Bennett

Griffin
Dominic
Calvin
Lennox
Rhys

Clement
Elliott
Beckett
Hayden
Holden

Conrad
Atticus
Coleman
Elijah
Finn

Alden
Fergus
Ezra
Jude
Rowan

Myles
Fintan
Marshall
Nathaniel
Wyatt

Levi
Quentin
Caleb
Finley
Dalton

Barnaby
Franklin
Digby
Ivo
Landon

No name ideas, but we really struggled with boys names and when DS was born and was in fact a boy we looked at our shortlist and chose three. Then we took the first night and each ranked them privately, then the next day compared rankings and although we had different number 1s our number 2 choices were the same, so that's what DS was called.

Now I can't imagine him being anything else, and even though his name was never top of either of our lists at any point during pregnancy it seems perfect for him.

Ellis
Elliot
Logan
chester
Scott

Lachlan
John
William
Theo

Everude
Edisac
Emmeash
Lincolix

Tanner
Talan
Franklin
Dylan
Ryan
Isaiah
Sullivan
Sawyer

Ashton
Brogan
Logan
Joseph
Tudor
Corey
Cooper
Cristian
Mason
Christopher
Ross
William
Murray

Alistair
Eric
Rory
Nathaniel/Nate
Ethan
Elliot
Xander
Dexter
Quentin
Lawrence
Julian
Gregory
Caleb
Jonah
Jethro
Maxim
Inigo
Tobias
Vincent
Hector
Oscar
Benedict
Gabriel/Gabe
Marcus

Seth
Nicholas
Matthew

Tricky! Sorry if been mentioned. How about

ezra
elijah
ellis
spencer
chester
archer
cassidy
casper
rowan
roman
jesse
seth
flynn
brodie
huxley
harvey
jensen
joel
river

I love Emmett

Dylan seems a perfect mix of both

Reuben
Quentin
Elliott
Dominic
Zachary

August
Calvin
Ozzy
Sterling
Maverick
Peyton
Paxton
Dexter
Elliot
Flynn
Marley
Willoughby
Theodore
Quinn

Milo
Seth

Do you know why he likes surnames as first names? What impression does it convey to him?
Personally, I really don’t like them, to me they say brash and loud and try-hard. But to him, those names convey something different , and if you discuss and agree on what it is that you want the name to say about your son, you might find it easier to pick one together.

Ethan
Elliot
Ewan
Nate
Fabian
Anthony
Anton
Axel
Simeon
Judah
Lyndon
Duncan
Angus
Abel
Zane
Milo
Otis
Fintan

Love Linus

Also
Campbell
Malachy
Logan
Dylan
Leonard/Lenny
Cameron
Ellis
Owen

Ellis
Dylan
Morgan
Magnus
Lucian
Rowan

That's really helpful advice, thank you! I think I'm being held back by the fact that our compromises do feel like compromises and I want to love the name we choose but I just can't see it happening at this point so it's really good to hear that you were both happy with the name you chose even though it wasn't a favourite.

Haha very funny 🤣 I did think these were a bit odd until the penny dropped!

Yes I know surnames as firsts aren't popular on here from my browsing! I really like this train of thought though. I have asked him about certain names before and why he likes them and he has said that, for example, Everett to him sounds like he would grow into a respectful and kind young man so I suppose it's more of a vibe from each individual name that he's getting?

I will ask him about this in a bit more detail and it's probably worth considering why I like the names I like too and what it is about them that draws me. I think it's probably softer vowel sounds make me think of a kind and sweet boy though that's a bit silly as the sound of your name has no bearing on your personality! Interesting to ponder though isn't it!