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!!

Cameron fits for me. Lachlan, Hamis, James, Gregor?

Hamish*

Though also Harris?

This seems to be the most suggested name here and it is a perfect suggestion and I love it but we absolutely cannot use it as it is my husband's name!! Typical 🤣

Do you like ..
Rupert
Crispin
Edward
Thomas
Elliot
Adam

Arthur
Nathaniel (Nate)
Seth
Theo
Jesse

@Timemysticaltime do you mean Harris would be perfect?
If so then maybe:
Brodie
Struan
Blair
Duncan
Cameron
Ross
Douglas
Gregor
Laurence
Murray
Ramsay

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I like and will suggest to DH: Caleb, Rory, Barnaby, Franklin, Ivo, Ellis, Chester, Corey, Dexter, Harvey, Huxley, Cameron, Ozzy. There are soooo many names here as well that I absolutely love but he has vetoed.

Lots from our longlist and shortlist have been suggested too so that's encouraging for me that maybe we have found a sweet spot haha - Ewan, Elijah, Dominic, Joseph, Rowan, Sullivan, Archer, Flynn. Any favourites from these?

Oh no sorry I forgot to quote the right post, the name that's being brought up a lot is Dylan!

Dylan
Ewan
Flynn
Joseph

All beautiful classy names for boys

We have a Lachlan and Flynn & Rohan (prefer this spelling) are on our list for DS2.

I also like Stellan, Jago, Callan, Conan and Conrad.

Something with an -n sound at the end is your best bet, comparing your lists.

Surnames as male first names is a good Scottish tradition so you could lean into that: Finlay, Cameron, Blair, Ross, Lewis, Campbell, Lennox, Harris, Hamilton,

Or the biblical: Joel, Jonathan, Jonah, Joshua, Asher, Ezra, Benjamin etc

How about names that appeal if one uses the full name and the other a shortening?

examples more than suggestions!

Harrison/Harry
Jackson /Jack
Nathaniel/Nate

please post when you've decided. I don't usually bother too much, but you have me intrigued at what you can agree on & both love!

Logan
Lachlan
Duncan
Cameron
Fraser
Fergus

Jameson nn Jamie

I'd lean into the "names that are also surnames but completely sounding first names by themselves" vibe.

I have a son with a name which is also a surname, but not a common one. If you'd asked me casually I'd have said I hated that trend, and I didn't even realise my son's name fit it until he was nearly 2.

Cameron
Owen
Ross
Bradley
Russell
Connor
Dennis
Fraser
Grant
Spencer
Mitchell

Tobias

What about Blake?

Ewan, Elijah, Dominic, Joseph, Rowan, Sullivan, Archer, Flynn.

I really like Joseph and Ewan - my favourites from your list.

Elijah (Eli), Dominic (Dom), Rowan and Flynn are all great too

Sullivan and Archer are not to my taste

I would go for Rowan, it has the same feel as Dylan to me

From your list I like Rowan and Flynn

Flynn is great name for a generous man with vision - Think, Flynn of the inland who started the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Isaac
Elijah
Rohan
Rowan
And I like all from your new list.