Wife and I can’t agree on name for our baby boy!

[noaddedsugarx]

We really don’t have long left to go and it’s worrying me we haven’t picked a name.

Some names I have suggested that I love and she’s said no to are Knox, Sutton, Sullivan (my faves) Sawyer, Jonah, Bodhi, Asa, Eli, Cove, Holden.

She really likes Maddox which is alright but it doesn’t feel like the one. I know a lot of you on here aren’t a fan of River but that’s the only name we both love but I’m worried it’s getting really popular now and it’s putting me off.

Names we both kinda like are -
Cole, Rowen, Cohen, Parker, Zachary &
Cooper.

When we picked our daughter’s name we had it picked out for years and both absolutely loved it. I feel like we will end up just settling for our son’s name but I want to find something I love.

boys names are the hardest 🥲 help!

If you both love River then go for it.

It's not my cup of tea but then neither are most of the names on your list.

My favourites from your list are Zachary and Rowan, spelled with an A, not an E.

I really wouldn't go for Cohen, it is a sacred name for Jewish people.

Omg our situations are so similar you could be my husband haha! Except I don't like Maddox and I wish he'd go for Jonah!

We are due a boy in 2 weeks and can't agree either but Sullivan is one of our current frontrunners (DH loves it) and we also have Eli and Rowan on our list. I think surnames like Sullivan, Sawyer and Sutton are largely hated here on Mumsnet though. I can't decide if that means people will hate these kinds of names IRL if we choose one or if it's just a Mumsnet thing!

I agree with the pp that if you both love River, pick that. I wish there was a name we both loved! And I don't think River is that popular at all, a bit trendy and suggested often on name websites but I don't reckon you'll meet lots of them IRL.

Also agree with pp on Cohen - I understand this can be quite an offensive choice so would avoid this one.

I posted a thread recently and got some great suggestions so have a look here for some more ideas maybe?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/baby_names/4963473-challenge-whats-our-middle-ground?page=2&reply=131568541

Good luck!

@MargotBamborough River is looking like the most likely option atm.

We did debate on the spelling of Rowen/Rowan but I think you’re right we would probably forever be correcting people if spelt with an e.

Thanks for the heads up on Cohen! Wasn’t aware so good to know.

Zachary is my favourite from your list.

@Timemysticaltime yes I was browsing a least favourite names thread on here recently and noticed the surnames as names were very unpopular! I absolutely love the surnames and names trend though. Our little girl’s name is Avery which I know can be used for a boy too and we loved Kennedy for a girl aha.

Aww I absolutely love Sullivan (Sully for short) and wish I was allowed to use it. Definitely think it’s a good choice!

Yeah I think maybe with River it’s just cos it was never heard of ages ago but I feel like I’m seeing it pop up everywhere for boys and girls now but mainly on social media so perhaps it’s not as common as I think irl.

Quinn is also a favourite of mine but I see it as more of a girls name.

I’ll check out that thread - thank you ☺️

OK:
Jonah
Asa
Maddox
River
Rowan
Zachary

Awful:
Knox
Sutton
Sullivan
Sawyer
Bodhi
Eli
Cove
Holden
Cole
Rowen
Cohen
Parker
Cooper

Avery and River will end up being Aver & Rivery

Zachary or Rowan

River is fine, if you both like that then you should go for it.
Another name similar to others on your list you might like is Hudson.

noticed the surnames as names were very unpopular

It is a UK thing.

People tend to think it is weird as names have meanings, and last names have different meanings from first names.

For example "Smith" means that likely an ancestor worked as a blacksmith, so why give a child the name of a profession?

If you both like River then go for it. I think it's a nice name.

Jameson, nn Jamie.

Is River popular? I come across a lot of babies/toddlers and have never met one (London).

My personal favourite is Rowan, but if you both love River you should go with that.

Lots of these are surnames as first names. If that’s your vibe why not look back through your family trees to see if any of the historical surnames might suit? You might come across names like Campbell, Harris or Forrest, which would make lovely (and meaningful) first names.

Are you a fan of whiskey? 😅 Just call him Jamie. Hate this NN shit.

I'm also not a fan of River OP but if that's what you both love everyone else will grow to love it as soon as you announce that as his name.

Rowan is nice.
The rest are awful. I am sorry.

Nb assuming you're in England/Wales River is increasing in popularity but still outside the top 100 names

names.darkgreener.com/#river

River, Rowen & Zachary are all lovely

Go with your heart 😊

Congratulations on your baby boy & good luck with everything!

I have an adult son, Rowan
So I'm biased He loves his name and has never known another
I wouldn't spell it Rowen
Cooper is a surname used as a first name

I really like Zachary and Jonah.

I like Rowan too but there are a lot of Rowan/Reuben/Roman/Rory type names about.

I’d avoid Bodhi (a bit like Nevaeh, a lot of people find it ridiculous) Cohen (could be offensive) Holden (mostly famous for Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye who was something of a sociopath) and Cove (just odd)

The rest aren’t my thing but they are OK.

I’d use River if that’s the one you both love

No need to be sorry 😃 the world would be boring if we all had the same taste!

My DS is a Rowan - so I'm biased too!
Other names on our list were James & Jenson - but now looking at him, he's definitely a Rowan.
So what I'm trying to say is, whatever you decide will be right iyswim? As once it's your child's name it just suits them.
Go for River if that's what you really like/want.
My DDs name is a marmite name but she loves it.

Thank you so much! 😊

I actually came on here expecting to be told how awful River is and be even further put off so I'm pleasantly surprised.

Don't like any of them very much and most of them have been played to death but out of your list I would choose Zachary or Rowan. Cohen would be very inappropriate.

I'm guessing you might be American. Is that right? I don't like any of those names, except perhaps Cooper - I had a cat with that name.

@APurpleSquirrel yes definitely! We were so certain of our daughter’s name and people would say ‘what if she doesn’t look like that name?’ but imo they will end up suiting what they are given. Rowan is a lovely name!