Boy name

[Baffledma]

So after going in circles with the names I decided to ask for help (again) my final names are :

Sebastian
Maximilian
Theodore
Raphael

middle name will be Elias. What fits best?

I have a 22 year old Theodor (German spelling- not trying to be unique by dropping the E) . I just want to let you know that yours will very likely become a Theo. It's just how it goes. I'd feel very formal if I'd continued calling my son Theodor.
I also love Raphael. Raffa is such a sweet diminutive.
Theo and Raffa... both are good.
And Elias was my grandfather's name so... I love your names.

I prefer Sebastian as a full name, but Max or Theo as a shortening- don't like Seb/Sebby at all (though love Bas/Bastian!)

There's a Theodore in dds nursery who goes by full name, never shortened by staff/friends. Suspect that might change once he gets into school though.

Just a thought Op: if you’re not keen on shortened versions, how about Elias then one of the others as a middle name? I think it will probably be more unusual too , as the others have been used quite a bit lately. I know several of each ( though one of the Raphaels would be mid 49’s now). But I don’t know an Elias …

I know a few Eliases. It's not unusual. It'll get shortened.

Elias will too get shortened ?? I’m starting to think I need to look for a new name that is short and intenational.

@Baffledma "Surname sounds a bit like Gilbert. If I go with Theodore I’d like to keep the whole name not sure how feasible that is and if I sound cringe at the playground."

You have to like all possible shortenings. You can't stop them being used, honestly. The football coach isn't going to yell "Theodore-mark number 9!!!"

How about... Theo. 😁Sorry. I'm being silly. But if you're willing to go with a short, international name, you may as well be willing to go with the diminutives of the names you like; Theo, Raffa.
Elias, I've never heard shortened, in all honesty.

My youngest is Alec. His name has never been shortened outside of home. We call him Al or Alzy at home, but outside the home, he's always Alec.

Other suggestions: Axel, Rex, Otis, Milo

I don’t think Elias will definitely get shortened op: it’s already pretty compact.

And I think your other names all work really well as middle names with it. I had mentioned above about Theodore and Maximilian sounding more masculine than Raphael or Sebastian but I don’t think that is a concern with middle names. Elias is a good strong name. Elias Raphael, Elias Theodore, Elias Maximilian, Elias Sebastian: all sound good!

Elias might get shortened - but the one I know doesn’t. It’s only a 5 letter name after all. I also don’t know any Raphael’s personally so maybe Raf isn’t a given, either.

But I really think that Max, and Theo or Ted are inevitable (partly because they are popular names in their own right too) and both the Sebastian’s I know have been shortened as well- one to Seb and one to Bash (parents choice!)

I don’t think Elias will definitely get shortened op: it’s already pretty compact.
It's three syllables, like Theodore, Sebastian and Raphael.

It rolls off the tongue more easily.

It's still long.

Raphael Elias is my favourite

-el El-

You're choosing between Max, Theo, Seb and Raph - so I'd choose based on the shortened version you like.

I'd say Max.

Theo is okay.

Not keen on Seb or Raph.

Theodore