Seth, Keston, Duncan, David

[Occasionalnamechanger]

Follow up from my last post - I'm struggling massively with boys names.

I like David and Robert but am worried they are a bit dull and any son would be one of many. I like Keston but am unsure if it's too unusual. Seth is a definite favourite but then I run out of ideas.

Any suggestions at all? Ideally a little bit retro - anything that would have worked circa 1800-1930 I think.

Not a fan of David or Robert. But I grew up in a time where they were everywhere! It’s quite unusual now.
Seth and Duncan both really nice.

Pick a name that you like. You will be the one using it the most throughout his life. If you like David or Robert, then use David or Robert. So what if you know a few others with the same name. I would much rather have the same name as a handful of other people than be called a ridiculously unique name! David and Robert are solid names! FWIW I'm a teacher of the 12 - 18 age bracket, haven't had a Robert in a long time, I might have one David per year but can't recall any time I've had more than one together!

Can't believe how many people are saying Duncan is nice! It's my DFs name and I cannot for the life of me imagine a baby boy called Duncan!! Isn't it funny how different everyone's tastes are!

Seth would be my favourite choice

I like Robert most. Would nickname Bert, but Robbie is cute for a younger child too.

David and Robert both very good. Classic and dignified. You could have the Scottish short forms 'Davie' and 'Rab' if you don't like other short versions.

Duncan fine also, though for some reason I don't like it very much.

Seth just makes me think of Seth Starkadder in Cold Comfort Farm (where his name is a word-play on 'sex'), but perhaps that's a dated reference. (Still a jolly good read, however.) .

Keston sounds artificial, though maybe it isn't. Behind the Name website says that it's a surname.
All names ending in 'son' invite close consideration of the preceding element of the name. And I'm not at all sure what the 'Kest' might be. Also, unless the baby's father is called 'Kes', why use a name ending in 'son' when that's not the father's name?

I don't think there would be too many kids called David these days.
I like the name David because I have one myself.
We, his family call him David.
He prefers Dave and is known as such to all his friends.
I've never liked that diminutive, but it's his name and if he wants to be called Dave, that's his business.
I like the name Seth.
Duncan and Keston not so much.

Never heard of Keston.

Robert and David are good classic names. Seth has a different vibe to be.

Suggestions-
Peter
Daniel
Samuel
Alexander
Ernest
Herbert
Wilbur
Christopher (Kit)
Wilberforce
Willoughby
Donovan
Aloysius

I might be biased because I have a Robert. I chose it because it is such a versatile name. Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bobbie, Bob, Bert, there are any number of options. Mind you, he has been a Robert all his life ( well, the occasional Bobs, but very rarely!)

I have a 20 year old David!

Not many at all, in my opinion it is a solid name, easy to spell and timeless 💙

I love the name Kester.

David is very popular. I teach three at the moment (primary) and have taught several others in recent years.

Teacher here- I have taught quite a lot of Seth’s but never a David or Robert!

I often think my favourite “our generation” name is Peter. Timeless and I’ve never met a child called Peter!

Seths!!!! That was autocorrect, I promise I know how to use an apostrophe! 🙈🙈🙈

David and Robert are great underrated names imo! And not very common currently- highly doubt either of them are top 20 names.

Seth is nice but too American sounding
Duncan makes me think do dairy Lea dunkers
Keston sounds like a random depressing English town

I would have David. A refreshing change these days.
Michael?

Neither have I tbh.... Not such a much used name anymore.

David is nice - very timeless. I just wish there was a nn other than “Dave” which is quite dated. Robert doesn’t have the dated nn problem - well maybe Bob or Bert but Robin, Bobby, Bertie, Rob/Robbie all sound fresher so if you like traditional Robert I say go for it - I think it’s a bit underused now and with all the nn options, not dull at all.

I really like Seth too, and even though it’s an old name, I suppose it does have a bit of a funkier style than Robert (probably because there are few much older Seth’s about). Keston is not my cup of tea, sorry it’s a bit too surname for me (plus autocorrect wants to make it Keaton).

Adam is a similar style to Seth for me? As are names like Caleb, Jared, Asa, Ezra. Or if its the sound of Seth you like, then lesser used Heath or Scottish Laith both sound really cool imo.

I have a young Duncan, it’s incredibly unusual these days. I’d say 80% love it, 20% hate it. Given how rare it is, the main reference point for children (which we didn’t anticipate) is Dunkin Donuts.

I do really like:

Caleb, Jared, Nathaniel, Albert, Elias, Saul, Nicholas and I'm now pondering Silas.

Keston I think I've been talked out if but I still like Seth, and David and Robert are growing in my mind.

I like Robert and Duncan. David is fine- none of these names are at all popular round by us. They'll likely be the only one in their school.

Seth is a bit more popular and I dislike the sound of it. Kester is ok - unsure about Keston.

Caleb, Abel and Seth are my favourite names

Caleb and Albert are quite popular at the moment I’d say. Especially Albert. Nice names though. I quite like Elias and the nickname Eli. I’m not a fan of Saul Nicholas or Silas

I also like Edward. You’ve mentioned a few biblical names and I also like Jonah Jude Asher Isaac and Elijah if they’re any good

I am pondering Edmund instead of Edward.

Elijah is nice.

Just to help you settle on something other than Keston, they are a famously unreliable brand of boiler. Before we got ours replaced all the local B Gas engineers used to greet me with ”oh you’re the one with the Keston ”…
i think the others are much better choices.

personally I’m not wild about Edmund, Edmunds in stories are always duplicitous (King Lear and Lion, Witch & Wardrobe area main points of reference here 😂)

Edwin
Hugo
Jonathan
Peter
Wesley
Harry
Charles
Dennis
Anthony
Hector
Lewis
Paul
Michael
Richard
James
Franklin
Matthew
Kenneth
Delwyn
Edward
Nigel
Neil
Ivor
Theodore
Maxwell