Help! Leo, Nico or Raphael?

[Belen82]

That’s it really, very much stuck on baby boys name. Leo was always the front runner but has lost a bit of its charm as it seems to have become very popular. Nico only came to us recently, less common but short and punchy like Leo… but I really dislike the name Nicholas and don't want people to think it’s short for that… also as we haven’t had it on the list for long not sure if it’s a ‘trendy’ name that won’t be great in a decade or so… Raphael I believe is a classic and very international (we are an Aus / euro family), not unheard of but not super popular… but quite long (his brothers name is just one syllable).

Keen to hear thoughts on this. We live in Australia.

Leo 🙂

Leo is my favourite, although I see your concerns about how quickly it’s rising in popularity. Leon is a less commonly used version, if that appeals?

Nico - I do like it but share the same conceals you about people assuming it’s short for Nicholas.

Raphael - I do like Raphy for short but find the full name a bit “much” personally.

Leo. Was a strong contender for our ds2 (17y ago now).

Nico's a bit nothingy and shortening-y for my taste (I do like Nicholas shortened to Nick though), and I should like Raphael, going by my general taste, but I'm not keen for reasons I can't articulate.

Leo. Is Nico Nee-ko or Nick-o? I know a girl and boys with the name.
Raphael is a bit naff.

I love the name Raphael

Brother in law is called Nico and I think the name is sooo cool!! & we have a little Raphael in our family who we call Rapha / Raph which I find cute. Leo I think is very popular now. I would use Leo myself as I love it but so many baby Leo’s around.

Leo was our pick if we had a boy, I love it

I do like Nico as well

Nico is definitely my favourite out of your list.

Leo is great but very popular

I'm not hugely keen on Raphael

Leon instead of Leo

Raphael I love, also Rafe
2nd Leo
3rd Nico

Leo or maybe Raphael. Not Nico

Leo. Lovely, strong name.

Yes, it’s gained popularity, yet I only know one baby Leo and there’s none in my daughters reception class (or the other class) and there were no Leo’s when she was at nursery either.

I quite like Nico, but it sounds more like a nickname.

Leo is by far the nicest. Names get popular for a reason.

Raphael is probably more popular than you realise now. Really dislike Nico.

1 Raphael, by a country mile. Raph or Raphy while he's little, if you like.
2 Nico
3 Leo - boring!!

Not Leo - go for Raphael ☺️

Theo, milo, Hugo, Jago ?

Leo and Nico are both gorgeous. I don't think people will think Nico is short for Nicholas tbh, most of them go by Nick. I hate Raphael

I love Leo.

I like Nico, but I prefer it as a short form of Nicholas. It doesn’t seem as strong as Leo as a standalone name, to me.

Raphael is OK but might feel at odds with a much shorter sibling name.

I like Leo🙃

I really like Nico but to me it's a name for someone with olive skin and dark hair - I don't think it would work if he's likely to be very fair.

Raphael just reminds me of teenage mutant ninja turtles but at least brother's names would be sorted.

Nico then Leo.

I don't like any of the three, and you're in Australia not Renaissance Italy.

A bit rude!

@ScruffMuffin I thought it was a great comment.

Raphael NN Raffi is one of my fave names so that’s my vote