Felix, Sebastian, Zachary...opinions and suggestions please

[Threelittlebirds1]

Really struggling with boys names. This is our current shortlist but I don't think any are quite right - would love opinions on these names and also suggestions.

Felix - this is my favourite but I have a friend with a son called Felix so I'd rather avoid using the same name (although haven't ruled it out, he is quite a lot older and I genuinely wouldn't mind a friend using the same name as one of my dc)

Sebastian- love in full but not keen on Seb so thinking this is better as a middle name

Joss - have always loved this, possibly as a nn for Joseph but wouldn't want it to be shortened to Joe.

Zachary- Zac day to day, like it but feels a bit safe

Max - again, nice enough but doesn't feel like the one.

I know a Joss short for Jossiah

I like them all, but Sebastion would be my favourite.

Have you considered;
Phineas (Fin)
Ezekiel (Zeek)

I voted for Max, but I also really like Zachary.

I don’t dislike Felix and Sebastian, but I’m not particularly keen on them. They have a kind of cultivated-upper-middle-class vibe for me.

I’ve not heard of Joss as a boys name, but I quite like it I think.

I can't see any voting options unfortunately (using the app)

The problem with Sebastian is the lack of good shortenings. Seb/Sebby is awful (and reminiscent of sebaceous) and Basty sounds too much like Bastard...

Felix is ok but a well known brand of cat food in the UK

I really like Joss! It's a great underused name.

How about

Caspar
Quentin
Magnus

I found it hard to vote as I seem to be the opposite to you when it comes to nicknames. I love Joseph nn Joe, but really dislike Joss. I'm not keen on Sebastian as a full name, but I love Seb which is super cool.

I voted for Zach in the end as Zachary is ok as a full name and I quite like the shortening of Zach too, but I do prefer Seb and Joe. Max is ok but not a particular favourite of mine.

I'm not a fan of Felix. It depends how close your friend is, but personally I wouldn't use it despite the age gap between the boys. It just seems to lack imagination a bit to use exactly the same name as a close friend (assuming they are a close friend), no matter how much you love it. I've never been one to be bothered about name popularity, or one to think children need 'unique' names, but I can't imagine using exactly the same name someone close to me has already used.

Sebastian is my favourite- I love Seb for short though, but wouldn’t use if I didn’t.

I also love Zach and Max.

Felix is nice too - if your friend doesn’t mind, this sounds like your favourite?

Joss I’ve only heard as short for Jocelyn, so sounds feminine to me, but it could grow on me. Josiah as mentioned above is a nice longer name if you wanted Joss.

How about

Jonah
Isaac
Casper
Jasper
Finn / Finley
Nathaniel / Nathan
Luke
Dexter
Rex
Lewis
Elijah / Elias / Eli
Dominic
Reuben
Joel
Ezra
Toby
Evan

I'd go for Felix. The whole shortlist is good, and I also don't like Seb or Joe.

Other suggestions:
Tristan
Patrick
Finn
Otto
Magnus
Caspar
Stefan
Robin

I have a Zachary who is 10. There's one or two that I know but he's always been complimented on his name. He loves it. Felix has always reminded me of a cat.
Love Max and Reuben

I love Joss for a boy, I think it’s fine on its own or short for Joseph (or Josiah) given Jocelyn seems to be now seen as a female name only. If you call him Joss from the get go I don’t think it’s likely it will turn into Joe

I also really like Zachary

Max is nice but way overdone

I fine Sebastian and Felix a bit fussy, and Joss and Zachary are more unusual too.

Xavier (Xav)
Laurence (Laurie)
Abraham (Bram)
Dominic / Nicholas (Nico)
Augustus (Gus
Ignatius (Iggy)
Alistair
Tobias
Dashiell
Tristram
Guy
Saul

might be others

I wouldn't use Joseph or Sebastian if you son like Joe or Seb/Basty. I personally don't like either of them either.

Joss is much nicer, but I'd probably use Josiah or Jocelyn.

Sorry don't

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the comments and pleased that Joss has had quite a good reception. I went to school with a male Joss, not short for anything and have always loved the name. I wonder whether having a longer name on bc gives more options though. I do like the suggestion of Josiah too.

Think I've ruled out Sebastian based on not really liking nn options.

Thanks for other suggestions too.

Agree

I have a Zachary, we call him Zac (not keen on it spelt with an extra h or k).

he doesn’t know anyone else with his name, neither do any of us so it’s not super common but still very much a name that is recognised so a good balance I reckon

The only Joss I know are all female so it’s defo a girls name to me. Also if you call someone Joseph and don’t want them called Joe I think you’ll be disappointed

Yes I would definitely rather avoid using the same name, but it's not a really close friend - we haven't known each other too long and see each other in a group but not 1-1. However do meet up with the chikdren. It's tough because I don't want to not use it just based on not wanting to use the same name, and then find we don't really see each other any more in a few years time, but equally I do agree it's not ideal using the same name, so I'm desperately trying to find a name I like as much!

Yes I do agree and probably wouldn't use Joseph for this reason. Although I do also like Joseph in full and know of a couple who always go by Joseph rather than Joe. I think if we go for Joss it would just be Joss. I've never met a female Joss but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if I introduced a baby Joss and people assumed girl. I think it's very unisex though and wouldn't be offended by this. There are a couple of famous male Jos' who are actually Josephs - Jos Butler and Joss Whedon off the top of my head.

I voted for Felix, I don't think it screams upper class not to me anyway.
It's not an overused name and I like the X sound, my own DS is Alex.
It can't be shortened either although I'm sure some will try!

I too went to school with a girl named Joss, it was short for Jocelyn.
Joss is different though, Josh has been a popular name but I've never heard Joss for a boy.

Joseph really doesn't have to be shortened to Joe! Our Joseph is 23 now snd still Joseph to all and sundry. If people call him Joe he just says " It's Joseph".

Ellis
Linus
Magnus

Which country are you in? I’ve normally heard bastian as a name in its own right and Bas short for Bastian.
no reason it wouldn’t work fork for Sebastian though

My Dutch friend is Bastiaan, shortened to Bas.
It' is a derivation of the name Sebastian.

I think a lot of people will think Joss is feminine e.g. Joss Stone, or else that it's a typo/mishearing of Josh.

I'm not a fan of Felix but I can't put my finger on why.

Joseph is great and as pp said, doesn't need shortening at all. I really like Jonah as well.

Zachary and Sebastian are great, lots of other good names on this thread. Max is waaaay popular at this moment, they seem to be everywhere! I also like Brandon.

I really love Sebastian, it's such a strong, solid name.

Not a fan of Felix at all, just think of cats and cat food. Also, I personally would never use a name that a friend had already used.

Joss I think looks and sounds very feminine. I'd think Joss Stone or a nickname for Jocelyn, Josephine.

Zachary I also like a lot. Max is more common but still a good name

That may work outside the UK but unfortunately in English speaking countries it's way too close to Bastard