Baby boy - James, Robin, Fredrick, or Francis?

[MistyInTheRiver]

I’m pregnant with a boy, first baby, due in a couple of months. We’re still debating names and although we’ve got a shortlist of sorts and I like them all, none of them necessarily feel like “the one”. We want something relatively traditional/classic, although I’d probably be happy with something more modern but my husband definitely leans more traditional.

Names we both like:
James
Robin
Fredrick
Francis
Laurence

Names I like but DH doesn’t sometimes for spurious reasons:
Tristan
Fabian
Jasper
Cedric
Sebastian

I’d appreciate any thoughts on these, or any suggestions of names we’ve not considered!

I like Robin, Fabian and Tristan.

How about
Quentin
Magnus
Reuben

I love James. My James is 30 this year. It's a timeless name. I'm slightly biased I think. He's never caused me any problems 😂

Definitely James.

Robin is on our shortlist if this baby is a boy and is my favourite from your list. My husband vetoed Jasper and Francis which I also love and I was the one to veto Tristan for spurious reasons (it just didn’t feel right, even though I like the name). James and Frederick are overused for my taste. Also on our boys shortlist is Cillian, Felix, Hector and Patrick.

If you use the Frederick spelling, it's OK. Fredrick isn't OK.

James - great but might be Jim, Jamie or Jay
Robin - ok will be Rob
Frederick - ok but will be Fred or Freddie
Francis - OK but will be Frank, Fran or France
Laurence - Larry or 'Lorry'. No.

James - not as a middle name as it seems to be every boy's middle name
Francis - great as a middle name as it avoids shortening

Will you want to shortern the name or not?
This would help me decide.

Robin often becomes Bobby
James, Jimmy etc.
Sebastian, Seb

Some don't easily shortern to a NN.

I like a classic name, but I also think variety of possible nicknames is an advantage (I know some posters on MN are very much more in the 'it has to be exactly the name I chose' camp). I'd pick James from your list because it is nice as it is, but could also be Jamie, Jim, Jimmy, Jem, Jay and even Jake (James is related to Jacob). From your other list, Sebastian also lends itself to lots of variations.

What your list that DH doesn't like all have in common is they're leaning more towards the 'slightly posh' whereas the top list you both like is more neutral.

James. It’s my favourite boys name, along with Alexander, so is an easy top pick for me.

I also like Francis, Laurence and Frederick - though I come across so many babies called Freddie and Teddy that it puts me off a bit.

Robin and Sebastian are OK, but less to my taste. And I’m afraid I’m with your husband in disliking the other options.

I love Francis, Sebastian and Tristan.

Suggestions…

Elias
Fraser
Angus
Kurt
Samuel

I like all of the names on the list you both like - my favourites are James and Frederick (although Freddie’s are everywhere round here).
It’s a shame he doesn’t like Sebastian- such a great name, not to overused, and Seb is a great nn. Jasper and Tristan are also great names.

Cedric is the only name you’ve listed that I dislike.

How about

Nathaniel / Nathan / Nate
Lewis
Ellis
Evan
Luke
Reuben
Toby
Benedict
Zachary
Hugo
Dexter
Leon
Dominic
Isaac
Jonah
Thomas
Max / Maxim

When my son was in primary school someone tried to call him Jamie. He turned and said 'it 's not Jamie, it's James! " He would never let it be shortened.

Daniel
David
Mark
Benjamin
Joseph
Joshua

I love James too!
We have family members called James and it’s a timeless classic unlikely to become dated.
I haven’t yet met a nasty James .

James - i really like it. Prople often say its popular and boring but the youngest James I know is 8. Would love to meet a little James.

Robin - like but I know 4 under 5s called Robin and then 1 girl Robyn too

Fredrick - love Frederick but dislike Freddie and am neutral on Fred so wouldnt be my choice

Francis - love as long as not shortened to Frank / Frankie

Laurence - nice. Love Laurie though prefer the spelling Lawrence

Names I like but DH doesn’t sometimes for spurious reasons:
Tristan - like, also like Tristram
Fabian - OK just not for me. I lile Florian and Dorian, similar feel
Jasper - OK but I know quite a few
Cedric - love it
Sebastian - love but dislike Seb

Jimberly for the win😂

Love all your names. I wanted Sebastian too and my husband vetoed

We also have a James-he's 22. From the moment we knew he was a boy, he was always going to be a James and we both agreed on it instantly! It's a classic, timeless name and suits him perfectly. He's never given us a moment's bother either! 🤣

I love all your names!

What about:
Christian
Caspian
Jacob

James - fabulous
Robin - makes me think it’s a girl’s name even though the spelling is different
Fredrick - nope. You know what will happen and it’s not nice.
Francis - not great not awful
Laurence - not bad

Thanks everyone! Lots to think about. Our top runner is probably James at the moment but I think I’ll be undecided until here’s here and I can see what he looks like.

DH has also asked me to clarify that he likes Sebastian, but we can’t use it because he has a distant relative called Sebastian, and he doesn’t dislike Jasper but had a dog called Jasper and can’t get past the connection 😅

Funnily enough Samuel was a top contender as well but we’ve had to discount it because our surname starts with an “el” and the el el sound was too much of a mouthful. Otherwise it’s a great name!

I’ve been scratching my head over this but I can’t work it out, what would happen with Frederick?

Take a guess - how many Fredericks are actually known as Frederick?

Love James. I think Laurence is a great name, as is Tristan.

Dominic
Benjamin / Benedict
Luke
Joseph
Peter

Well not very many but I can’t think of any particularly offensive nicknames… Freddie, Fred, Fredster would all be ok in my book!