Bramwell, Wilfred, Digby or Atticus (yes I know…)

[Lelongducanal]

Aware all of these are a bit/a lot out there. Our elder DS is called Nathaniel and tbh I wish I’d saved his middle name for no 2 (Rowan) but too late now!

Digby (Diggy for short) - dh loves, I’m not sure
Bramwell (Bram) - I love, dh not sure, can anyone think of a good alternative long name that shortens to Bram?!
Atticus (Attie) - we both like but worry about associations to the character post Go Set a Watchman
Wilfred (Wilf but obvs he has the option of Fred if he chooses) - DH loves, I’m not sure and don’t like the Boris Johnson connection

Find boys names so hard! Any views? Alternatives which are unusual but less marmite?

Putting Isambard (Sam) and Laurence (Larry) here too as names of the siblings in real life of names you've mentioned.

I don't hate hate those names. I'm just not convinced they're the same vibe as Nathaniel really.

Wilfred is the nicest I think but it also a trendy name. Atticus whilst not common just really does also feel rather "of the moment" somehow. But is not a bad name at all, if you like it. Bram is quite cool but less so Bramwell or Abraham. I can't really get behind Digby, sorry. Barnaby is a nicer alternative.

Have you thought about Christopher (Kit), Nicholas (Nick or Cole), Benjamin, Alexander (many options), Edward, Laurence (Laurie, Ren)? These all feel like classics more similar to Nathaniel without giving strong biblical vibes which you seem to want to avoid. (Personally though, I think Nathaniel and Zachary is great and not too biblical at all).

If you wanted something more out there then a few other names which spring to mind are Jasper, Casper, Tristan, Evander (Van).

Edit: I'm going to suggest Rafael and Gabriel as well.

Also thumbs up for PP's previous suggestion of Isambard (Sam).

If you like Digby what about Douglas, Dougie for short?

Bram Stoker (who wrote Dracula) was Abraham. It’s a classic shortening.

Just call him Rowan if that is what you really like. The fact that it is your other son's middle name is neither here no there.

Eyelids are silent

It can be Bram, as in Bram Stoker.

Is your surname Stoker? Also Digby will always be the biggest dog in the world. How about Gabriel? I regret not calling my youngest that as I love Gabe.

Why call a child Isambard and then go with Sam? It's hardly the usual full name, so lifelong explanations etc.
I can see why you wouldn't want to be Isambard but, all the same...

I think that you seem to find your own options a little bit cringey is maybe a sign that none of them are quite the right name for you!

Haven't read the full thread but I think Jude, Gabriel, Benjamin, Reuben, Zach are more in the Nathaniel family than Bramwell and Atticus.

Hamish?

Digby seems a bit of a dogs name.

Bramwell makes me think of Bramwell Brown, from the old children’s stories Old Bear. I mean, he was a lovely bear. Not keen on Abraham. But not sure about Bram in general anyway.

I think Atticus/Attie is the best name there.

@Lelongducanal i like Asa and Silas.

All parents use children’s full names when making a point so Nathaniel Rowan or Rowan Wilfred is, for example, fine. The children will learn that when Mummy uses Nathaniel, as the starter, rather than Nate - he!s to listen and little Rowan is Scot free 😂

Boys names are hard!

Slightly less common names from my list which might suit your vibe:

Walter
Kit
Jethro
Remy
Woody
Aidan
Devon

Atticus makes me think of to kill a mockingbird character

Isn't Bramwell the Aldi brand for condiments and tinned things? Eg Bramwell beans?
From your list I like Wilfred/wilf the best

I know brothers where the middle name of DS1 is DS2’s first name. I think it’s nice of they share a name…

Ah it’s a great film, Digby the Biggest Dog in the World but I’m much older than you 😂. The boy I wish I’d called Gabriel is actually a Benjamin - I tried for so long to keep to that or Benji but it was only myself and lovely elderly Jewish auntie who stuck with Benji. When he went to school, he asked another boy his name “Ben”, his reply - “you can’t be, I’m Ben” they were friends all through school but Ben2’s mum only told me this recently 😂

Wilfred. Not keen on the others. Atticus is awful!

YES to DIGBY the big sheepdog!

Reminds me of the film Digby, The Biggest Dog in the World.

What about Diggory if you want something a little unusual.

Didn’t see film has been mentioned already 😁

You could use Rowan.
I know a family with four boys. They've used the previous child's middle name as the first name for the next boy.
It's quite nice actually because it connects each boy to the next.

I know a young adult Digby who’s a lovely chap.

I quite like all your choices, OP. And a lot of the other options people are suggesting. I really like Kit. Another one it makes me think of is Kester.

Can't do Monty... you would have to shout "Monty, you terrible c**t" at him. (Withnail and I).