Boy names both classic yet not too common?

[User3056]

Wondering if anyone can advise? I’m desperate for our soon to be ds to have a relatively traditional/classic name and yet my husband would like something that is not popular as he so likes having a unique name himself.. so we are coming at it from completely different perspectives. If I had total free rein I would love an Oliver or Theo and he would probably like Forest or Bodhi.

Our current list is Nicholas(Nico), Raphael(Rafe), Christopher(Kit) or Joseph(Joey). I’ve obviously looked at ONS data for these to see their popularity but can anyone tell me if these names are particularly common or names they hear regularly/have many of in their baby groups etc, as would like to find a good compromise with dh.

I don’t think any of your shortlist is particularly common. There probably won’t be another in the class, though you could be unlucky. Other suggestions:

John
Roberr (Bobby)
James
Marcus

Christian
Dudley
Gene
Clarence (Ren)
Harvey

Love Nicholas and Christopher and Laurence as a pp has suggested. Not so keen on Raphael.

What about Magnus, Florian, Merlin or Gawain? Or Julian, Jeremy, Tobin, Crispin?

John is classic and not often used now.

Have you used this site? https://names.darkgreener.com/ it gives you the popularity of names over time, so is much easier to check trends than looking at the ONS datasets individually

I know 2 kits but neither are Christopher. Know 1 Christopher. 1 Joseph. No Raphael’s but 2 rafes. 1 Nico, no Nicholas!

if you want other suggestions….

peter
eric
leonard
vincent
casper
john
rupert
zachary
spencer

We have a Christopher and in his school there is one ‘Chris’ (unsure if just Chris or born Christopher) and no Kits. We don’t come across many others.

i like Robert, Geoffrey and Michael.

Unfortunately a lot of this is regional. Do you have any local friends with small kids you can run some by for the playgroup check?

We know 2 kids locally with the same name and it's one of the most out there going.

Crispin or Christian
Julian or Julius
Tristan or Tristram
Miles
Edwin, Edward or Edmund
Samuel
Daniel
Peter
Ferdinand
Rudolph

Alexander. So many ways to shorten, from Alex to Sacha. Works in other countries too.
Raphael
George

Patrick. Fab classic name with loads of shortenings.

How about
Mark
Marcus
Marco
Mathew
Samuel
Benjamin
Jonathon

I love Joseph / Joey - gorgeous name and I only know one Joe who’s an adult and no Joeys - I really like it though!

Christopher / Kit and Nicholas / Nico would be my second choices - I don’t know any little ones - but loads of Chris / Nick adults. I have to say I’m not too keen on Kit / Nico as shortenings myself but I’m sure they’ll grow on me.

I know two young “Raffys” - not sure if they are Rafferty or Raphael. I’m not keen on Raphael myself - it feels a bit flowery for my taste.

My friend has a Christopher,known as Tiffer

Lucas
Ross
Reuben
Elijah
Ellis
Orson
Otis
Finlay
Micah
Matteo/Mateo
Matthias

Nicholas(Nico) - I know several Nicos including a female one, I also know many Nicholases, Nicolas, Nicoles and Nikitas
Raphael(Rafe) - Raphael is common where I live. Usually screeched across a shop or street.
Christopher(Kit) - I know several Kits and dozens of Christophers
Joseph(Joey) - not at all unusual

I don't understand why you need a nickname/diminutive.

Rollo
Fabian
Lysander
Hector?

I love Kit

Thank you everyone for the feedback that’s really helpful, lots of food for thought and good suggestions.

We are in London and as pps have mentioned perhaps it is regional. Personally I also see no harm in having a popular name and think children really don’t mind being one of many (if anything I think they often prefer this to be the case than the very stand out one!) but want to appease dh as this is a concern of his and something he feels strongly about.

I also like the idea of a diminutive and a full name as I have had this and enjoyed having what I think of as a little girl’s name that I wouldn’t still enjoy using now - to be honest I think it’s just nice to choose a longer name and then there’s a bit more scope for choice later on!

Again, thanks and any other feedback very welcome!

I really like your shortlist, especially Christopher/Kit and Joseph which were top of my list too. Out of the names you mentioned, Bodhi is by far the one I've heard most often at baby groups. Also a couple of Olivers and Theos, and one Raphael.

I lean towards classic names so am biased, but I find that non-traditional names stick out more so you wouldn't bat an eyelid at meeting your third Oliver of the day but you would at your third Forest. Which makes them feel more 'popular' if that makes sense?

Other possible names: Samuel, Edward/Edmund/Edwin, Dominic, Robin, Hamish, Elias, Isaac, Zachary, Joel, Miles.

Robin
Gregor(y)
Francis
Augustus
Martin

DD would have been a Lawrence (Laurie) Joel if she was a boy 😍

OP, DS is Joseph but goes by Jos, if that’s any good for you?

Really like Nicholas and Matthew too but couldn’t use. Think they’re very pleasing to say and well known but not overused (for current babies)

Robin from a pp is a great suggestion for classic but stands out. Bobby and Rob good nicknames for different ages and stages.
I think Rupert and Jasper also meet you and DH criteria.
What about Oscar? It's a classic name but relatively less common so maybe memorable. Ozzy is a nice nickname.

I really really really want to use Kit for my 3rd if a boy bit I'm not that keen on Christopher :(

I like Christopher and Nicholas.

How about
Quentin
Marcus
Felix

I knew a Bartholomew (sp?), he was always known as Bart, he was very Boho so it suited him. Never met another one.

Richard
Adam
Herbert
Wilbur
Edwin
Silas
Guy
Gideon

Anthony
Dominic
Gregory
Paul