So here's all the names that are nearly good enough, can you suggest the perfect one?

[hopefully]

I would be happy with any of these, but DP thinks they are 'not perfect enough'. I think it's because we love the girls name option so much, he wants to be as eneamoured with the boy option, particularly since everyone thinks its a boy.

Alistair
Rowan
Benjamin
Zachary

I think for the most part I like names that can be shortened, but have a long version (everyone needs a name to be told off with!) but I am not completely averse to ones that don't shorten too well, like Rowan. Any suggestions? I am loathe to spend the next 12.5 weeks on a baby name website, please save me from it!

Why don't you wait and see what he looks like?

Rowan is most definitely the most perfect name in the whole world.

And everyone will comment on how lovely it is when they ask his name in Waitrose or the Post Office.

I'd like Zachary Elliot (mine is a boy), but dh hasn't been persuaded yet. Our best agreement so far is on Dominic Elliot.
Or how about Lawrence or Barnaby?

I like Thomas. Traditional, solid and never out of fashion. It will shorten well.

I hear ya Flowery .

fwiw I do think rowan is the nicest

although it is a girls name

I like Benjamin on your list.

Rowan is nice. For a girl.

There is a rowan at dd's nursery. Little cutie pie, and a boy btw. There's two Thomas', although is a lovely name.

I like Benjamin, although it is my ex-bf love rat's name. Didn't put me off the name, strangely.

Surely it's Rohan or Rohanne for a girl.

Rowan Williams

In a dress.

ROFL

Come and answer my puke question in May 07 SOH

and him of course

Benedict rather then Benjamin
Alexander rather then Alistair.

I think Rowan is a boy's name, well it is according to Rowan Atkinson!

Rowan Pelling is a girl

I like Rowan. not keen on Alistair personally (prefer Alex). LOTS of Ben's round here.

How about Lawrence (Laurie)

Mr Bean?

He's just a hunk of masculinity.

Elliot
Ryder
Clayton
Ellis
Max
Tommy
Lewis
Dominic
Joshua
Luca
Harley
Aidan
Scott
Billy
Rudy
George
James
Bradley
Nathaniel
Matthew

I love Alistair. Which I would spell Alastair.

And I love Alec too.
But not Alex.

flowery do I detect a possible mother of a rowan there? It's probably my favourite name on my list, but also the name name of the son of a cousin's husband from a previous marriage (distant enough?) so DP is reluctant. Silly man.

Ooh, Thomas is nice... will suggest it to DP

I love Nathaniel, but DP just laughs every time I suggest it!

Alexander and Matthew are also nice, will add them to the shortlist.

Any other suggestions?

Well I think son of a cousin's husband from a previous marriage is fairly distant, but if you know someone with the name it can be a bit off-putting. One thing someone said to me once was it doesn't matter if there are other people with your child's name or if you associate it with someone else, because once your child is born and has that name, you will only associate it with them.

Don't know how true that is in practice, but worth thinking about.

I shouldn't be lobbying for Rowan really should I? I don't want hoards of them cluttering the place up!

Zachary's nice.

There was a hunk of a Rowan at the boys' school near my school. Mmmmmm, we all lusted after him. He had lovely blond surfery hair.

I also like Benjamin, Alexander, Thomas.

Not keen on Zachary.