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!

I thought Rowan was a girls name

I don't like the rest sorry
Alistair is a bit dull
Benjamin is a bunny
Zachary is a bit 90s

How about just Ben?

Alistair is lovely, classic and don't know any!!

Alec and Alex/Alexander also very nice too.

Not keen on Rowan, it seems a bit 'of the moment type name' to me.

rofl at Benjamin being a bit bunny

I love Alexander

I also like James an awful lot, for Benjamin I'd call him Benji though, not Ben.

BTW we call our Alexander 'Lex' it just kind of evolved from Alexander to Alex to Lex.
DS2 calls him Xander though.

benjamin is from The Graduate, seen that ?

alistair is ok
Zachary is ok
not sure about rowan, is it a tree?

I can imagine the PIL instantly calling any baby called benjamin 'benjamin bunny' thinking it was cute and endearing, while I try to resist the urge to stick my fingers in their eyeballs. I am effectively put off it!

I think you're right flowery and I wouldn't associate it with the other child once I had my own. Although by persuading me you are increasing the risk of running into more Rowans! Although at least you won't think of your friend's dog, like with my previous name suggestion of Mac.