Help us pick a boy name!!

[zcy9079]

Our baby boy was born in late December, and we’re still struggling to decide a name!
We live in the UK, but not local, so this is where we could really use some help. We’re not always sure which names might have certain associations we wouldn’t be aware of!!
Here’s current shortlist. How do you rank them and any associations with them?

Lawrence (does it come across too serious?)
Rhys
Arthur
Levi
Felix (cat?)

Thanks!

1. Arthur - popular but I still love it and it would be one of my top choices if I had another boy.
2. Rhys - love this
3. Felix - cat associations are getting less as I meet more people with the name
4. Laurence - the ones I know are Laurie or Loz by secondary school age, I’m not too keen on either
5. Levi - a bit down market

Lawrence - lovely classic name, no not to serious (and you could go Laurie as a nickname)

Rhys - also lovely will probably be pronounced “Reece” unless you’re in Wales

Arthur - love

Levi - probably wouldn’t choose it myself but it’s a nice name

Felix - nice, it is a popular boy’s name although yes it is also the name of a cat!

My favourite is probably Arthur but I like them all

Felix is by far my favourite on your list. It's a great name. Although it is a cat food, there are lots of young boys called Felix. It's been a top 100 name in England and Wales since 2017. The older generations might think cat food but the younger ones won't, they'll be much more likely to associate it with someone they know.
The only other one I like on your list is Arthur.

From your list I like Levi best.
Felix is my second favourite.
(I knew I boy I thought was called Felix. Turns out he was called Phoenix 🤣)

How about Laurie which takes the stiffness out of Laurence/Lawrence?

I love Rhys although all the Rhys’s I know are Welsh speakers which I am guessing you are not.

I like Rhys with that spelling! But it would be too popular for me.

I named my DS with my grandmas maiden name. Dalton. Do you have any suitable examples like that with family ties? I absolutely love my DS name - I wanted something uncommon but not made up or daft.

Honestly not a fan of any but I’d pick Felix from your list

The name Fekix far proceeds the cat associations. I love this name, it’s cool af. And also cats are cool too, so…… that’s my favourite by a country mile.
I almost called my third boy this name, or Sasha. Major regrets because I let a bunch of weirdos tell me it was cat food.

I love Felix. Maybe because I know a young Felix, a lovely boy, and there's no suggestion of any cat link!

I also really like Rhys and Arthur. I think any of Felix, Rhys or Arthur would be great. I don't like Levi, which I find the opposite of cool.

And to add, I also like Lawrence, though it may tend to get shortened. Do you like any of the usual short forms such as Lawrie or Larry?

I like Felix and Arthur best. Though they are quite popular if it matters. Lawrence is ok but maybe a bit dated, same with Rhys. Levi is ok though would assume religious and also associate with the jeans. Nevertheless there are probably many Levi’s around!

If you're concerned about popularity, you can take a look at the statistics from previous years which can be downloaded from the ONS website.

In 2024 the amount of boys given those names in England and Wales:

Lawrence - 66 (more popular spelling was Laurence, 106 of them)
Rhys - 124
Arthur 3,368 (4th most popular overall)
Levi - 481
Felix - 810 (so plenty of parents don't worry about the cat connection, it's a name that's grown in popularity in recent years so I think it's lost some of it's association with cat food)

If you're concerned about popularity, you can take a look at the statistics from previous years which can be downloaded from the ONS website.
Or use Baby name explorer to view the popularity.

Felix

Rhys

Levi and Rhys are chavvy, the badly behaved kid at school. Arthur classic if a bit dull. My favourite is Felix but would also consider Rex if you like that one.

Also Patrick Swayze's character in Roadhouse. Super cool!

Yes!! I didn’t even know this before my DS was born haha. I still love his name it’s so unique but not stupid and tends to be a first name more in America than here

I like Felix and Laurie. I know a Felix, it’s a lovely name.

I do not like Levi

I agree with all of this, right down to Lawrence making me think of DH Lawrence.

I think something to remember, OP, is that your baby won’t always be a baby. Choosing what you feel is a “formal name” is not a bad thing because he will be an adult for most of his life and having a formal name is a good thing. And Lawrie/Laurie is actually a lovely sounding nickname when they are young.

How is Rhys pronounced in Wales to you? Just curious, because I live in Wales and have only ever heard Rhys, Rees and Reece all pronounced exactly the same, with the exception of a bit of roll on the R in Wales. I know a Welsh speaking Rhys and he pronounces it the same way an English Reece/Rees would?

Not having a go or anything 🙂, genuinely a bit confused, and wondering if I have missed something or have got used to something I haven't noticed!

Maybe with Reece there's a it more of a linger on the 'ece' bit and Rhys is a bit shorter?

@KarriTreeSullivan , where in Wales are you, and do you speak Welsh?

My son is called Laurence/ Laurie. A solid not too common name that suits all types of characters.
Laurence is a strong name as a professional but Laurie is absolutely great as well professionally and socially.
My son generally refers to himself as Laurie and he is rocking his career ,his colleagues including CEO call him Laurie.

Laurence is the feminine version of Laurent.