Thoughts on Lin, Rumi, Reo and Arran for a baby boy?

[Bumpfull]

We’re having a boy and have come up with our shortlist of names. We’re not tied to any particular culture as we have a mixed heritage family. We also want something slightly different from the current popular names - we have multiple friends with Noah’s and Maya’s (I love both these names though)!

Our shortlist is:
Lin
Rumi
Reo
Arran

Would love to hear any thoughts on these as we don’t have a favourite out of them.

Really like Arran.

Rumi and Lin seem too close to being names for girls. Arran I like, Reo is a fine enough name, but looks like a typo.

Arran is a great name and very popular here in Scotland - I know boys and girls named Arran.

Also Harris and Innes, both of which I really like too.

Arran is the only ok one. Reo is too much like Rio as in Rio Ferdinand. Lin people will think is the girls name Lynn. Isn’t Rumi Beyoncé’s daughter’s name?

Arran is a great strong name. I really like it

Lin will surely be confused with Lynne (the girl’s name).

Arran is nice.

Arran is nice.

For a Scottish-island inspired name, there's a name popular in Orkney - Thorfinn - which I like.

I like the poet too but Rumi will definitely have k-pop demon hunters vibes these days.

Lin i would similarly think of as a girl's name.

Reo if it's pronounced like Rio is fine, but I prefer the spelling and meaning of Rio.

I like Arran best, but people will assume it’s Aaron. I like Aaron too, but I suspect it’s not “out there” enough for you. Lin will be mistaken for Lynne. Rumi will be connected to K-pop demon hunters - also sounds a like a girl’s name to me. I wouldn’t choose Reo, it’s a bit silly, but if you have to choose that one it would be better to spell it Rio imo.

Love Arran. Know a couple of young Arrans (in Scotland). I think I'd assume Lin was a girl.

I know an Arran (male). It's a nice name.

Arran

Arran is the best.

Yeah but kids are also called Skye, Iona, Lewis and Harris!! I’ve yet to met a Mull or Barra though…..

Came on to say this. I grew up in Scotland and island names are very standard. I met a dog called Barra. But I haven't met an Eigg, Muck or Rum yet.... Think Scottish island names are pretty standard, far outside of Scotland. Arran is a lovely name, personally I wouldn't think it was pronounced like Aaron, I thought that was more American, like air-on?

All but Lin sound fine and that’s only because I’d confuse Lin with Lynn.

Did you know Rumi is associated with a Sufi mystic?

Arran is nice. What about Remi (French)?

Or a very unusual name, having an unusual name myself.
There's something in the middle between the most popular names and names people don't know, can't spell, etc.
In parts of Wales Lyn with a y can be a man's name, but it's generally seen as a women's name so I think that will cause problems.

Arran will be called Aaron probably.

Arran is fine

I don't mind Rio but not necessarily with the E.
Arran is just the same as Aaron really and not crazy on it. The others I don't think of as male names.

I like Arran lots - don't like the others ( lots)

Lin - Its a girls name in the UK so may cause some bullying in school.
Rumi -hhmm depends on the surname
Reo- unsure never heard of a child called that
Arran common in scotland but personally I like it.

Rumi - Just to add the only ones I know are girls.

I like Rumi and Arran personally out of your list.

Reo will definitely be misspelled as Rio or misheard as Leo. In fact it sounds a bit like someone saying Leo with a growly voice or gruff accent.

Lin is also fine and I quite like the concept of de-gendering names and it sounds neutral enough to me to fit for a boy, especially with the popularity of Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Just in case you didn’t know the Japanese name Reo is pronounced Ray-o. If you live in the UK I think he’ll end up called Rio or Oreo. The latter ends in -reo but doesn’t sound like Ray-o. Ray is a much better name if you want no confusion over pronunciation .

Arran is a good name but I think that it will be misspelled Aran, Aaron, Aaran… if that annoys you .

If you’re in the UK Lin will assumed to be a girls name (Lynne) or a nickname of a girls name like Kaitlin. If you want to honour Lin-Manuel then go for Manny over Lin.

Rumi is a famous female character in a cartoon popular with kids now. Go for Remi instead.