James, Edward, or Benedict - suggestions welcome!

[TheGreyInThisCity]

It’s still early days, but I’m expecting baby number 2 and we’re starting to think about names. I think we’ve got a girl’s name sorted, but boys’ names are harder! Our DS’s name is Laurence, and we’re hoping to find something fairly classic but ideally not super common.

So far on our shortlist we have:
James (DH’s preferred)
Edward
Benedict

I also really like Alexander, Sebastian, and William, but we can’t use those as we have close relatives with those names. Any thoughts on the names we like, or any other suggestions are appreciated! Thanks

I love James and Edward, but Benedict is really fabulous and much more in line with the more unusual name you already have for your DS.

Alexander I really like, William I feel is a bit worn out and I think Sebastian has really changed niche in the past decade or so and no longer sits with that bundle of names.

I'd go with Benedict!

I like Edward and Benedict.

Names that go with Laurence,

Julian
Francis
Robert
Douglas
Rupert
Alistar
Christopher
Joseph
Neil
Eric

Benedict

I love James and Benedict! Not as keen on Edward as I don’t like Ed/Ted

I have an Edward and my other son’s middle name is Laurence, we also loved Julian, Hugh and William

James and Edward are very overused. You will find loads of them! Benedict is so much better. Williams are two a penny as well. Be a bit more unique.

I think Julian and Hugh go well with Laurence too.

Dominic
Sebastian
Alexander

Edward is my favourite.

Benedict, though I like the others too.

I second Dominic as a suggestion.

Laurence is fab, btw.

Benedict! Gorgeous. In a similar ballpark (IMO) of softer but not wet boy names:
Peter
Julian
Gabriel

Benedict! I love James but it’s very common overall (although perhaps not with babies born today).

Benedict

I’d pick Edward, it’s lovely but not super common these days. Goes well with Laurence. Also good nickname options, Ted/Teddy/Ed/Eddie

James is also a nice name

Not as keen on Benedict

Benedict is the only one I don't like (admittedly I'm biased - it's the only name on your list of three I haven't used myself!). I understand why people say Benedict 'goes with' Laurence, but to me Benedict and Laurence as a pair push over into a very certain kind of name - a bit 'Overheard in Waitrose' - whereas Laurence and James, say, are lovely names but not such a 'statement'.

This is very helpful, thank you everyone!

I think the issue is that while we have similar taste in names, I’m a bit more willing to choose an unusual name than my DH is. Poor DS was nameless for almost a week when he was born because we couldn’t agree, and none of the names we both liked felt right. So this time round I want to be a bit more prepared!

Thank you. These are all great ideas, and actually Francis was on the shortlist for DS, I’d forgotten!

I like Julian and Hugh, only issue with Hugh is that we sometimes called DS Laurie, I’m not sure I can have a Hugh and a Laurie 😅

James - love it
Edward - not bad
Benedict - awful

Benedict is fab, but I would imagine a high Catholic. Not quite Jacob Rees Mogg, but headed off in that direction.

Benedict! James would be a lovely middle name.

Francis was my granddad’s name and a family name, he was known as Frank.

I have a now adult DS called Benedict. It’s quite a Catholic name but may not have that association for many people these days I guess. My DS is known as Ben day to day and finds that most people assume he is a Benjamin so he often has to correct the assumption on documents etc. I don’t come across many Benedicts.

Three great names on your list.

Other suggestions-
Tobias
Guy
Julius
Richard
Zachary
Adam

Benedict becomes Ben's a dick in school. Have a rethink! Went to school with one ( state school). Miserable time for him. If he is off to Eton, ignore me!