Boys names - argh!!

[Picklepaints]

I am two weeks off giving birth to our third and we still don't have a name, or really a preference! We have two daughters already, both of whom have what I would say are unusual names? The eldest is Beebe (pronounced BB) and the youngest is Mirabelle. Our surname is double barrelled - the first part is an unusual name (beginning with M) and the second part fairly common (beginning with T).

As both girls have longer names we'd ideally like something a bit shorter, but then that isn't imperative. I'd like something that flows, that is equally unusual without being weird and that doesn't seem like we obviously found ourselves stuck. Our girls name is sorted - Daphne (Dot as a middle name) after my husbands nana.

There are many names I love, but they just don't seem to work! Thus far our shortlist looks little like this:

Ira - Using just "I" as a nickname most likely. But - is it "too Jewish" and does it really suit a baby?

Ralph - Having already looked at the threads here I know many have a penis-connection, but I do not and that doesn't bother me, I like it but I don't know if I love it.

Red - this is my forerunner, but it is a colour, is it just naff? I think it'd work with the other two names we have but I may be deluded my pregnancy hormones.

Arthur - we love this, especially as it means Bear (my husbands nickname BUT some celebrity has just named her son it and I really don't want one child to end up with a super popular name when the other two are far from common, is that just snobbish?

Arlo - Is it a little too pretentious sounding? Especially with the double barrelled surname?

There are other names I love but I hate the shorter versions: Leonidas, Stanley, Sidney...

So, I guess what I am asking in a rather convoluted manner is what do you like from our shortlist and have I overlooked something spectacular?

From your list I prefer Arthur

So you are looking for a slightly unusual short boys name

Jude
Enzo (I love Enzo don't know if it would work with your surname though)
Nico
Bo
Miles
Leo

or a common name shortened like
Jack
Tom
Matty
Ben

Ooo I like Enzo and Bo! I know a Leo, a Miles and a Jude (as in I have friends with children named that) so they are out. Not keen on the more common names, well I am but they just don't fit if that makes sense! Definitely adding Enzo to the list tho Thank you!

Arthur, Arlo and Ira are my favourites.

I also like things like Abner, Abraham etc.

Malcolm might be good and fairly unusual?

Possibly Arnold or Albert?

I love Red - although it does remind me of the Fraggle. Would you consider Rhett?

I think Stanley and Sidney are in line to become the next Archie and Alfie; all lovely names but you have to be prepared to have half a dozen little boys come running when you're calling their name in the park.

I think with your (lovely and unusual) girls names I think these boys' names would go best:

Arlo
Red/Rhett
Quinn

Ira - Not too Jewish, I is a nice nn. Would you consider Asa? Isaac?

Ralph - I think Raphael is nicer. Ralph has barfing connotations to me. Gabriel or Michael nicer archangel names, imo.

Red - there's a thread about synasthesia in names here on MN right now, and actually I think of your girls' names as 'red' names, so maybe you'd like to take a look at that thread.. How about Redmond (I know it's a surname) with Red as a nn? How about Rowan? The rowan tree has red berries. Ronan?

Arthur - I agree with your concern about having unusual girl names and a very popular boy's name, although it's a nice name.

Arlo - I love this name and I don't think it sounds a bit pretentious with the double barreled surname. I think it 'flows' very well with the girls' names too.

Leonidas - Leo?
Stanley - prefer Stanislas, but you still get the nn problem
Sidney - ok, but I think of Sid Vicious

How about:
Max
Dominic
Theodore
Xavier
Nathaniel
Jonas
Justin

ARLO,ARLO,ARLO!!

Can I also suggest Milo,Jethro, Hamish & Rufus?

Julian?

Some fab suggestions, thank you for all your thoughts! It's good to know the names we like aren't too pretentious or insane sounding!

I was reading the Synasthesia thread with interest, to me Beebe is a red name but Mirabelle more of a purple (tho' that may be the link to plums?)

We loved Rhett when we had Beebe but now it makes me think of the noise of being sick (like Ralph for some people) I am liking Quinn and Jonas too. Can't have some of the others owing to family members as I said - argh! However I now have some good feedback and I know I won't be able to name littlie until they are here, so I guess we'll see! Eep.

Like Jonas as well.

I like Arlo the best from your list. Ira sounds like more of a girl's najme to me and doesn't its latin meaning relate to anger? i.e. irritation?

I think the name Ira is Biblical/Hebrew; twas the name of a priest or chief minister of King David. Means 'full grown' or 'watchful'

I like Red, but I think maybe I'd spell it Redd, so it's not so obviously a colour name. I wouldn't use it if his hair is any shade of red though.

Quinn may become more popular soon as there is a character called Quinn in Glee. And she's female.

I adore Arthur, no idea who the celeb is. NN potential of Arty. In a similar vein I do also like Albert/Albie. Stanley is also good.

Am not keen on Redd, especially since in the Times recently it was given to a baby girl.

Ivo
Otis
Frank
Paddy (Patrick)
Niall

Arthur and Stanley were on our list for ds. Love them both.

Jed, Keir and Nye are other ideas.