Due with a baby boy in two weeks! We narrowed our list down to two old-school, classical names: [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
I love them both for their strong, sincere, good hearted feel, and for the fact that they’re both so richly rooted in history.
Now how to choose between the two?!! They’re both common, but I don’t know a little boy named [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] in my circle. It seems to be underused in the last decade… whereas [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] seems to be a very popular name in the last five years. However, I like the nn [name_m]Ben[/name_m] more than the overused [name_u]Chris[/name_u].
Both are lovely, but I prefer [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] for a number of reasons. Firstly, I’m a [name_m]Christian[/name_m], so I love the connection to [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] [name_m]Christ[/name_m] and the meaning. Secondly, it’s less common than [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] (#6 vs #38) but just as timeless and familiar. Moreover, [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] is very [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_u]Robin[/name_u] to me - white collar, white socks, [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] shoes type of name, and I really like this feel. I also prefer prefer [name_u]Chris[/name_u] or [name_u]Kit[/name_u]/[name_m]Kitto[/name_m] to [name_m]Ben[/name_m]/[name_m]Benjy[/name_m] - I can’t help but think of The Sound and the Fury when I hear [name_m]Benjy[/name_m].
I prefer [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. I have met many Christophers and at this point in time it does seem very over used. I have yet to meet a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] so for me [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] feels much more fresh. As far as popularity I would check your state, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] may not be all that common in your area.
I really like both names and don’t think you can go wrong, but I am especially liking the suggestion of [name_u]Kit[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_m]Christopher[/name_m].
I know so many [name_m]Christopher[/name_m]‘s and [name_u]Chris[/name_u]’, many my own age but working with kids I see plenty of littles with this name. [name_m]Even[/name_m] working in chikdcare, I’ve only met a handful of Bejamins over the years.
Popularity aside I do prefer the name [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. I find it sweeter and also like the nn [name_m]Ben[/name_m] more.
I love [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] so much, but do think the nn [name_u]Chris[/name_u] is somewhat unavoidable if you don’t have a ready alternative. So if that’s a deal breaker for you I would go for [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] which has an abundance of nn choices.
I love [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], nn [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. I like [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], but not [name_u]Chris[/name_u]. So my vote goes to [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]!