Edited for privacy
[name_m]Jack[/name_m]- it sounds like [name_m]Jack[/name_m] fits the bill. I’m not sure if you have reservations about [name_m]Jack[/name_m] because you have a bad relationship with your father-in-law and brother-in-law, or because you don’t like them all having the same name. If it’s the latter, I honestly don’t think it would be a problem.
[name_m]Ian[/name_m]- this is a little dated in my opinion. And if you don’t like it, this isn’t the way to go.
[name_u]Finn[/name_u]- I don’t know why you’ve been getting negative reactions on this name, because to me [name_u]Finn[/name_u] is perfectly acceptable and quite handsome too. I understand if you don’t want to pick a name that your family and friends don’t like. But if this feels like The Name, then this shouldn’t stand in your way. You and your husband have the right to name your baby whatever you want (although you might want to reconsider if you’re seriously considering a name like [name_f]Apple[/name_f]).
[name_m]Roland[/name_m]/[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]- I have a reason to prefer either. In one sense I prefer [name_m]Roland[/name_m] because it’s much more masculine but in another sense I prefer [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] because of the softer (and more up-to-date) sound. So I can’t take my pick here. All I can say that if neither of these names you and your husband both like, you might want to veer away from these.
[name_m]George[/name_m]- I think this is a really good option. It’s classic, handsome, and is sounding fresh again. And both of you do appear to like it to some extent, so I would consider this one.
About [name_u]Owen[/name_u]: from what I could gather, this seems like the perfect name. My suggestion is to pick something similar. Also I suggest something similar to [name_m]George[/name_m]. Okay, here are my suggestions (these aren’t based a lot on what I said above):
- [name_m]Andrew[/name_m]
- [name_m]Edward[/name_m]
- [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]
- [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]
- [name_m]William[/name_m]
- [name_m]Roman[/name_m] (maybe a compromise on [name_m]Roland[/name_m] and [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]?)
- [name_m]Gage[/name_m] (contains only one of the soft G’s, maybe alternative to [name_m]George[/name_m]?)
- [name_u]Brayden[/name_u]
- [name_m]Colin[/name_m]
- [name_u]Devin[/name_u]
- [name_m]Nolan[/name_m]
Okay, this is all I can think of right now. I hope this helps!
[name_m]Jack[/name_m]: I would hesitate have three Jacks in the family. It’s one thing if he’s name [name_m]John[/name_m] and occasionally called [name_m]Jack[/name_m], but with [name_m]Jack[/name_m] there’s not many other nicknames save [name_u]Jackie[/name_u] (or JJ or [name_u]Jay[/name_u] or something like that). I also don’t like [name_m]Jack[/name_m] with a monosyllabic last name-- it sounds very curt and choppy, like a TV cop (“Sargeant [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_f]Bride[/name_f] here;” “I’m [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Buck[/name_m], the fastest gun in the [name_u]West[/name_u]”, etc).
[name_m]Ian[/name_m]: I actually do like [name_m]Ian[/name_m]-- it’s friendly but still complex and is very versatile. It’s not excessivly popular (unlike [name_m]Jack[/name_m]/[name_m]Jackson[/name_m]). It would work with “[name_m]McCauley[/name_m] [name_m]Burns[/name_m].” But if it doesn’t float your boat, that’s all that matters.
[name_u]Finn[/name_u]: for our parent’s generation, this was [name_m]Tom[/name_m] [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]'s friend’s surname, or a part of a fish. You’re getting some blanks because this is a very 2010s name (tons of Finns, Finleys and so on). I don’t like it because again I don’t like two monosyllabic names ("[name_u]Finn[/name_u] [name_m]Burns[/name_m]" is still choppy).
[name_m]Roland[/name_m]: [name_m]Roland[/name_m] to me has a very romantic, medieval image. There was a very famous literary hero called [name_m]Roland[/name_m] who was the subject of a wildly popular epic poem, the [name_f]Chanson[/name_f] de [name_m]Roland[/name_m]. Many people though see it as midcentury and square. Question: your husband’s name started with [name_f]Ro[/name_f]-; it is pronounced with a long O, like [name_m]Roland[/name_m], or a short O, like [name_m]Ron[/name_m]?
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]: I really love this name-- it’s my favorite for you. It’s Celtic and cool and nature-related. People think of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] Atkinson, a man, but it’s also given about 50/50 to girls, and it probably will skew female in the States. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_u]Owen[/name_u] are very similar though-- do you see the little cousin frequently?
[name_m]George[/name_m]: Your husband likes some interesting names ([name_m]Eldridge[/name_m] and [name_m]Roland[/name_m] aren’t on many men’s lists). I do like [name_m]George[/name_m]; I think the little prince has brought it back to American attention, and it’s certainly an extremely distinguished classic name. It’s not over-used in the US. But if you have difficulty pronouncing it, then it’s out.
So… suggestions. You’re really drawn to [name_u]Owen[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Finn[/name_u], and [name_m]Ian[/name_m]-- smooth, vaguely Celtic (but not ridiculously so) 2 syllable names ending in N. Nothing too popular but nothing outrageous. And you like that R starting sound?
[name_u]Evan[/name_u]
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u]
[name_m]Nolan[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonas[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m]
[name_m]Colin[/name_m]
[name_m]Gavin[/name_m]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_m]Declan[/name_m]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m]
[name_u]Rhys[/name_u]
[name_m]Alec[/name_m]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m]
My favourites are [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_m]George[/name_m]. I too love [name_u]Owen[/name_u] but my husband doesn’t. Save yourself some grief and don’t pick a name that’s a tongue twister for yourself… Unless you plan on calling him [name_f]Elli[/name_f]
I have zero useful help, I just wanted to commiserate with you. Boy names are hard. Good luck!
[name_u]Owen[/name_u] alternatives
Tirowyn
[name_m]Jowan[/name_m]
[name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m]
[name_m]Bowen[/name_m]
Ending in the n sound
[name_m]Aaren[/name_m]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_m]Ben[/name_m]
Ashden
[name_u]Auden[/name_u]
Aurilien
[name_m]Augusten[/name_m]
[name_m]Boden[/name_m]
[name_m]Brenten[/name_m]
[name_m]Brockten[/name_m]/bronsen/[name_m]Bryson[/name_m]
[name_m]Caelen[/name_m]
Corsen/corben
[name_u]Loren[/name_u]
[name_u]Logan[/name_u]
[name_m]Landon[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucien[/name_m]
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]
[name_u]Payton[/name_u]
[name_m]Preston[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Soloman[/name_m]
[name_m]Samson[/name_m]
[name_m]Sven[/name_m]
[name_m]Steffen[/name_m] or steffan
[name_m]Torien[/name_m]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u]
[name_m]Truman[/name_m]
[name_m]Ian[/name_m] alternatives
[name_m]Eaen[/name_m]
[name_m]Eben[/name_m]
[name_u]Evan[/name_u]
[name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_m]Euen[/name_m]
[name_m]Iven[/name_m]
[name_u]Finn[/name_u] alternatives
[name_m]Finnley[/name_m]
[name_m]Jack[/name_m] alternatives
[name_m]Jackson[/name_m]
[name_m]Jacques[/name_m]
[name_m]Jax[/name_m]
[name_m]Jock[/name_m]
[name_m]George[/name_m] alternatives
Georgio
[name_u]Georgie[/name_u]
[name_m]Geordie[/name_m]
Other suggestions
[name_u]Noah[/name_u]
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m]
[name_u]Flynn[/name_u]
[name_u]Frankie[/name_u]
[name_f]Harlow[/name_f]
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]
[name_u]Elliot[/name_u]
[name_m]Ian[/name_m] is a lovely name. It’s quite rare too. I would love to meet a little boy named [name_m]Ian[/name_m]! I love [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] too, and [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. You have some charming names there.
I do like [name_m]George[/name_m], but I would advise against using it if the sound is giving you trouble. I have the same issue with it to some extent, actually.
I don’t have any other suggestions, but good luck!
Would it help you get over the fact that your husband’s name also begins with [name_f]Ro[/name_f], if you thought of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] as an honor name for him?
I think [name_m]George[/name_m] is so handsome!
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and opinions, especially those who clearly took a lot of time to offer really helpful advice. You all gave me much to think about, but as often happens in these situations, my husband and I managed to sort this out on our own.
We decided to play a game where we would take turns saying the first name that popped into our heads. If a name made any kind of impression, we’d write it down. He said “[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m],” and while I had looked over that name about a hundred times already, something happened when he said it, and I knew it was the one. I normally don’t even like occupational names, but I don’t know. I can picture a son named [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]. So, now we wait to see if baby is male or female. Thanks again for the suggestions and advice.
[name_u]Finn[/name_u]!..
What a marvellous idea, and congratulations on finding a potential name 