Update: we’ve narrowed it down to 3: Jasper / Wallace / Walter
Thoughts on those specifically?
We’re getting closer to our due date so the anxiety of not having picked a name is growing. We’re down to our final few. Our last name is two syllables and starts with a B.
Would love some candid feedback. Thanks, NB’ers!
Aldo
Jasper
Leopold
Lincoln
Simon
Truman
Walden
Wallace
Walter
[name_m]Aldo[/name_m] - I can’t see it aging. Maybe [name_u]Alden[/name_u] with [name_m]Aldo[/name_m] as a nn?
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] - I want to like this name but just can’t get on board.
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m] - I love [name_m]Leo[/name_m] as a nn! As long as you’re okay with him likely being [name_m]Leo[/name_m] 99% of the time I like it!
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] - I like it but it seems so modern compared to your other choices.
[name_m]Simon[/name_m] - I have a soft spot for this name! If it flows with your last name I think it gets my vote. It doesn’t work with our last name or it’d be on my list.
[name_m]Truman[/name_m] - it’s okay. No strong opinion one way or another. [name_f]May[/name_f] share “[name_u]True[/name_u]” as a nn with a famous baby.
[name_m]Walden[/name_m] - I keep reading it as warden and immediately thinking of OITNB :-/
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] - again no strong opinion. It seems kind of…tame.
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] - I adore this name! It’s another that won’t work worth our last name or it’d be on my list as well! [name_u]Wally[/name_u] and [name_m]Walt[/name_m] make cute nns.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.
Here are my thoughts:
[name_m]Aldo[/name_m]-I don’t know that I care for this. It sounds like [name_m]Waldo[/name_m], but it’s missing the ‘W’. Also, it looks a little bit like [name_m]Adolph[/name_m]. :-?
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]-This is okay. I like [name_m]Caspar[/name_m], but this kind of reminds me of Jester. I think that’s why I can’t get on board w/it.
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m]-Hm. This seems too over dramatic. I think just [name_m]Leo[/name_m] is cute.
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]-This is not my favorite, but there’s no real reason. It’s perfectly fine.
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]-I like this! Really fun and smart. Very recognizable, but not over done.
[name_m]Truman[/name_m]-See [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m].
[name_m]Walden[/name_m]-I don’t know if I care for this one. It just seems like a last name too much.
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u]-Same as above. Or a grumpy old business man.
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]-This is kind of cute. Also sounds like an old man, but a sweet one.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. 
I was soo indecisive my whole pregnancy, try not to put too much pressure on finding the exact one. Narrow down to 2 or 3 to take to the hospital
I think naturally you will end up favouring one subconsciously or rather the others won’t feel right.
That’s how it was for us anyways we were like “she’s obviously [name_f]Olive[/name_f]!”
Anyways - is there a style you would like to go for? Modern, vintage, unusual?
I like:
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] - I love this name but wouldn’t use due to popularity (bit of a trendy vibe)
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] - unusual but known! Great nickname [name_m]Link[/name_m]
[name_m]Simon[/name_m] - vintage but a little ho-hum
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] - The perfect balance of known but not popular
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] - Vintage, known but not overused. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the nickname [name_m]Walt[/name_m] (it is my cat’s name) My top pic
All the best
I like the uniqueness of [name_m]Aldo[/name_m]. I would probably put it as a mn (but that’s just my opinion).
Names that stand out to me are, [name_u]Wallace[/name_u], [name_m]Walter[/name_m] and [name_m]Truman[/name_m]. [name_m]Walden[/name_m] is nice, but I like the more “crisp” pronunciation of [name_m]Walter[/name_m].
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_m]Aldo[/name_m]?
[name_m]Truman[/name_m] [name_m]Aldo[/name_m]?
[name_m]Simon[/name_m] is my favorite option from your list, followed by [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] and [name_m]Walter[/name_m].
I love your list!! Please let us know what you choose.
[name_m]Aldo[/name_m] I really like. My only hesitation with this name is it may be misheard as [name_u]Arlo[/name_u], [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] even [name_u]Alden[/name_u] I think people are more familiar with.
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m] I think is lovely. It’s soft and gentle, has a connection to nature. It has lots of history but has never been overused.
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m] I love. I think it’s so distinguished and a little quirky. My personal hesitation with it is I don’t love the nickname [name_m]Leo[/name_m]. (I don’t hate it either.) I feel like using a dusty name like [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] you have to be okay with the child choosing to go with [name_m]Leo[/name_m] someday. If you love [name_m]Leo[/name_m] too it’s really the best of both worlds, stylish, formal, kind of geeky chic first name with accessible, down to earth nickname.
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] is fine. Maybe it’s just where I live but it’s been used here a LOT and so it’s kind of lost any spark I used to think it carried.
[name_m]Simon[/name_m] is so handsome. Old fashioned and super versatile. Everyone is familiar with it but it’s uncommon.
[name_m]Truman[/name_m] is my 1 year old’s name and I really couldn’t recommend any name more than [name_m]Truman[/name_m]. We’ve had so much fun with nicknames. Nobody questions his name because it’s easily recognizable, but nobody seems to know anyone else with the name either. I love it’s obvious virtuous meaning. I love [name_m]Truman[/name_m] Capote as a namesake. I’m so glad we chose it.
[name_m]Walden[/name_m] is nice. I prefer your other [name_m]Wal[/name_m] names. Maybe because 2 syllables ending in n is so common for boys right now (see:both my son’s names haha) so I just think the other names that end differently have more distinction.
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is my middle child’s middle name. We considered it for a first but for a couple personal reasons kept it in the middle. But I’d really really love to meet a little boy with [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] as a fist name. I can picture it on ANYONE and it still has an unexpected charm no matter who I match it with. Nicknames [name_u]Wally[/name_u] or [name_m]Ace[/name_m], so cute!
My cousin has a [name_m]Walter[/name_m] (one of the reasons we avoided [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] as a first) and let me tell you, a 4 year old [name_m]Walter[/name_m] is just the cutest thing. Sometimes they call him [name_m]Walt[/name_m] which is so old man sounding but adorable. And [name_u]Wally[/name_u] is more youthful but still so cute. But usually he’s just [name_m]Walter[/name_m] and I think his name will continue to fit him well for his entire life. It has history and a simple, friendly feel.
Sorry. I basically just praised most of your list and that probably didn’t help you eliminate. But I can’t help it. Such great options. I hope one feels right to you. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t be scared time listen to your intuition. No matter what you pick, he’ll have a handsome name that will suit him well at all stages of life.
First of all, congratulations!
I love [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] and [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]
I personally feel they both will age well and if you are nickname fans [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_m]Ace[/name_m] are adorable! I’m not sure if you would see [name_m]Ace[/name_m] as a stretch from [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] but it makes sense to me and is a little fresher than [name_m]Wall[/name_m]-nicknames. Both are strong names with some historical connections although I’m partial to [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] due to having a weird and strong patriotic thing towards [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] even though I’m American XD
([name_m]William[/name_m] [name_u]Wallace[/name_u], think Braveheart)
You can’t go wrong with your list! They are all great names
First, I wanted to say that I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] so many of your choices. With our last baby, my husband had a breakthrough imagining taking our new baby around the office and introducing him/her, and his favorite boy name became immediately clear to him. Of course we had a girl lol, but a similar exercise might give you guys some clarity for narrowing down.
[name_m]Aldo[/name_m]–Not my favorite from you list.
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]-- Really handsome! I’m jaded from nameberry because I see this name all the time on here but I’ve never met a [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] irl, so I have a skewed sense of its popularity.
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m]–my FAVE long form of [name_m]Leo[/name_m] but my husband vetoed because he said we were having a little Canadian not a [name_m]French[/name_m] nobleman.
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]–[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the nickname [name_m]Link[/name_m]. My only concern is compared with other names on this list, it’s more on the popular side which could be a drawback for you.
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]–[name_u]Love[/name_u] it! It sounds sweet, strong, and smart to me. It was on our list. I wish it had a nicer intuitive nickname but nn develop so organically that wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
[name_m]Truman[/name_m]–I really like it! I think it hits a lot of sweet spots: it’s uncommon but familiar, easy to spell and pronounce. I am on the fence about the nickname [name_u]True[/name_u] but I think I ultimately feel positive about it.
[name_m]Walden[/name_m]–I really like it but I’m also a big fan of the transcendentalists. I think it’s a handsome, uncommon choice.
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u]–I like it but I don’t like [name_u]Wally[/name_u]. I’ve seen [name_m]Ace[/name_m] suggested as a nickname for [name_u]Wallace[/name_u], which could be cool.
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]–I like [name_m]Walter[/name_m] but prefer [name_m]Walden[/name_m] and [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]. I don’t like [name_m]Walt[/name_m] or [name_u]Wally[/name_u] as possible nicknames.
Your list also made me think of [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_u]Alden[/name_u], [name_m]Wesley[/name_m], and [name_m]Warren[/name_m]–not that you need more options lol! Good luck!
I really like
[name_m]Truman[/name_m] -fun but sophisticated, gentle but gentlemanly
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]- charming, mischevious and soft
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] - love the possibility of the nn [name_m]Link[/name_m]!
[name_m]Truman[/name_m] [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], [name_m]Truman[/name_m] [name_m]Walter[/name_m], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_m]Truman[/name_m], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_m]Leopold[/name_m], [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] would be nice
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] is my fave for sure! The nickname [name_m]Walt[/name_m] is so sweet!
[name_m]Aldo[/name_m] is a clothing brand, so I don’t personally think of it as a name.
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m] is quite clunky-sounding to me.
I find [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_m]Truman[/name_m], [name_m]Walden[/name_m] and [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] quite unattractive.
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] and [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] are just ‘okay’.
I love [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and the nature association.
These responses are super helpful. Ultimately, we’re looking for something familiar and established but not overly trendy or popular.
From your list I like [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] and [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] (in that order). [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] is hugely popular where I’m from but I love the nickname [name_m]Link[/name_m]!
Oh I should add [name_m]Aldo[/name_m] is a major shoe store chain - great shoes! But I’m not keen on it as a name!
I like [name_m]Walter[/name_m] and [name_m]Simon[/name_m]!
My favorite is [name_m]Walden[/name_m]. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the nickname [name_u]Wally[/name_u].
We’ve narrowed our list down to the top three. Would love your thoughts on these specifically:
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u]
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]
We were also planning to use [name_u]Douglas[/name_u] a middle name to honor family. Doesn’t work with [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] though.
I personally like [name_m]Jasper[/name_m], but I have a good friend who regularly uses it as a derogatory, similarly to how it’s described here. He said it entered his lexicon in college, and apparently that’s a pretty common use in [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], where he went to school. [name_m]Just[/name_m] something to consider!
And, I agree that [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_u]Douglas[/name_u] is a bit much. What would you use if not [name_u]Douglas[/name_u]?