[name]Hi[/name]! Hmm, let’s see. First off let me say I love [name]Ezequiel[/name], it’s very handsome, has family meaning and it’s Biblical history grounds some of the more modern names you’re considering. That looks like a Spanish spelling, is it? Would you and husband consider it in front? [name]Ezekiel[/name] is coming back “in” and [name]Zeke[/name] is really cool. Second let me say if you [name]LOVE[/name] a name enough, you probably shouldn’t let the reactions sway you. People will adapt when they meet the baby. While most of these aren’t my style, I don’t think they’d cause a boy major difficulty (with the possible exception of [name]London[/name] - see below).
Ayson [name]Ezequiel[/name] - I think you’re getting negative reaction because it looks/sounds incomplete, and looks/sounds like so many other names out there (which your friends probably like) - it’s like the “uncanny valley”. Change the s to d, and you’ve got [name]Aiden[/name] by sound. [name]Add[/name] a J, Gr, or M, and you’ve got [name]Jason[/name], [name]Grayson[/name], or [name]Mason[/name]. Also the spelling looks invented. Aeson is a historical Greek name. I don’t like this name, but I do think the nickname [name]Ace[/name] will be cool and I think he will “fit in”. My suggestions are: [name]Aidan[/name], Aeson, and [name]Grayson[/name]. [name]Aidan[/name] because it’s the historical spelling of [name]Aiden[/name] (BUT it’s like the #1 name practically, and people will probably guess it’s spelled [name]Aiden[/name] - keep those things in mind. [name]Aidan[/name] could have the nn [name]Dan[/name]), Aeson because it’s a spelling with history, and [name]Grayson[/name] because it’s in and familiar right now, kind of trendy, but not super popular and the nn [name]Gray[/name] is great. [name]Jason[/name] and [name]Mason[/name] are OK but [name]Jason[/name] is dated and [name]Mason[/name] is over-the-top trendy to my ear. If this is a family name, stand your ground, and never mind : D. That goes for all of these.
[name]Slater[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] - this is OK. It sounds very aggressive to me and I wonder if that’s why your friends don’t care for it. There was a lesbian punk-rock band in the 1990s, Sleater-[name]Kenney[/name] (I may be spelling that wrong but it’s pronounced like [name]Slater[/name]) and that’s not the best association for a little boy, although it’s also not that widely known. I don’t care for it, but I like it more than Ayson. It doesn’t offer tons of nicknames. [name]Slate[/name] - like the rock. It’s OK. Your friends might prefer: [name]Sawyer[/name], [name]Carter[/name], [name]Hunter[/name], [name]Connor[/name], [name]Gunnar[/name].
[name]Paxton[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] - this is OK, I think it may be the most wearable of the bunch. I’m a little surprised your friends don’t like it. [name]Pax[/name] as a nn is pretty cool, if a little Brangelina. It might be getting a negative reaction because it’s close to [name]Peyton[/name] (et al, many spellings), which while getting plenty of boy use (because of Mr. [name]Manning[/name]) is also bounding up the charts for girls. Some names your friends might like more (and keep in mind I could be wrong on all of these!): [name]Ashton[/name], [name]Dexter[/name].
[name]London[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] - OK, you can double check the stats for me, but I think [name]London[/name] right now is getting TONS of use for girls and much less use for boys. I would advise against this one for that reason, and that almost definitely explains your friend’s negative reactions right there. I think these names are similar and much easier on a boy (though some are getting some uni use): [name]Lennox[/name], [name]Landon[/name], [name]Linden[/name], [name]Lennon[/name], [name]Lachlan[/name], [name]Logan[/name], [name]Duncan[/name], [name]Donovan[/name].
[name]Fabian[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] - I think this is really handsome! HOWEVER, NB taste and real-world taste often differ : D. My first thought is that people are reminded of [name]Fabio[/name]. That might be too much for some. My second thought is that although this is a traditionally masculine name, it never took off in the Anglosphere, and that -ian ending rings feminine to some people because of [name]Vivian[/name] and [name]Jillian[/name] and [name]Lillian[/name], even though there are also lots of boys names that end in -ian. Maybe since this one starts with “[name]Faye[/name]” (the sounds of it), that reinforces the feminine feel. Some names with a similar feel that might get a better reaction: [name]Finnian[/name], [name]Finnegan[/name], [name]Christian[/name], [name]Felix[/name], [name]Philip[/name], [name]Julian[/name]. I think [name]Dorian[/name] and [name]Florian[/name] have a similar feel too, but I think they’d get more similar reactions to [name]Fabian[/name].
I really hope this helps! Good luck as you decide among your initial picks (my vote goes to [name]Paxton[/name] first and [name]Slater[/name] second), or consider some of the many alternates.
The other three aren’t really my style–I want to like [name]Slater[/name], but there’s just something about it that bothers me. I’m not sure what. I think [name]Paxton[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] or [name]London[/name] [name]Ezequiel[/name] would be lovely, though.