To go with Mr ___ [name]Alexander[/name] O’Dare:
[name]Blair[/name] – if you live in a place where boys are named things like [name]Julian[/name], [name]Henry[/name] and [name]Grant[/name] then a little male [name]Blair[/name] will be fine. If you are surrounded by Jaydens and Paytynns then best look elsewhere. Also not sure that it works with [name]Alexander[/name], as the ending sounds of the names are very similar.
[name]Dakota[/name] – the era of the faux-cowboys is over. [name]Dakota[/name] has galloped off the naming range, along with sister [name]Cheyenne[/name] (very, very dated to the late 90s). If it matters, the [name]Sioux[/name] themselves said they didn’t at all like people giving this name to their children. Lastly, [name]Dakota[/name] with an Irish O’ surname doesn’t work too well-- it’s a major style clash, and the long Os are a bit repetitive.
[name]Jupiter[/name] – I too think it’s a poor choice. The only people named [name]Jupiter[/name] in the US in the last 400 years were slaves, so named because their masters thought it made the plantation sound more classy. However, if you’re in a community where people name their kids [name]Apollo[/name], Ermentrude, Qeeebok, or [name]Blue[/name] [name]Rain[/name] then he’ll fit in.
[name]Milo[/name] – completely unobjectionable. Definitely a yupster name, but for a good reason-- it’s got a soft, gentle sound, it ends with a manly vowel, and it’s short, continental and easy to pronounce. I would think it’s the best choice on your list-- except you absolutely cannot use it with a last name that starts with O’.
[name]Porter[/name] – this is an occupational surname which basically means carrying things for other people. It’s still in use in the UK and on railcars. Not sure it’s exactly aspirational, but it certainly has a nice, modern sound. If [name]Cooper[/name] and [name]Archer[/name] are in, [name]Porter[/name] will work too.
[name]River[/name] – [name]River[/name] [name]Phoenix[/name] died long enough ago for this name to make a comeback. Slightly hippyish but in a good way.
[name]Rowan[/name] – I agree with you-- it definitely has a soft masculinity. In the UK it’s a male name (think [name]Rowan[/name] Atkinson, and the Archbishop of Canterbury). It’s a tree with deep symbolic significance and a very nice name. My favorite from your list.
[name]Soren[/name] – It has a sound that will fit in with all the -en names, but it’s distinctive and softly masculine. Great choice. Helps if you like Kierkegaard too.
Miss ___ [name]Alice[/name] O’Dare:
Alaska – I think the attraction of this name will fade for you. Alaska [name]Alice[/name] is too alliterative and not quite in keeping with the rest of your naming style.
[name]Araminta[/name] – You are right, this is a fussy name. However, it has a pedigree and a sweet diminutive in [name]Minty[/name]. [name]Araminta[/name] [name]Alice[/name], however, fails: the ending sound of [name]Araminta[/name] is identical to the beginning sound of [name]Alice[/name] (“aramint-[name]AH[/name] [name]AH[/name]-lice”)
[name]Larkin[/name] – this is a masculine name-- historically it’s a diminutive of [name]Lawrence[/name]. I would suggest [name]Alondra[/name], but it too won’t work with [name]Alice[/name].
[name]Lilac[/name] – this is a very fussy, preening botanical name. It ends on a harsh C sound and has a very difficult meter, which is one reason why its rarely used in English naming.
[name]Reinette[/name] – this means “little queen.” If you’re in love with it, it works with [name]Alice[/name]. Are you sure you don’t prefer [name]Reina[/name]?
[name]Summer[/name] --as you said, sweet, but dated to the 80s.
[name]Saoirse[/name] – this is a VERY political name in [name]Ireland[/name]. With an Irish surname people could very well assume that you are a genuine supporter of the [name]IRA[/name]. [name]Saoirse[/name] means ‘freedom,’ specifically for Northern [name]Ireland[/name] and the reunification of the all of the counties. It is almost like naming your child “Gaymarriage” or “Antiimmigration.” Plus, the spelling issues really are thorny here in the US.
[name]Vesper[/name] – It doesn’t sound like [name]Vespa[/name], and it’s certainly an interesting, faintly religious name. If your community is not Catholic, Orthodox or liturgical Protestant, they may not be familiar with the word. It sounds pretty hip with a surname like O’Dare, and works with [name]Alice[/name].
Radha (row-a) – You are correct to worry about the spelling. Ds are simply not silent letters in English. I would strike this from the list.
Panina – It sounds like panini. Or pashmina. Either way, doesn’t work.
[name]Rosemary[/name] – I think it’s very sweet. You’d have to “bury” the -mary part of the name to get the meter to work with [name]Alice[/name]. If you are picking it simply to choose a longer [name]Rose[/name]- name, have you thought about [name]Rosalind[/name]? [name]Rosamond[/name]? [name]Rosalie[/name]? Or the very rare Rhodanthe?
Some suggestions for “gently masculine” boys, with [name]Alexander[/name] O’Dare to follow:
[name]Lucian[/name]
[name]Cassian[/name]
[name]Finnian[/name]
[name]Calloway[/name]
[name]Beck[/name]
[name]Grant[/name]
[name]Abbott[/name]
[name]Everest[/name]
[name]Evander[/name]
Alder
[name]Atlas[/name]
[name]Bram[/name]
[name]Conall[/name]
[name]Sylvan[/name]
[name]Ulysses[/name]
[name]Hector[/name]
[name]Orion[/name]
Girls: __ [name]Alice[/name] O’Dare
[name]Eavan[/name]
[name]Halcyon[/name]
[name]Oriel[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Gillian[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name]
Aven
[name]Bryony[/name]
[name]Delphine[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Ione[/name]
[name]Ondine[/name] (like the double-O)
Not liking this much. I don’t like [name]Jupiter[/name] [name]Alexander[/name] either, partly because of the er sound on the end of each name.