So I’m just feeling frustrated because as usual, I have several favorite girls names but only two boys names I would even come close to using. My top two are [name]August[/name] and [name]Henry[/name]. [name]August[/name] is my absolute favorite, and I feel comfortable using it because it’s not THAT popular (in the 300s). [name]Henry[/name] however I feel is a little too popular (just outside the top 50) which makes it my second choice, but I like it a lot and it’s a family name.
These are the ones I like, but need honest opinions on them. Any comments are appreciated! I tried to explain why I’m unsure about them/hesitate to put them on a list.
[name]Arthur[/name] - [name]Love[/name] nn [name]Art[/name], but I don’t know if a little boy would actually LIKE being named [name]Arthur[/name].
[name]Clarence[/name] - I have a major love of boys’ virtue and pseudo-word names, but again, would he like his name? I would maybe pair it with my maiden name [name]Kenyon[/name] as a middle, and NN [name]Clark[/name] ([name]CLARence[/name] [name]Kenyon[/name] lastname)
[name]Clement[/name]/[name]Clemente[/name] - I’m fine with both the Cleh-ment and [name]Clay[/name]-mont pronunciations, but don’t know how usable it is.
[name]Dexter[/name] - Mostly because of the cartoon [name]Dexter[/name]'s Lab, and the serial killer show [name]Dexter[/name].
[name]Earnest[/name] - Again with the virtue/word name, but I loathe the NN [name]Ernie[/name]. Is it avoidable?
[name]Louis[/name] - Fine with both Loo-iss and Loo-ee pronunciations, but I wonder if it’s too plain.
Merit - Does it sound too feminine?
[name]Oscar[/name] - “the grouch”?
[name]Truman[/name] - [name]Just[/name] love the sound, and NN [name]Tru[/name], but is it pretentious? Too trendy?
Personally, I adore [name]August[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] both- popular as [name]Henry[/name] is, there are some great nick-names for it ([name]Hal[/name], [name]Huck[/name]) that are less common.
From your list-
[name]Arthur[/name] - love this name…I’d always think you could sell boys on it- think of the great namesakes- [name]King[/name] [name]Arthur[/name], [name]Arthur[/name] Connon [name]Doyle[/name], etc
[name]Clarence[/name] - this one does seem like it might be a bit much for a boy, but having [name]Clark[/name] as a nn makes it much more useable and adaptable
[name]Clement[/name]/[name]Clemente[/name] - this is one of those cases where meeting a little boy [name]Clement[/name] made me adore the name…he was sweet and cute and completely boyish, and we called him [name]Clemmy[/name]- the name was perfectly wearable…I’d say use it
[name]Dexter[/name] - the show [name]Dexter[/name] has totally ruined this name for me
[name]Earnest[/name] - I’m not sure if [name]Ernie[/name] is unavoidable- but that’s the case with all names- you might end up having your child called by some bizarre nn you never imaged…still, if you hate the obvious nn for a name, I’d avoid it
[name]Louis[/name] - I’m not a huge fan of this name, just because I hate names that can be pronounced two ways
Merit - I think the feminine sound comes from its closeness to [name]Mary[/name], but Merit might be a great middle name
[name]Oscar[/name] - I know a few young Oscars, and I think the name has moved far beyond [name]Oscar[/name] the Ground connotations…definitely useable
[name]Truman[/name] - I don’t think it is pretentious or trendy- I think it is solid, though not my favorite
[name]Arthur[/name] - I think [name]Arthur[/name] nn art is great, although bear in mind it is growing in popularity and since you expressed concerns of [name]Henry[/name] for that reason I’d say it’s worth checking how popular it is currently.
[name]Clarence[/name] - Not massively keen, can’t really imagine someone being called this, only thing it reminds me of is the film; it’s a wonderful life, the angel (male) is [name]Clarence[/name].
[name]Clement[/name]/[name]Clemente[/name] - prefer spelling clement, although since clementine for a girl is getting talked about so much I wonder if it’s less useable now because of that?
[name]Dexter[/name] - dexter is growing in popularity too and I too think of both cartoon and serial killer show… But I don’t think people will stick with these connections for long after baby is named and here!
[name]Earnest[/name] - I quite like it actually… Not sure how avoidable [name]Ernie[/name] is…
[name]Louis[/name] - I love [name]Louis[/name]!!! Pronounced loo-ee and if I wasn’t called louise I would definitely use it! It’s not plain at all, love love love.
Merit - not heard this one, not keen particularly either.
[name]Oscar[/name] - I think [name]Oscar[/name] has dropped the association with “the grouch” now and I know a toddler called [name]Oscar[/name], it’s a lovely choice! And not too popular either.
[name]Truman[/name] - I love [name]Truman[/name] nn tru too! Not pretentious at all!
Id also consider using [name]Henry[/name] for a middle name spot since you say you like it …
[name]Arthur[/name] - I love [name]Arthur[/name]!
[name]Clarence[/name] - Not a big fan, but I don’t mind the name.
[name]Clement[/name]/[name]Clemente[/name] - I like [name]Clement[/name]. It’s nice and clean.
[name]Dexter[/name] - I like the name, but I can only think of the TV show.
[name]Earnest[/name] - Very nice! If you don’t want your son to be called [name]Ernie[/name], find another nn for him and use that instead. Or just use [name]Earnest[/name]!
[name]Louis[/name] - [name]Love[/name]! [name]One[/name] of my favourite names, I think it’s beautiful and classic.
Merit - It sounds very feminine to me. Anyway, don’t like it.
[name]Oscar[/name] - I like it, but I meet boys named this all the time.
[name]Truman[/name] - [name]Love[/name]! Not pretentious.
I adore [name]August[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] by the way! [name]Don[/name]'t worry about popularity, [name]Henry[/name] is such a classic!
[name]Arthur[/name] - I don’t know about this one - seems just a bit to old man and not in a good way.
[name]Clarence[/name] - don’t love it, esp. with [name]Clark[/name] as a nn - if you want to call him [name]Clark[/name], name him [name]Clark[/name], which is a cuter name anyway.
[name]Clement[/name]/[name]Clemente[/name] -I really like [name]Clement[/name] when it is pronounced Cleh-ment not [name]Clay[/name]-mont.
[name]Dexter[/name] - [name]Love[/name] it, and [name]Dex[/name] is a great nickname
[name]Earnest[/name] - not a huge fan
[name]Louis[/name] - I like the Loo-ee pronunciation better but both are cute. [name]Both[/name] and the nn [name]Lou[/name] have a cool throwback feel to them.
Merit - Possibly a bit feminine but I think feminine connotations would disappear once the name is attached to a real boy. I really like this one!
[name]Oscar[/name] - I wouldn’t worry about grouch association. I would have made that association years and years ago (when I was kid watching [name]Sesame[/name] [name]Street[/name], of course!) but I thing there are enough other Oscars out there now. Cut name - similar in feel to [name]Felix[/name] but less trendy.
[name]Truman[/name] - love the NN [name]Tru[/name], and I don’t think it’s pretentious or trendy at all!
[name]Arthur[/name] – I don’t like [name]Arthur[/name] much. I think it sounds too old for a little boy and too dated once he grows up.
[name]Clarence[/name] – This name doesn’t sound very masculine to me. I think [name]Clark[/name] would be a better first name choice and not just a nickname. Have you considered using [name]Kenyon[/name] as a first name? I think it would be really cool!
[name]Clement[/name] - NMS. Reminds me of inclement weather, haha.
[name]Dexter[/name] – NMS.
[name]Earnest[/name] – This is a really nice name! I’m not sure [name]Ernie[/name] is avoidable though. : /
[name]Louis[/name] – NMS.
Merit – Yes, this sounds a little too feminine, in my opinion
[name]Oscar[/name] – I don’t immediately think of the [name]Sesame[/name] St character, but I don’t like the name much. The nn [name]Ozzie[/name] is cute though.
[name]Truman[/name] – I love this! I know what you mean, but I don’t think it’s too pretentious, especially with the nn [name]Tru[/name].
[name]August[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] are great names! What about [name]August[/name] [name]Henry[/name]?