Reining in the shortlist - Boys

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all!

So, I’m not expecting any time soon, but I am just about two months away from my wedding and it’s SO difficult to not get a bit excited over potentially getting to put my list in play within the near future. I’m just looking for some feedback on what I think would be our top choices if we had to name a baby boy tomorrow, and some suggestions from there!

I don’t care overly much whether a name is rare/unique, although I’m not a fan of ultra-common or trendy choices. I prefer classic names that are instantly recognizable, easy to spell, and can shorten into cute nicknames; two to three syllables; practical, streamlined names over lots of frills and flourish or lots of “cool” or “macho” factor. I’m generally not a fan of unisex names or modern day trends like -ley/lee/leigh.

Last name will be one syllable and universally known as probably the most intrinsic nickname for [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], so -en endings can work if done carefully.

IMPORTANT: No B or J names, please! FI and I will have nearly identical names once married (James/Jamie) and using B or J on future children just feels like an alliterative punch in the face!

I really like the idea of two middles - we would want to use _____ [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Douglas[/name_u], for honor reasons, if we ever had a son, and then I’d probably just want to continue the pattern. [name_u]James[/name_u] has potential as a middle for a daughter, too, in the event we have no boys/have a girl and decide to be one-and-done.

We have a MUCH harder time with boy names, so suggestions are definitely welcome!

  • indicates honor names

In no particular order, we have:
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Edward[/name_m] ([name_u]Teddy[/name_u])
[name_m]Calvin[/name_m] ([name_u]Cal[/name_u])
[name_m]Franklin[/name_m] ([name_u]Frankie[/name_u])
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]* ([name_u]Charlie[/name_u])
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m]
[name_m]Casper[/name_m] ([name_m]Cas[/name_m])
[name_m]Tucker[/name_m] (FI is a big [name_m]Baltimore[/name_m] Ravens fan)
[name_m]Luke[/name_m]
[name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] (love [name_m]Mac[/name_m] as a nickname, but does [name_m]Mac[/name_m] B3nn sound too much like a cheeseburger?)
[name_m]Alexander[/name_m]
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]
[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m]

I just replied to your girls’ list, so I’ll do the same breakdown here.

Favorites:
[name_m]Tucker[/name_m] - [name_m]Tucker[/name_m] B3nn sounds great, and I like that FI is on board with this choice.
[name_m]Luke[/name_m] - I love the simplicity of [name_m]Luke[/name_m], and I think it’s not used enough right now.
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m] - I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] for you. [name_m]Dez[/name_m] is too cool.
[name_m]Casper[/name_m] - [name_m]Cas[/name_m] and [name_m]Cap[/name_m] are both such cool nicknames.
[name_m]Charles[/name_m] - [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] seems like a great pick for you. Such a friendly name.
[name_m]Simon[/name_m] - I love that [name_m]Simon[/name_m] means “listener” and [name_m]Simon[/name_m] B3nn sounds good, despite the repeated endings.

Cut:
[name_m]Walter[/name_m] - [name_m]Walter[/name_m] gets a lot of love on Nameberry, but I really don’t think it’s ready for a revival. I worked at a preschool with a little [name_m]Walt[/name_m] and it was so odd to me.
[name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Mac[/name_m], but this is not my favorite way to get there. [name_m]Cormac[/name_m]? [name_m]Mack[/name_m] on its own? [name_m]McCoy[/name_m] or something like that? [name_m]Mac[/name_m] B3nn is a hamburgery.
[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] - A very nice name, but [name_u]Alex[/name_u]'s are just ubiquitous.
[name_m]Franklin[/name_m] - [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] is kind of cute, but [name_m]Franklin[/name_m] is a a no-go for me. Especially with the last name B3nn, I think it’s too founding fathers.

On the Fence:
[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] - There were so many Nicks in my generation, it just seems a little overdone. But [name_u]Nick[/name_u] is an easy name to love.
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - I like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], but you seem like nickname people, and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] doesn’t offer the best options in that department.
[name_m]Calvin[/name_m] - I like [name_u]Cal[/name_u] a lot, but the flow of [name_m]Calvin[/name_m] B3nn is a little bit off. [name_m]Callum[/name_m]? [name_u]Calder[/name_u]?
[name_m]Edward[/name_m] ([name_u]Teddy[/name_u]) - I like [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], just don’t love [name_m]Edward[/name_m]. [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]?
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Henry[/name_m], but it seems a little overplayed.

Thank you for your insightful breakdowns on both posts! I really appreciate the way you’ve grouped the names in terms of style/fit - especially here, where we’ve been all over the place!

I am very surprised to find myself suddenly in love with a sibset like [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] and [name_m]Tucker[/name_m] - never what I would have put together on my own, but feel like they would fit wonderfully into our visions of a future family!

Also glad to see love for [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] and [name_m]Casper[/name_m], because they’d surely get a lot of resistance from at least my side of the family.

My favourites from your list are:
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Calvin[/name_m] ([name_u]Cal[/name_u])
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Casper[/name_m] ([name_m]Cas[/name_m])
[name_m]Tucker[/name_m] (FI is a big [name_m]Baltimore[/name_m] Ravens fan)
[name_m]Nicholas[/name_m]

Based on your style, some suggestions are:
[name_m]Felix[/name_m]
[name_m]Oscar[/name_m]
[name_m]Edmund[/name_m]
[name_m]Gideon[/name_m]
[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]
[name_m]Bennett[/name_m]

[name_m]Bennett[/name_m] would be a great choice if it didn’t contain our last name! [name_m]Bennett[/name_m]/[name_m]Ben[/name_m]/[name_m]Benny[/name_m] B3nn might be a bit too much for a poor kid, though!

I hadn’t thought of [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], I like that quite a bit!

I really like:
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] (popular but so sweet yet strong)
[name_m]Franklin[/name_m] (feels distinct but familiar and [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] is nice!)
[name_m]Casper[/name_m] ([name_m]Cas[/name_m]) (I love the gentle sounds)
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (love the sounds - it feels very versatile as a name)

[name_m]Casper[/name_m] 100%

This would be great in a poll