Seven Favorites for Boys--Thoughts?

I tend to favor short and masculine choices or surnames; he prefers soft consonant sounds and multi-syllables.

Here’s a list of seven favorites, some mine, some his. I’m seeking feedback, combo suggestions, anything to make a particular choice stand out over another, because nothing seems to be just right yet. I’m definitely open to alternatives that you think we might like, too.

[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - I say regal and classic, he says aardvark.
[name_m]Clark[/name_m] - right up my alley, but a bit short and harsh for his taste.
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] - his absolute favorite, a bit popular for me, and not fond of [name_m]Gabe[/name_m] as a nickname.
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] - our compromise for now, but falls a bit flat. Perhaps needs a jazzy middle?
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] - subtle homage to my maiden name ([name_m]Locke[/name_m]), but a bit out there for his taste.
[name_m]Levi[/name_m] - love the long “i” sound, he only thinks of jeans.
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] - I love the subtle religious symbolism, he’s a bit wary of word names.

I’m totally open to middle suggestions, but here are some family names and other faves to get you started: [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_m]Troy[/name_m], [name_u]Elias[/name_u]. Bonus points for anything with [name_m]Christian[/name_m] allusions or connections to Vanderbilt or [name_u]Tennessee[/name_u] Titans athletics.

[name_u]Love[/name_u]:
[name_m]Clark[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] (and the nn [name_m]Shep[/name_m] is so cool)

I’d have to go with [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u], though I’m not sure if some people might feel like [name_u]Elias[/name_u] runs into [name_m]Estes[/name_m]. If so [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] would be my next choice. Or you could go the 2 mn route. [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u] [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]!

I like:
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]David[/name_m], and [name_m]Miles[/name_m]

Not fond of:
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_m]Clark[/name_m], [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], or [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]

I love:
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]- Knights, chivalry, myth and legend definitely overrules the cartoon.

[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_m]Troy[/name_m] is a really handsome combo. As is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] anything (I really like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]), and [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m].

I like [name_m]Levi[/name_m] and [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], nn lachie/lockie.
While reading your list two names popped into my head, not quite sure if they are suitable but…

[name_m]Abraham[/name_m] nn [name_m]Abe[/name_m]
[name_u]Seth[/name_u]

Also I think [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is an exceptional middle name. It is a classic!

love - [name_m]Graham[/name_m], [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], [name_m]Levi[/name_m]

like - [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (it’s a family name), [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]

neutral - [name_m]Clark[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] (although I like the nickname [name_m]Gabe[/name_m])

dislike -

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u], [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Troy[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]
[name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Miles[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u], [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_m]Miles[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_u]Elias[/name_u] [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_m]Graham[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u], [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m], [name_m]Miles[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m], [name_u]Elias[/name_u] [name_m]Graham[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m] [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], [name_m]Troy[/name_m] [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Levi[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Levi[/name_m] [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]Troy[/name_m] [name_m]Levi[/name_m]

Thank you guys for the feedback!

I’d love more thoughts on [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]–since it’s not incredibly popular, do you think it would often be misspelled or mispronounced? I really like the name, but I greatly prefer names with one primary spelling, and I worry that some might be thrown off by the hard “ch” in the middle.