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[name_m]Humphrey[/name_m] “Humph” → love the clunky-cool style of [name_m]Humphrey[/name_m], the nickname [name_m]Humph[/name_m] isn’t my fave but I feel [name_m]Humphrey[/name_m] is hard to nickname well? I love the connection to Ghosts as @Greyblue points out, and the character in Death in Paradise/Beyond [name_f]Paradise[/name_f]. They make it feel more accessible/younger in a way.
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[name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] / [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] → today I’m leaning more [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] but both are cute! Very similar to [name_m]Humphrey[/name_m] in style (clunky-cool, a bit eccentric but endearing) but not so similar that they’re treading on each other’s toes. If you’re concerned about the -ee ending sounds being too similar, I’d probably suggest [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] more but I don’t think it’s a major concern bc the first syllables are so different.
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[name_m]Lysander[/name_m] → I used to really love [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] when I was maybe 11/12. I saw A Midsummer Night’s [name_f]Dream[/name_f] in year 6 and immediately loved all the names in it. It has serious literary cred but doesn’t feel too out there. [name_m]The[/name_m] L initial feels in keeping with the current L trend in names and the nickname [name_m]Sandy[/name_m] makes it more accessible, especially with a big name and a tiny toddler. not that tiny toddlers can’t have big names, but I find it really cute when you have a long full name and a really accessible nickname when they’re little, like the name grows with the baby?
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[name_m]Adrian[/name_m] → love this name, super cute. I hugely prefer this name over the similar [name_m]Aidan[/name_m], it just feels a tiny bit more outdoorsy, rugged and playful. [name_f]Ade[/name_f] is a sweet nickname too.
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[name_m]Alistair[/name_m] → [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] is nice, [name_m]Sandy[/name_m] definitely works but I think I prefer [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] as a long form of [name_m]Sandy[/name_m]. I do like the nickname [name_m]Ali[/name_m] for [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] though. I appreciate [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] for its Scottish heritage which I feel neatly ties with Myfanwy’s Welshness in your girl list.
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[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] ‘Archie’ → [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] is underrated imo. [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is very popular in the UK but it still feels sweet. [name_m]Archie[/name_m] feels sort-of nerdy to me but that’s probably due to [name_m]Archie[/name_m] the Inventor in Balamory
[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] gives [name_m]Archie[/name_m] gravitas but doesn’t come off too heavy or inaccessible. This also applies for [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] ‘Greg’ and [name_m]Vincent[/name_m] ‘Vinnie’ - the full names are serious but the nicknames are playful and accessible without making the full name seem too stuffy by comparison. -
Geriant, [name_m]Bleddyn[/name_m] and [name_m]Aneurin[/name_m] are also adorable and I love their Welshness but like your comment re [name_f]Myfanwy[/name_f], [name_m]Bleddyn[/name_m] and [name_m]Aneurin[/name_m] may be too much for predominantly [name_f]English[/name_f] areas, especially away from the Welsh border. Geriant ‘Gerry’ is probably fine though. for context, I’m on the south coast of [name_m]England[/name_m] so not sure if people in my area would be able to pronounce many Welsh names if they’re unfamiliar with them, but ymmv
My fave sibsets:
- [name_m]Humphrey[/name_m], [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] - these feel more clunky-cool, academic, eccentric TV detective to me, and I like how they go well together but without too many repeating sounds.
- Geriant, [name_m]Bleddyn[/name_m] and [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] - I like these because they have a Welsh flair and I think the nicknames [name_m]Gerry[/name_m], Bledd and [name_m]Archie[/name_m] remind me of three boys getting in trouble in the summer a la the [name_m]Famous[/name_m] [name_m]Five[/name_m].