We must have similar taste, because [name]Peter[/name], [name]Eric[/name] and [name]Charles[/name] are among my favorite boys names!
I like the 3 listed, too. Here are my first thoughts:
[name]Raphael[/name]: I don’t think of the ninja turtle, I think of a man with a mustache working at a pizza shop. Weird, I know, it is just my first impression. I think it is a cute name, don’t care for [name]Raffy[/name] as a nn, but I like [name]Rafe[/name] a lot.
[name]Benedict[/name]: I like the name a lot, but there is something keeping me from loving it. I don’t think of the pope, but I do think of eggs benedict, lol. It also reminds me a little of the trendy [name]Bennett[/name], [name]Beckett[/name], [name]Bentley[/name] names right now, which I don’t like.
[name]Conrad[/name]: [name]LOVE[/name] this! I know a little boy named [name]Conrad[/name] – it is such a great name for all stages of life. It is sweet and fun (with a hint of mischieviousness!) as a baby/toddler/boy, and strong and wholesome as an adult. It sounds weird, but I feel that if I met a [name]Conrad[/name], I could trust him and feel he would be a great friend ([name]Conrad[/name] just sounds like a guy that you give you the shirt off his back and be a shoulder to cry on). I also picture a [name]Conrad[/name] to be well respected, and be a great husband and father. Obviously I have nothing but good thoughts about this name. The bonus is that it isn’t trendy, isn’t popular, yet isn’t “out there” at all. It is familiar and easy to spell/pronounce/say. I love this name! I might have to put it on the top of your short list. I think this name has a little more spunk,edge,‘wow’ factor,energy etc than [name]Eric[/name], [name]Peter[/name] or [name]Charles[/name]. Those names are a little bland in comparison (but still great names! Like I said, all 3 are definitely in my top 10 list of favorite boys names!) You can’t go wrong with any of them. It just depends on what you are looking for. I prefer my children’s names to be familiar but still have a little more uniqueness and personality to them. While I [name]LOVE[/name] a lot of classic names ([name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Peter[/name], [name]Charles[/name], [name]Eric[/name], [name]Mark[/name], [name]Hannah[/name], [name]Sarah[/name], [name]William[/name], [name]James[/name], [name]Henry[/name], [name]Alice[/name], [name]Mary[/name] etc), when it comes down to choosing a name for my child, I find them to be “too safe” and common for my tastes