Why are boy names so hard?!

We’re expecting [name_u]Baby[/name_u] 2 in [name_u]December[/name_u] and I’m STRUGGLING with boy names. We find out gender at the end of the month, but my husband is 100% convinced it’s a boy so we’ve been making lists. I have several girl names I love in case he’s wrong, but having trouble falling in love with a boy name.

We want something relatively straightforward when it comes to spelling and pronunciation as our last name is a bit more complicated. I like boy names that are masculine (vs. unisex names), classic but not terribly popular. I am totally on board with the vintage name trend, but my tastes in boy names are a little all over the place, as you’ll see from our short list.

Can anyone help me fall in love with these? Or suggest additional ones? Big sister is [name_f]Clara[/name_f] if that helps at all.

[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (nn [name_m]Archie[/name_m], I’m not in love with [name_m]Art[/name_m] or [name_m]Artie[/name_m])
[name_u]Emmett[/name_u] (family name, but my husband isn’t in love with it)
[name_m]Harrison[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m]
[name_m]Abram[/name_m]
[name_m]Nolan[/name_m]

[name_m]Alexander[/name_m]
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]
[name_m]Luke[/name_m]
[name_m]Matthew[/name_m]
[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]
[name_m]Vincent[/name_m]
[name_u]Hunter[/name_u]
[name_m]Daniel[/name_m]
[name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_m]William[/name_m]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]
[name_u]Owen[/name_u]
[name_u]Tyler[/name_u]
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u]
[name_m]Garrett[/name_m]

Of your lists, [name_m]Abram[/name_m] and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] are my favorites. [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Abram[/name_m]/[name_m]Bram[/name_m] woth [name_f]Clara[/name_f]! I would say if you like [name_m]Archie[/name_m] just go right ahead and use that instead of having it as a nn for [name_m]Arthur[/name_m].

[name_m]Penn[/name_m]
[name_m]Bramwell[/name_m]
[name_m]Lewis[/name_m]
[name_m]Louis[/name_m]
[name_m]Albie[/name_m]
[name_u]Francis[/name_u]
[name_m]Heath[/name_m]
[name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]
[name_u]Porter[/name_u]
[name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]
[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_m]Nathan[/name_m]
[name_m]Anders[/name_m]

I like the idea of having a proper adult name in [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], I think [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is one that would be hard to grow into but darling for a little boy. I don’t mind [name_m]Archer[/name_m] as a full name either, I just like the gravity that [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] brings.

I just don’t really think [name_m]Archie[/name_m] works as a nn for [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] but if you do, its obvs your choice. I would def use [name_m]Archer[/name_m]/[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] instead if you want a more “adult” long form. I do really like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] though.

Oh my goodness, I feel your pain. We are also due with baby #2 and don’t know gender yet and boy names are totally eluding me. So much harder than girl names.

Let’s see…

I like [name_m]Bram[/name_m] instead of [name_m]Abram[/name_m] because it feels more modern but still has that vintage vibe, whereas [name_m]Abram[/name_m] feels really ancient and doesn’t fit with the clean feel of [name_f]Clara[/name_f].

Might I suggest…

[name_m]Calvin[/name_m]
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_u]Everett[/name_u]
[name_m]Malcolm[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m]
[name_m]Joel[/name_m]

I love [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. I wouldn’t even use a nickname. I think it’s so sweet, it gives off a very pure vibe to me. Other ideas:
[name_m]Simon[/name_m]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_m]Anders[/name_m]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m]
[name_m]George[/name_m]
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]
[name_m]Calvin[/name_m]
[name_m]Judah[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_m]Clark[/name_m]
[name_u]Dean[/name_u]

Good luck.

I like [name_f]Clara[/name_f] and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] together.

What do you think of [name_m]Earl[/name_m]?

If you’re not in love with any of these, have you tried going a totally different route for big names? A lot of people have different styles for boy vs girl names.

I like your list! You have a good start, and picking any of those names would be great for your child. My particular favorite is [name_m]Harrison[/name_m], and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is wonderful also, but it’s your family that matters! Additional ideas based off your list:
[name_m]Cooper[/name_m] (reminds me of [name_m]Nolan[/name_m])
[name_m]Jonas[/name_m] (similar to [name_m]Jonah[/name_m])
[name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]
Since you seem to like some surnames, I would encourage you to continue to look through family names for inspiration. Those can be very meaningful and more special than other names.

Hmm, maybe ~

[name_m]Bramwell[/name_m]
[name_m]Bennett[/name_m]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonas[/name_m]
[name_m]Ewan[/name_m]
[name_u]Everett[/name_u]
[name_m]Anders[/name_m]
[name_m]Torin[/name_m]
[name_m]Bridger[/name_m]
[name_m]Peter[/name_m]
[name_m]Beckett[/name_m]
[name_m]Soren[/name_m]
[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]
Hemlock
[name_u]Alden[/name_u]
[name_m]Bowman[/name_m]
[name_m]Forrest[/name_m]
[name_m]Olin[/name_m]
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u]
[name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m]
[name_m]Tomlin[/name_m]
[name_m]Kenelm[/name_m]
[name_m]Nelson[/name_m]
[name_u]Sutton[/name_u]
[name_u]Barrett[/name_u]
[name_m]Callahan[/name_m]
Arnhem
Levett
[name_m]Walter[/name_m]
[name_m]Albin[/name_m]
[name_m]Winston[/name_m]
[name_u]Sullivan[/name_u]
[name_m]Archer[/name_m]
[name_u]Jameson[/name_u]
[name_m]Stetson[/name_m]
[name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_m]Bertram[/name_m]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_m]Anson[/name_m]
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m]
[name_m]Beckham[/name_m]
Campion
[name_m]Truett[/name_m]
[name_u]Calder[/name_u]
[name_m]Jones[/name_m]
[name_u]Leland[/name_u]