Name constraints

In response to queries re the problem of names for boys, there are several points to take into account. Any names I mention here for illustrative purposes are not on our list for consideration so don't judge our preferences by these :-)

- No 'surnames as first names'. (Apart from anything else, not many of them work with 'Ouwejan' anyway.) (Harrison, Jackson...)
- Nothing too obscure (Chaim, Hyam) or recently invented (various low socio economic American names!). I say 'recently' because according to the baby book many well-established names were actually made up by authors in their time eg Wendy (by JM Barrie) or Dorian (by Oscar Wilde)!
- Conversely, nothing too popular - don't want Spud to have the same name as several others in the class. (Any of the current top 10 names are out.) That also means attempting to pre-empt trends eg names that have recently been used by Hollywood celebrity Moms are likely to be a no-go.
- Nothing unisex - they have to obviously be boys' names (no Shannon, Kelly, Elliot...).

Also, names have to work with 'Ouwejan'. That means several points:
- Nothing too obviously ethnic, of any description. Some of the Gaelic names just seem like a mishmash of cultures when mixed with a Dutch surname (Dougal Ouwejan?), and a Dutch name just seems too, well, Dutch (Kees Ouwejan?)!
- Initials have to be classroom taunt proof. So no names starting with B, F, H, or P. While on the initials line, we have joked that we quite like the three middle names approach, and think 'Edward Ian Ewen Ivan' is the way to go.
- Final sounds of the names are important as well. With a surname that starts with a vowel sound, there are several names that just don't roll off the tongue (Louis Ouwejan? Theo Ouwejan?). Ditto - but I feel less strongly about this - first names that end in an '-an' type sound and kinda rhyme may well be out (Colin Ouwejan?).

Now do you see why I say it's hard? Suggestions are welcomed but be warned we won't be releasing any shortlist :-)