Nikolai

Nikolai is a really great name with a strong meaning that I think more people should be considering for their child.

Nikolai is the Polish alternative to names like Nicolas/Nicholas/Nick. The Polish meaning of this name is 'victorious' and so the name is a strong one. The name is also popular in Russia and alternatives of the name (Nikolaos) are popular in Greece. The name can be shortened to 'Lai' or 'Niko' which makes it a really flexible name with plenty of options to shorten it depending on the child and their growing identity.

Bram

My highlight today is on the name Bram because it's a name that I am really in love with.

Bram is a derivative of the name 'Abraham' and offers a quirky, shorter nickname. It's quite similar to 'Bran', a name popularised by Game of Thrones. The name can also be said to be a shorter version of the word 'Bramble' like a thorny bush. In fact the name has many meanings across many different faiths and countries so this name translates well into so many different cultures. This could be a good name for a child who will grow up to travel a lot. The name was popularised by 'Dracula' author Bram Stoker but I think it's time we got the name back from out of the coffin...

Jude

This one feels a little bit rock and roll.

The name is said to be unisex and it's so rare. I've only heard of two people with the name (yes, one is Jude Law.)
Apparently the name means 'praised' so it could be the name for a baby who will be celebrated and praised on their journey through life. It's one of those cool names that can't really be shortened into something you don't like as much as the whole name itself. The name was popularised song by The Beatles hit 'Hey Jude' and remains cool. It's becoming a little bit more popular at the moment but it's still not overwhelmingly common.