Calvin~ I LOVE this name. I didn't until I met a real kid name Calvin, and now it's just a cool, cool name.<br><br>
Case~ Okay.<br><br>
Cash~ Again, Johnny Cash. Also somewhat materialistic. Definite cool factor, though.<br><br>
Chance~ Seems a little odd, and also seems like a horse name. On the other hand, it's a nice-sounding word...but it's still a word. Much like Case/Cash.<br><br>
Colin~ I like this a lot, but it's more plain-jane than the rest of your names. Still, it's strong. I prefer Calvin.<br><br>
Dylan~ named after Bob Dylan? That's kinda cool. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> I associate Dylan with the 90s, but I think it would be refreshing to use it now and have it be a Bob Dylan reference.<br><br>
Finian~ It's nice, but it's trendy. If you're going to go with a "yn/in" name, I think it would be better to avoid the trendy ones. That said, anything "yn/in" and slightly Gaelic/Scottish/unusual is going to be seen as part of this Aidan trend. It is a cool name, though, and "Finn" as a nickname is great.<br><br>
Jude~ Love it. Cool, recognizable, but not super-common. Seems artsy, successful, smart.<br><br>
Greyson~ Nickname Grey, right? Greyson is a pretty old name...the two people I know with it are in their 50s and 60s right now. For me, that's kind of cool. Again, though, you've got the trends going...the last-name-as-first-name thing, plus the "yn/in."<br><br>
Noah~ I love this name (for personal reasons), but having used it...I would not have chosen it had I known how crazy-popular it is. There are always, ALWAYS other Noahs at stores, on playgrounds, etc.<br><br>
Oswin~ I like it! Same yn/in issue as Finian, but doesn't sound as preppy-trendy as Finian does.<br><br>
Pace~ The salsa. Or Pacey from Dawson's Creek. Another word name that doesn't quite do it for me.<br><br>
Quinton~ Sounds very preppy (like Finian, but with a little more country club in it), but not bad. I like Quinn as a boy's name...it's a great sound, yk?<br><br>
Ransom~ has negative associations with the word...sounds like the Old West...kinda criminal. Another word name.<br><br>
Simon~ Gotta love this one. You could use Silas as a nickname if you wanted to. Classic, kinda edgy in it's semi-nerdiness, and well-known without being common.<br><br>
Silas~ I think this is a great name. It's classic, it's not yn/in, and I love the "woods" meaning. To me it doesn't have a personality attached to it (rich/nerdy/hulky/etc.) that some of the other names might. It's a clean, refreshing name, as silly as that sounds.<br><br>
Torin~ Kinda the same as Oswin for me. Of the Finian/Aidan mix, but a little more unusual. Picking these unusual (but real) yn/in names is a trend in itself.<br><br>
Wade~I think you have stronger names on your list.<br><br><br>
...These are all the plusses and minuses that came to me as I looked at each name. That said, we have two yn/in names in our four little ones, and have definitely picked a popular name or two. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> Trendiness/popularity doesn't make a name bad!
