Ask for the reason without demanding a defense
An objection may come from a personal association, a pronunciation concern, or simply not liking the sound. Ask a specific question, then let the answer stand. Your partner does not need a long argument to justify every pass.
Avoid treating a popularity figure as a reason someone must like a name. US registration data can answer how a spelling was used, but it cannot settle a personal association or tell you which name suits your family.
Find what you liked about the favorite
Describe the qualities that appeal to you: the written length, opening sound, ending, or family connection. Then compare a few alternatives that share one quality rather than looking for a near-identical replacement.
For example, if you like the four-letter spelling and o ending of Milo, Arlo and Theo give you different options to discuss. That is a comparison of visible spellings, not a claim that the names have the same origin or meaning.
Give each person independent choices
One person reading names aloud while the other reacts can turn the session into repeated rejection. Reviewing the same set separately gives both people time to make choices without defending each response.
A shared round can reveal an unexpected overlap. Keep your own Saved and Maybe lists accurate, then look at Matches. Viewing your partner’s favorite does not automatically make it your favorite too.
Leave room for a name to change category
A name can move from Maybe to Saved after you have said it aloud for a few days. It can also move the other way. Changing your mind is useful information, and the mutual list should reflect the current decision.
Do not repeatedly resubmit a definite no as a new spelling or a surprise suggestion. If a family connection makes a name especially important, discuss that connection directly and consider whether it belongs in a middle name instead.
Take a pause before the conversation becomes a contest
Agree on a small next session rather than forcing a final decision when both of you are frustrated. Review a manageable group, revisit a few maybes, or decide which naming requirements can be relaxed.
The aim is a name both people can support. A matching tool helps organize the choices; it does not decide who is right or guarantee that the first mutual name is the final one.