val:
Because of our backgrounds (English/Spanish/Canadian), we decided on a name that is pronounced (more or less) the same in English, Spanish, and French.
Does any of the names you like have more or less the same sounds in Chinese? We know a Chinese male whose name is "Hang" something, and he goes by "Hank".
I totally agree with carang about the shortening of the names. We personally know guys named Mickey and Jamie who now in their 30-40's try desperately to make everyone they know call them Mike and James, without much luck.
By the way, we like Nicholas too. "Nick" doesn't sound too baby-ish either.