The ONLY boys name I like is Arlo for a boy - why does my DH hate it so much?

[Amarilis]

Well, my title says it all.. It makes me sad that I love, love, love this name and DH really, really doesn't.

All he wants is William which I personally think while although wonderfully regal, middle class and safe, it's sooooooooo dull!

My choice would be Arlo William Michael or Arlo William Duncan..

Oh what to do people?!

Help...

[Amarilis]

Sorry - title repeats itself - doh!

[porcupine11]

Men do tend to like the more practical names, my DH vetoed all of my choices - Rufus, Milo, Monty etc etc

But once I have the baby and start using the names (I have two DSs) I always appreciate them having straightforward, regular names. You need to visualize standing in a supermarket shouting 'Arlo, put that down' to see if it passes the 'man' test!

[JaynieB]

I like Arlo, but then again I like William too
My DP and I couldn't agree on boys name, the only one we vaguely both agreed on was Laurence and I can't day I was enthusiastic...luckily we had a girl! Do you know if you're having a boy?

[MumInBeds]

It's a shame you both dislike the other's choice of name but that's unlikely to change in the near future so you're both better off looking at other options.

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

I love both names . The only slight drawback to Arlo is that it sounds a bit like Harlow in an estuary accent

[MrClaypole]

I don't think there's much you can do, if your DH hates the name, you can't use it! I think you have to bin both Arlo and William and start a new list of names that are acceptable to both of you!

Fraid I agree with your DH about Arlo - but then I'm from Essex and was born in Harlow!

[MrClaypole]

Does your DH like names that sound like Arlo? How about:

Jago (Cornish for James)
Theo
Otto
Rollo
Iolo (Welsh, promounde Yollo)

[LaTristesse]

I wanted Arlo when I was expecting, but the DH said it sounded like an American farmer! Keep hunting; you'll find something you both agree on eventually...

[Jux]

Tell him about Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody Guthrie, both fantastic guitarists and songwriters. Earnt packets and were extremely famous. Play him Alice's Restaurant: here

[thecatatemygymsuit]

I love that song Jux! The name Arlo seems to be quite popular in London at the moment (if that bothers you OP?). I know 2 under 3, but still think it's a great name.

[hollyhobbie]

We know an Arlo and he's lovely! Only problem his mum has is that people don't believe it's his first name.

[Mahraih]

Arlo's a lovely name.

I think women romanticise names more, whereas men think, "That's not going to look good in the football changing rooms..."

At least, that's my bf's take on it ... might just be a case of different perceptions of a 'good' name.

[BettyButterknife]

I don't really like Arlo much but I do like Aldo... Would your DH like that?? I guess not if he's thinking William - very different name styles!

Think you need to both read some name books, make a list and see if there's any crossover at all.

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

I like them both, but I can sense that your DH is more of a traditionalist. Men (IME), do worry a lot more about boys names being/being perceived as "poncey" (hence Gabriel being vetoed by my DH)

What about:

Evan
Asa
Rufus
Victor
Hector

[CapitalText]

How about

Milo
Edwin
Isaac
Nathaniel
Adam
Felix
Luke
Henry
Charles
Frederick
Reuben

[colditz]

men worry more about names being perceived as 'poncy' because they used to be teenaged boys, and remember very clearly kicking the shit out of Benedict for the simple reason that his name was Benedict.

[colditz]

Just don't do it.

You might as well strap a sign to his face saying "Victimise me please"

[colditz]

This is the thing about living in London, you can very easily, and withou8t realising, get caught in a LondonMummy Bubble.

in London at your prenatal group, Arlo sounds gentle, refined, original and not to complicated to spell.

Everywhere else in the country Arlo will sound pretentious, made up and people will sneer.

[ChocolateMoose]

Arlo does sound like a made-up name to me, but then I am probably behind the times.

[Lastyearsmodel]

I love Arlo and Arno. DP will not hear of them. I can see the shit-kicking point of view. But there are so few bloody names we agree on! Like, maybe one, and I'm severely compromising.

I have to hope it's a girl...

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

V true re London colditz, but then if the OP is in London, then the DHs fears about name-teasing may well prove to be unfounded

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

... my eyes have been opened to Arlo/Harlow, though, so it's a no on that account

[othersideofchannel]

I don't think the OP or her dh are worried about teasing. But of the two, I'd say Willy is much more teaseworthy than Arlo...

But to the OP: I think you need to continue looking until you both love a name.

[colditz]

They may not be worried about teasing but they should be. The kid's not going to stay in king's Cross all his life. Give him a name he can take to the pub, for God's sake!

[TrillianAstra]

Because it's a weird name?