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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Not sure we have chosen the right name for our 3 month old!

31 replies

DueSaturday · 20/05/2011 21:15

We called our baby boy Arlo Louis but I'm wondering if we should swap it round to Louis Arlo. The name Arlo seems to be a bit of a conversation stopper and then I mention Louis is the middle name and that gets a response of being a lovely name! So maybe he would prefer the name Louis. I like both but just have a nagging feeling it needs to change. What do people think?

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BluddyMoFo · 20/05/2011 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeLindor. · 20/05/2011 21:18

tbh, it makes me think of butter for some reason. Is there a similar sounding dairy company?

I must admit that I prefer Louis. But what do you want, and your DH?

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nometime · 20/05/2011 21:20

Not a Louis fan but love Arlo.

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MrsTwinks · 20/05/2011 21:21

I like Arlo. But if you are worried and you were thinking of christening, christen him the other way arround, as it technically superceeds, so should he choose later he can use the other one??

Our friend is Ricky on his birth cert (his dads idea) but his mum had him christened Richard so thats the one on everything now hes decided as an adult. Personally thou I like it. Its not too out there as to have to spell it out to everyone (my bugbear with my name) but its individual ;)

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DueSaturday · 20/05/2011 21:21

We wanted Arlo but I think we've both been put off by the reaction it gets. My other worry is that it sounds too much like his sisters name. He has two sisters called Isla and Molly and I think it sounds like a bit of a tongue twister when Isla and Arlo are said together. As a stand alone name I really like the name Arlo and it suits him but I wonder if Louis goes better with his sisters names and gets a better response from people. Argh!!! It feels such a big thing to change it though - and a bit odd!!!

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emmanumber3 · 20/05/2011 21:28

I think that if you & your DH still want Arlo then keep Arlo. Definitely. It actually doesn't matter what other people's responses are, he's your baby - not theirs. In any case, over time, when these same people hear the name Arlo they won't think anything odd or negative, they will just think of your little boy. Just because people are a bit surprised by a name doesn't mean they won't grow to love it.

Hope that makes sense. Oh, and for what it's worth - I love the name .

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DueSaturday · 20/05/2011 21:30

emmanumber3 - thanks - I think maybe a positive reaction to the name may be all we need as it's been a bit odd having a name that just seems to act as a conversation stopper!! Even after we registered the birth we were still getting emails from family with name suggestions as they were so horrified by our choice of name!

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IHeartKingThistle · 20/05/2011 21:32

Sounds like you might regret it down the line if you do change it, especially if it suits him.

I like it , anyway!

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Lonnie · 20/05/2011 21:41

OP my ds is Conrad Paul we get that reaction.. people dont know how to respond to it. om some go WHAT? before they realise how rude they sound. I however love the name and it suits ds to the ground (he is 9)

just stick with it people will get used to it. He is so little yet you need to say his name a fair bit but in a years time it will just be his name in 2 years tome someone will tell yu how lovely it is

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Pictish · 20/05/2011 21:42

Arlo is lovely - I like it lots.

Remember, alot of people have very little imagination when it comes to kids' names. Their problem. Arlo isn't ridiculous or outlandish.

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WizardofOs · 20/05/2011 21:46

I think Arlo is a fantastic name. Don't change it! i get the 'oh' reaction for both my boys (they are just biblical names). You will soon get someone say 'oh I love that name' and it will boost your confidence.

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fluffygal · 20/05/2011 21:47

I like it! I know what you mean though, my 7 month old DD has a conversation stopping name but it suits her so well, I have tried calling her different names in private but it doesn't sound right.

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DueSaturday · 20/05/2011 22:15

I'm glad I'm not the only one trying out different names in private on my little one!!

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UrsulaBuffay · 20/05/2011 22:18

I had a few of those responses, notably from MIL and DDs name is in the top 30 or so & not at all unheard of! (Phoebe- think she was hankering after something like Charlotte) Arlo is lovely, as is Louis, some people are weird and that is that!

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Converse · 20/05/2011 22:38

Arlo is a lovely name, I'd stick with it :)

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muminthemiddle · 20/05/2011 23:08

I agree with Emmanumber3.
Personally I don't think Louis Arlo flows off the tongue easily. i would stick to your original decision.

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FairyArmadillo · 20/05/2011 23:14

Stick with Arlo. It's his name. It's the name you chose for your baby.

I don't always love the names my friends give their babies. But you know what- it's their baby to name, not mine. I keep my thoughts to myself. I would consider it very impolite to give a negative reaction to a new parent over the name they've lovingly chosen.

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PurveyorOfBaloney · 20/05/2011 23:18

We've never had a problem with Arlo, in fact have had many lovely responses. It does sometimes get a pause, but that is as bad as it gets. It is a fabulous name. The only thing I worry about now is how popular it's getting - especially on MN (self selecting audience maybe?)!

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Bellbell · 20/05/2011 23:30

I think Arlo is a great name, makes me think of Arlo Guthrie, the folk singer. Actually I am also having a bit of a wobble about my 6 month old daughter's name Lana, which seems to get a bit of an 'oh' reaction from some people. I started to wonder if we should have called her Bella, which was the other option. I think part of the problem is she's had a silly baby nickname since birth so even we haven't quite bonded with her real name yet!

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DriverDan · 21/05/2011 07:43

Arlo is a lovely name and it sounds like it is the one you and your DH really want. Don't worry about other peoples reactions. I remember thinking Meadow was really odd for my friends dd 4 years ago (although did manage to say it was lovely to their face!) and when I see her now I don't give it a second thought, people will get used to it.

Also, I did change my dds name and that gets a very reaction whenever I have to explain to people, that would probably be worse than the reaction you get to Arlo now!

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aStarInStrangeways · 21/05/2011 07:49

Everyone here should stick with their DC's names Arlo and Lana are fantastic names, much more interesting than their suggested alternatives and not exactly 'out there' - who cares what other people think?

Lonnie Conrad is also brilliant. It was on our list for DS :)

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smashingtime · 21/05/2011 20:23

Love Arlo

I had 3 month wobbles with my ds's name as it is a bit different and also unisex so got myself in a state about it! Very glad we didn't change it now as he has definitely grown into it and loves it!

There are tonnes of Louis around - not that it isn't a nice name but Arlo is more unusual so I think you should stay strong and keep it!

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hormonesnomore · 21/05/2011 20:30

I love your choice. I don't think I've heard of Arlo before and with Louis as a middle name it's lovely.

Do you pronounce Louis as Lewis or Louie?

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UrsulaBuffay · 21/05/2011 20:35

When DD was that little every time I looked at her the name Rebecca popped into my head. I felt awful! It confused me about my feelings re her name, then I realised she reminded me of my younger cousin of that name. Little babies do take a wee while to become their name, now at 2 DD couldn't be anything but!

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Prinpo · 21/05/2011 20:44

I agree with previous posters that, as long as you still like it, you should stick with it. Please don't be disheartened by people's responses, although I know it's hard not to be.

Firstly, lots of people have very poor taste , whereas you have great taste as Arlo's a great name.

Secondly, he's your little boy and this is the name you have chosen to give him. People really are incredibly rude if they say anything horrible about it or even give a nonplussed response. Once a baby has been named it's time to keep your opinions to yourself and, even if you don't like the name, you smile and say "lovely".

Obviously, you must do what feels right and if you're unhappy with your choice then you can consider changing. If, however, it's simply other people's responses that have made you feel this way then I would ride it out. In a few months he will have become his name and, hopefully, everyone else will just get on with it. FWIW, my brother and SIL had twins who both had unusual names that raised plenty of eyebrows in the first few months, to the extent that she used to feel quite embarrassed telling people their names. They stuck with them, though, and it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Good luck.