Mumsnet Talk

Pregnant with DS2.

My DFather passed away tragically just after we found out I was pg. V sudden. He did know about the pregnancy and was delighted though.

I'd really like to name DS2 after my dad. But my dad's name was Colin.

What do you think? He didn't have a middle name and we already double barrel (or I'd use his surname as a middle).

I can't think of any other names, whenever I try I keep coming back to Colin. But... it's what all the idiots on TV are called and nobody uses it now do they? I don't want DS2 to be mocked.

I like Colin.

It's the name we've chosen as a middle name for this DC if they turn out to be a boy. As well as having special meaning to us (like it does to you) I also thinks it's a lovely, solid name.

Use as middle name??

I like it. I think it was outdated, but isn't any more iykwim. I think it's really cute for a boy, and a bit cool.

I agree. It's quite cool! Go for it

DH is very anti Colin as a first name (though he is sensitive to my reasons), and suggested it as a middle but that feels 'wrong' to me somehow. Can't really put my finger on why.

But if DFather was still with us I wouldn't be considering naming DS2 after him, so it's difficult.

Another issue with DH is that his own father's name (his father also passed away though many years ago and they didn't have much of a relationship as he left when DH was very small), hasn't been used and he's sort of said that if we're using Colin we should use that name too - but that feels wrong as well because it makes DS2's name doubly significant in terms of dead grandfathers and DS1 doesn't have a name with any family links like that.

I did ask DH if he wanted DS to be named after his father but he said absolutely not. I think he just hates colin

I know a really lovely Colin so have a positive impression of it

Some other ideas around the name Colin: www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Colin

Well, you can't use it if your dh hates it, you just can't.

I don't think it's a very nice name (it's a Nigel name for me) but can understand why you want to use it. Do you actually like it?

So your name is double barrelled? did you use your maiden name and his surname to double it? or was it already double barelled?

If its a mix of your name/his name then I would rethink the colin aspect. But that is just me.

So sorry to hear about your df, hope you are all ok

I think this is a lovely idea and obviously means a lot to you. I can't imagine a boy being mocked for being called Colin. There's such a variety of names out there, from the dad/grandad names to the really wacky made-up names!

It's good as a middle name.

Sorry, didn't read your post about your husband hating the name.

I wouldn't've used it if my dad was still with us. I probably had quite negative thoughts about it as a name because I remember this advert from when I was a kid "Colin has no common sense", and lots of 'stupid' characters were called Colin on TV etc.

I don't know if DH hate-hates it. He thinks I am not thinking clearly and it also taps into difficult feelings about his own father.

Our surname is my unmarried name (my dad's surname), and DH's surname.

Thanks. I'm very sad about my DF of course. It is such a shock and still doesn't feel real. But the last thing he said to me was how happy he was about the baby, and DS1 is older so got a lovely few years with his grandad. I feel like I want my dad and DS2 have a 'link' and I want to name him after my dad

I don't know what my dad would think! Probably that I was being silly.

Another option which my mum suggested is using the name my dad chose for me if I'd been a boy (so a boy's name we know he liked) - but it was Matthew and I don't like that at all.

Middle name definitely. I gave my DS my late father's name as a middle name and am always so pleased I did. It provides a bridge and means my father is a part of my son's life without being too big a presence. (funnily enough, although I am very traditional and gave my son 2 middle names - meaningful ones from either side of his family, I was very clear that I wanted him to have his own name - to be his own person.)
Just an opinion I know and my advice would be to trust your instincts and do what you feel is right.

Thanks for the name-meaning link. It'd be the Scottish one as my dad's family were from scotland originally. Cailean doesn't do much for me though - it's okay but we are not very scottish at all and it sounds more like a girl's name to me (sorry).

Plus it's not my dad's name. I think, typing this out, that's the sticking point for me. I want to use my dad's name

Oops - cross post!

Thankyou AfternoonNap. problem for me is right now I literally cannot think of any names apart from Colin! Ridiculous I know. I hear you 100% on your son having his 'own' first name. Perhaps I will think of something when DS2 arrives which fits him and will feel happier about Colin as a middle?

I just feel so strongly right now!

Colin makes me think of the boy from ' the secret garden.' I loved that book! Go for it.

I like Colin and know a couple of lovely Colins!

I really like Col as a nn, it is quite a strong sounding name, so you could go for Colin on the birth cert and use Col as an everyday name?

Can you give DS2 Colin as a middle name? I've done thins with one of mine for the same reason, wanting to have a link to a dead parent. I love knowing that she has the name, even if it isn't her everyday name, its still there.

I think its lovely, very underused

Sorry, I see now you've already considered using it as a middle name. FWIW I think I prefer it as her middle name, its like its just between us, special.