My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Baby names

Boys name: Samuel, Jonathan or Elias?

26 replies

EmpressMatilda · 04/02/2013 17:48

Hi all,

I am 31 weeks pregnant. It?s our first child and we have found out we?re having a boy. Although we?ve been discussing it for months DH and I just can?t agree on a name. We had tentatively settled on Samuel which I really like. DH seemed keen at one point but has now gone off it. I asked him for his suggestions but he has only come up with really outlandish suggestions (Tiberius, anyone?) which I rejected.

So? he asked his elderly Gran for a suggestion and she came up with Jonathan. DH actually really likes it as a name and says he much prefers it to Samuel. I think he also likes the idea of honouring his Gran?s choice.

I still prefer Samuel but I think Jonathan is OK. I have some concerns though. I know a lot of Jonathans (all called Jon) but they?re all in the age range 25-40. I just don?t think of it as a child?s name at all and am worried it will soon be seen as an older man?s name, like someone my age growing up being called Russell or Brian! However, that is just my very un-scientific impression and I may be way off the mark.

On another note, we also recently met a boy called Elias and found that we both actually quite like that name though I think it?s still an outsider at present.

So, Samuel, Jonathan or Elias? What do people think?! Thoughts on first/middle name combos from the three names also welcome. Our surname is ordinary and short!

OP posts:
Report
Snusmumriken · 04/02/2013 17:57

I love the name Jonathan, it is classic and beautiful. One of my favorite literary characters from my childhood was named Jonathan. Please read this book to your DS if you decide on naming him Jonathan. I am sure he will love it!

I think it would work very well as a childs name, and as a name for a very nice young/old man.

Samuel is also a very nice name.


The brothers lionheart

Report
lljkk · 04/02/2013 18:02

I like Jonathan because it has versatile NNs and it's conventional enough that everyone will know how to spell it. It's also unique without being weird.

Similar for Elias, but that's a little closer to weird.

Samuel is a solid good name, very popular though.

Any name he has he will make his own.

Report
EnglishGirlApproximately · 04/02/2013 18:06

All boys called Samuel are extremely clever, handsome and talented :)

they don't bloody sleep though

disclaimer - I may be biased

Report
Minty82 · 04/02/2013 20:27

I know a three-year old Jonathan, known as Jonny. Totally suits him, doesn't seem wrong-generationish at all, nice name.

Report
bruffin · 04/02/2013 20:29

Agree Englishgirl

Also very biased Grin

Report
chubbachops · 04/02/2013 20:31

I love the name jonathan ( although it is DP name) nobody calls him jon. and if anyone does in ear shot of me or his mum we just as athan (most never do again)

some people do call him jonny which I and MIL hate but deal with.

his family mostly call him 'big en' as he is the eldest.

Report
clg2000 · 04/02/2013 20:37

My little boy is named Samuel, John, Ellis Samuel as we both liked John after our dads and Ellis a family name kept everyone happy but TBH have a couple and when he appears see what he looks like (gosh that sounds crazy ) our middle one was Chloe till she appeared and we named her Lydia .

Report
HouseOfBears · 04/02/2013 21:31

I think Samuel Jonathan sounds really nice. Samuel Elias doesn't work for me as there are 2 "el" sounds next to eachother.

Johnathan Samuel is also really nice. Johnathan Elias is ok but feels a bit of a mouthful.

Elias Johnathan is nice. Elias Samuel I wouldn't pick as there are 2 "s" sounds next to eachother.

So there's my assessment! I think my favourite is Samuel Johnathan.

Report
EmpressMatilda · 04/02/2013 23:19

Thanks everyone! Good to hear of a little one called Jonathan. This is whist I was hoping for. Jonny is very cute.

Samuel Jonathan would be my overall choice as well, I just have to sell it to DH.

You never know though. He has changed his mind so many times and we still have 2 months to go!

OP posts:
Report
cece · 04/02/2013 23:25

I am biased but Jonathan is a fab name. Mine is 9 yrs old and everyone calls him Jonny. I think it is the perfect name, as Jonathan is fab but he can also use Jonny or Jon depending on the situation/his preference, which I also love. Also agree it is normal enough to be considered not out there but also not many of them about.

I like Samuel too but it is very popular.

Report
xlatia · 05/02/2013 12:40

Another vote for Jonathan here! Mine's 15 months old and I think the name suits him perfectly. Gets called Jonny by only one person. However, lots of people spell his name either Jonathon or Jonathen. Hmm

Report
Gwennan · 05/02/2013 13:05

A few baby Jonathans born in the last few years, according to the Telegraph Birth Announcements: there's little Jonathan Angus Robert (a brother to Benjamin); Jonathan Arthur Thomas (a brother for Amelia, William, Lucy and Freddy); Jonathan Andrew Guy; Jonathan Peter ("Johnny", a brother for Bee and Ottilie); Jonathan George (twin brother of Oliver William; both brothers for Celeste and Edward); and Jonathan Charles (a brother for Matilda).

And, yes, there's a few Dads called Jonathan too but I think it works for any age.

There's a few with Jonathan as a middle name too including Samuel Jonathan, Caleb Jonathan Peter, Ralph Francis Jonathan, James Jonathan, Otto Jonathan Ellison, Max Jonathan Oliver, Oliver Odo Jonathan, Peter Jonathan, Ned Jonathan Gordon, Harry Jonathan Samuel...

I think it's a lovely, well-known name that isn't too popular.

Report
spiderlight · 05/02/2013 13:16

I love Elias - it was top of my list for a middle name for hypothetical DS2.

Report
Britchic · 05/02/2013 13:30

I have a Samuel (Sam), and while I love love his name, it drives me crazy that there are so many Sams around - 4 in his year at school, 4 in his little rugby group of about 20 kids - argh!

I love Johnny, I think I'd go for that.

Good luck!

Report
HollyMadison · 05/02/2013 14:04

What about Jonathan with the nickname (if you want to use a nickname) of Jonty? I LOVE Jonty.

Report
EmpressMatilda · 07/02/2013 09:43

Thanks. I am now reassured about Jonathan. I love Jonny and Jonty but DH made a face when I said them! So now I think he's going off the Jonathan idea. I also hadn't realised Samuel was so popular so I've gone slightly off that! Honestly, didn't realise it would be this hard just to agree on a name.

OP posts:
Report
davecheesely · 18/01/2014 00:34

I have a six year old Jonathan and he is 100% cool. He will not accept Jon or Jonny: He is Jonathan. People from other countries sometimes associate the name with Jewish roots; something we had never considered before, but certainly no problem for us (although we're not Jewish). I'd say go for it, it's a great classic name!

Report
davecheesely · 18/01/2014 00:38

@HollyMadison: Jonty rocks!

Report
HappyGoLuckyGirl · 18/01/2014 01:49

I've got a Samuel (Sam or Sammy).

I didn't know it was that popular! I knew only 1 Sam when I was at school and haven't met any other babies named Samuel.

Report
Allalonenow · 18/01/2014 02:02

Jonathan is lovely, a classic timeless name. Possible NNs, Jonty for a toddler, or Jay for a teenager.

Report
iniquity · 21/06/2015 10:48

I would avoid using your two favourite names in one go as baby no2 may well be a boy.

Report
CaptainAnkles · 21/06/2015 10:53

I love all three names, but I would choose Samuel personally. No help at all.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Sophronia · 21/06/2015 13:21

Samuel and Jonathan are two of my favourite names. I'd go with Jonathan as it's less popular.

Report
Usernamer · 21/06/2015 13:57

Samuel is a fabulous name, much prefer it to your other choices.

Report
RedToothBrush · 21/06/2015 14:03

I don't think Jonathan is unfashionable or dated at all. Its classic and has that timeless feel. I think its more overlooked more than anything. I think Christopher and Andrew probably also fall into the same category, in that you wouldn't blink at a baby being called that even though you'd probably meet more older ones.

Samuel is currently very popular currently being 20th but has dropped in popularity from 9th in 1996. I personally think its another Jonathan / Christopher / Andrew type name but in a different period of the cycle of popularity. I think if anything it therefore makes it more likely to date to 2015 in the future than Jonathan for that reason. However I still think it'll retain a certain amount of timelessness.

Elias is your hugely fashionable choice there with it being an alternative to Eli or Elijah which are all still climbing in popularity. They have seen a huge rise from nowhere rather than a steady gradual climb/decline like Jonathan and Samuel. Its a lovely name but is the one of the three most likely to say born in 2015. It is its Russell or Brian of its day.

It depends really on what is important to you in terms of popularity and how a name places itself within time really with regard to all three names.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.