Faber - a usable boy name?

[onlyentropycomeseasy]

Really like Faber, and also Fabian - not sure if Fabian is quite right. Faber seems simpler.

[weaselinthenight]

Ooh I like it. Less overtly posh than Fabian!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I really like Fabian. Faber not usable imho.

[onlyentropycomeseasy]

That is my concern with Fabian - is it seen as a bit pretentious?

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Is Fabian posh?! I knew a not very posh at all Fabian at school

[TheNunsOfGavarone]

I prefer Fabian too.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The only Fabian I've ever known was an inner-city one.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Faber is a pen manufacturer to me, am not keen, but I suppose it's just a surname-as-first name like Taylor or Parker. I think of Fabian as being along the same lines as Sebastian or Gideon: not pretentious but definitely more public school than housing scheme.

[PinkParsnips]

I prefer Fabian of the two, I've never heard the name Faber before and if I'm honest I'm not keen.

[onlyentropycomeseasy]

GirlOnTheLanding - Faber Castell; they are such nice pens though.

So in general would people be pronouncing Fabian "Fayb-ian" or "Fah-be-en"?

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Fay -bian, like Fabian Society.

And yes, lovely pens - I am a stationery fan but not so much I'd name a child after them!

[Sidge]

Faber was the name of our family dog when I was a child.

Named after the mountain (well, big hill) in Singapore where my dad proposed to my mum.

Fabian is a better bet I think.

[Rhubarbgarden]

I like Fabian. I know two, an adult and a toddler. Neither is remotely posh. Not sure about Faber. It looks incomplete.

[squoosh]

I've only ever heard this name in the Faber & Faber context, presume it's a surname?

Think I prefer Fabian.

[Lubiloo]

I like Fabian! Not keen on Faber, it sounds incomplete and not very masculine.

[sonlypuppyfat]

I know a Fabian brilliant kid and he is not posh a proper one of the lads.

[Beachballfamily]

Fabian is posh/public school to me - but maybe you're posh and public school, so that's fine! Faber is a pen/publishing house and not something I've come across as a first name. It's fine though, nothing wrong with it, just unusual/a surname.