Mumsnet Talk

What do you think?
I live in London, but am not English/British. Are there any cultural or any other references that I need to be aware of - any horrible/famous Fabians?

I don't know, but I love the name!

Fabian society is what comes to my mind. Nice name though.

Fabian Society/Socialist connotations would rule it for me, but each to their own!

It's a lovely name.

at someone being put off by the Fabian Society.

It seems quite popular among Eastern Europeans (especially Polish) where I am. I've taught quite a few Fabians and never had anyone bat an eyelid at their name.

It's quite a nice name. I wouldn't worry about the Fabian Society connections tbh, it's not like you're planning on calling your LO Nazi or something!

Thanks guys, this really helps! Fabian society doesn't sound too bad - I think I can live with that. As long as there are no famous murderers/rapists/animals/sitcom characters etc. called Fabian, it should be OK.

There was a gorgeous popsinger/actor in the sixties called Fabian! He was Italian.

It's great. Imagine having the nickname Fab!

How would you pronounce it? Fay-be-un? Fub-i-un?

Fay-be-un

Seems terribly camp to me for some reason, perhaps it's just the 'fey' sound.

I'm a bit at being put off by the Fabian Society too

It's a great name.

I would pronounce it Fah-be-un

It's not pronounced like that,sylphid.

I too would say Fah-be-an, with a long Fah sound.

No no! never,ever heard anyone say it like that.

I would also say fah be an, but that's because the only one I knew was french

i would also pronounce it Fah-be-un.

absolutely lovely name. one of my favourites. congratulations

Like it a lot, no bad connotations but definitely fay-be-un, emphasis on first syllable. Otherwise I'd think French fa-be-an, emphasis on last syllable. Where do you get the fah pronunciation from?

The Italian singer was surely called fah be un as well? Fa would be fah in the Italian language

Great name! I wanted it but DH vetoed it.

think you could possibly be in the minority here Clawdy

Don't worry about the Fabian Society! State the Labour Party is in at the moment you would think it had completely escaped the cultural memory...

I am biased as I have a 6 yo Fabian and so think it's a fab name. We named him as a nod to our left wing beliefs plus Fabian means bean grower and we grow broad beans

Hang on, is your fah really fa, or like far? The first is credible but not British, the second is outlandish.

I love it! I know a little Fabienne, we are in Germany though. Fab is a great nn.

Oh stop it, it's FAY-bee-an

Fah be un would be more like the French pronunciation. Our Fabian is Fay be un, we call him Fabes for short. His little brother calls him Babes.......

Love love love it

I like it a lot. My friend has a Jamaican uncle called Fabian, but that is the only one I know of. I would say FAY be un too.

and loads of people call him Fah be En and he corrects them saying it's Fay be Un. He's not a girl you know!

I have a Fabiana, pronounced Fa-bee-ana. We're Italian and apparently it's n old Roman surname to do with growing beans

It has to be Fah-be-un (with emphasis on the first sylable) - so that it works in both English and my mother tongue (Croatian). I hope it doesn't sound too weird in English?

'fah' is really 'fa', not 'far'

Fabian is very popular in Germany where it is pronounced Fah-bee-an with the emphasis on the Fa (to rhyme with far).

A very, very small subset of Australians might think of this song, about a nasty reindeer called Fabian, by a musical comedy group.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB4tQLncmaw

I wouldn't let that stop you if you love the name!

For me the Fabian society reference would be a big plus. I'd give you a secret lefty handshake or something and nod approvingly at your historical knowledge

It wouldn't be the leftiest name I've heard :-). Going to lefty events, i have heard kids called Karl, Kier and Emmeline... (Ok, the last one is us...)

I thought the Roman was called Fabius and defeated an army bit by bit?

Britta Fabius the roman was called Fabian or Fabius the Delayer as far as I know and defeated his foes by delaying tactics. This suited our Fabian very well as he was 12 days over due

Popular in Germany, along with Florian.

I have two in my class currently - one is pronounced with a long a and the other with a short a (they are from different contries), so it can be either way.

I like Fabian and would pronounce it Far-be-an, emphasising the Fah/Far. Pronounced Fay-be-an it sounds American to my ears.

For some reason the first image that popped into my head was a man in late twenties with sleek long brown shiny hair, with flowy shirt on unbuttoned to the naval......kind of creepy lothario type. Not sure why??

Thanks - DC2 will be Fabian

yay, brill choice Sylphid When is DS due?

I teach a Fabian and think it is a rather beautiful name. He is one of a twin and he definitely got the better deal.

I think it's a great name. Good choice, congrats.

Little Fabian due in Feb 2013 - if the sonographer is right. Otherwise - Fabian is going to be Marta.

lovely. DS2 was born in Feb 2010 and he is Raphael or Rafe for short. Martha was my favourite girls name alongside Hester (Hetty) so must be a vein of thought there somewhere!

And after all this discussion - I found out today that I'm actually having a girl! The sonographer said she was "very confident" it's not a boy.
So there will be no Fabian for me - I already have a sone and I don't think I will have more kids. But good luck to all Fabians out there! x

Fabienne?

WhatWouldVegansDo - I've already suggested it to DH - he was mortified. We'll go for Marta - the only girls name we can actually agree on.

But Fabienne is literally Fab! Congratulations on your daughter, how exciting!