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Unusual Boy's Name?

52 replies

Rabbiting0n · 17/02/2016 14:56

Really struggling for a boy's name. We don't like names which are too popular; ideally nothing in the top 100 on the ONS data. Our surname ends "son" so any boy's names with an "un" sound at the end - of which there are many nice ones - tend not to go with our surname. It rules out lots of potential names because even "ian", "an" and "en" endings to boy's names can have that "un" sound when you say them aloud.

We have a short-list, but DH and I can't agree and we're not 100% happy with any of them. So far, we've got:

Rafferty - This is our current favourite, because we like Raffey, Raffa, Rafe etc, but we're not so keen on the full name.
Rupert - I worry it's a bit effeminate and can't use Roo or Ru as a nickname as we have a pet called Roo.
Ludovic - We like Ludo but perhaps it's a bit... odd?
Zephyr - We both really loved this (and the nickname, Zeph) but have seen it slated online. What do you guys think?
Myles - We like this, but I know my brother really wants it for a boy, so I don't think we could have it.
Hamish - DH's family are Scottish, so I was tempted, but he hates it.
Felix - Again, it seems a little bit weak, perhaps? Just inside the top 100, it could continue to rise in popularity and become the new Jude (which we love, but can't have because we know so many people with sons called Jude, now).
Travis - I like it but I'm not mad for it. DH doesn't like it at all.
Archer - DH loves it. I'm not totally convinced, and my Dad's next door neighbour has a young son - who plays with my father a great deal - who is called "Archa". Might this be a bit weird?
Pascal - I quite like it. DH does not.
Rufus - DH is keen but it makes me think of dogs.
Crispin - I've always liked it, but don't like "Chris", which people would probably try to shorten it to.
Matteo - (After a family member called "Matthew). Not sure if it sounds too Italian?

We've gone through all of the ONS data, so we've looked at thousands of names, but just can't agree. Our daughter's name is relatively rare in the UK, without being "strange". Also worth saying that the baby will go to a slightly hippy (not posh) private school, where our daughter's friends have names like "Bart", "Basil" etc, so we probably have a little more scope than some parents in certain parts of the UK, simply because many of his future classmates may have slightly unusual names, too.

What do you guys think of the above? Do you have any better ideas? Thanks :-)

OP posts:
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ABitAsleep · 17/02/2016 15:15

A few suggestions for you, best i can think of, but perhaps not as unusual as you would like :)

Devon/Devan
Kenton
Kieron
Wesley
Marius
Nathaniel
Jesse
Buckley
Mcauley/Mcaulay/Macauley
Weston
Derren
Mack
Davis
Gareth/Garrett/Garth
Jarad/Jarard/Jerad/Jarreth
Garson/Greyson
Casper
Cade/Kade
Jethro
Ramsey
Randall/Randell
Aiden/Adrien
Hallam
Henley/Harley
Hugo/hugh
Flint/Flynn
Orien/Orion
Otto/Otis
Robin
Dion

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mrsschu · 17/02/2016 16:09

Of your list the only ones I like are:
Miles - LOVE this. It was on our top 2 names for DS. Would spell it like this though.
Felix - really like it, not weak. I do know a few though so if you want to avoid popular names then maybe forget this one.
Matteo - think it's probably OK to use without Italian connections although I know an Italian one and the pronounciation is a bit different.

As mentioned Miles and Felix were also on our short list for DS. Other names we considered were:
Conrad
Caspar
Rueben
Fintan
Otto

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Artandco · 17/02/2016 16:13

Magnus
Fergus ( Scottish)
Otis
Dashiell
Rudi
Caspian
Maximilian

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Rabbiting0n · 17/02/2016 18:37

Thanks for the suggestions!

ABitAsleep - We considered Nathaniel because we like Nate, but I'm not sure I like the the full name so much; it's one we've put on our "considering" list Smile Hugh/Hugo and Otto are on our middle names list; they're lovely names.

mrsschu - I quite like Casper but was warned that people might laugh at it because of the cartoon. DH sort of likes Jasper (I don't) so he might consider Casper... I'd wondered about Conrad, too. I like it, but maybe for a middle name. Rueben is nice, but too popular for us, I think.

Artandco - I really like Rudi/Rudy. Is that short only short for "Rudolph" or can it be short for something else?

It's tricky naming a child. We gave our daughter the middle name Isis and now suddenly it's a dirty word and we have to keep her full name a secret. Don't want to make a mistake this time round!

OP posts:
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Artandco · 17/02/2016 18:44

I would just use Rudi/ Rudy as the full name tbh. Otherwise you could use Rudyard

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Ikeameatballs · 17/02/2016 18:48

Albert
Atticus
Axel
Bartholomew
Bertram
Cedric
Cillian
Cuthbert
Draco
Ezekiel
Giacomo
Gregor
Innes
Kit
Lloyd
Magnus
Morris
Orlando
Percy
Philip
Ptolemy
Red
Sid
Truman
Vaughan
Xander

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Ikeameatballs · 17/02/2016 18:49

Ooh, I like Rudyard.

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AveEldon · 17/02/2016 18:56

Ludo is lovely

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AnnaMarlowe · 17/02/2016 19:00

Why not just call him Rafe? Works perfectly well as a standalone name.

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StylishDuck · 17/02/2016 19:07

I knew a Rodolfo who called himself Rudi. He was Spanish though.

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sugarplumfairy28 · 17/02/2016 19:13

Archer and Felix are on my list, think they suit a wide range of personalities, are uncommon without being alien.

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imsorryiasked · 17/02/2016 19:23

Milo
Solomon
Sawyer
Ludovic

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workshyfop · 17/02/2016 19:27

Raphael
Claude
Gilbert
Bede

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MrsSiba · 17/02/2016 19:30

Spike

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kimlo · 17/02/2016 19:34

The last 2 boys born that I know are called Denny and Simon. Both unusual.

Caspar wont get laughed at, its not that unusual so I think the ghost doesnt tend to be the first thing you think anymore.

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StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 17/02/2016 19:37

Jasper
Jollian
Barnaby
Cuthbert

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IoraRua · 17/02/2016 19:39

I love Matteo, Felix, Pascal and Travis. The others not so much.
I also like Niall, Oran, Joel, Fiach, Fiachra, Ciar, Edgar and Lachlan.

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nailslikeknives · 17/02/2016 19:45

Love Felix.
Adding Xavier (French not American pronunciation) for your delectation.
I love that one. If I thought DH would agree to it, I'd consider a 3rd child Grin

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hollyisalovelyname · 17/02/2016 19:56

Tarlach
Breifne
Lachlan
Tiernan

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thisisbloodyridiculous · 17/02/2016 21:52

Love Rufus and Rupert

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cheapandcheerful · 17/02/2016 22:54

We had lots of those names on our boys shortlist so obviously have similar tastes!

Others we had included:
Fergus
Otis
Ezekiel
Gideon
Titus
Solomon

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timemaychangeme · 18/02/2016 00:33

I love Miles and Raffety.

What about:
Gabriel
Rafael
Niles
Mathias
Tobias
Laurence
Marcus
Arlo
Ezra
Oscar
Seth
Alastair

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toffeeboffin · 18/02/2016 00:39

Personal fave is Myles (sorry)

Ludovic is a bit extreme.

Quite like Matteo.

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toffeeboffin · 18/02/2016 00:41

Also, I adore Casper, especially with a K, Kasper.

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toffeeboffin · 18/02/2016 00:42

Rabbit , do you like the name Quentin?

I love it, DH vetoed it. It would have suited DS.

I think you know when a baby is born if they can carry a certain name or not.

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