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Reasons not to use names

15 replies

YellowPirate · 27/03/2016 16:36

We are expecting DC 2. Not sure if it's a boy or a girl, but we're struggling for boys names as those we likw all seem to have a problem with them. Just wondering which of these everyone thought is a problem and which you'd use anyway? DC 1 is Patrick.

Gabriel - close family member and close friend with the same name

Arthur - dh hates Art and Artie as nicknames

Wilfred - love Wild and Fred but not Wil

Seamus - too much with Patrick

Clement - much prefer Clem to Clement

Aidan - has an uncle Adrian

Rowan - is it too unisex, especially with an obvious male name like Patrick?

Owen - like, but don't like anywhere near as much as Patrick.

Gil - don't like any of the long versions

Tadhg - spelling issues as we're in England. In fact I'm not even sure I've spelt it correctly there.

Which of these would you cross off your list for the reasons above?

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ilovevegcrisps · 27/03/2016 16:39

I like most of them. I'm not massively keen on Clement but that may just be unfamiliarity and I don't like Rowan for boys as it makes me think of Rowan Atkinson!

Seamus and Wilfred are my favourites. Two brilliant poets :)

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Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 27/03/2016 17:50

I have the same sort of issue with Gabriel. There is a reason why I can't use it, long story but if I have a boy. I'm still going to use it. It's not like he and this other Gabriel will ever cross paths.
My cousin has a DD who has the same name as my sister. Never any confusion. I think by the conversation. You know who people are talking to.
Definite reasons not use.
You don't like any NN's that can be used. Which in your DH's case applies to Arthur.
If you are going to name a girl after a season. Name hsr after the season she was born in, eg. It's a bit silly calling a Christmas baby Summer.
If it's a a subsequent child. It should go in a pattern with your other children's names. eg You wouldn't put the name Courtney with Marta
Another thing to consider is whether or not it goes with your surname. (Eg The last letter of the first name, should not be the same as the first letter of the last name. Eg Bethan Naylor.
Obviously no daft names such as Ben Dover, Drew Peacock, Teresa Green.
No rhyming names. Eg Kylie O'Rielly.

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Liss85 · 27/03/2016 17:58

I've crossed off names with close family members with the same name and names I don't like the shortened version of. My sister's daughter is called Victoria and she wouldn't let anyone call her Vicky because she hates it, now that she's grown up she insists on Vicky and my sister has to put up with it so I don't want to be in that situation. Perhaps with the names you like shortened but not the longer versions just go with the short name? My friend called her son Ben on his birth certificate because she didn't like Benjamin.

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WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 27/03/2016 20:22

How close is the other Gabriel?

We know a young Arthur. He is simply Arthur. No nickname.

Wilf, Fred and Wilfred are all nice.no reason not to pick these.

Seamus is a good solid name.
How Irish is your family?

I only know a girl clem. So wouldn't pick that for a boy.

Aidan and Adrian are fine. It's a different name.

Rowan I would avoid if you don't like unisex names.

Owen is another solid name.
Maybe a middle name?

Gil is fine as gil.

Tadgh.
As you are not sure of spelling, other people are likely to struggle too.

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YellowPirate · 27/03/2016 20:42

The other Gabriel is my cousin's kid, so quite close and it's an unspoken rule in our family I think. We see our friend Gabriel, who is the same age as ds all the time though.

Family is a bit Irish - my grandad was Irish and we still have family over there. We also lived there ourselves for 5_years. I love Seamus buy I'm worried it sounds a bit over the top with Patrick.

Glad the consensus for Aidan is positive though!

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birchygoo · 28/03/2016 21:31

You could put James on birth cert and call him Seamus. I know a few ppl that have done this. Also means if he travels elsewhere he could use James if people couldn't read seamus. I know doctors who use James professionally and Seamus at home.
I love the name seamus. I also love tadgh but living in England kid wouldn't have a chance of anyone being able to say their name.
Adian and Adrian are different names. I know a son and father with the names.
Clement - I only know a 50 yr old man who I don't like so no for me
Owen non offensive name and OK.
Others are a no Imo

Seamus/James for me

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Bajanella · 29/03/2016 14:30

Aidan and Adrian are different; I don't think that's a reason to avoid at all.

With the rest, it depends. You say you much prefer Clem to Clement, but do you actively dislike Clement?

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floweryskull · 29/03/2016 14:38

Tadhg is spelt correctly. I have also seen it spelt Taidgh.

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weegiemum · 29/03/2016 14:49

Aidan is an awesome name, I'd use that

nothing to do with my ds being Aidan, oh no

Its classy and timeless (St Aidan was born around 650 AD), means "fire".

Our 14yo ds carries it well, its a great name for any age. And nothing like Adrian!

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Sgoinneal · 29/03/2016 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YellowPirate · 29/03/2016 17:25

Thanks for the replies. My bro in law and his son have similar sounding, bit different names and I have to say I find it quite confusing - although this would be uncle and nephew, so not quite so bad. We already have a very close relative called James so that would definitely be a no go!

I don't hate Clement, in fact I quite like it, but couldn't imagine using it day to day, and I'm a big fan of liking both the long and short versions of a name.

I think Owen, Aidan and Wilfred are my top 3 at the moment. It was never this difficult the first time around! Really interesting to hear everyone's different views. X

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 29/03/2016 17:29

I think Aidan is fine, it's not the same name as Adrian.

Any Arthur's I know are just Arthur, no shortenings.

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RockUnit · 29/03/2016 17:32

I think Wilfred (nn Fred/Freddie), Clement (Clem), and Rowan would all be fine to use.

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weegiemum · 29/03/2016 18:07

Like your choices, as I think any boy would rock those names as older dc - my Aidan is 14, in s2 (y10) and he carries it off really well, it suits him and his mates are great with it (which helps as we have a rude-sounding surname!)

Im sure whatever you choose will be awesome for your little boy!

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lovelychops · 29/03/2016 18:11

I vote Tadhg. It's a great name

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