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

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

Baby names

Frédéric or Frederick, do they sound old?

44 replies

mamijo · 27/04/2016 20:13

My husband and I are expecting our first child together in August, it's a boy and the first name we both chose was Frederick. Hubby likes it more than I do, however when I told my mum and sisters they found it funny and said it sounds like an old man's name. I like the meaning, but now I'm not too sure. One of them said "You carry your child for 9 months just to name him Frederick?" Which I find quite hurtful. I would like suggestions on names that are respectable, but trendy at the same time. I don't want to hear nasty comments from family members, it's making me feel a little insecure.

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CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 27/04/2016 20:22

OK firstly, don't tell your family any more of your name choices!

Old man names are popular at the moment although I guess they probably sound funny / old fashioned to our parents' generation, because they were their parents' names. Our grandchildren will be called things like Trevor and Nigel which will sound funny to us (apologies to any trevors and Nigels out there!).

I like it by the way. Names which sound similar to me:

Stanley
Arthur
Albert

QueenOfHumboldtCounty · 27/04/2016 20:25

It's a brilliant name!! Freddie is cute for when he's little too. Go for it! They'll get used to it.

DerelictMyBalls · 27/04/2016 20:26

Maybe they don't know many babies. Freddie is a very fashionable name at the moment!

dementedma · 27/04/2016 20:28

My nephew is Frederick because it works well in both French and English. English family call him Freddie. He's 13.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/04/2016 20:31

I have a Freddie and he is nearly 17, must have been a trend setter in its revival!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/04/2016 20:33

Albert ( Bertie) was on our list too

Love Arthur and Archie, Stanley is not uncommon, my DD had one in her class at school, she is 19

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/04/2016 20:35

Wilfred?

Lawrence

Wilf and Lawrie, I likey!

DerelictMyBalls · 27/04/2016 20:36

You must have been, piste - It has gone from 272nd to 20th most popular name since 1999!

names.darkgreener.com/#freddie

Sophronia · 27/04/2016 21:27

Frederick is a great name!

Yika · 27/04/2016 21:35

I love the name Frederic(k).
A true classic.
Can shorten to Fred, Freddy, Rick, Ricky.

SoftSheen · 27/04/2016 21:37

Frederick is a great name, and at present, quite a popular one!

summerbun · 28/04/2016 03:47

DS is Frederick, nickname Freddie/Fred and everyone loves it. The older generation were a bit bemused at first but they have come around :-)

mrsschu · 28/04/2016 08:34

Frederick is nice! Yes it's more of an "old fashioned" name but those names have all made a come back now. DS has a name which is considered very old fashioned/grandad-esque in Germany but is pretty cool in the UK. My German in laws were all slightly taken aback at first but they've all gotten used to it now and I'm sure your families will too. Plus Freddie is a cute nn. I come across plenty of them in London so wouldn't think it was unusual at all.

Kettricken · 28/04/2016 08:40

My grandad was Frederick and it's my DS middle name. I would have loved it as his first name but was overruled by DH. It's a lovely name!

HumphreyCobblers · 28/04/2016 08:42

I have one, obviously I love it. There are lots of them about, your family are out of touch!

Never tell family a name in advance, they would not be so rude when confronted with an actual baby of that name.

QueenOfThorns · 28/04/2016 08:45

Don't listen to them! Frederick is a bit of a mouthful for a little boy, but calling him Freddie for short is lovely.

LuckySantangelo1 · 28/04/2016 08:49

Fab name. Love it. Don't tell your name choices to anyone in RL! Not their child, they don't get to choose!

Frazzled2207 · 28/04/2016 09:00

It was one of our choices, after my grandfather.
My mother hated it though, didn't believe me that it was popular once again.
I know quite a few small Freddies.

calibee · 28/04/2016 09:32

Freddie is supercool. Love it. My ds middle name is Frederick :) after my Dad.

Joinourclub · 28/04/2016 15:01

It's a fab name. I'd use it if I was having a second boy.

Scholtzy · 28/04/2016 15:04

Fans over here! My DH is Frederik after his father but called Freddie and it's our DS's middle name too, choose what you want not what everyone else wants xx

sonlypuppyfat · 28/04/2016 15:08

Sorry to go against the grain, but it's awful. Fred, it's just not a nice sound. I think it went out of fashion for a reason

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LadyAntonella · 28/04/2016 15:09

I really like it! I've had to close my ears to comments on baby names from family. We ended up with quite a simple name for DD which I thought was inoffensive, but my nan said she doesn't like it as it's too plain! Can't win.

YokoUhOh · 28/04/2016 15:11

DS is Alfred nn Fred/Freddie, if that's preferable?

A4Document · 28/04/2016 18:34

Frederick is a nice classic name, and I like Freddie as nickname too.

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