My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Baby names

Christopher or Peter? And help with middle name please.

31 replies

ByThePowerOfRa · 14/11/2017 20:51

Or neither?

My only reservation about these names is that I think they could seem dated on a baby born soonish, (I’m due in January). Dh seems to like names he’s familiar with (so a bit dated) but which aren’t too popular in this generation or in our generation (80s babies). These are the only two I like.

Due to potential datedness, I am thinking of giving the baby a more current middle name, in case he hates his first name and wants to use his middle name. Any ideas for that much appreciated.

OP posts:
Report
NotAPenguin · 14/11/2017 20:54

I quite like Peter, not so keen on Christopher, mostly because I think Pete sounds sweet but Chris sounds really dated to me.

Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 14/11/2017 20:57

Yes, I’m not at all keen on Chris. I love Kit as a shortening, but obviously can’t insist on that... or can I...? Maybe just till he is old enough to decide for himself.

I like Pete. Knew a beautiful Pete when we were teenagers.

OP posts:
Report
Brokencrayonsstillcolour · 14/11/2017 21:01

You can totally impose Kit rather than Chris! When he’s older he obviously may choose to go by Chris but if he’s been Kit his whole life it’s less likely IMO.

Report
OlennasWimple · 14/11/2017 21:02

Both names are classic names, so won't be dated now or in 50 years.

Christopher can be a bit of a mouthful depending on your surname. I like Kit as a NN too

Peter I like, Pete not so much.

But kids are funny anyway, they don't always go for the obvious NNs. Say your surname is Jones, he is as likely to be known as PJ as Pete. Or Tiny (if he is tall), or Jonesy, or Smidge (or something equally nonsensical)

Report
WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 14/11/2017 21:07

I love Christopher nn Kit.
Middle name needs to be short. Maybe something like James, Luke, Ray. 1 syllable I think.

Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 14/11/2017 21:08

I actually wonder if most Christophers born today will end up being Kit anyway. I can’t imagine a baby Chris!

Surname is two syllables and quite common. Similar to Jackson.

  • Christopher Jackson
  • Peter Jackson.... oh wait! Isn’t that the guy who directed LOTR? Anyway, you get the idea!
OP posts:
Report
BuzzKillington · 14/11/2017 21:10

Both very 70s names. Christopher is probably the less bad but I can't imagine a baby Chris either.

Report
Jenijena · 14/11/2017 21:13

I like Christopher, I’d probably have it with a short middle name. John or James or something.

Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 14/11/2017 21:16

Do you think I can insist on Kit, but put Christopher on the bc without looking like a twit and / or causing confusion for the baby?

OP posts:
Report
NotAPenguin · 14/11/2017 21:22

Yes, you can absolutely insist on Kit. Don't ever tell friends he's called anything else. When he starts school tell them it's his preferred name etc. Really like Kit

Report
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/11/2017 21:25

Of course you can insist on Kit. Most people won't know him as anything other than just Kit. My dc are all known by shortened versions of their full names and on official forms asking for full name such as for school I would write something like Edward Arthur Smith known as Teddy.

Report
ChocolateCrunch · 15/11/2017 07:37

Not keen on Peter, sorry. Love Kit and think it's fine to put Christopher on the bc, but call him Kit from Day 1.

Report
BuzzKillington · 15/11/2017 12:55

My nephew is Christopher, known as Kit since day one.

My reservation with Kit is that every other baby boy seems to have this name at the moment.

Report
17caterpillars1mouse · 15/11/2017 12:57

I prefer Christopher and with the rise of the popularity of Kit I don't think it seems particularly dated. Chris seems dated.

I also like Peter but not a fan of Pete myself so wouldn't use it

Have you considered Christian. Similar to Christopher but maybe a bit more current. Could also still use Kit

Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 15/11/2017 12:59

Dh says he won’t call him Kit. . He likes Peter though and so do I, BUT I don’t love it. I really wanted a name I love this time as Dh chose dc1’s name.

Yes, I do think Kit is having a moment. Possibly due to lovely Kit Harrington and less lovely Wayne Rooney!

OP posts:
Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 15/11/2017 13:01

Anything ending in an n sounds funny with ‘Jackson’. So I don’t think we’d use Christian.

OP posts:
Report
Laniakea · 15/11/2017 13:11

No useful suggestions for middle names but I really like both Christopher & Peter (& Christian). I have an inkling that names of that era will be the next thing. Nicholas is similar I think.

Report
user1459464195 · 15/11/2017 14:05

I really like both Christopher and Peter. Part of the appeal for me is that neither is particularly popular right now. I really like Kit or Kip as nicknames for Christopher.

In terms of more modern/currently popular middle names, can I suggest:

Christopher Aidan Jackson
Christopher Isaac Jackson
Christopher Lucas Jackson
Christopher Elijah Jackson
Christopher Jacob Jackson
Peter Caleb Jackson
Peter Austin Jackson
Peter Finley Jackson

Report
nameshelpplease · 15/11/2017 14:26

I had a thread on here yesterday about the name Peter and we've named our new baby boy Peter James. Obviously I think it's a lovely name! We think it works well on both a child and an adult and is a classic name but not one which is that popular, and that's why we ended up choosing it.

Report
DorothyHarris · 15/11/2017 14:32

I've got a little boy called Christopher. Yy to the nn Kit. I will not be calling him Chris. Mine is Christopher William.

Report
NamesNamesAndMoreNames · 15/11/2017 14:36

Both names are on our list, but I don't think we'll end up choosing them, purely because we have ones we favour slightly more at the moment.

I love Christopher/Kit but agree Kit is becoming increasingly popular and I'd argue it's a little faddy. I am not keen on Chris, but I think you'd have to be ok(ish) with it as he may choose it himself at some point.

I feel similarly about Peter, it's a lovely name. I'm slightly less keen on Pete but it's not bad as nicknames go.

There are lots of other similar boys names that might be better?

Johnathan? James? Michael? Richard (nn Richie)

Report
MollyHuaCha · 15/11/2017 14:40

Both nice.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

DiegoMadonna · 15/11/2017 14:53

I like Christopher and Chris. Strong no-nonsense name.

Peter is a bit weak/bleugh to me. Not a fan.

Report
Intercom · 15/11/2017 15:14

I like both. I’d go for Chris rather than Kit, which sounds twee.

Report
ByThePowerOfRa · 15/11/2017 15:59

The only other names Dh has suggested are James, Jack and Matthew. None of which I like (boo). I’ve tried to talk him to Hamish or Seamus as an alternative to James but he’s having none of it!

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.