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AIBU?

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Original poster

Which baby boy name suits best: William, Hugo or Hugh Russell?

113 replies

GabiRussell · 19/03/2026 07:16

We’re having a son and can’t pick a name. We like Theodore (Theo) but that’s taken in our family. Husband doesn’t have too many boys names he loves. Really likes:

William (Will) Russell
Hugo Russell
Hugh Russell

Which do you prefer. Any other suggestions? We want a fairly timeless name that we won’t regret.

OP posts:
HeyThereDelila · 19/03/2026 09:57

I also like Patrick and Michael.

Not sure how you’re going to narrow this one down 😂

HeyThereDelila · 19/03/2026 09:52

I like all of them (nice choices, OP!) but think William and Hugo go best with Russell.

sunflowerdaisies · 19/03/2026 09:43

William is lovely

BaronessBomburst · 19/03/2026 09:42

I like Patrick William Russell and Hugo William Russell best.

noidea69 · 19/03/2026 09:42

Bill Russell sounds like a cricket player from the 70's, definitely best of the 3.

LostInSpaceNK · 19/03/2026 09:39

I agree with pp that Hugo William works well together with Russell.

Hugo is my preference from the list, but you can see that it also carries some baggage- which William doesn't so much (outside Ireland).

Looking at some of the names you, like have you considered Benedict?

Beetlejuice3 · 19/03/2026 09:39

BinNightTonight · 19/03/2026 09:37

Tobias?

Oooh yes love this one!

EsmeSusanOgg · 19/03/2026 09:38

If you're going down the Hugh route - Hughbert is nicer.

EsmeSusanOgg · 19/03/2026 09:37

William or Hugo

BinNightTonight · 19/03/2026 09:37

Tobias?

Thepeopleversuswork · 19/03/2026 09:19

William
Hugo
Hugh

In that order.

I like William and its timeless. Hugo I don’t mind but its a bit trendy and has shades of pretentiousness. Not a fan of Hugh at all.

LassiKopiano24 · 19/03/2026 09:11

William. Hugh and Hugo are awful

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 19/03/2026 09:10

Hugo. I love the name.

Arregaithel · 19/03/2026 09:09

with William, it would likely be contracted to Bill, Billy, Will, Willy, Wils or possibly even Liam.

Liking Liam @GabiRussell

SerendipityCat · 19/03/2026 09:08

I agree with a previous poster, Hugo William is the best-sounding combination and seems to “flow” naturally to my mind. Feel free to ignore my husband’s suggestion, which was Russell. Yes, Russell Russell. 🙄

Treylime · 19/03/2026 08:49

cornbunting · 19/03/2026 08:17

Patrick and Michael are the frontrunners for me.

Although I like the name William, "Will Russell" sounds odd, like a prediction of the noise he's going to make walking along. Or possibly like he's going to become a livestock-thieving cowboy 😂

I thought the same about Will Russell. You have to be careful with the surname if you have names like Mark/Rob/Nick/Luke the wrong surname can make them sound silly eg Luke Wright Luke Shaw

Bundleflower · 19/03/2026 08:46

I like Hugo William Russel.
Somehow I think a name beginning with ‘H’ is a bit soft and gets lost with the harsher sounding surname of ‘Russel’. I think the William in the middle breaks that up. I’m not sure if that makes any sense.

Original poster
GabiRussell · 19/03/2026 08:43

Arregaithel · 19/03/2026 08:05

What about Gabriel @GabiRussell?

Of the 3 names, I think Hugh is a wee bit "old-fashioned", love both of the other two though. 😊

This might be a bit self-deprecating but I don’t want him named after me 😂

OP posts:
PurpleCoo · 19/03/2026 08:29

I really like the name Hugo, but it's a very popular dogs name! I think I would struggle calling a child a popular dogs name, but if you don't mind this, it shouldn't matter.

Fiddlesticks1 · 19/03/2026 08:29

Hugo.

TheSnootiestFox · 19/03/2026 08:28

I have a Hugo William so may be a bit biased 😁 I absolutely love Patrick too, it's a fab name!

Edited to add that he's 16 in a couple of weeks, so clearly the 'trend' has longevity!

KimberleyClark · 19/03/2026 08:25

How about James? Jim, Jimmy and Jamie are also lovely.

Beetlejuice3 · 19/03/2026 08:25

Out of those I think Hugo is lovely. William is timeless and a great choice too.

but I really like Michael!

Neverends1 · 19/03/2026 08:23

William! Although I'm biased as I have a William 🙂
I really don't like Hugo at all but that's just personal preference.

Ophy83 · 19/03/2026 08:19

How about Theodore but called Teddy (as per Jo's name for Laurie in Little Women!)