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Baby names

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

Wilf - strong or weak sounding?

33 replies

3nearly4 · 16/01/2011 16:09

Having a Wilf/Wilfred conversation with DH today but I think it sounds terribly weak. I just picture a weak old man hunched over a walking stick, which is a shame as I do really like the name!

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SarahScot · 16/01/2011 16:24

Only Wilf I know is from the Oxford Reading Tree - Wilf, Wilma, Biff and Kipper? Most kids read it at some point at school.

Donki · 16/01/2011 16:24

I can tell you are not a teacher....

WILF is/was widely used as an acronym "What I'm Looking For" to let children know what they need to do in the lesson.

(more in primary than secondary, I think, and many teachers have now moved on from using it, but still...)

said · 16/01/2011 16:23

Weak

dittany · 16/01/2011 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fourleaf · 16/01/2011 16:15

Dh vetoed this name for DS as he thought it sounded weak (along with Robin Hmm).
I love it! It is a bit old man-ish, so perhaps avoid if you hate that group of names.

3nearly4 · 16/01/2011 16:11

and also, do you think that Wilf is just another one of these 'old man names' like Alfie that will date badly?

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theagedparent · 16/01/2011 16:11

I see more of a surfer type dude. Great name.

Rindercella · 16/01/2011 16:11

I agree that it sounds weak.

I sort of like it and then I think of a man I used to work with called Wilf who was the most ineffectual prats I have ever come across. And then I no longer like it at all Smile