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Baby names

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

Original poster

Describe these boys please!

31 replies

mumincognito · 20/02/2011 11:39

DS2, a brother for Benjamin (who is never Ben!), is due in a few weeks. We have the following shortlist, and I'm not necessarily looking to get it down to one name before he arrives, but would be interested to know how these names are perceived - what do you think these names say about their owners (if anything)? I want DS to have a good, solid (but hopefully not boring) name that won't limit his options in life, and in particular I am keen to avoid a "fashion" name that we might regret in a few years:

Christopher (not shortened)
Kit (Christopher, shortened)
Magnus
Jude (love, but have concerns over this being a 'now' name)
Peter
George

Thank you.

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thumbwitch · 20/02/2011 11:42

Christopher - full name links to an exceedingly camp/gay hairdresser in my head
Kit - either a talking car or an exceptional young man from a Heyer novel
Magnus - Pike or Magnusson
Jude - Law or Obscure
Peter - good solid strong name
George - slightly overweight, rather dull

That's just my thoughts though - they're all fine as names.

Original poster
mumincognito · 20/02/2011 11:46

Thank you thumbwitch, that is the kind of feedback I'm looking for, rather than just "like / don't like"!

OP posts:
TheSecondComing · 20/02/2011 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OliveMalay · 20/02/2011 12:33

Christopher - classic, nice for any age
Kit - silly, dislike
Magnus - older man
Jude - quite nice, would think he had trendy parents
Peter - lovely classic name, sensible, friendly
George - see Peter

tummytickler · 20/02/2011 13:08

I love Peter and Magnus. Really lovely. Peter is ds's middle name and I sometimes wish I had used it as his first.

Kit is lovely, but only as a nn for Christopher.
Jude - fine, prefer Julius or Julian and Jude as a nn.
George - nice. Just nice.

Galdem · 20/02/2011 13:19

Christopher (not shortened)
Kit, Jude - north London middle class with mums who do ver loud parenting in public places

Magnus - 'my parents wanted people to think they were quirky'

Christopher, Peter, George - thoroughly sensible types

Galdem · 20/02/2011 13:19

ignore Christopher (not shortened) meant to delete that at top

Underachieving · 20/02/2011 13:21

Christopher- Never met a Christopher who wasn't also a Chris at least in adulthood and never yet met one who wasn't somewhat sly.
Kit- American. Probably got peircings, tattoos or brighly coloured hair, which is great IMO but probably not your style.
Magnus- Older man, possibly Icelandic.
Jude- First thought is Jude is a womans name (have an aunty Jude), followed by thoughts of Jude Law.
Peter- A proper, traditional name. Would expect a Peter to be affable and fair.
George- A bit like Peter, just slightly more pompous.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 20/02/2011 13:33

This is going to end in tears.

Original poster
mumincognito · 20/02/2011 13:35

Thank you all, keep them coming! Interested by reaction to Magnus - we are Scottish, it's a reasonably mainstream name here but I suspect perceived quite differently south of the border.

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 20/02/2011 13:44

Have you thought about Maxwell as an alternative to Magnus? or would you be worried about that being shortened to Max, there being quite an abundance of Maxs around at the mo?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 20/02/2011 13:51

Maxwell is a particularly good choice if you last name has 5 letters starting with H and ending in E.

blogan · 20/02/2011 13:55

I love george, you cant go wrong there, it's absolutely gorgeous and so timeless.
your child won't ever feel like he is stuck in a time warp
'now names' will eventually feel like you have a permenant pair of Flares on the will. just. not. come. off!

mamadiva · 20/02/2011 14:01

I don't like Kit or Magnus, I am from the Highlands have never heard of a Magnus. Both of these names make me think of old men a bit like Still Game.

George, Peter and Christopher are 10 a penny really but classic names.

I see Jude I hear Law.

Original poster
mumincognito · 20/02/2011 14:56

Thanks all, I will mull over Maxwell. I also really really love Hugo but DH is not for tunring on that one so it didn't even make the list, happy to receive more suggestions in this vein, however.

OP posts:
TheMonster · 20/02/2011 14:58

Christopher is under-used IMO. I would shorted it to Chris, though, rather than use the full name or Kit.

Magnus. No. Seriously, no. Don't do it.

Jude is nice, but I know a Jude and it doesn't work as he's not drop-dead gorgeous!

Peter is a favourite for me. Great name.

George is ok, but I think it was very popular a few years ago and that would put me off.

BelligerentGhoul · 20/02/2011 15:01

I like Christopher shortened to Kit and I like Jude.

Christopher/Kit = sensible young man and intelligent in the week but lets out his artistic side at the weekends: will probably be v good at Maths but also paint and play the guitar!

Jude - I'd think his parents had read Thomas Hardy then forgotten what a miserable book it was!

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 20/02/2011 15:10

Christopher - is lovely. To me it's a boy/man who's not arrogant, gets on with everyone, and has sensible parents. Lovely name

Kit - a bit try hard/fashionable
Jude - ditto

Peter - I LOVE. Not ten a penny at all, esp for children. Lovely, classic, not in fashion and never out of fashion. Gorgeously British.

George - ditto, though more popular at the moment I think. Not massively so, if I loved it it wouldn't put me off.

Along the same lines I love Nicholas, John, David, Phillip, Simon, Andrew, Antony, Michael, Matthew (though Matthew is quite popular at the mo I think).

2and1ontheway · 20/02/2011 15:13

Christopher OK, makes me think pale and skinny and a bit "wet" though I am afraid! You have to accept it will get shorted it to Chris once he is at school, even if you fight it! Unless you instil another nick name by which he introduces himself - I knew a Christopher who introduced himself as Topher, which worked for him but looks odd now I type it!

Magnus. I think depends on your background - maybe OK if you come from a region where it is mainstream, but a bit odd if it is picked out of the ether.

Jude - I know Jude is really popular at the moment but it always instantly reminds me of Jude the Obscure, and the central character's oldest son (or apparent son) of the same name who kills himself and his little siblings, so I could never understand anyone using that name for their own child! I realise that is probably irrational and making associations like that probably explains why I find names so hard to choose Confused

Peter - OK, a bit "square" - think Mark from Peep show...!

George - I love this one, and might have used it except DH doesn't like it and it would get pronounced in a way I don't like where we live.

noddyholder · 20/02/2011 15:16

Christopher dull
Kit just don't like
Magnus Boden-y boy
Jude lovely
peter dull
George love

noeyedear · 20/02/2011 15:26

Isn't St Jude also the patron saint of hopeless cases? I like it, but that and the Hardy associations always put me off!

starterfor10 · 20/02/2011 15:59

Peter has never lost its popularity round here so it doesn't conjure up a middle aged man at all. It is a good solid name as its meaning implies.
Would be my choice from your list.

Highlandgirl · 20/02/2011 18:38

Okay.....

Christopher (not shortened)
Really don't like this name only because I know someone who is a total wally and this has put me off. He's thinks he's amazing but really he's a short assed twat who found of his own voice.

This is very annoying as I LOVE the name KIT. On our short list. I also have concerns about it being a 'now' name.

Disclaimer: DH best friend is a Chris and I just love him, however wally Christopher has spoilt it for me. Sad

Kit (Christopher, shortened) As above.

Magnus - Being a jock...Grin I've know as few over the years. Mainly older, but 1 made my knees melt about 12 years old..Wink lovely guy from a nice family, great fun.

Jude (love, but have concerns over this being a 'now' name) - I suggested this to DH, he said no, for the same reason...very trendy..could date. Like he said...
'think about his CV and being taken seriously. Have you meant a CO called Jude.'

Peter - Classic, timeless, all round nice guy. Not so keen on Pete through

George - My favorite great uncle! Very popular in SW London but you can't beat a classic.

AnnOnimous · 20/02/2011 18:52

Christopher (not shortened) - bit dated, or you could say timeless.
Kit (Christopher, shortened) - adore this version, so much nicer than Chris.
Magnus - love it.
Jude (love, but have concerns over this being a 'now' name) - I always think of this as a girl's name.
Peter - timeless, but Pete can be really cool, love it.
George - too middle class and boring for me.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 20/02/2011 18:53

Christopher - My ex, controlling, outrageous flirt, (I could be biased, though!), fairly unlikeable.

Kit - there was a Kit at DD1's nursery. He wasn't very nice to DD1

Magnus - I think of Magnussen. I think lovely, and wholesome, outdoorsy kind of boy.

Jude - I have lovely Godson called Jude, but I can't help thinking of Jude Law.

Peter - perfect Peter from Horrid Henry. A bit of a Goody two shoes

George - solid, dependable, not very imaginative sort of chap, though.