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Baby names

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

Original poster

Undecided between Laurence, Miles and Jonah

69 replies

TallulahDoesTheHula · 03/03/2011 11:29

What do you think?

OP posts:
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pointydog · 05/03/2011 10:36

So what if it's a girl's name in France. The op doesn't live in France.

Greenwing · 04/03/2011 23:23

Love them all BUT
Laurence is feminine - not ideal if he goes on holiday to France/on a French exchange at school and has a girl's name.

Jonah has an unfortunate meaning,

so.. the winner has to be Myles! - Why not spell it with a y to distance it from sounding like a miles and kilometres.

NotAnotherNewNappy · 04/03/2011 20:49

Jonah, Laurence then Miles.

jaggythistle · 04/03/2011 19:58

my order of preference would be Miles, Laurence, Jonah too.

Northernrose · 04/03/2011 09:51

Jonah means dove! Not "gets swallowed by a whale!" And I think it's a great name, and know a gorgeous Jonah. Plus mathanxiety is totally right about the actual story and it's meaning! Also love Laurence nn Laurie and really don't think that in the UK anyone would think it was a girl's name.

Supersunnyday · 04/03/2011 09:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

brimfull · 04/03/2011 09:27

yup it's a boys name in this country
my brother has travelled all over the world and lives in Canada in his 50odd yrs has never had anyone think it's a girls name

AlmaMartyr · 04/03/2011 09:04

I agree with Smashingtime, I'd never hear Laurence and assume it was a girl.

smashingtime · 03/03/2011 21:23

I don't get this obsession about Laurence being a female name in France! In the UK it is most definitely a BOYS name and perfectly accepted as such.

My ds is Laurence but always gets Laurie - yes a few jokes about trucks (FIL mainly!) but nobody has EVER assumed he was a girl Confused

Rant over - and yes, Laurence would be my first choice of your names although I do also like Jonah!!

PepsiPopcorn · 03/03/2011 20:50

I like all of them, but in order of preference...

  1. Miles
  2. Laurence
  3. Jonah
lilyberry · 03/03/2011 20:14

I like Miles.

sharbie · 03/03/2011 20:01

lawrence now a teenage lol

pointydog · 03/03/2011 19:56

Laurence

brimfull · 03/03/2011 19:52

My brother is Laurence , never had a problem with it and has lived all ove rthe place

starterfor10 · 03/03/2011 19:50

There is a character in Waterloo Road at the moment called Jonah. Don't know if that will affect its popularity.

BelligerentGhoul · 03/03/2011 19:45

Laurence

mopsyflopsy · 03/03/2011 17:39

Shame about the meaning of Jonah because it has a nice sound to it. I'm not keen on Miles or Laurence for a boy.

mathanxiety · 03/03/2011 17:35

I like Jonah too. The point of the Biblical story is mercy falling on the just and the unjust, second chances, getting over yourself, etc.

How about
Jonas
Joseph
Josiah

MackerelOfFact · 03/03/2011 17:18

I meant associations, not attachments!

MackerelOfFact · 03/03/2011 17:17

I really like Laurence/Lawrence, has always been on my boys lists. I knew one at University, it always seemed very distinguished without being poncey.

Like Miles too. Jonah I like, but dislike the loner/whale/bad luck attachments so wouldn't use it for that reason.

growing3rdbump · 03/03/2011 17:08

I like Jonah best. I know a French, female Laurence, but don't really like the name. Miles is ok.

evamummy · 03/03/2011 14:50

I don't like either of the them, I'm afraid. Miles is indeed to 'metrical', Laurences a little feminine and Jonah means 'bringer of bad luck'... Sorry. But it is not us but you who needs to love the name Smile.

Thissideofchannel · 03/03/2011 14:25

With all the road signs in the UK stating the word 'x miles' wouldn't it be odd to be named this?

At least on the continent you only see Kilometres Smile.

AlmaMartyr · 03/03/2011 14:23

I like Laurence/Lawrence best. Not very keen on Miles and I don't like Jonah at all tbh, it always makes me think of a whale. I know quite a few babies called Jonah as well so think it's getting more popular if you're worried about that.

PorkChopSter · 03/03/2011 14:23

Too aquatic/whales etc