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Baby names

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

Unusual but not ridiculous names for a boy

87 replies

Flowerface · 08/06/2011 17:24

I am not even pregnant (TTC), so it isn't exactly an emergency. But what the heck do you call a boy? I am thinking something unusual but not so much so that he gets punched in the playground (DD is called 'Elsa', think it would be a bit mean to have one way more zany than the other). So what sort of names do you think? I have considered (yes, I do have to much brain-time on my hands):
Wilfred (Fred)
Gilbert
Lev (but someone pointed out that it sounds like 'Lav')
Edward (Ted. Too boring?)
Emil (would everyone pick on him and call him Emily?!)

I particularly like things with a central/Eastern European resonance (Russian or German). I don't want anything too Biblical, since I am not at all religious. I like old fashioned, but I don't want to be too self-consciously old man. Any thoughts...?!

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fairieswearboots · 10/06/2011 10:58

My friend has an Emile, who is 15 now, and the one person throughout his life who always calls him emily is his dad! Not done in an ironic or teasing way, but an affectionate lengthening ; drives my friend mad! But no-one else has done it.

Mumcentreplus · 10/06/2011 01:32

Caleb,Dominic,Eden,Ethan,Felix,Francis,Patrick

Janni · 09/06/2011 22:47

Joel, Jude, Dominic, Gabriel, Christian, Aleks, Alessandro, Christophe, Raphael, Paul.

oldqueenie · 09/06/2011 22:38

amos
prosper
gus (august / augustus / gustav)

kalo12 · 09/06/2011 22:30

Atlas

ResurrectionByChocolate · 09/06/2011 22:28

Likewise Fergus.

Flowerface · 09/06/2011 19:01

Like Gustav too. I am also really liking Magnus, which I had never thought of but which I think is interesting without being too out there!

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bex2011 · 09/06/2011 16:11

Gustavo/Gustav, shortened to Gus. I've got a Gus and have had really positive comments when we've introduced him to people. Other BC names could be Angus or Fergus.

PatriciatheStripper · 09/06/2011 15:31

I personally wouldn't worry about that, people can make jokes around any name really and there's far worse than that! :) If he's known as Rudy, a lot will miss the reindeer reference anyway.

There is also the German name Rudiger if you like Rudy as a nn.

Flowerface · 09/06/2011 15:17

I LOVE Rudolf NN Rudy, but everyone will think reindeer, won't they...

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PatriciatheStripper · 09/06/2011 13:09

Any of these inspire? I haven't included spelling variations eg Rudolph/Rudolf, but you will know them.

Joachim
Eric
Stefan
Gregor
Julius
Axel
Isidor
Ingo
Rudolph
Frank
Jonas
Marcus
Lambert
Ferdinand
Anselm
Elmo
Ivo

Lancelottie · 09/06/2011 12:36

My Russianborn nephew is called Dave.

Not sure that helps, really!

Flowerface · 09/06/2011 12:31

I think it's quite funny that 'Rollo' got castigated for being too ridiculous but 'Agamemnon' didn't!

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LittleBlueBoat · 09/06/2011 10:23

Ford
leif
lake
oakley
Avary
Merry
Wolfgang
Vlad

mazfah · 09/06/2011 08:04

Frey
Gulliver
Roman

BingBongSong · 09/06/2011 04:23

Jarek?
Ezra?

ResurrectionByChocolate · 09/06/2011 02:29

Forgot Dusko, my v. favourite Slavic name.

ResurrectionByChocolate · 09/06/2011 02:26

Also Berry and Gray. Surnames can make unusual but not outlandish first names, sometimes, esp if there are any in your own familes.

ResurrectionByChocolate · 09/06/2011 02:23

I really like the Slavic names Branko, Darko, Marko.

unbelievabledarco · 09/06/2011 00:19

Have we had Anton?

unbelievabledarco · 09/06/2011 00:18

In Russian Lev is pronounced Lyev. I guess you need to be aware of that? Is that how you are pronouncing it?

Mumcentreplus · 09/06/2011 00:15

I was in love with a boy called xavier...very cool

vintageteacups · 09/06/2011 00:08

Elsa and Zeb

UndiscoveredApprentice · 09/06/2011 00:06

Rufus

UndiscoveredApprentice · 08/06/2011 22:09

Rhodri