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Baby names

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Original poster

Your opinion on my list

40 replies

whizzyrocket · 15/07/2011 11:15

Hi there,

I'm having a little boy (due on bonfire night so I've plenty of time to mull things over!) and would like your opinion on my favourite names. My husband is no good as he says he likes everything I suggest!

So free-reign!

We have a funny surname. It's danish with dashes and umlauts. This combined with blonde hair, blue eyes, the fact that he's always been very tall, and that his parents called him Norman (cruel, but it could have been worse- he was named after his grandfather whose middle name was Tracy!) made my husband's school days miserable- lots of bullying about being a nazi etc. I want to avoid that with our boy but still give him a name that will give him a distinct identity- not just another Joshua or James.

We like Edward Axel as middle names. So it would be Something Edward Axel S_ov. But if you could tell me what you think of these I'd appreciate it!

Felix
Oscar
Frederick
Theodore (Theo or Teddy)
Matthias
Seth
Sebastian
Reuben

I also like Quentin and Ptolemy but I'm not sure I'm that mean!

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tammy234 · 16/07/2011 21:30

I like Seth Edward Axel and Quentin Edward Axel most. Felix is a cat (and a brand of cat food in the UK), Oscar & Theo are VERY widely used already and Matthias might be tricky to pronounce (Math-yas or Matt-ee-as?). Frederick and Sebastian are ok but will end up shortened to Fred or Seb, neither of which I like very much.

RubyFakeNails · 16/07/2011 17:43

Imo, I'd go with Frederick, if your main concern is the name causing any problems Frederick and Oscar are the best, I just instinctively felt form what you said Frederick would be the best choice.

Noleen · 16/07/2011 11:33

I really like Quentin, very cool. Seth is also nice and I love Axel.

ragged · 16/07/2011 10:21

I vote for Seth. Even just "Seth S........ov" will be a mouthful, and that's without the middle names said out loud.
Oscar is the most popular name (but must admit I loathe it, and feel close to the same about Reuben)
Theodore is a Chipmunk.
Frederick & Sebastian are the only two others on your list I can almost like.

mopsyflopsy · 16/07/2011 09:50

My favourites on your list are Matthias, Frederick and Quentin. If you're worried about popularity I'd avoid Oscar and Theo as they seem to be everywhere round here. Seth is ok but I don't like the 'th' at the end - the name won't travel well into other languages imo.

mybootsaremuddy · 16/07/2011 08:32

Quentin is lovely it is dc7s(6wks) name we have been using nn Quinn. Have only had positive comments so far.

Others on your list that are nice are: Felix, Oscar and Theodore/Theo.

I quite like Seth as well but somehow it was spoilt for me when I recently met a woman introduced her little Seth to me who was a GIRLShock i was quite thrown by this as to me Seth is very masculine sounding and i cant help but think that poor girl is going to be picked on at school. Especially as I know of 3 Seths (boys) born in the last 7-8 months, so it is becoming more popular now.

Rhubarbgarden · 16/07/2011 08:03

Matthias or Sebastian. The others on your list (excluding Quentin and Ptolomy) are terribly popular.

muminthemiddle · 15/07/2011 22:23

I like Reuben and Oscar best.
I also like Matthias and Felix.

breatheslowly · 15/07/2011 20:35

Felix - sounds like a cat
Oscar - sounds like a cat
Frederick - like
Theodore (Theo or Teddy) - seriously dislike Teddy, I think it is emasculating
Matthias - like
Seth - like, but not sure about SS
Sebastian - ditto
Reuben - like

Lonnie · 15/07/2011 18:45

being danish myself I got to say i would love to know what danish name as an umlaut in it? from what you put I have a fairly normal forrest name in mind.. (if you know any danish laughs)

I would personally go with Matthias or Oscar

TyMinisterForMagic · 15/07/2011 17:33

Felix - Like
Oscar - like
Frederick - like
Theodore (Theo or Teddy) - like
Matthias - dont like
Seth -dont like
Sebastian - like
Reuben-dont like

exoticfruits · 15/07/2011 17:27

Matthais.
(couldn't you just have Edward as the first name?)

Sophiesmummie · 15/07/2011 17:08

I like most of your choices apart from Oscar (very popular and don't like Ozzy) and Sebastian (dislike Seb, reminds me of sebacious).

My favouries are Frederick, Matthias and Quentin (in fact, we have one too Smile).

spiggy · 15/07/2011 16:05

imo= in my opinion

His nickname is Tolly. We decided to go for it for 2 reasons Firstly I searched on MN (wasn't brave enought to start a thread asking for opinions Grin) and saw that it cropped up on people's "I wish I were brave enough" list a lot and the reason that they hadn't used it was the spelling. We figured that it was a name a lot of people liked so it was more that it was a underused name rather than one that people didn't like. As for the spelling-some of the Celtic names are just as bad and they are quite popular! The other reason is that our DS1's name was unusual when we picked it (Milo) and it got slated by a lot of friends and family. Now they are used to it as his name rather than an abstract they love it (and we are glad we went for the unusual rather than James as he would have been one of 4 James's at nursery)

Good luck with your DS, you will find the perfect name eventually Smile

ChessPiece · 15/07/2011 16:00

Lovely shortlist.

I'd go for Frederick nn Freddie.

BellaBearisWideAwake · 15/07/2011 15:49

In my opinion

Original poster
whizzyrocket · 15/07/2011 15:44

Also, could you help me out? What does imo mean??!

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Original poster
whizzyrocket · 15/07/2011 15:42

Gosh! I admire your bravery! And your taste! What do you shorten Ptolemy to? Or won't you?

shoobidoo, unfortunately I do think class is still a significant factor in Britain. We're very much in the middle and it wouldn't matter so much to us except that his dad is in the RAF and consequently he'll go to quite a number of schools unless we either opt to settle down somewhere central and Norm will just commute back to us at the weekends, or I send him to boarding school. In any case we don't know where he will have to fit in. I think it would be unfair not to take that into account.

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BellaBearisWideAwake · 15/07/2011 15:17

Yes Seth and Reuben is a bit much cold comfort!! I akso have a Jonah.

spiggy · 15/07/2011 15:17

There is at least 1 baby Ptolemy out there as well (DS2 8weeks today Smile) It took us ages to decide because we were worried about people's reactions but it has been fine.

I wouldn't personally have the initials SS. Theodore and Frederick are probably my favourites from the list (but I really like Quentin too)

shoobidoo · 15/07/2011 15:01

The problem with Sebastian is that it is quite long and will end up as Seb, Sebbie or Basty, none of which are nice or masculine sounding imo.

ShoutyHamster · 15/07/2011 14:58

Felix and Mathias both end with 's' and your surname starts with 's', so saying them together might be clumsy - say them out loud!

Oscar I think sounds best, but it is quite popular - in which case my choice would be Sebastian :) which is lovely.

shoobidoo · 15/07/2011 14:55

Lots of names are used by all 'classes' these days - I'd choose a name you love and that works well with your surname (difficult enough Smile). This obesssion with 'class' seems to be a very UK specific phenomen imo (having lived abroad myself).

Original poster
whizzyrocket · 15/07/2011 14:55

I like Seth very much too but I would get a serious ribbing in my family- lots of "Starkadder" comments. The temptation to call a future boy Reuben could be too strong as well! :P

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Original poster
whizzyrocket · 15/07/2011 14:51

I don't think I was too clear.. sorry!

You wouldn't worry that Sebastian (or indeed Felix, Theodore, or Reuben) is a bit posh and posey? Am I worrying too much about how his name will affect him being able to fit in wherever he goes?

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