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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Blair (for a boy)

31 replies

RodentOfUnusualSize · 08/08/2011 11:20

I would love to get some opinions on the name Blair.

DS is due in a couple of weeks and this is my current favourite. I like it because:

it goes well with our surname
it ties in with my DH's Scottish heritage
it is a 'normal' name but really uncommon outside Scotland (only 10 in England & Wales in 2010)

However I have some doubts, namely that it sounds a bit 'wet' unless the namee is a big strapping rugby-playing type. Also it kind of sounds like 'blah'.

NB we're not living in the UK so the Tony connection is not a big deal.

Any comments or thoughts would be gratefully received. My other favourites are Miles and Rory (but DH is not too keen on either of those).

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fabanflabby · 26/08/2011 22:56

Love the name Duncan but not Blair. Sorry - Tony Blair has just ruined it for me!
Sticking with the celtic theme - What about Boyd, Euan, Logan or Aiden
xx

duckdodgers · 26/08/2011 22:43

spiderslegs your post is rather offensive actually, Blair is a name commonly used here in Scotland. Why think OP likes the name because of politics ffs.

TillyIpswitch · 26/08/2011 20:02

I knew a few Duncans growing up, too!

My family is rife with Scottish names - my brother has my Mum's maiden name as his first name which combined with our surname gives the most Scottish of Scots names.

Blair is totally a boy's name here so I wouldn't worry about that.

How long have you been in NZ? We arrived back a couple of months ago. :)

FoxyRevenger · 26/08/2011 10:31

I like it.

But, I think it depends on your accent a little bit. In Scotland we very definitely pronounce our 'r' so it would be said 'Blair'

But a lot of English accents would not finish on a definite R which would mean it sounded more like Bleugh.

Sorry, it's something that annoyed me when Tony Bleugh was PM!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 26/08/2011 10:24

I cannot be doing with such reactionary nonsense. I don't think Thatcher when I hear Margaret or Bush when I hear George. It's so small minded and petty to be so wrapped up in yourself and your views that you can't see past it.

FWIW I'm not too keen on Blair but it's not awful, it's perfectly fine. And actually, I think Duncan (oops, a bit Goodhew-ish there!) Donaldson or whatever sounds quite neat :)

Original poster

RodentOfUnusualSize · 26/08/2011 10:17

I hadn't even thought of Blair Peach rips, but yes he was a kiwi. I like the name Duncan but our surname ends in a 'son' so I am keen to avoid a first name ending in n.

I am not particularly worried about it being a girls' name. I have never watched Gossip Girl (not because I am averse to lowbrow telly, mind) but it doesn't sound like the type of show that will be around for years and years so that connection will likely be long forgotten. But it does have an androdgynous feel to it so maybe that's why I think that it is a bit wet?

Glad to hear that the response has been positive Glaikit. Congratulations on your wee boy.

OP posts:

ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs · 26/08/2011 09:35

What a bizarre post spiderslegs.
Personally I don't like Blair. It always reminds me of Blair Peach, who I belive was a kiwi.
Try Duncan, Gavin or Adrian on for size. One will fit

Original poster

RodentOfUnusualSize · 26/08/2011 09:30

Just checked in on this thread as DS is now due pretty soon and we are no closer to a decision, but I keep coming back to Blair.

Tilly, I am currently in NZ, having just moved here from the UK. I didn't grow up in NZ but am aware of the Scottish ties. I don't know any Blairs personally but it certainly wouldn't be an odd name here, although still reasonably uncommon.

Spiderslegs, do you think that all of the 1,000+ parents who called their boys Cameron in 2010 will call their next child Osbourne? It's just a name, and I'm not mental, but thanks for asking!

OP posts:

TillyIpswitch · 26/08/2011 04:02

Calm down spiderslegs. The OP isn't in the UK and the world doesn't revolve around the UK.

I didn't even think of Tony when I opened this thread, and I lived there for his entire 'reign'.

CheerfulYank · 26/08/2011 03:33

I think it's nice, even though I do think of it as being a girl's name.

Miles v nice also. :)

spiderslegs · 26/08/2011 03:16

Are you mental?

Really???

If ou have another will you call him 'Brown'

Or 'Milliband'

TillyIpswitch · 26/08/2011 03:04

To add - they were all boys. :)

TillyIpswitch · 26/08/2011 03:03

I wonder where you are, OP...

This was a fairly common name amongst my generation growing up in NZ.* I went to school with a fair few of them, even lived down the road from one.

To that end, it sounds a wee bit dated to my ears, but not in a bad way. I dunno, it wouldn't be on my list and I must admit that I do sort of get where you are coming from with the 'wet' accusation, although can't quite put my finger on why.

It's a nice name though - uncommon but not unheard of, easy to pronounce - it ticks a few boxes.

*NZ was settled by the British but our ties seem to be particularly strong with Scotland.

lollystix · 25/08/2011 23:07

I like but I'm also in Scotland.

MissTriangle · 25/08/2011 16:19

I like it. But do associate it with gossip girl and it being a girls name. But there are so many names that are boys or girls names over here and the opposite in america... So I wouldn't let that put you off. The Tony connection might though ... But sure you can laugh that one away! X

GlaikitFizzog · 25/08/2011 13:39

Just saw this thread and wanted to say DS (16 weeks) is Blair. I am in Scotland and have had lovely comments. there has been a few "What after Tony" comments to which we just laugh at!

I only found out about it becoming a girls name after he was registered. There were 83 boy Blairs in 2010 in Scotland and 6 girl Blair(e)s, so I think it can still be claimed as a boys name!

Good luck!

hulabula · 09/08/2011 10:44

Lionel?
Witch Project?

BikeRunSki · 09/08/2011 10:36

Tony
Lionel
Witch Project

tabulahrasa · 09/08/2011 10:31

I really like it too, but then I'm also in Scotland and know a few

hulabula · 09/08/2011 10:27

I like Blair and agree that the Tony connection will soon be forgotten, especially if you live outside the UK.

I find Blair nicer than Rory and Miles (plural of Mile imo), both of which are more common already in the UK.

bigbluebump · 09/08/2011 10:19

Lovely name. Classic, easy to spell/pronounce and not overused. I like it.

SaffronCake · 08/08/2011 22:15

I associate it so strongly with Tony and Lionel that it's hard to give it a fair appraisal, sorry.

popsicle1984 · 08/08/2011 21:30

I think Gossip Girl has made it a girls name! Well someone had to own up to watching it!

Original poster

RodentOfUnusualSize · 08/08/2011 21:00

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. Some food for thought here. Not too worried about Tony or Lionel links as I seriously doubt anyone would make those connections outside the UK.

OP posts:

daimbardiva · 08/08/2011 14:33

I love it- in fact, it is top of my list should our impending child be a boy (dh yet to be convinced...he will be though :)) My ds1 is Rory so that tells you what I think of that name :)

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