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Baby names

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

Original poster

If you like unusual boys names, please give me your views...

82 replies

BedHog · 23/08/2011 09:48

DC2 is due in a couple of months, and we are really struggling with boys names. We have our shortlist of girls names sorted, but boys names seem much more difficult as the majority seem to fall into one of the 'stereotypes' and that puts me off them.

Both DP and I have looked through enormous baby name books, websites etc., jotting down any names we don't hate. We've gradually whittled these down to the list below, some being my choices that DP thinks are OK, and vice versa. There isn't a single name that we both love, unfortunately.

The names are mostly on the unusual side, so apart from opinions, I am more interested in practicalities - are they a swear word in Spanish, or the name of some nasty gynaelogical disease, or the name of a foreign serial killer, for example?.

Nyjah
Soren
Laurie
Efryn
Asa
Ijah
Kit (but hate Christopher/Christian)
Lajni
Naoki
Enzo
Tanner
Coby
Nate
Coyan

Smile
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thefirstMrsDeVere · 23/08/2011 17:15

Forgot to say Atticus. I used it up on my dog because I wasnt going to have anymore DCs then I had DC 5 so couldnt use it.

Fab name.

Original poster
BedHog · 23/08/2011 17:08

Thanks for the lists EverSo and MrsDevere - I like Anders and Per, Levi and Asher. Some of the others we can't use for various reasons.

OP posts:
EldritchCleavage · 23/08/2011 17:05

Asa is not a girl's name but Isa definitely is, so not a good substitution. I like Asa-reminds me of Asa Briggs. It's actually the only one on your list I like.

I also like Asher, Judah, Ivor, Idris (sounds Arabic but is actually also a Welsh name), Bron, Gray (Scottish), Arne, Saul, Dara, Keir, Ezra.

Original poster
BedHog · 23/08/2011 16:56

Sorry to leave the thread - I have been in soft play hell for the last few hours!!

Bit of a mixed reaction to Asa - I think the fact that many people think it's a girls name plus the arse connection have put me off. Thanks for the Isa suggestion but to me that means tax-free financial products, and that dreadful 'Isa Isa Baby' advert!!

Kester is a possibility if I really have to use a longer version. I really can't stand Laurence/Laurent though - probably Mr Llewellyn-Bowen's fault. I don't mind his programmes actually but the name shouts 'middle aged fop' at me.

OP posts:
PercyFilth · 23/08/2011 15:42

Asa is Biblical.

It would never be my choice, though, as to English ears it sounds too feminine fora boy.

Acer is a different name, I remember Acer Nethercott who was cox of the Oxford Boat Race crew a few years back. That's probably from the Latin name for maple tree.

chickydoo · 23/08/2011 15:34

Never heard of some of them
Asa????
Acer spades??

also too many rear end possibilities. A(r)s(e) As(e) not good

IHeartKingThistle · 23/08/2011 15:25

Frasier's brother isn't called Nate, he's called Nils. (Niles?)

deemented · 23/08/2011 13:27

TFMDV - My next door neighbours just had a little boy called Ashton. I may rob Harley for my own personal use... though it'd have to be a middle name as it'd sound too much like the bike with our surname...

thefirstMrsDeVere · 23/08/2011 13:20

You can have any of mine if you want them

Harley
Jaidon (hahahaha no, really I DO have one of them)
Coltrane
Asa
Levi
Asher
Lennon
Marley
Hendrix
Cassius
Rudy
Ashton (not my fav but DD chose it)

(must point out that I dont have that many children, I have four boys with lots of names and that isnt all of them) Grin

minipie · 23/08/2011 13:16

ooh kester is a good name

AberdeenAngusina · 23/08/2011 12:40

Laurie is a name in its own right in Scotland; a surname used as a first name. I know a Laurie in his 30s; Laurie was his mother's maiden name.

pranma · 23/08/2011 12:06

I like Kester with Kit for short-Kester is an old[rarely seen] form of Christopher.I like Soren [nb Soren Lorenson in Charlie and Lola books]

Quenelle · 23/08/2011 11:49

I like Lorenzo - Laurie or Enzo. Doesn't matter if you're not Italian. Many so-called English names were foreign once.

Soren's ok too.

PercyFilth · 23/08/2011 11:44

oops x post

PercyFilth · 23/08/2011 11:43

Just to add - Laurence is the French female form, so might be best to avoid that spelling in case of confusion in the future, should he spend a lot of time in France or with French speakers.

sonniebonnie · 23/08/2011 11:40

And Laurence is the female version of Laurent.

PercyFilth · 23/08/2011 11:40

No Italian connections, then I'd go for Lawrence as it's the English style of the name. Then he can still feasibly be called Enzo or Laurie, and if he doesn't like them he still has a full formal name to use if he prefers to.

sonniebonnie · 23/08/2011 11:39

Love Enzo and Tanner.

Asa is a girls name in Sweden - very common there.

TBar · 23/08/2011 11:38

Soren is very close to the Welsh girls name Serren (star)
How about changing Asa to Isa sounds a bit more masculine
Mostly I agree with Grumpypants but I might have been a bit more diplomatic

EverSoLagom · 23/08/2011 11:28

Love Scandinavian names, any of these float your boat...

Einar ("Eye-nar")
Hannes
Anders ("Andersh")
Leif
Sixten
Kik
Per (Swedish Peter)

cumbria81 · 23/08/2011 11:20

Snort

ILoveMyDragon · 23/08/2011 11:19

I went to school with a guy who was just Laurie not Laurence or anything - to be fair I also knew a guy christened Jake but who preferred Jacob so called himself that - so if your LAurie prefers Laurence when he is older then I'm sure you will be mature enough to accept this and let him be!!

umf · 23/08/2011 11:18

Efryn or Soren or Laurie.

seeker · 23/08/2011 11:15

Yes it would. Honestly - name him Nathan and call him Nate. Or Laurence and call him Laurie. Sorted.

oohlaalaa · 23/08/2011 11:14

Bedhog - I think it would be strange to call your son Lorenzo if you have no italian connections. Laurent is a french name.

I think Laurie is a perfectly lovely name, all on its own. Makes me think of Laurie Lee, Cider with Rosie author.