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Baby names

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

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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

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Original poster

BedHog · 23/08/2011 11:05

Thanks Percy - Lorenzo is much nicer than Laurence (or is Laurent the boys version?). Would it be strange for a family with no Italian connections though? (except a ski trip in 1989)

OP posts:

minipie · 23/08/2011 11:04

Nyjah - No idea how to pronounce this. If it's like Niger then will just sound like mispronounced Nigel
Soren - Really like it. Sounds Scandinavian to me
Laurie - Really like it
Efryn - Sounds made up
Asa - Ok but makes me think of "Ass"
Ijah - Ok. Sounds like it's short for Elijah
Kit (but hate Christopher/Christian) - Love this
Lajni - Sounds like an Indian girl
Naoki - Sounds like a Japanese girl
Enzo - Quite like this
Tanner - Not sure. Bit too much like calling your child Baker or Butcher.
Coby - Really like this
Nate - Like
Coyan - Don't like, not sure why.

PercyFilth · 23/08/2011 11:00

Our dog is called Enzo after Enzo Ferrari. :)

I think the name is originally short for Lorenzo, so you could use that and call him either Enzo or Laurie, two names from your list.

Original poster

BedHog · 23/08/2011 10:49

Oh no Becky is it pronounced Lay-nee? If so, that one's off the list as I used to go to an aerobics class taught by a man called Laine(sp?). He was so sweaty that as he flung himself about little droplets of perspiration would fly off him and land on everybody nearby. I always stood at the back!!!

It doesn't take much to put me off a boys name. That's why I'm finding this so difficult

OP posts:

BalloonSlayer · 23/08/2011 10:48

Yeah greenzebra but you are not [I hope] a schoolboy.

All it takes is one teacher not to know it's pronounced Acer, and pronounce it Arser and that's his nickname for the next 10 years sorted.

There used to be a footballer in the 70s/80s called Asa Hartford (I think his mother was Norwegian) and I remember much hilarity about his name, similar to when Nwanko Kanu arrived in the premiership.

grumpypants · 23/08/2011 10:44

cos i was pronouncing it Ladge knee (sorry - if this was a baby in front of me i would be very good at expressing delight at its name!)

beckybrastraps · 23/08/2011 10:39

I used to teach a Lajni. She was a girl. And not pronounced Larny.

Are you pronouncing the j in the names as a y?

Original poster

BedHog · 23/08/2011 10:26

I don't mind a shortening if the longer name is nice, but what do you do if you like the short version but can't stand the long?

grumpypants thanks for your honesty!! But how is Lajni (pr Larny) like a fanjo?!!

OP posts:

greenzebra · 23/08/2011 10:25

my cats called Asa (Acer is how we spell it) Ive heard it as a name and Ive never called our cat arse! lol

seeker · 23/08/2011 10:24

And I suspect most people would think Asa was a girl. It would be ignorant of them, but they would. And, sadly, being thought a girl is one of the worst things that can happen to a boy at certain times of their lives.

greenzebra · 23/08/2011 10:23

my prospective DS name is Lochlan. (not to everyones taste I know)

Efryn is nice, but Im not too big on biblical names buts better than Ephraim.

Nyjah reminds me of the seed we put out for the birds.

Enzo was the guy who founded farrari, his name was Enzo Farrari. So cool name all round.

BalloonSlayer · 23/08/2011 10:21

I feel compelled to add, as no one else has yet, that any boy called Asa is likely to be called various versions of Ass, Arse and Arsehole for his entire schooldays. That's sadly what leaps out to me when I see the name Asa.

seeker · 23/08/2011 10:21

I bet they chose to be kit and Laurie- the names weren't imposed on them!

I love all three names- almost had a Kit or a Laurie myself- but I really think that people have a right to choose their shortenings.

PeppermintPanda · 23/08/2011 10:20

Nyjah might get misheard as Nigel (not neccessarily a bad thing - there's definitely a shortage of baby Nigels in the world!).
I like Soren, Efryn, Enzo, Coby, and Coyan. Nate and Laurie are nicer as nns for Nathan and Lawrence.

grumpypants · 23/08/2011 10:19

Nyjah - either you are using a foreign version of Nigel due to heritage or you're chavvy
Soren - OK, bit charlie and lola
Laurie - fine, but fey
Efryn - Nooooo sounds like effin'
Asa - ok
Ijah - No, see Nyjah
Kit (but hate Christopher/Christian) - ok
Lajni - too much like Vadge
Naoki - urgh
Enzo - fine, if you are Italian/ of Italian heritage
Tanner - don't like, sounds like tenner
Coby - don't like, too Dynasty
Nate - lovely, Guys and Dolls, like, as nickname for Nathaniel
Coyan - wtf?

sorry. am superfussy.

Original poster

BedHog · 23/08/2011 10:17

seeker I don't want a cutesy name! Do you think those names are babyish? I know two elderly men called Kit and Laurie.

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ILoveMyDragon · 23/08/2011 10:17

and of course Kit is the name of the car in night rider!!

Eglu · 23/08/2011 10:15

I really like Enzo from your list.

ILoveMyDragon · 23/08/2011 10:15

Enzo is a car but I quite like it tho (and its a very very nice car!!!!!)

Nate is Frasier's brother if that would bother u?!

Ijah is my fav out of that list

Original poster

BedHog · 23/08/2011 10:14

What's your prospective DS name greenzebra? I'm open to suggestions! (but please no Thomas/James/Jack/Dullsville names!!)

My favourite on the list is Efryn, which nobody has mentioned yet. It's a varient of Ephraim. I like Nyjah too, it's just a shame it's so similar to the deeply unfashionable Nigel!!

I think Enzo might be something to do with cars - I'm sure I've heard it when F1 has been on in the background.

OP posts:

celebmum · 23/08/2011 10:14

IHEART just realised the scene in which she says that she's trying to think of a name! Rather fitting for this thread!

seeker · 23/08/2011 10:13

"I'd only use the shortened versions of Kit, Laurie and Nate - Christopher, Laurence and Nathan all seem really dull, or pompous, or both!"

Just remember you are naming an adult not a baby. He may not thank you for having a cutesy name when he's a teenager, or a grown man. Give him the option. It should be his choice whether he uses a babyish form of a name, not yours.

IHeartKingThistle · 23/08/2011 10:11

Cinderfuckingrella

I had forgotten all about her!

InstantAtom · 23/08/2011 10:10

Nyjah - is it pronounced Nye-juh or Nyah?
Soren - OK
Laurie - like, as nickname for Lawrence
Efryn - OK
Asa - sounds feminine because it ends in a
Ijah - OK
Kit (but hate Christopher/Christian) - love Christopher/Christian, dislike Kit
Lajni - not keen
Naoki - not keen
Enzo - not keen
Tanner - don't like
Coby - don't like
Nate - like, as nickname for Nathaniel
Coyan - reminds me of coyotes

celebmum · 23/08/2011 10:08

I like Kit although this is the name of the hooker best friend in pretty woman! I only know this tho as it's my fave film ever! Cinderfuckingrella!!

Isn't Enzo a car? A Ferrari or something? Could be way wrong here tho!!

I do like Tanner it's quite popular in america, I like Nate too

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