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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can anyone help whittle down my big fat highly specific list?

106 replies

SSLYBY · 05/12/2011 11:53

Just found out that DC1 is a boy, which is great, but my name taste is quite unorthodox for most. So, I've decided to have an underused, historic but legitimate name for a first name and reel out the more fanciful choices for the middle names. Any suggestions/combos would be helpful. Slaps in the face also welcome.

First names:
Alec
Basil
Rupert
Edwin
Lucian
Kenelm
Leopold (Leo)
Gilbert

Middles:
Caius
Alaric
Augustine
Ferdinand
Valerian
Constant
Aloysius
Ulysses
Aurelian

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Original poster
SSLYBY · 08/12/2011 00:46

SoupDragon - Haha, it's still very much in the running, promise!

rachel234 - That's good to hear that Baz isn't an inevitable NN. I personally know no Basils so I don't have any experience of them Grin

olittletownof - I keep going on and off Gilbert, I don't know what it is but I can't quite love it enough. I'm so glad you said Ulysses though. I looove Ulysses. (I love everything, to be honest)

LulaBear - That's OK, you weren't the only dissenter and I did ask for your opinions! I'm glad you've come round though Grin I think it's a smashing name, old but not poncey, easy to spell/pronounce and so on.

OP posts:
LulaBear · 08/12/2011 00:15

After I left my comment the other day (and am very sorry it wasn't so rude in my head as re-reading it Shock) I have not been able to get Basil out of my head! Have come to the conclusion it is a lovely name, and think you should go for it! And will grudgenly admit that Minty is lovely NN for Araminta but will probably not chose it if I am ever blessed with a child lol.

olittletownof · 07/12/2011 14:19

my vote is Gilbert Ulysses. I think Gilbert is a brilliant name and like Gil as a nn.

rachel234 · 07/12/2011 09:46

Basil Ferdinand is brilliant!

The Basil I know has never been known as anything else than his name, Basil. It is short enough and rolls off the tongue easily enough that it is unlikely to get shortened imo.

SoupDragon · 07/12/2011 07:15

If you don't go with Alaric (I will allow you Bartholemlew as a middle name if you like) I shall hunt you down and beat you round the head with a wet fish.

Original poster
SSLYBY · 07/12/2011 03:32

Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I've been busy avoiding the usual christmas disasters! Thanks for all your advice, the consensus seems mostly positive. I think for DP and I Basil is still our favourite - despite the herby associations! The only drawback is the Baz/Bazza NN, which I agree is terrible. We're still considering Alaric and Lucian. Or Edwin with Win as a NN? (a la Win Butler of Arcade Fire) The most likely MNs seem to be Aloysius, Ferdinand and Bartholomew (which I pigging love). I will update if anything changes!

OP posts:
Drowningnotwaving · 06/12/2011 13:06

I have Lucian and Ferdinand on my list too.

I have Constantine on my list - but not sure if you can use if if you have no greek blood in you.

I also like Rupert. I met a very sweet Edwin once - they called him Win for short, but I have an Edward so couldn't use that.

I like Augustus not Augustine

(should say my H is not as understanding as yours, so I will probably end up with a Tom or a Joe!).

MerryMarigold · 06/12/2011 13:00

As an aside, my dd is 'Marissa' but is constantly called 'Melissa', including in nursery (by some of teachers/ staff). She's started calling herself 'Melissa' Sad - I will have to bring it up. So nothing that 'sounds like', I would say.

MitroChristmasEve · 06/12/2011 12:41

Love Aurelian - but we decided not to use it ourselves because it sounds like 'Our Alien' in some accents.

Aloysius - could be cool, but difficult for a LO to write their own name.

EdithWeston · 06/12/2011 11:57

Bazza doesn't mean anything, but it's a type of nn that would irritate me enormously.

hanahsaunt · 06/12/2011 11:55

I know an Augustine (first name) and think it's fab. My own preference would be Gilbert so Gilbert Augustine would be just lovely.

hellokitty123 · 06/12/2011 11:53

What does Bazza mean Confused?

hellokitty123 · 06/12/2011 11:53

I like Edwin, Rupert, Gilbert. But I think all your suggestions, while less commonly used, are fine and actually make a refreshing change from all the Jacks, Alfies, Charlies round me here.

seeker, I think one has to look at the benefits of a more unique name over a person's entire life (and not just as a hormonal teenager). In my opinion there are at least as many, if not more, benefits of having a more unique name than one that is shared by thousands others. None of the OP's suggestions are that outlandish anyway imo.

EdithWeston · 06/12/2011 11:52

Another drawback of Basil is that it is bound to become "Bazza" in the playground. But perhaps you wouldn't mind that.

seeker · 06/12/2011 11:36

I can think of worse associations than a herb too. But I'm not a 10 year old boy about to start secondary school. Oh well - go on everyone "be brave". Let's hope your dss don't mind "being brave" too. It's them that'll hqve to deal with it on a daily basis. All you have to do is deal with being told that you're " such an individual" or "so quirky". Bear in mind, however, that people in reql life will have the same views as people on here, they just won't tell you, and they'll dredge up something complimentary to say!

hulabula · 06/12/2011 11:07

Seeker, Basil may be the most 'common' botanical name, but a I can also think of these:
Rowan
Basil
Linden
Herbert
Clove
Myron
Mace
Dale
Ash
Aspen
Valerian
Forrest
Kale
Reed
Huckleberry

But more importantly, I can think of worse associations than a herb Grin!

FunnysInTheGarden · 06/12/2011 11:05

one of the best names around at the mo is Petroc Trelawnay IMO of R3 fame. You could use that esp if you are Cornish, it's very Cornish.

Oh and OP I have always liked Auralien and Edwin, but although DC have quite unusual names, I couldn't do it to them.

seeker · 06/12/2011 10:54

Many boy's names you can think of that are flowers or herbs?

mopsyflopsy · 06/12/2011 10:53

But lots of herbs/plants are names too - Rosemary, Violet, Heath, Bay, Rose etc. And yes, Lula, I know a Minty (short for Araminta).

ChippingInNeedsSleep · 06/12/2011 01:17

The Basiiiiiiiiiiil - Fawlty Towers connection will not die out for generations to come. You really do need to think about that - added to the fact it's a herb.

LulaBear · 06/12/2011 00:12

I'm so sorry but I couldn't stop giggling at these names. Would you really call your son Basil? Would you like to go through life called Mint?

Original poster
SSLYBY · 05/12/2011 23:34

lottie - Sorry, I think Basil's here to stay Grin I honestly do love Aloysius, but because it's got so many syllables it's hard to configure. I will try my mightiest to get in in there though!

OP posts:
lottiegb · 05/12/2011 23:15

Only if you use Lucian as his main name, I can't deal with the concept of Basil - it's a herb, B Fawlty and a cat's name, maybe it was a Bishop or saint too but to me more like Parsley. Also shortens to Baz which suggests Barry which I'm not keen on.

Like the other two though (was secretly hoping you'd use Aloysius too, not enough people do)!

Original poster
SSLYBY · 05/12/2011 23:09

Oh yes, and we're going with the first name, rejected first name, middle name format. Hence Basil Lucian Ferdinand.

OP posts:
Original poster
SSLYBY · 05/12/2011 23:08

Thanks everyone. DP has piped up with a possible combo: Basil Lucian Ferdinand Strang. Thoughts? We're still firing ideas around so this is by no means the final choice Xmas Wink

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