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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Rafferty, Edward or Wilfred?

41 replies

babyincubator · 02/02/2012 15:04

Please help - my husband has near given up on baby discussion and is despairing. My shortlist is Rafferty, Edward or Wilfred - what does anyone think of these names - open to more suggestions if you can think of any similar? Not long to go now and feeling quite unsettled about indecisiveness! Thanks so much

OP posts:

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Merle · 04/02/2012 11:29

actually we are in Yorkshire and own a whippet, so gazzalw you may have a point.

I am the least bit Catholic, but I associate Wilfrid with Northumberland, early English saint etc.

lottiegb · 04/02/2012 11:00

No, the Grandad character was Clive Dunn wasn't he. Wilf Lunn was a wacky inventor. Clive's a good name due for revival!

lottiegb · 04/02/2012 10:46

I agree about Wilf, Stan and Albert. I think of Wilf Lunn, who I think played a quirkily old-fashioned 'Grandad' character. There are Wilfred Pickles and Wilfred Owen too but I'm amazed to hear it's becoming fashionable. You'd need to get him a cloth cap and a shed.

ComposHat · 04/02/2012 10:36

i also like the nn Ned

I used to, until I.moved to Scotland where a Ned is similar to a chav/townie. Q

gazzalw · 04/02/2012 10:30

Think even down South Wilfred is still a quirky if not unusual option. Only know one child with it as a middle name (and those DSs both have one of their grandpas' names). However we are in the state sector and that is not to say that at the many prep schools hereabouts there aren't loads of Wilfreds....

I would put Wilfred in the same bracket as Stanley and Albert!

Hulababy · 04/02/2012 09:36

Edward (I also like the nn Ned)

Don't life Rafferty at all and not keen on Wilfred, although nn Wilf is fine and I like Fred.

Merle · 04/02/2012 09:18

Is Wilfred popular in the south of England? I haven't heard it much at all oop North. Am asking in self-interest as I have a much older one; a 'frid', not a 'fred', but it is still not fashionable here.

exoticfruits · 04/02/2012 08:04

Easy-Edward by miles!

Rafferty is dire and Wilfred is wet.

ComposHat · 04/02/2012 07:50

Rafferty - naff
Edward - no nonsense, Ed/Eddie good possible nicknames
Wilfred - I like a lot, but may be in danger of being uber trendy and overused.

gazzalw · 04/02/2012 07:44

Oh, no I wasn't implying that Edward wouldn't work in the City at all (it's one of our favourite names but couldn't call DS it because DW's ex was an Edward!) - it is a lovely, classless but very classy name. It's just no-one would rib you for being called Edward (or Teddy, Ned, Ed) but they might for being called Rafferty or Wilfred......(David Frost's son Wilfred is named after maternal Grandfather methinks who was the Duke of Norfolk if that puts that name in context!)

tammytoby · 03/02/2012 21:56

Pukkapies look good too . Never heard of those either...

tammytoby · 03/02/2012 21:55

Oh, I see, thanks gazza. Not sure why Wilfred and Rafferty would be more likely to work in the The City than an Edward, but I now understand the meaning of Pukka, thanks.

PopcornBiscuit · 03/02/2012 17:08

Pukka? They're pies aren't they? :o

LottieJenkins · 03/02/2012 16:35

Wilfred! (I am biased though ) When my Wilf was born nearly sixteen years ago it was very rare!!!

gazzalw · 03/02/2012 16:21

I guess it means upper class - destined for Eton, Oxbridge and The City!

lisaro · 03/02/2012 15:11

Edward - great. Wilfred - not my taste but so-so. Rafferty? Er, no. Just no.

seeker · 03/02/2012 15:10

Every second baby boy seems to be Wilfred at the moment- it seems such a wet name to me! Go for Edward.

tammytoby · 03/02/2012 15:07

What is 'pukka' - something good or bad..?

Personally I find Wilfred and Edward both a little dull and old fashioned and would choose Rafferty myself (not sure whether I'm pukka though..).

gazzalw · 03/02/2012 14:35

They are quite different types of names aren't they? Who likes Edward and Wilfred? Think Edward is classless, timeless and a noble name. Think you can only get away with Rafferty or Wilfred if you are terribly pukka - think one of David Frost's sons is called Wilfred......

PopcornBiscuit · 03/02/2012 12:54

Edward - a lovely classic name.

Wilfred too old man, Rafferty too frilly.

Original poster

babyincubator · 03/02/2012 12:45

Thank you everyone; some real opinions out there! Any more to come? My favourite is Rafferty but DH not so keen... although he would budge if I really wanted! What do you think? x

OP posts:

heronsfly · 02/02/2012 19:54

I love Rafferty, Edward is always good, not keen on Wilfred.

MrsJohnDeere · 02/02/2012 19:52

Love Edward and Wilfred.
Rafferty is awful.

halecromp · 02/02/2012 19:41

Love Wilfred, quite like Edward, dislike Rafferty x

Mrsrobertduvall · 02/02/2012 19:34

Rafferty is awful.
Wilfred is uber trendy.
Edward traditional if a bit dull.

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