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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is this too surnamey...?

56 replies

chummymummy7 · 21/03/2012 09:31

DC2 is due on Saturday and we're still stumped for a boys name. Frontrunner is Grayson, prob with nn Gray, which I like - but is Grayson strong or just a bit too surname-y?

I think it sounds pretty good with our surname, which rhymes with Mays. If you think not - can you suggest any good alternatives? To give an idea, we also like Daniel, Stanley and quite like Nathaniel (esp nn Nate).

We quite like unusual names if they feel right ie. are going for Indigo if it's a girl (and don't tell me not to!)

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CheerfulYank · 22/03/2012 04:20

I love Gray. Grayson and Grady are both great in my opinion. :)

AKissIsNotAContract · 22/03/2012 04:14

It makes me think of Grayson Perry. I think it's rather nice though.

lisaro · 22/03/2012 04:09

Oh dear. It's awful really awful. Naff and not even attractive as a 'name'.

SetFiretotheRain · 21/03/2012 23:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheUncannyValley · 21/03/2012 23:57

Don't ask for opinions if you can't handle it when someone expresses a negative one. Evidently I'm not the one having a bad day.

And the reason I say it doesn't work with your surname,is the repetition of the 'ay' sound.

Anyway Daniel is lovely.Great choice.Nathaniel is great too. Stanley isn't.

TheUncannyValley · 21/03/2012 23:53

A bad day because I gave you my opinion when you asked for opinions? I think not.

Puffykins · 21/03/2012 21:15

Oh, hadn't thought of those Graydon connotations. Was thinking of Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair.

MaMattoo · 21/03/2012 20:29

I like the multi cultural religious connections of Daniel. Not much of grayson as it makes me think perry and I am not a fan.
Nathaniel is a mouthful nathan I like and also Neil.

justhayley · 21/03/2012 20:25

Lol you have similar taste to me.
I really like Grayson - never heard it before, it is surname ish but that personally doesn't bother me! My fav name at the mo is Mason which is pretty similar & is also a surname but hey who cares!

Love indigo for a girl, if I was having a girl was thinking of calling her India.

Good lick for Saturday (or whenever he/she makes an appearance)

Xx

LondonNadiy · 21/03/2012 20:22

I love Gray - why not Graeme or Graham - Grayson is very surname-y, but it is still a nice name - I love Gray. I love Nathaniel as well, but best friend has baggsied! Most of Stellan's names were great too. I second the 'not Stanley' plea.

HavePatience · 21/03/2012 20:17

If you love Grayson, use it :) Great name.
Do not go for Graydon... Just IMO of course... Sounds like another Jayden Brayden Kayden... Etc (I've probably mixed up those spellings but sounds the same!)

Original poster
chummymummy7 · 21/03/2012 20:13

Thanks for the (mostly) constructive comments. Err - having a bad day Uncanny Valley?!

OP posts:
HappyCamel · 21/03/2012 17:47

Gray gets autocorrected to Gary in my iPad, which probably tells you all you need to know.

Griff is an underused name.

Puffykins · 21/03/2012 17:43

What about Graydon? Very similar, can still be shortened to Gray, less surnamey maybe?

Anonymumous · 21/03/2012 17:36

I think of Harry Enfield - Grayson and Mr. Cholmondley-Warner, anyone?! It is too surnamey for my liking - I much prefer Daniel, Stanley and Nathaniel. (Especially Stanley!)

QOD · 21/03/2012 17:33

Please not Stanley

FondleWithCare · 21/03/2012 17:25

I don't like surnames as first names. I do like Nathaniel and Daniel though.

TheUncannyValley · 21/03/2012 14:55

I don't like it at all.And it doesn't work with your surname.

Original poster
chummymummy7 · 21/03/2012 14:40

Littlecherub - I think the rhyming with the surname issue will be too much if we go with Gray. Also, I do like the 'strength' of Grayson.

Thanks stellan for that very comprehensive list. Does anyone know any little Griffins? Pretty cool name.

OP posts:
Littlecherublegs · 21/03/2012 11:55

I love Gray but not as keen on Grayson - could you go with just Gray?

Also love Nathaniel / Nathan which you mentioned - love Nate and Nath!

Other surname type names I like include:
Jackson
Jamieson
Carter
Wilson

BeckyBrandonNeeBloomwood · 21/03/2012 10:27

I really like Grayson, and NN Gray - not a huge issue, but be prepared for people to spell it Greyson and Grey like I just did and had to delete when I re-read your OP Blush

Stellan · 21/03/2012 10:23

If you decide against Grayson, avoid his sound-a-likes, Jason and Mason.

If you fancy using a surname name, you might like:
Alcott 'Mays'
Archer 'Mays'
Beckett 'Mays'
Carson 'Mays'
Foster 'Mays'
Griffin 'Mays'
Logan 'Mays'
Porter 'Mays'

You seem to like short names - Gray and Tate - so you might like:
Aaron 'Mays'
Adam 'Mays'
Eli 'Mays'
Cole 'Mays'
Hugo 'Mays'
Milo 'Mays
Owen 'Mays'
Zane 'Mays'

If you want a short surname name then you'll probably like Blake 'Mays' or Reed 'Mays'.

Maybe another colour-type name would work - Ash 'Mays' (Asher might be a better choice), Roan 'Mays' (or Rowan) or Sterling 'Mays'.

Names I think are similar in style to Daniel, Stanley and Nathaniel (i.e. Biblical or traditional with easy nicknames or short enough not to need one):
Andrew 'Mays'
Arthur 'Mays'
Christian 'Mays'
Christopher 'Mays'
Edmund 'Mays' or Edward 'Mays'
Eli 'Mays'
Jacob 'Mays'
Joel 'Mays'
Jonah 'Mays'
Julian 'Mays'
Louis 'Mays'
Luke 'Mays'
Peter 'Mays'
Sidney 'Mays'
Theodore 'Mays'
Timothy 'Mays'
Victor 'Mays'
Caleb 'Mays'
Benjamin 'Mays'
John 'Mays'
Joseph 'Mays'
Josiah 'Mays'
Simon 'Mays'
Simeon 'Mays'
Seth 'Mays'
Tobiah 'Mays'
Micah 'Mays'
Matthew 'Mays'
Asa 'Mays'
Amos 'Mays'
Ezra 'Mays'
Gideon 'Mays'
Malachi 'Mays'
Reuben 'Mays'
Isaac 'Mays'
Phineas 'Mays'

Original poster
chummymummy7 · 21/03/2012 10:16

Oops how could I have forgotten Larry Grayson! I only thought of the artist Grayson Perry - how very highbrow of me.

OP posts:
Original poster
chummymummy7 · 21/03/2012 10:13

What's the Larry/Lawrence association? Blush [feels culturally unaware]

Good points about the nickname/surname flow - I don't think it bothers me too much as I don't imagine a nn and surname combination coming up together very often. Will ponder on it though.

OP posts:
JemJar · 21/03/2012 10:07

I am not a huge fan as I think the connotation of gray/grey/blue etc... as being unhappy plus I agree if Gray rhymes with your surname it may sound strange?