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Baby names

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

Original poster

James or Fraser

29 replies

BringBack1996 · 30/05/2012 09:07

How many people/children do you know who are James but go by Jamie? I really love the nn Jamie, not fussed by James but think Jamie is just lovely. Potential popularity does put me off though as DS and DD have v. popular names and although they suit them it does somewhat irritate them being 'X initial'. So would this likely be the case with Jamie? Other possibility is Fraser.

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xTonixxx · 30/05/2012 09:17

I know of no children called James that go by the name Jamie, I know plenty who use the nickname Jim. I'd say James is more of a NN for Jamie rather than the other way around. Why not just use Jamie as a name rather than nn?

PickleSarnie · 30/05/2012 09:19

I was the opposite. Loved James but really not fussed on Jamie. So we went with Fraser. You don't need to go for James, Jamie is a name in its own right.

Not sure you can count on the popularity to determine how many others there will be in their year.

Even though Fraser is just outside the top 200 for England and Wales there are three of them in the toddler group we go to. Yet James is in the top 10 and there arent any.

Original poster
BringBack1996 · 30/05/2012 09:28

I think I would rather have James on the birth certificate just incase he wants something more substantial when he's older.

OP posts:
PieMistress · 30/05/2012 09:38

I know quite a lot of people that are James but go by Jamie (or Jimbob, or Jampot!) :) None that go by Jim though.

GoPoldark · 30/05/2012 09:49

Definitely James on BC.

Then he gets the choice - Jim, Jamie, Jimmy etc.

But I'd go for Fraser!

jaffacakehips · 30/05/2012 10:10

Love James and Fraser, both are on our list.

Fraser has the edge for me. Grin

AhsokaTano · 30/05/2012 10:40

My DH is James known as Jamie and before we moved to this biggish village the only other ones I knew were in his age bracket (30s).

At various school things and clubs with my infant aged kids I have met lots of small Jamies so it's definitely popular around here. Having said that it is pretty ageless and with James on the bc your DS could have various options for nicknames later on.

hugebluebump · 30/05/2012 10:58

James is very common round here and imo a little dull.

Fraser, on the other hand, sounds elegant and I only know one (lovely teenager).

So I'd go for Fraser!

YouFloatLikeAFeather · 30/05/2012 11:01

I know two boys called James who are known as Jamie - one is three, the other is two weeks old.

James is nice, solid, won't date, but a little bit dull I think.

Fraser is much better in my opinion.

mayanna123 · 30/05/2012 11:04

If you're worried about popularity, I'd definately go for Fraser - lovely name!

(James, Jamie, Jim, Jimmys are everywhere round here...)

mayanna123 · 30/05/2012 11:06

"Not sure you can count on the popularity to determine how many others there will be in their year."

No, you can't guarentee no other children with the same name but you can significantly reduce the chances by avoiding top 100 or even top 250 names. DS's name was used 13 times last year and so far we've not met another Smile. But, of course, the main thing is that you LOVE the name.

StepOutOfSpring · 30/05/2012 12:39

James, definitely! Lovely classic name :)

Sorry but I don't like Fraser.

evamummy · 30/05/2012 12:51

James is a safe classic name but yes, a little dull and very widely used.

Fraser is also a classic name but less common and imo more interesting. So I'd choose Fraser, especially as you're worried about popularity.

BeaditAli · 30/05/2012 12:51

I love both names equally. James is DS' middle name as I really didn't want him to be known as Jim. First name is the uber popular other one beginning with J and like other comments.... I wouln't be concerned with it's popularity on paper. There are 4 Noahs, 3 Charlies, millions of Alfies, Arlos and Finns at play groups/schools near us and only one other with Ds' name.i think they're all much older now.
I might be tempted to go with James and use Jamie as a nn then I'm sure that's how he'd be known but also think that Jamie is nice in it's right too.

sleeplessinsuburbia · 30/05/2012 12:53

I like Fraser

sonniboo · 30/05/2012 14:23

Another vote for Fraser - good, solid but not overused name. I like it.

James is ok - a litttle dull imo.

marge2 · 30/05/2012 14:30

My brother is a Jamie with James on his BC - he's 42. I know only one other Jamie who is 7. I love it.

Fraser is nice too. - But I would not know how tt shorten it? Fray?

evamummy · 30/05/2012 15:57

Why would you need to shorten Fraser? It rolls off the tongue easily enough imo. Even James is as easy to say as Jamie imo (or even easier Smile).

Spottyfrog4 · 30/05/2012 17:30

I love James but then I do have one he's 18mths now and gets called both James and Jamie and sometimes even jim. Don't really like fraser.

misslinnet · 30/05/2012 23:47

I would go James and call him Jamie for short.

Fraser is definitely less popular.

But I think the most important thing is how much you like the name.

Original poster
BringBack1996 · 31/05/2012 12:00

I think I'm way too indecisive for this naming lark, this baby will never have a name at the rate I'm going! DH seems to think that Fraser has the edge but I'm much prefer Jamie Confused

OP posts:
squoosh · 31/05/2012 12:02

Fraser - good
James - good but a bit dull
Jamie - babyish

You can't swing a cat without hitting a Jamie in Scotland.

hubbahubster · 31/05/2012 20:11

My lovely daddy is a Frazer and I've always loved it :) Jamie is very cute but off the menu for me as James nn Jamie is a significant ex.

I prefer Frazer to Fraser too but I'm biased.

SoozyWoozy · 31/05/2012 20:20

Fraser vote here too!

picnicbasketcase · 31/05/2012 20:21

James on BC, Jamie as a nickname.

Really don't like Fraser. Sorry.

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