Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

We really love the name Baxter

117 replies

Mawgatron · 17/02/2013 10:22

But have stupidly told people who keep trying to convince us otherwise.
We said we loved it before we were even trying for a baby (watched the Ian drury film and when we heard he had named his son that we both thought it was a brilliant and unusual name), and now we are 5 months pregnant we are starting to doubt ourselves. Everyone keeps saying 'its a dogs name' or 'that's a soup'.
But we still love it! Should we stick to our guns or cave to pressure?
He would be Baxter Sturge if that helps your judgement in any way?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ReeseWitherfork · 14/03/2022 05:23

I'm definitely going to need to know whether the OP called her son Baxter and whether 9 year old Baxter likes his name.

midsomermurderess · 14/03/2022 04:40

I thought Ian Dury's son too. Hasn't, as they say, done him any harm. There is a rather odd 1950's lower-middle class anxiety on here around name. Are they chavvy, naff, American? People might be a bit surprised at how inventive people were with names in the 19th century.

CakesOfVersailles · 14/03/2022 04:11

@BiscuitLover3678

'Baxter' will be nine years old now! Not sure the name has taken off though.

NurseBernard · 14/03/2022 04:11

@BiscuitLover3678

Also people are just adding similar names that are now popular but they would’ve had the same reaction to a few years ago. I’m sure give it three years and Baxter will be the new ‘kit’
‘Three years’ was 2016. Grin Grin
BiscuitLover3678 · 14/03/2022 04:10

Also people are just adding similar names that are now popular but they would’ve had the same reaction to a few years ago. I’m sure give it three years and Baxter will be the new ‘kit’

BiscuitLover3678 · 14/03/2022 04:09

It does sound funny with the the surname but hey, who cares! It’s not a big deal. You obviously love the name. Baxter in itself is not a bad name. I also have a marmite name and love it. You find a lot weirder in schools these days. Go for it!

mathanxiety · 14/03/2022 03:56

Some other possibilities: Rudy,, Edwin, Walter (although same ter/stur issue there), Jacob, Bruno, Sidney, Kitson, Barnaby.

These are all better, and Walter doesn't have the -ster/-stur problem. Walter doesn't have that S sound that Baxter does.
-ter/-stur isn't a problem.

If you think you can stand a few years of 'We don't talk about Bruno' then Bruno is nice, and unusual.

Edwin Sturge sounds a bit like an accountant from Iowa City, 1959.

Kitson is nice.

Sidney is ok.

Jacob is a bit wet.

Barnaby is great. So is Rudy.

NurseBernard · 14/03/2022 03:43

Crikey. I posted on this thread back in 2013. Saying I quite liked the name.

Definitely had a change of heart in the intervening 9 years. Grin

Sunnytwobridges · 14/03/2022 03:21

I love names with an X in it but this name with your last name sounds stuffy and awkward. I would go with Braxton Sturge if I wanted to stick with a similar name.

user1477391263 · 14/03/2022 02:57

ZOMBEEEE

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 14/03/2022 01:57

Bloody hell, even 9 years on first thought is dogs name

Rainbowbaby13 · 13/03/2022 23:57

I personally love it

It's really hard to find a name you both love so I say stick with it

OllyBJolly · 13/03/2022 21:32

Love it!

Zillamop · 13/03/2022 20:53

I'm not keen on surnames as first names, and the only Baxter I've heard of is, yes, a dog.

However... if you both love it and want to use it, then go ahead anyway. Other parents get to choose their own children's names, not yours.

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 20:37

I also thought "dog" immediately.

But use it if you love it. Just don't tell people anymore and introduce him as Baxter later on.

Bohomie · 13/03/2022 19:50

It's the name of a school round here

DramaAlpaca · 13/03/2022 19:50

FGS, young Baxter awful name will be almost 9 by now...

ZOMBIE thread

YellowPlant · 13/03/2022 19:48

It’s a Scottish clan name I think.

Branleuse · 13/03/2022 19:48

I like it. Its a person name. I know a Baxter

Hyppogriff · 13/03/2022 19:47

Dog name

KaptainKaveman · 13/03/2022 19:47

It's soup.

And btw It's Ian DURY. Not 'Drury'.

Duxiejhrhrvjz · 13/03/2022 19:46

I love it! I also love Dexter and Jasper though which are both “dog” names.

inheritancetrack · 13/03/2022 19:41

dogs name

Celynfour · 13/03/2022 19:11

Call your son the name you love - as long as it’s not embarrassing .
People have dogs called Jack , Jess , Ben , Gemma , Holly , Lily , Charlie , Henry , Sallie , Rufus , Toby that I know . No one says Ben or Jack is a dog’s name , don’t use it for a baby .

But don’t tell anyone before the birth . People offer completely irrelevant personal opinions . I really regretted telling my family what we were calling my eldest (perfectly nice name , nothing weird ) as they felt we wanted to know what they thought 🤷🏻‍♀️
Your baby will own his name within days and people will forget they ever thought anything .

StormBaby · 13/03/2022 16:18

I like it but it does not go with your surname unfortunately. Barnaby Sturge is much much better