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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Jude, Gabriel, Oliver or Isaac?

34 replies

HormoneHell · 23/02/2013 08:12

I love them all but don't want a name that will date and I fear these might. I also want dimething classless. What do people think?

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SilentMammoth · 25/02/2013 20:10

Love Jude (TH fan!)
Oliver waaaay overdone.

Gabriel ok (why need to be practising Christian to pull it off?)

Isaac lovely.

birdofthenorth · 24/02/2013 23:08

Jude followed by Gabriel, really love both. They are four Olivers on DD's nursery class which is obviously an anomaly but has out me off it (otherwise I would have liked it). Likewise DD aged 2.6 pronounces the Isaac in her class just as "Zuk" which has spoilt it for me a bit!

Notnowcato · 24/02/2013 22:48

I think all four are quite class marked and, I'm afraid, all are v popular in primary schools near where we live. (Affluent, middle-class aspirational sort of place!) BUT you really shouldn't worry about that. Choose a name you like.

Of your four, I like Oliver best: but that shouldn't really affect you

nectarini1983 · 24/02/2013 20:09

Gabriel.... a man called Gabe would just be gorgeous x

Rhubarbgarden · 23/02/2013 19:27

I love Jude. Gabriel and Isaac are both trendy and will date. Oliver is ok but there are sooo many of them. I think they are all pretty middle class names to be honest.

Mintberry · 23/02/2013 18:21

Oliver is classless and timeless. Isaac when shortened to zach is classless. Gabriel and Jude sound quite middle class and fancy imo.

Sashapineapple · 23/02/2013 18:13

Really like Jude and Gabriel. Issac is ok. Oliver sounds a bit wet.

MummyduckB · 23/02/2013 17:42

I love Oliver. I have two problems with the name personally though.
One it is one of the most popular names at the moment and two I don't like it when people shorten Oliver to "Oli"

CPtart · 23/02/2013 17:16

Isaac
Oliver
Gabriel
Jude

(Really dislike Jude)

CruCru · 23/02/2013 17:14

Then I like Jude best.

Original poster

HormoneHell · 23/02/2013 14:51

Our surname is one syllable and I think it goes OK with Jude and Oliver (and Isaac and Gabriel).

OP posts:

CruCru · 23/02/2013 14:49

I've never met a Jude but I know loads of kids called the other names. Only thing is, which goes best with your surname? Because Jude and Oliver are quite different in terms of syllables.

Original poster

HormoneHell · 23/02/2013 14:23

Do people really think of Jude as a girl's name? I think of Jude The Obscure and Jude Law. I think it is my front runner at the moment although I know the PiL's would hate it as its not "classic" in their eyes.

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SugarMeFingers · 23/02/2013 12:19

Love Jude, its my son's middle name, his first name is Callan, (Cal).
I call him Callan Dude.

Viviennemary · 23/02/2013 11:51

I like Gabriel but I wouldn't call a child that if I lived in the UK. Isaac is nice. Oliver is fine but very common. Not sure about Jude. I've only heard it as a girl's name I think.

zingally · 23/02/2013 11:46

Jude - I like it. Bit different and suits all ages.
Gabriel - I like it, but think you can only really pull it off if you're practising Christians.
Oliver - Okay, but very common these days. He could easily be one of a couple in a class.
Isaac - Nice name also. Again, you don't meet too many of them. I have a now-6 year old 2nd cousin called Isaac, and he's the only one I've ever known.

HoneyandRum · 23/02/2013 09:50

We have a Gabriel (Gabe) he is 6 and never gets teased but then he is American by birth (DH is American) and Gabe is considered a classic normal name there (see Gene Kelly in "On the Town" his character is Gabey/Gabe. We live in Germany right now and Gabriel also works well internationally. It's only more unusual in the UK. Gabriel announced the conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus so has always been bubbling along as a Christian classic. I agree some biblical names seem to go in and out, for example I don't know any males called Mark under 40. But suits our guy as he is big and tall and Gabe is very masculine to me. I'm also partial to Gabriel in "Far from the Madding Crowd" who eventually wins Bethsheba Everdeens heart because he is basically gorgeous inside and out.

HeartShapedSaw · 23/02/2013 09:33

Whoever said Gabriel is of these years and will date obviously hasnt read the bible..

I have met one person called Gabriel and he was about 45 and lovely. The only reasons I didnt chose this name for my DS was because I dont really like the shortening eg Gabe, and the fact that he is bound to get called 'gay' by boys in school.

dashoflime · 23/02/2013 09:05

OK, this is just my opinion but...

Tom and Sam sound deliberately and self consciously classless, which is of course a middle class trend.

Jake actually does sound classless.

thewhistler · 23/02/2013 09:03

If you want classlessness then you can Google. Some years ago James was the absolutely central name used by all classes. I don't think it has shifted much. Tom and Sam likely to be there as well.

thewhistler · 23/02/2013 09:00

Isaac is pretty classless as is Oliver. Both last down the ages. Both are quite popular.

I see Jude and Gabriel as definitely being of these years and.will date. I prefer Jude but hope he doesn't study English as Jude the Obscure is pretty depressing.

TheLittleFriend · 23/02/2013 08:57

My 1 week old is a Jude, our other choice was Gabriel

I also love Oliver, but it's my nephews name

Original poster

HormoneHell · 23/02/2013 08:51

Dash - would you not say names like Tom, Sam and Jake are pretty classless? I hesitate to ask this but if you perceive every name as belonging to a class, what class do you see my four options as belonging too?

OP posts:

dashoflime · 23/02/2013 08:38

Not keen on any of them im afraid. But of the three I prefer Jude. I don't think you will succed in finding a classless name either. Not sure there is such a thing.

Original poster

HormoneHell · 23/02/2013 08:38

Given the mix if names at our local inner city primary I'm not worried about bullying. I actually know of a Jude at the school, a more unusual choice around here would be John or Richard.

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