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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Gosh I find boy's names dull, nevertheless I have a short list

85 replies

Artichook · 26/03/2013 20:30

I loved naming my girls, there are so many choices for girls and you can get away with slightly unusual without sounding odd. Now I'm having a boy and it seems you have a choice of about 10 classic names that are hugely overused but lovely and after that your choices are really posh, really not, or 10 or so very "of the minute" trendy names. I'm not inspired at all.

Despite these feeling here is my list. What do people think?

Thomas - lovely, classic, way overused

Joshua - lovely, classic, but teacher SiL says the Joshua's in her class are always naughty.

Isaac - I thought this was pretty safe but a friend reacted with shock and said "you can't do that to a child"

Reuben - quite unusual, DD1 says its "weird", does this view of a 6 year old mean he will be bullied?

Frederick - Freddie, a family name, but I'm not sure.

OP posts:

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blackcurrants · 26/03/2013 23:04

I like Freddie very, very much. I know a brother due of Fergus and Freddie. I know nice adult Freds, too - I think it's a name which ages well. Most boy's names do age well, now I come to think of it, wheras there are some girl's names (Maisie, Daisy, Mollie et al) where I think: could that woman be a high court judge without sounding absurd? and I struggle to answer 'yes!'

Patrick definitely = awesome. Sacha is nice too. I know a Jared and have recently taught one, (19yrold) - very good solid name. Is Jacob/Jake terribly popular in the UK at the moment? I've always liked it.

bigbluebump · 26/03/2013 22:29

"I just have to watch my 6 year old's reaction to some if the more unusual names to know it would not be easy for a son to carry off at school."

Really? We have so many different names at our school, from all over the world and the kids just accept these as the names of their mates. Are you sure it is the kids and not the parents that are a little less open-minded?

Mrsfluff · 26/03/2013 21:42

I've always loved Jared - it's a strong name and not commonly used.

Original poster

Artichook · 26/03/2013 21:39

I love Atticus but again I'm not brave enough and again DD1 just laughs and laughs at the mere idea.

OP posts:

MidnightMasquerader · 26/03/2013 21:37

We went retro for DS - his name is very quite dated and most people would run a mile from it, but he's known by a diminutive version of it which sounds much more current. In fact, his actual name doesn't feel like his at all as it's never used. But at least he has options later in life.

I very much agree with avoiding popular, current, of-the-moment names - I am really put off these names.

Funnily enough, I have one such name - though, course, it was incredibly old-lady and dated when I was given it in the 70s. This is why going with a name that's dated now makes sense.

LemonBreeland · 26/03/2013 21:34

I think it maybe depends on where you live and if all boys have top ten names then it will seem 'out there' to anem your ds something else.

I could come up with a massive list of more interesting names but they wouldn't necessarily be the OPs style.

Coconutty · 26/03/2013 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Judyandherdreamofhorses · 26/03/2013 21:31

Give OP some ideas of 'interesting' names then, lemon.

Original poster

Artichook · 26/03/2013 21:29

But the interesting names are very unusual Lemon. With girls there is a middle ground but with boys it seems to go from way overused to totally eyebrow raising. I just have to watch my 6 year old's reaction to some if the more unusual names to know it would not be easy for a son to carry off at school.

I like lots of very unusual boys names but I feel that to use any of them would be more about my needs than the child's needs.

OP posts:

LemonBreeland · 26/03/2013 21:23

There are lots of interesting boys names. The ones you have chosen are not though. They are all pretty boring apart from Reuben, bu that isn't exactly out there.

Original poster

Artichook · 26/03/2013 21:23

I can't use Joseph sadly.

I love Alexander if shortened to Sacha (traditional diminuitive). I'm less keen on Alex which is fine but dull. The thing is I'm worried that forcing Sacha as the nn will seem contrived and may not actually work.

Is Reuben really very popular at the mo? We don't know any despite knowing lots of children through the DDs. It is a family name on DH's side.

OP posts:

beeroclock · 26/03/2013 21:18

peter is great.

LadyMetroland · 26/03/2013 21:18

Hi op
I am in similar boat to you and could not agree with you more about boys' names. We part company when it comes to your short list though ... Reuben is definitely one of those of-the-moment names that will date your son to this era - a bit like Noah imo.

Tom is a great name that will never go out of date. I don't actually know many either.

What about...

Joseph (Joe)
Ben (Benjamin or Benedict)
Samuel
Alexander

poocatcherchampion · 26/03/2013 21:15

I totally agree op. We have found girls names easy both times but struggling with boys names again. Fwiw here is my desultory offering:

Frederick
Isaac
From your list

Also:
Kit
Noah
Samuel
Wilfred

And that's about it..

KLou111 · 26/03/2013 21:14

Charlie?

Original poster

Artichook · 26/03/2013 21:14

Miles is nice I think. As is Hugo. But DH says both are too posh.

I also like Billy (fn Wlliam).

Finn is lovely but another one I see as too "of the moment".

OP posts:

Snog · 26/03/2013 21:10

Or Merlin or Marvyn

Snog · 26/03/2013 21:10

Kevin or Robin or Gavin

Startail · 26/03/2013 21:09

The Josh and Isaac I know are lovely boys.
Elliot, Finley, Gabriel, Oscar, Caleb, Aaron, Callum slightly different without being daft.

Coconutty · 26/03/2013 21:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Snog · 26/03/2013 21:08

Kevin or R

blackcurrants · 26/03/2013 21:06

I think Hugo and Richard are also due a comebackn]

blackcurrants · 26/03/2013 21:05

Oh, and I love Peter too!

blackcurrants · 26/03/2013 21:05

I have a Benjamin, known as Ben, and an Alexander, called Alex.

I considered Samuel, Daniel, Edward, James, Patrick, Rory and Martin.

Some if my DSs friends are Finn ( Finntain I think), Sean, Andrew, Timothy, Malcolm, Josiah (Joss), William (Bill, which I thought I hatred but rather like now), , and Robert. There area a lot of Bob and Bobby and Rob little boys in this town, I think it's trendy in the USA at the moment.
I know a few Connors and ciarans, lots of Joes and Tonys too. Lots of Irish and Italian families.

MrsOgg · 26/03/2013 21:02

Stuart
Russell
Jacob
Jonah
Jeremy
Matthew
Miles
Giles
Ross

Any good?

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