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

Help us resolve our stand-off! Boys name

56 replies

Hawknotdove · 05/02/2014 19:42

I thought my DH and I had finally agreed a name - Zachary. I love it and he agreed it was top of his list (though said he was 90% rather than 100% sure).

Now he's thrown a curveball and announced that he likes Wilfred more. I think Wilfred/Wilf is a super cute name for a little one but am worried about its longevity into adulthood. I also just feel its not very 'me' - that I can't imagine naming my own son this, as much as I think it's a nice name. I feel a bit bad pushing back on this basis - am I being irrational or unreasonable, would I come to like it if we used it?

So what do you think? Do you prefer Zach or Wilf? And do you think my concerns about Wilfred are valid?

Boys names are so hard... we have had a girls name picked out for years!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
RaRa1988 · 15/02/2014 16:52

I really like Zachary. Massively overused, Misspilly ?? Hmm Must depend on where you live - I've only ever met/heard of one (plus a pony called Zak)!

Wilf just reminds me of those Wilf & Wilma books we used to read at school when we were about 5/6. Wilf is ok for a very little boy (or a dog) I think, but Wilfred is horribly stodgy and old-fashioned. Sounds like a very doddery old man.

Misspilly88 · 15/02/2014 10:37

Hate Zachary, massively overused too. Wilfred is lovely and love nn wilf!

winterhat · 12/02/2014 13:40

Alfred is a great alternative to Wilfred. You could have Alfie or Freddie as nickname. Henry and Jacob are great too. What about Zachary as middle name?

Alfred Zachary (Alfie/Freddie)
Henry Jacob
Jacob Zachary
Jacob Henry
Henry Alfred
Zachary Jacob

Original poster
Hawknotdove · 12/02/2014 08:17

An update - I have said no to Wilfred. It just doesn't feel right to me, which was reinforced by this thread and DH seems to accept (it's slang uses helped seal the deal - thanks Ladies!)

So Zachary is still our front runner and the ball is in DH's court to suggest a sensible alternative. See what I've done there?!

I have said the only old men names I'll consider (he seems to have a thing) are Arthur or Alfred. And suggested that if we don't go with Z then we should reconsider some of the more traditional names on our list i.e. Henry and Jacob. I'll let you know where we get to...!

OP posts:
Beachballfamily · 12/02/2014 04:57

For me, Wilfred is one of those faddy old man names that is popular at the moment - like Arthur. Zachary is more classic and suits a baby as well as a grown man. Wish I was having a boy so we could call him Zach!

LynetteScavo · 12/02/2014 00:34

Look at the baby...see which one suits him best.

TravellingToad · 12/02/2014 00:32

Zachary.

Hate wilf

NinjaCow · 12/02/2014 00:29

I like Zachary. Wilfred sounds a bit old mannish to me.

badtime · 11/02/2014 22:59

I really, really dislike Wilfred. Zachary is okay.

ladyquinoa · 11/02/2014 22:21

Adore wilf

ohhifruit · 07/02/2014 14:28

I like Wilfred but to me it will always be that man dressed up as a dog.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_(U.S._TV_series)

BlueStarsAtNight · 07/02/2014 13:38

I prefer Wilfred, I think Zachary has had its day a bit!

FortyFacedFuckers · 07/02/2014 11:33

I much prefer Zachary

TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 07/02/2014 11:31

I prefer Wilfred but that doesn't really matter. You need to be happy with the name you choose.

Bowlersarm · 07/02/2014 11:22

Zachary

tammytoby · 07/02/2014 11:21

Neither. Find another name that you both love!

noodlebum · 07/02/2014 11:20

Vote for Zachary!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/02/2014 20:49

I far prefer Wilfred.

shippenhaguen · 06/02/2014 19:17

just keep saying 'mm not sure, prefer zachary'. Then after you've given birth say 'he looks like a Zachary'.

wish i'd used this technique for gettin my choice as i'm told it doesn't fail

jenniferturkington · 06/02/2014 19:13

Definitely Zachary. Wilfred is too old man for my tastes. I do however really like Freddie but would use Frederick myself rather than Wilfred.

TheLeftovermonster · 06/02/2014 19:09

Prefer Wifred, definitely!

Or Wilbur.

Sleepthief · 06/02/2014 14:45

By the way, I'm not mad on either Wilfred (mad 1980s TV inventor?) or Zachary (meh!)

Sleepthief · 06/02/2014 14:43

DH and I had a stand-off over DS4's name. In the end we scrapped both names and found a whole new one we both loved. He's now 1mo and I can't imagine him being called anything else. Unanimously positive response to the name too. And he's got both our original choices as middle names. IMO you shouldn't call your baby something you're not 100% about (and that applies tp both of you Smile

BirthdayMuppet · 06/02/2014 14:18

Out of the two I'd pick Zachary but neither would be my personal taste, and Wilfred is awful.

squoosh · 06/02/2014 13:05

Wilfred is horrendous, absolutely horrendous.

I'm not a huge fan of Zachary either, it's a bit 90's, but would certainly pick it over Wilfred.

I think you may need to start over on the name hunt.