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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please critique our shortlist!

38 replies

ShergarAndSpies · 14/09/2014 20:59

So DC2 will be a boy. DH and I are struggling to settle on one name we both love but have a shortlist as follows.

Surname begins with A and is 2 syllables.

Theodore
Barnaby
Jasper
Sebastian
Robin
Harrison

Please tell me honestly what you think!

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NadiaWadia · 16/09/2014 02:56

Sebastian is lovely. Theodore is nice.

Jasper, seems quite popular now, has a good sound but somehow I associate it with

  1. pantomime villains 2. wasps

and Barney, bears and dinosaurs. Seems a name for a little boy only, not a man.

Robin, OK but some people may think it a bit girly, though of course it was originally only a male name.

Harrison is the worst, just a random surname, literally means 'Harry's son'. So why not just choose Harry (which is nice)?

mandy214 · 15/09/2014 22:13

Didnt mean to be rude but was slightly tempted to type 'yabba dabba doo' Grin

Original poster
ShergarAndSpies · 15/09/2014 21:04

Bloody hell the Flintstones thing had never even occurred to me - you guys are good!

Think Sebastian is looking like our top contender currently.

Thanks again for all your help Smile

OP posts:
mandy214 · 15/09/2014 19:55

Freddie and Barnie? No, too much like the Flintstones line up! Both nice but not together.

I like Seb or Sebastian. Jazz is awful (sorry) and I dont like Rob or Robin too. Harry nicer than Harrison. Lots of Theodores at the moment shortened to Ted or Teddy. Massively popular so I would avoid.

Only1scoop · 15/09/2014 19:44

Theodore or Barnaby

Ifem · 15/09/2014 19:43

Theo and Sebastian are nice names.

Barnaby is poncetastic and Barney is such a wet nickname.

Harrison is awful.

I'd hate t be called Robin is i was a guy. Its just....bleurgh.
Robyn for a girl is nice, though Wink

squeak2392 · 15/09/2014 03:15

Sigh, I've become so disinterested in boys names that if I were to critique them all individually I'd say 'nice' for every single one :/

If I have to be harsh:
Harrison is over-used and I've come to think actually sounds a bit weird irl. Harry is much nicer.
Sebastian I like in principle, as it's strong and classic, but I don't really like the sound of it anymore.
Jasper I like, but still kinda think of a spaniel.

Can't find anything wrong with the others though.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 15/09/2014 01:04

Where I'm from a barney is often used to describe an argument so there could be some teasing over that, but that said though. I've never known anyone to be teased if I'm honest.,
I don't think there'd be an reference about Barney the dinosaur after all we never hear of any Thomas's being teased do we (R.e Thomas the tank engine).

SoonToBeSix · 14/09/2014 23:19

Love the name Robin but only for a girl.

funnyface31 · 14/09/2014 23:15

Know 2 Barney's and no teasing. Both adorable and suit it. Smile

Sophronia · 14/09/2014 22:43

Not really keen on any of them. I do like Barnabas though, as opposed to Barnaby.

capercaillie · 14/09/2014 22:09

Love robin. Sadly friends beat us to that name for a boy. Wish I'd used it though

BigfootFiles · 14/09/2014 22:07

Theo - like
Barney - the dinosaur
Jas - nickname jizz. Noooo!
Seb - like
Rob - wishes he was Robert not Robin.
Harry - fine as Harry, Harrison... meh.

Original poster
ShergarAndSpies · 14/09/2014 22:06

Gah wishful those are pretty much our long list!

OP posts:
Original poster
ShergarAndSpies · 14/09/2014 22:05

Not a huge fan of Robert but appreciate the suggestion and see that Robin might need a more 'butch' (for want of a better description) style name to carry him through teens / young adulthood.

Reading the posts, it sounds like the top 3 are pretty clearly

Theodore / Theo
Barnaby
Sebastian / Seb

Really interesting - thank you all for taking the time to reply! Definitely taking all your thoughts on board.

One question - a poster mentioned Barney as a nickname might risk some playground teasing? Because of the purple dinosaur thing? Or something different?

OP posts:
Discobugsacha · 14/09/2014 22:04

Harrison is horrid. Don't like Jasper either but Robin and Barnaby are brilliant names!

Marcipex · 14/09/2014 22:04

I like all your names, though only know girls called Robin these days.

catsofa · 14/09/2014 22:01

Robin is my favourite and is near the top of my own list, it's lovely.

Wishfulmakeupping · 14/09/2014 21:59

Theodore-ok but don't like Theo
Barnaby- but clunky for me
Jasper- ok
Sebastian- like and like Seb but its popular
Robin- different I like it
Harrison- dislike

Names that are similar taste and would work well with ds1 name would be-
Rupert
Hugo
William nn Bill
Alastair
Rafe

Hakluyt · 14/09/2014 21:46

Harrison doesn't fit with the others- different social class

How about Robert shortened to Robin while he's little then Rob when he's older?

Rivercam · 14/09/2014 21:45

Can't believed there are so many negative comments about Harrison - I know a couple of Harrison's who are lovely (aged 10 and 14). Also love I Barnaby. Jasper is my least favourite of your list, the others okay. robin is due a revival.

OldF0ssil · 14/09/2014 21:43

I like Robert though.

OldF0ssil · 14/09/2014 21:43

only barnaby.

also prefer caspar to jasper

harrison - no

Robin, no, ok on an older man but it has become too feminine.

Original poster
ShergarAndSpies · 14/09/2014 21:41

Baby would most likely end up being known by a shortened version of whichever name we choose but I do like having the full name 'option'.

So certainly Theo, Seb and probably Jas / Jazz. Barnaby would I'm sure end up as Barney too.

Really interesting reading your thoughts on the names. I'd expected Robin to be more popular tbh.

DC1 is an Alfred (Freddie) if it makes any difference name-wise?

OP posts:
thatsn0tmyname · 14/09/2014 21:41

Go for Barnaby