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!! Difficult choice of boys names: Sean, Daniel or Balonz?

368 replies

TheoGB · 30/09/2014 17:20

Dear MNers. Hoping you might all be able to help us out as we’re having real difficulty agreeing a name for DS due soon. For DD, we went 'rare'. Weren’t sure we were quite ready to find some ultra-weird name, but equally there are millions of Kates, Elizabeths and so ons.

For DD though, we’re thinking a much more traditional name, perhaps inspired by close friends/family. What are MNers’ thoughts on either Sean, Daniel or Balonz? Many thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
cedricsneer · 02/10/2014 12:29

And just out of interest, where is the emphasis on balonz? Is it balonz, or balonz? Is the z silent, French style?

Coughle · 02/10/2014 11:59

Show him this thread.

Balonz I mean. Balonz from Surrey.

Show him.

FinDeSemaine · 02/10/2014 11:56

Yup, Balonz is perfect. Data not so much.

cedricsneer · 02/10/2014 11:18

Why is this so funny? I am sure it is a piss take but I am literally crying with laughter and I don't really know why. Op balonz is just the perfect name to inject into the mn baby names thread, piss take or not. It is almost plausible but so incredibly absurd - and therein lies the genius. Grin

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 02/10/2014 11:16

Between 1916 and 2005 there have, by the way, been two people with a middle name of "Pickle" and loads of people named "Bacon".

I thought there was one with a first name "Balony" but on checking the original index it appears to be Briony. Shame. Still, there's always deed poll.

More ideas for you there, OP. If you're looking for something slightly more mainstream than Balonz, Bacon might fit the bill.

OwlCapone · 02/10/2014 11:14

There are plenty of traditions boy names on Star Trek if you wanted to retain a theme of sorts. William Riker, Wesley, Worf...

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 02/10/2014 11:09

I think the more usual feminine spelling of Data is Daytah, though. Apparently the y and the h make it seem much girlier.

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 02/10/2014 11:08

Data? Well, it's nice enough, but after all your buildup I was expecting something more unusual. I hope you're OK with her ending up as Data Lastinitial all the time at school.

CoteDAzur · 02/10/2014 11:06

OP - You must return and start more of these threads! Grin

"Now obviously Data is traditionally a boy’s name"

Obviously. Traditionally.

PicnicGatecrasher · 02/10/2014 11:04

Oh I love it. You have to use Balonz now, because you simply can't have Data and Daniel.

Oh I soo badly need to do some work.....

flavaadit · 02/10/2014 11:02

I'm surprised at the reaction to the name Balonz here, my father is called Balonz and his father before him. I like in a small village quite near Aberystwyth and had never considered it an uncommon name.

I'm pretty sure its heritage traces back to the celtic word for "cleaner", not the most glamorous of backgrounds, but I've always like the sound of it.

cherrybombxo · 02/10/2014 10:51

german or australian or something

Original poster
TheoGB · 02/10/2014 10:39

Oh my, I’ve had private messages demanding that I not keep you in suspense about DD’s name! Gosh. Posting now and then I’m running away for Wine and Cake, probably never to return! Blush

I guess you could say DP and I are incorrigible “Trekkies”. So when we found out we were expecting, we thought it would be nice to pay tribute to our favourite character. Now obviously Data is traditionally a boy’s name and when we found we were having DD we rejected it entirely, but over the months of waiting we realised that because it ends with –ta it is actually quite a feminine-sounding name, so we were bold and just went with it.

There you go. I don’t expect it to be popular with MNers Sad, but we – and, more importantly, little Data! – love her name. Grin

OP posts:
AvonCallingBarksdale · 02/10/2014 09:40

I keep coming back to this and am now properly sobbing. OP, what's your DD called, please tell us? Based on the Balonz theory, I reckon she's called Ella or similar Smile Can you get your friend Balonz to come on to MN and give us some name proof?

crabbyoldbat · 02/10/2014 08:18

Are you sure its not some sort of contraction/nickname/mishearing of Alonzo?

rembrandtsrockchick · 02/10/2014 06:27

I rather like Balonz, it's unusual. I like the shortened version too...Ballz.

KatieKaye · 02/10/2014 05:54

OP, you know one person called Balonz. One.
That alone should signal it is not popular. I'm surprised that you are surprised that everyone agrees it is not popular, far less traditional.

magpiegin · 02/10/2014 04:03

Blooming hell. I have a sleeping baby on my chest and just woken her up laughing. If we have number 2 and it's a boy I'm putting it on the short list.

thewrongmans · 02/10/2014 03:43

I can't stop laughing at Papa Lazarou saying balonz! hilarious! What is your dd's name then OP? I bet it is nowhere near as amusing as Balonz

Coughle · 02/10/2014 03:31

Op, could you please explain what led you to believe that Balonz was a popular name? I have friends named Humperdinck, Timtam and Vachina but I don't go around assuming those are popular names.

sarahbanshee · 02/10/2014 03:23

This is gold.

munchkinmaster · 02/10/2014 03:16

So how do we account for the much admired Balonz from surrey if there are none born this century?

A: He's 110

B: It's not his real name. He's one of those people who has a nickname used so much that people assume it's his real name.

C: It's not his name at all. the op misheard years ago and it's just too akward or hilarious to correct her. He mutters 'FFS my name is Bill!!!!' when ever she leaves the room.

ShadowStar · 02/10/2014 02:02

OP, given that you were mistaken about Balonz being a popular name, isn't it also possible that you're mistaken about your DD's name being rare? It may be more popular than you imagine?

CheeseEqualsHappiness · 01/10/2014 23:38

Rarer than none since 1916!?

Original poster
TheoGB · 01/10/2014 23:25

Oh, IAmBalonz - welcome! Where were you when I needed you earlier?! Blush

OP posts: