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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thurston

57 replies

Belazu84 · 22/10/2014 13:10

New to mumsnet and haven't even conceived yet. But will be TTC soon and I love talking about names. We have the most standard english surname, one syllable, so we need to avoid anything too over-used or boring. For ages my DH has loved the boys name Thurston. It's a real name with lots of history and I do love how strong and unusual it sounds. DH is into music and likes sonic youth (Thurston Moore) but that's not really the main reason- it just gave him the idea... The more I say it the more I think it sounds fab with our surname, and I am (guiltily) tempted by Thor as a nickname! But is Thurston too weird/pretentious? I'd love to hear your opinions...

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sleepingbeautiful · 23/10/2014 18:11

I like it, especially with a boring surname. Also you don't need a nickname to have anything to do with the real name (Rusty was the only one I could think of, aside from pretentious Thor). My DS has a childish version of his given name made up by DD, but DD's is a completely different word relating to an animal she shares characteristics with.

Original poster
Belazu84 · 23/10/2014 14:52

So glad it has some supporters! I'll politely ignore the greggs bakery thing I think... Interesting it can be Thurston or Thurstan. And yes I found an article about names by Zoe W - the comments beneath were brutal though!

OP posts:
AuntieUrsula · 23/10/2014 11:30

Columnist Zoe Williams' son is called Thurstan. Good, solid old English name

culturemulcher · 22/10/2014 20:49

CitronVert my first thought was Greggs style bakeries too. Wonder if we're talking about the same town?

rachel234 · 22/10/2014 20:42

I like Thurston - cool, strong and hardly used! Great choice.

Original poster
Belazu84 · 22/10/2014 19:11

Thanks everyone! This is great. So good to get a cross section of opinion. Knew it would be a bit marmite but wanted to check it wasn't universally derided before DH gets his hopes up! You're all absolutely right- Thor is pretty silly and Thor Boyle is hilarious. But I think Thurston may still be a contender.

OP posts:
ColgateSmile · 22/10/2014 18:36

Made me think of the sausage roll shop too, glad I'm not the only one!

PonyoLovesHam · 22/10/2014 18:32

It's a bit try hard hipster for me, sorry. I love sonic youth but it seems a lot of people who were into them in their teens are now having children and Thurston is becoming a popular name!

CitronVert · 22/10/2014 18:28

Thurston's was a chain of Greggs like bakeries near me so i think of sausage rolls. In fact I think they were bought out by Greggs.

soundsystem · 22/10/2014 18:24

Love it!

evertonmint · 22/10/2014 18:06

V cool teenager/adult name but not so much for a baby - more a name to grow into. I think Thor isn't great though, sorry :(

cheesecakemom · 22/10/2014 18:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Tauriel1 · 22/10/2014 17:19

It sounds v much like a place near me so was ready to say no. The more I say it though, the more I like it.

DecaffTastesWeird · 22/10/2014 17:16

Thor Boyle?! Seriously, he must have done that deliberately...

squoosh · 22/10/2014 17:09

Frankie Boyle has a son called Thor.

Thor Boyle.

Makes me think of someone with a lisp describing the boil on their bum.

DecaffTastesWeird · 22/10/2014 17:07

I don't really like Thurston, but if you both love it then why the heck not? It's a perfectly respectable name.

TBH I can't imagine the nn Thor being yelled across a playground though without a few sniggers from passers by...

moxon · 22/10/2014 15:51

It's a good name. It speaks of doing great things. Works very well with an unpretentious surname.

NickiFury · 22/10/2014 14:45

I knew a family with the surname Thurston. They all except for the Mum had identical massive pointy noses. That is what I thought of when I saw your thread title.

PragmaticWench · 22/10/2014 14:22

I say go for it, it's a great name. From reading threads on here, it's really rare for couples to both get that feeling about a name, so don't waste a name that you both are drawn to. Perhaps don't tell anyone until a baby is born though, you'll only get comments and opinions from friends/family aren't important.

RiverTam · 22/10/2014 14:05

Sonic Youth was my first thought. I'm not sure how you get Thor as a nickname, I must say.

It's OK. It does sound more like a place, but I reckon everyone would get used to it pretty quickly, it's not completely out there. I think it sounds a little harsh, though.

squoosh · 22/10/2014 14:05

Totally irrelevant but I was sad that Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore split up.

GiantGraspingCeramicFist · 22/10/2014 13:58

Agree with squoosh, go for it!

squoosh · 22/10/2014 13:58

Actually I think the Guardian's Zoe Williams has a Thurston too.

squoosh · 22/10/2014 13:57

Thurston Moore is my only association with the name and he's a damn fine musician! I think it will go really well with a bog standard on syllable surname. Boring surnames deserve a first name with a bit of oomph.

Thurston Smith
Thurston Green
Thurston Clarke

Yep.

UriGeller · 22/10/2014 13:42

He's a very well respected musician so I think it's alright. It'd be different if someone was talking about naming a little Justin or Brittney after their DH's idols.