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Baby names

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Original poster

Old English names for a boy - thoughts?

63 replies

Lindalove · 08/12/2014 11:59

We are trying to find some lovely old, proper old, English and Anglo-Saxon names for our baby boy due in April next year. Its worth saying we live in a part of London which is very literary and practically every child has an interesting name... I think the trick is finding something interesting and classy though. And not too weird, but weird is a subjective thing....

Anyway thoughts welcome on the following:

Caedmon (after the old english poet. Pronounced Cade-mon or Cad-mon, I prefer the former)

Hereward (after Hereward The Wake the famous warrior.... pronounced Herr-er-ward)

Leofric (I doubt this will make it through but I love it, just don't care for 'Leo' as it will I am sure be shortened to)

Machen (pronouced Make-in, not actually Anglo-Saxon, but named after Arthur Machen the author).

OP posts:
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TotallySociallyInept · 08/12/2014 17:01

Bran? I know it is used in fiction story's a lot and it's not really unusual.

But, Brans talking head requested to be buried at White hill London. To protect England from invaders. So very patriotic name with London history?

meditrina · 08/12/2014 14:41

Try Grendell, then you can revel in being Grendell's mother!

Hrothgar would be an awesome name to resurrect.

MerryMarigold · 08/12/2014 14:39

(Also it sounds like 'Cayman' - type of crocodile thingy)

MerryMarigold · 08/12/2014 14:39

I thik Caedmon is a TOUCH pretentious, but if you want to be...

John is a pretty old name, and as far as I know, it's not that common anymore either.

dorasee · 08/12/2014 14:32

Aelred

Lorcan (irish name, but still lovely)

squoosh · 08/12/2014 14:32

Imagine your trend setting pride OP as you called out to little Howard in the park while everyone else was bellowing to little Aethelstan, Edwig and Hrothulf.

Original poster
Lindalove · 08/12/2014 14:29

What I meant was, there are plenty of names that people get pronunciation wrong with, so its not a massive worry practically. If you like a name you can always change it spelling to help. Many Irish names are impossible to pronounce but that doesn't stop a lot of people using them, and them being beautiful sounding names. Same with Welsh names. There is a tradition along those lines!

I agree old names are weird, which is IMO what makes them really nice, I think. Its a question of balance. I'm really after testing which seem less weird to most people.... ! Caedmon so far seems favourite.

All feedback appreciated though, thanks.

OP posts:
ScrambledSmegs · 08/12/2014 14:28

(I don't know you, OP, I just live nr Stokey)

ScrambledSmegs · 08/12/2014 14:28

For all the people suggesting Bede - it is a lovely name, but I live very close to the OP and have met 5 different young Bedes in the local park in the last few months. That's a lot of children with the same 'unusual' name!

Minisoksmakehardwork · 08/12/2014 14:24

No ideas. But round our fenland area Hereward is pronounced he-re-wood with short e sounds.

shakemysilliesout · 08/12/2014 14:23

I like dwayne! Makes me think of the rock. Getting side tracked. Alban- he can be called al when he moves
Outside of stokey

hashtagwhatever · 08/12/2014 14:23

Machen is nice.

shakemysilliesout · 08/12/2014 14:20

I vote for alban or neot.

My thoughts generally: these names are pretty weird to me, as are spellings and how to pronounce. You might not be bothered about pronunciation but your son might be. Just things to consider.

Original poster
Lindalove · 08/12/2014 14:19

Shakemysilliesout poor bubs will get bullied if we called him Dwayne or Kai. I like Barry for its retro-ness, plus its a family name!

But yes its all Telemachus, Balthazar and Lyra round our way, we need to tread carefully... :) Looking for something that will suit a grown man not a baby who might eventually leave London and otherwise risk being beaten up at the taxi rank queue on a Friday night.

OP posts:
shakemysilliesout · 08/12/2014 14:14

Al these names are very stoke newington - I think you should rebel and go for something unexpected, such as Kai or Barry.

GooseyLoosey · 08/12/2014 14:14

I can see that Mc Mc would not work too well!

Could luck finding something that you all like.

Original poster
Lindalove · 08/12/2014 14:12

BlueChampagne I think names like Godric are pronounced 'rick' at the end... which is what puts me off them. I really like Godric but if it was shortened to Rick, again, like Leofric probably ought not to have bothered and just named him Rick or Leo.

OP posts:
squoosh · 08/12/2014 14:09

Yes, please discount all 'dick' names!

Original poster
Lindalove · 08/12/2014 14:08

GooseyLoosey can't do a 'Mac" name as surname is McSomething.

You're right Arthur etc is Celtic. One of us has Scottish roots so we could go that road but really we're pretty damn English.

Sandick! That's interesting..... any name with 'dick' in it is just asking for trouble though at school surely?

OP posts:
JakeyBurd · 08/12/2014 13:58

Gawain, Arthur, Caradoc and Tristram are all Celtic, not Anglo-Saxon.

I knew a man called Sandick who said hid name was Old English, although I've never been able to find it in any lists. I like it though.

Original poster
Lindalove · 08/12/2014 13:56

Lear, Alban and Siward are really nice.

Gawain is a bit too Welsh for a non-Welshie, and yes prefer the old English/ Anglo Saxon vibe. I've got colleagues who named their children Arthur and Edmund so clearly an Anglo Saxon revival is on the way..... ;)

Deorwine is pretty cool as well. There are some lovely old names out there.

I think Caedmon and Machen are my faves.... Machen is slightly made up but Machen was such as great author! Better than calling baby Lovecraft I think...

OP posts:
florascotia · 08/12/2014 13:37

Alfred, Swithin, Wystan, Chad, Godwin, Roger (=Hrothgar), Osbert and Mumsnet's old friends, Wilbur and Wilfred

Edward, of course, and Ethelred

also in use in Anglo-Saxon era though not Anglo-Saxon in origin: Alban, Lear, Siward, Cuthbert, Alcuin, Arnold, Benet, Harold/Harald.

Re literary references, the name 'Machen' makes me think of Denry Machin in Arnold Bennett's 'The Card'. I know he's meant to be a hero but I found him rather annoying. However, I think Bennett very much meant readers to admire him.

Gawain = modern Gavin, so perhaps better to avoid? And it's Celtic.

Other London districts which might be a good source of literary names = Bloomsbury, Hampstead???

MrsMcRuff · 08/12/2014 13:28

What about Deorwine, (which has evolved into Darwin), and means 'dear friend'?.

Riverland · 08/12/2014 13:26

Bede is a good one.

Caedy, diminutive of Caedmon is a good name.

GooseyLoosey · 08/12/2014 13:22

Meant to say, Macsen is a welsh name (I seem to remember it in the Mabinogian). Like that better than Machen.

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