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

Tristan or Barnaby?

33 replies

Hellobump15 · 12/03/2015 13:30

I posted before re names for a potential DS4 if DC4 is - boy.

We are still struggling but I think are now down to these 2 front runners.

Tristan
Barnaby

I'd be grateful for honest opinions on them.

I'd rather not say our sons' names but I'm happy either of these 'go' well

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
woodhill · 16/03/2015 20:20

lovely names

crazycatlady82 · 16/03/2015 20:16

We have a friend called Barnabus. I do think its a fantastic name!

daholster · 15/03/2015 14:34

Love Tristan - strong and good looking is what it conjured in my mind, effortlessly smooth with a touch of class...

Barnaby - well more the opposite! Barney Rubble's fault probably. Or that awful purple dinosaur. More likely a bit rotund, maybe posh but mollycoddled.

It's not a slight on anyone with a Barnaby, problem is I've never met one in real life and that's just what happens in my head!

I'd have loved to name ds (due in 4 weeks) Tristan but dh can't be talked round Sad believe me I've tried!

Bellejournee · 15/03/2015 08:46

I Love Barnaby - vetoed by H as it's the name of the local school bear :-/

Not keen on Tristan.

sugarplumfairy28 · 14/03/2015 19:44

I would say Tristan as we have a fish called Barnaby and Ben and Holly springs to mind.

bluewisteria · 14/03/2015 18:52

Tristan, because of the greatest opera of all time.

roundtable · 13/03/2015 13:08

I came on the thread to see how many people hate one of my dc name. Grin

Someone told me to try writing all your names as if you were signing a card and see which one you think fits the best.

Don't worry what others think. It doesn't matter what name you choose, someone will dislike it. Maybe make them your final two and then decide when you see him. If dc4 is a boy.

Congratulations Flowers

Bowlersarm · 13/03/2015 12:59

It is hard to verbalise why you don't (or do) like a name, much simpler to say "I just don't" !

Hmm, I'll try. Tristan to me sounds weak and effectual. That doesn't sound too bad for a boy, but for a man it matters.

Barnaby sounds quite distinguished to my ears. And Barney is a cool NN. I do know bearers of both those names, and the two Barnabys I know are cool, good looking and lovely. That probably helps me to like the name.

FriendlyLadybird · 13/03/2015 12:52

I love Tristan, probably because as a child I read and re-read Rosemary Sutcliff's retelling of Tristan and Iseult.

Barnaby is OK, but to me it suits a boy rather than a grown man (and your baby will eventually grow up).

FunkyPeacock · 13/03/2015 12:43

Hard to explain why you do/don't like a name

For me Barnaby conjures up the image of a really friendly and approachable sort of chap, but intelligent and educated too

Tristan has a more posh, stuck up, takes himself too seriously vibe, purely IMO obviously

I'm sure there are plenty of Barnabys & Tristans who don't fit my stereotype at all though!

Original poster
Hellobump15 · 13/03/2015 10:23

Thanks for your responses. Looks like they are both pretty divisive names! Barnaby seems to nudge it though with votes I think.

We haven't ended up using nicknames for our other sons & one has a 4 syllable name so I'm really too concerned by lack of nn potential. At my eldest's school nicknames don't seem a given either, certainly not compared to my memories of school in the 80s where if a name could be shortened it would be!

Poshness isn't a problem, I'm happy either name fits with our other boys and I don't think they would stand out negatively in schools here either.

Can I ask, those who don't like the names can you pin point why? It's probably a good sign the negative reactions haven't put me off but it'd useful to know what it is.

Thank you everyone

OP posts:
VioletVelvet · 12/03/2015 23:11

Tristan. Not really keen on Barnaby.

fishfingerSarnies · 12/03/2015 22:53

Barnaby not keen on Tristan.

Sophronia · 12/03/2015 22:25

Tristan. I prefer Barnabas to Barnaby.

FunkyPeacock · 12/03/2015 22:02

I love Barnaby

Not keen on Tristan at all

thenextday · 12/03/2015 22:02

I can't imagine an adult Barnaby

pilates · 12/03/2015 22:01

Barnaby, Tristan is awful.

EthethethethChrisWaddle · 12/03/2015 22:00

They are both great names. I guess I should pick Barnaby as I have one myself! But I've always loved Tristan. Sigh, name regret (my youngest is 7, bit late to change names now!)

CaptainAnkles · 12/03/2015 21:52

I don't like either, but I'd choose Tristan if I had to pick one of them.

caughtinthemoment · 12/03/2015 21:49

Definitely Barnaby. Don't like Tristan at all.

tinymeteor · 12/03/2015 15:06

Both nice names, but both v posh. Personally I like posh, but it depends if that's what you're going for.

CultureSucksDownWords · 12/03/2015 15:04

Definitely Barnaby, that's a lovely name.

OnlyTheDepthVaries · 12/03/2015 15:03

I've got a Barnaby aka Barney....love it

HazleNutt · 12/03/2015 14:52

Barnaby makes me think of barnacles.

LaceyLee · 12/03/2015 14:28

Definitely Barnaby so you can use Barny as a nickname. I think Tristan sounds a bit pretentious and can't think of any nicknames for it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread