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Baby names

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

Original poster

Barnaby or Joshua?

38 replies

InTheLostAndFound · 28/03/2015 20:20

Ok so our gorgeous boy has arrived and is still nameless, the only two names myself and my partner can agree on are Barnaby or Joshua.
I love Barnaby but am not too keen on Barney and is Joshua just too popular these days? Any thoughts ideas would be most welcome as the newborn sleepless nights are making it harder to decide!

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EthethethethChrisWaddle · 31/03/2015 20:04

I'm biased as I have a Barnaby (shortened to Barney) He's only 8, but I'm pretty sure he won't grow up to be a posh twat.

Joshua is also lovely, but it is really popular here, if any of my children had been called it they would have been one of several in their year.

So I'd say Barnaby!

DeathMetalMum · 30/03/2015 20:17

I prefer Barnaby only because I notice far too many people mis-pronouncing Joshua as Josswa and it would grate on me.

crazycatlady82 · 30/03/2015 20:13

I like Barnaby or Barnabus

MamaLazarou · 30/03/2015 20:10

Barnaby. The UK reached Peak Joshua some years ago.

Congratulations!

DianeLockhart · 30/03/2015 17:50

Joshua

I really like it and don't actually hear it that often these days though it might vary by area

Barnaby is nice but definitely a bolder choice so depends how brave you are!

badgerhammock · 30/03/2015 12:00

I have a Joshua. He's the only one in his nursery (about 50 children) so not that common round here (W Yorks).

VT82 · 30/03/2015 11:51

Joshua is popular, but I would still use it for mine if the OH agreed.

Barnaby I really don't like at all.

LicoriceComfit · 29/03/2015 21:23

Sounds like you have doubts. What about Reuben?

Original poster
InTheLostAndFound · 29/03/2015 20:59

We're still deciding....why is it so tricky!! We have a hyphenated surname so I'm thinking Barnaby Dada-da might be a bit of a mouthful, although our daughter has a 3 syllable name which works really well with our surname.
I'd agree that Barnaby and Joshua conjure up very different people and is Barnaby grown up enough when he's older? ??

OP posts:
Sophronia · 29/03/2015 20:24

I prefer Barnabas to Barnaby.

Plateofcrumbs · 29/03/2015 19:04

Oh and I also quite like the fact it is a bit 'boring' - I have an unusual name and find it a bit a burden sometimes.

Plateofcrumbs · 29/03/2015 19:00

Joshua, but I have one so am biased! Grin

We kind of settled on it before I realised how popular it was. But in the end I decided popular wasn't a bad thing. I quite like it when we meet other Joshuas now.

NadiaWadia · 29/03/2015 18:00

Joshua is nice.

Barnaby has a nice sound, but somehow to me is associated with very little boys only or teddy bears.

Bobian123 · 29/03/2015 17:17

OP, let us know what you decide Grin

stormyboots · 29/03/2015 14:42

Barnaby is a great name, very distinctive and lovely for a little toddler but equally great for the man he will become.

I don't like Joshua at all, sorry.

Do you have any other dc, maybe try out both names next to their name/s because in future you'll probably be calling names out together a lot.

Congratulations!

FishCanFly · 29/03/2015 13:40

Barnaby. Joshua is nice, but quite boring

StrawberryMojito · 29/03/2015 08:56

I love both. Joshua is more popular but I don't know any under 5.
I went to school with a Barnaby who was never a Barney and when I was in hospital after having dd, the baby in the bed opposite was a Barnaby and the parents were planning to use Barney. I think it can be largely decided by the parents as to whether to use the nn.

5secondstilltakeoff · 29/03/2015 08:50

Another vote for Barnaby.

flipflump · 29/03/2015 08:28

Love Barnaby. Joshua is too popular and a bit plain for me.

OnlyTheDepthVaries · 29/03/2015 08:12

I've got a Barnaby - always called Barney. I love it - great name to grow up with. He is now 17 and not a posh twat!!!

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 28/03/2015 22:52

Joshua

Hellobump15 · 28/03/2015 22:40

Barnaby is one of our final 2 if this bump turns out to be a boy, so that gets my vote.

I really am not sure that nicknames are an absolute given nowadays or at least not as much as they were in my school days in the 80s, when if it could be shortened it would be!

We have a son (4) with a 4 syllable name & he goes by that even at school. Our elder son has friends including Thomas, William, Daniel, Matthew, Edward etc and none of them are shortened or will be I imagine anytime soon.

So I don't think I'd worry that Barnaby will automatically end up a Barney

LicoriceComfit · 28/03/2015 21:56

Barnaby is very nice.

Clarabumps · 28/03/2015 21:46

Barnaby!!!!

Bobian123 · 28/03/2015 21:37

OP-if it helps, as well as mainly calling our DS Barnaby we also do just use "B" as in the first letter/last syllable. Kind of an all or (almost) nothing approach!! It's sweet and suits his little personality.