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Baby names

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

Come rate/slate my shortlists...

54 replies

themerchantofvenice · 30/05/2015 08:42

Ok, so here are my shortlists for DC 1. Please come and rate/slate the names.

Girls:
Ruth
Dorothy
Judith
Matilda

Boys:
Miles
Marcus
Victor
Gus
Tobias
Magnus

Context: DD/DS will grow up in a naice part of London. Surname is double-barrelled and something like Reith-Barker.

First post so apologies if I have got the etiquette wrong. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
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DramaAlpaca · 05/06/2015 14:43

I really like your choices, OP.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy & your baby Flowers

VT82 · 05/06/2015 14:40

It sounds like it's too late to change your mind, but here are my thoughts anyway...

Don't mind any of your boys names, but don't like any of your girls names!

Judith in particular, sorry! Confused It reminds me of the baby born on the TV show The Walking Dead - they called her Judith, and it makes me and my OH laugh every time we hear it. It just doesn't sound right for a 21st century baby girl. I imagine Judith as a middle aged woman who always does a great job contributing to the annual work's bake-a-cake charity fundraiser.

With your surname, I could imagine a Sasha or a Natasha?

I'd also be tempted not to bother with a middle name if he or she is going to have a double-barrelled surname, unless you were going to use a meaningful family name. But that's completely personal choice of course.

fellowship33 · 05/06/2015 13:19

Ruth - this is one of those names that I cannot understand people liking; it is so plain and boring
Dorothy - I hate this. Again plain and boring.
Judith - see above
Matilda - I quite like Matilda and it has lovely nns.

Boys:
Miles - like it
Marcus - like it, maybe a tad pretentious
Victor - very 'now' - in a bad way. Are you and the dad sporty? Don't do it if the sporty genes aren't there!
Gus - fat name
Tobias - okay
Magnus - not sure whether my response is 'what on earth are you thinking' or 'actually that's quite nice'..

wesH · 05/06/2015 10:52

Ruth: This is a nice name. I once knew a horrible Ruth, but that couldn't ruin the name for me because I think it is so sweet.
Dorothy: This is not such a great name, other ones on your list are better
Judith: This is not a good name
Matilda: I personally like this name but it is very popular these days so if that bothers you, avoid it

Miles: A bit pretentious!!!
Marcus: This is nice, I like the name Mark
Victor: I dont really have an opinion on this one
Gus: This is a nickname - what would it be short for?
Tobias: cute I guess?
Magnus: This was the name of Miss Honey's dead father in Matilda by Roald Dahl

Rhubarbgarden · 04/06/2015 00:15

Good choices. You have similar taste in names to me - I have a Gus.

akorda · 02/06/2015 19:34

Dorothy is lovely! nn Dolly/Thea?

Victor and Miles are my favourites out of your boys' names.

Both cool and slightly unusual.
You're right about Tobias - there are loads of Tobys at the moment, def. a trending name.

themerchantofvenice · 31/05/2015 17:46

Thank you everyone for your opinions. We have decided! Drum roll please for...

Judith Matilda Reel-Barker

Magnus Tobias Reel-Barker

(fake but similar surname for effect)

We won't be telling anyone IRL until DC arrives so thanks for giving me an audience to share my excitement!

OP posts:
temperamentalamongcorvids · 31/05/2015 07:39

Stupid phone, sorry.
Judith - love this too. Judy is a cute nn
Matilda - so bored of this now.

Boys:
Miles - sloaney
Marcus - yes
Victor - don't personally like it but can see why you would.
Gus - short for Angus or Fergus, or indeed Magnus
Tobias - but not Toby
Magnus- brilliant

temperamentalamongcorvids · 31/05/2015 07:37

Great List!

Girls:
Ruth - love this.
Dorothy - this is having a renaissance, isn't it? Will you still like it in 5 years if there are a few around
Judith
Matilda

Boys:
Miles
Marcus
Victor
Gus
Tobias
Magnus

manicinsomniac · 31/05/2015 01:05

Girls - Matilda is my favourite by a long way but, as you've ruled it out, I'd pick Ruth out of the other three. Also quite like Dorothy but not keen on Judith.

Boys - I don't really like your top 3 (do love Tobias/Toby though) but Marcus would be my pick of the three. Really dislike Magnus, it sounds like someone who thinks he's better than everyone else.

Fridgedooropen · 31/05/2015 00:13

Ruth is a terrific strong female name. From your boys' list I love Victor.

DramaAlpaca · 30/05/2015 23:29

I really like Marcus & Magnus, and Miles is OK.

Of your girls' names I like Dorothy & Judith a lot, I think they sound sort of retro & cool. Ruth has the same vibe, but I don't like it as much.

ButterflyOfFreedom · 30/05/2015 20:47

Matilda and Marcus are my favourites.
Ruth and Tobias also lovely.

PlainHunting · 30/05/2015 20:45

Love Ruth. Not keen on the other girls names.

Like Miles best from your boy list

Marisola · 30/05/2015 20:31

I've known a fair few Marcus-es in my life, and not one has ever been called Mark.

albertcampionscat · 30/05/2015 20:01

Love Ruth.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 30/05/2015 20:00

Ruth- don't think the alliteration is a problem
Dorothy- a bit hipster! Probably not a problem in a hip part of London though ??
Judith- I actually think it's quite a pretty sound (although I know you don't want pretty!)

Miles- yes a bit wet
Marcus- I know 2 Marcus' (in their late 20's) and they are both known as Marcus, never mark
Magnus- just hate it, sorry!

themerchantofvenice · 30/05/2015 19:50

Wow, thanks people! Taking into account your thoughts we have narrowed it down to the names below but still have some questions...

Ruth - is this too alliterative with our surname which is like Reel-Barker?
Dorothy - does this scream hipster?
Judith - is this just too "solid"? I love it's strength but it does seem to divide opinion!

Miles - is this a bit "wet"?
Marcus - is this a bit boring/popular compared to the others? Would he end up a Mark?
Magnus - is this ok of he isn't 6'5? I feel it's fine but would be pleased to hear I'm not the only one!

Thoughts much appreciated!

OP posts:
matchingmoll · 30/05/2015 16:05

Love Ruth, Judith and Dorothy - probably in that order.
Only really like Victor from your boys' names - Magnus is okay, though.

Marisola · 30/05/2015 14:24

Judith and Marcus for me.

Definitely not Jude, that's a man's name, I wish people would stop poaching male names for girls.

Of the others. I like Victor, Miles and Magnus.
Matilda is too popular now, and I hate Tilly.
Ruth seems hard-faced to me, probably because of the word 'ruthless'.
Dorothy I like, but Judith will be more unusual.

mrstweefromtweesville · 30/05/2015 14:08

Ruth, Matilda, Marcus and Tobias meet the MrsTwee standard for baby-names. 'My' version of Matilda has an h in it - Mathilda. My Tanith has only the one n, and my Lilleth has an e.

But your boy has to be Charles, James or William and your girl could be Sophie, Eleanor or Edith.

Benchmark · 30/05/2015 13:56

I think we have different taste in names but out of your list I like Dorothy and Matilda.
Not keen on your boys names but my favourite would be Tobias.

HootOnTheBeach · 30/05/2015 13:55

Judith & Victor

Allthatnonsense · 30/05/2015 13:24

I like all of your boys choices, but none of your girls.

They all sound a bit clunky and middle aged. Matilda is ok, but very popular.

WindMeUpAndLetMeGo · 30/05/2015 13:15

Love Matilda, not keen on any of the boys names though.