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Baby names

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

Original poster

Final shortlist - opinions gladly received!!

65 replies

MummyNotMommy · 03/06/2015 12:08

Hi all! After some very difficult negotiations, myself and DH have narrowed our boy and girl lists down to 5 for each. I think our final decision will be made once we have seen the resulting baby (in a few short weeks!), but I would really appreciate your reactions to the below names...

BOYS:
Huxley
Rafferty
Barnaby
Montgomery (would be Monty on a daily basis)
Jasper

GIRLS:
Gretchen
Juniper
Tabitha
Agatha
Clementine

Any negative connotations for you? Stand out favourites?

Thanks!

OP posts:
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TempsPerdu · 03/06/2015 15:34

I'm another one who much prefers your girls' list to your boys'.

Huxley - archetypal London meeja try-hard name. (I know a Huxley, and his parents are lovely, but totally fulfil this stereotype.) Doesn't have an especially attractive sound either - makes me think of a slightly pudgy school bully for some reason.
Rafferty - was the C-list celeb version of Huxley a decade or so ago. Now manages to sound pretentious and dated at once.
Barnaby - quite nice. It's a jaunty, happy, affable name (but perhaps lacks a bit of gravitas?)
Montgomery/Monty - too obviously posh for me
Jasper - like this

Gretchen - agree that it sounds harsh. Love Greta though.
Juniper - love this (and Juno) but it's very much 'of the moment'
Tabitha - beautiful.

Agatha - not a fan - strongly dislike the 'ag' sound and nn Aggie.
Clementine - lovely - elegant and underused

My 'short shortlist' would be Jasper, Barnaby, Tabitha, Clementine and possibly Juniper if you're not fussed about faddiness.

reuset · 03/06/2015 15:12

Now, you try to be an honest little lady and I'll try to stop 'throwing cliches'.
Whoops. Looks like this patronising lark is contagious.

Was that supposed to be patronising? Oh.

P.S. I am so sorry for this...derail, OP Confused

Rosieliveson · 03/06/2015 15:10

My favourites are Barnaby, Jasper and Tabitha.

I am nearing 20 weeks and busy compiling short lists too. I imagine ringing the relatives afterwards and see whether I'd feel silly telling my sister. So far that test has put me off Rupert though which I actually really like Hmm

CrystalMcPistol · 03/06/2015 15:07

Of course it was your intention. Now, you try to be an honest little lady and I'll try to stop 'throwing cliches'.

Whoops. Looks like this patronising lark is contagious.

reuset · 03/06/2015 15:03

If you felt patronised then obviously I'm very sorry indeed. It wasn't my intention.

No more cliché throwing though, please, I'm still smarting from the last one.

CrystalMcPistol · 03/06/2015 14:58

No. It was genuine question. You're patronising and I was wondering if it was just an affectation.

Grin
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 03/06/2015 14:52

Only like Gretchen to be honest.
Sorry but I mean no ill will or disrespect but unless you're an
A list celebrity
Next in line to the throne or at least Royalty in some way then they are trying to be something you're not and try too hard, but it's none of my business

reuset · 03/06/2015 14:52

Are you naturally this patronising or has it taken years of practice?

Ouch! You're throwing clichés at me now.

Grin
Luckystar82 · 03/06/2015 14:51

BOYS:
Barnaby
Montgomery (like Monty)

GIRLS:
Clementine

Original poster
MummyNotMommy · 03/06/2015 14:50

JessieMcJessie spectacularly helpful. Thank you.

OP posts:
abearcalledpaddington · 03/06/2015 14:49

I thin it depends where you live. I live in an upper middle class area in the SE so none of those would be laughed at.

I would choose any of those over the boring Jack, Thomas, Amelias and Olivias that i hear all the time.

TheoreticalOrder · 03/06/2015 14:46

I can't bear any of them I'm afraid. They all scream "try hard" to me.

JessieMcJessie · 03/06/2015 14:46

Please don't teach young Barnaby or Juniper to say "myself and..".
Please.

abearcalledpaddington · 03/06/2015 14:45

I know 3 Huxleys and 2 Montys, good names. I like all the boys names really!

I have a Tabitha and im glad i chose it, but she does call herself Tab though.

I like all the girls names except Juniper.

CrystalMcPistol · 03/06/2015 14:40

Are you naturally this patronising or has it taken years of practice?

reuset · 03/06/2015 14:37

I can't imagine people give a name without being aware of currently popular books/cartoons/films currently featuring the chosen name.

Original poster
MummyNotMommy · 03/06/2015 14:13

Ha! Some of these comments are brilliant!

Definitely not offended by any of them - and wouldn't be embarrassed to name my baby any of them (obviously, as they are my choices!)

But still very useful to get honest opinions. I very much doubt anyone in real life will be as honest once the baby has actually been named, so getting a heads up is very useful!

Keep them coming - I can take it.

OP posts:
CrystalMcPistol · 03/06/2015 13:57

After the first few reactions I think they might. Grin

What's the grin for?

I can't imagine people give a name without being aware of currently popular books/cartoons/films currently featuring the chosen name.

HahaHarrie · 03/06/2015 13:53

Agatha and Monty or Jasper

Huxley - too try hard even for a dogs name
Gretchen - just very hard sounding

reuset · 03/06/2015 13:53

I'd assume if someone chose the name Huxley for their child it might be a good indication that they didn't find the name to be all that embarrassing.

After the first few reactions I think they might. Grin

Sorry OP, I'm being very unkind to poor Huxley now. You have good lists though so obviously not lacking in taste.

fleamadonna · 03/06/2015 13:52

"MONTY YOU TERRIBLE CUNT!!!"

it's a cult classic so his peers would almost certainly shout this at him at some stage of his life.

I still quite like it though...

FunkyPeacock · 03/06/2015 13:51

Barnaby or Monty for a boy

Agatha is my favourite for a girl, I quite like Tabitha & Clementine also

Sorry but not keen on the others

vitaminC · 03/06/2015 13:45

Huxley is too try-hard in my opinion. The other boy names are fine. I especially like Jasper Smile

I don't really like Juniper and Gretchen is awful. It sounds far too similar to retching and wretched to be attractive as a name.

Tabitha and Clementine are lovely. I prefer the French Agathe (pron. a-GATT) to Agatha, however.

FruitOwl · 03/06/2015 13:45

The song went, "everybody knows Huxley Pig (oink, oink)". Sadly it's all I'd think of with Huxley.

My favourites are Barnaby and Tabitha.

CrystalMcPistol · 03/06/2015 13:43

I'd assume if someone chose the name Huxley for their child it might be a good indication that they didn't find the name to be all that embarrassing.