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Baby names

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

Original poster

Clement, Clarence, Roscoe or Gilbert?

164 replies

ammature · 27/08/2015 13:13

We are totally settled on Astrid if we have a daughter, LOVE IT! but a little confused for a boy. We always had Roscoe in mind way before I was ever pregnant but since being pregnant have come up with a few others. Gilbert, my husband like Gil and I like Bert as nick names, worried child will have 2 diff nicknames! Also like Clarence, Roscoe and Clement, Florian is an outside possibility too. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
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Squooshed · 27/08/2015 16:45

OP I'm sure you adore your unborn child a ginormous amount and are trying to choose a name that you think he'll love. But when your tastes run to the more eclectic end of the scale and you look for feedback online it's inevitable that some of that feedback is going to be of the 'hell no' variety.

But if you and your husband love the name, and think it's a name that will carry him well through life then just go for it.

Because only proper cunts make negative comments about a baby's name when introduced to them in real life.

Original poster
ammature · 27/08/2015 16:42

I'm not calling anyone directly a cunt I just think a lot of the comments on this thread are quite shity and yes of course I'm attatched to these names but more so it's a real person I'm growing inside me so it just feels awful to hear people say you must not like your child to give him that name. Anyway I give up.

OP posts:
Laquila · 27/08/2015 16:39

OP I do appreciate your frustration but I also think you're overreacting. Whilst I think you've had some unnecessarily harsh responaes, you've not done yourself any favours by calling anyone a cunt. Having said that, I also think people should maybe think twice before being quite so blunt on these threads - people choosing baby names are pretty much always going to be liable to be hormonal and possibly get a bit too attached to their name choices. God knows I wasn't what you'd call totally calm and rational for a lot of my pregnancy so it can be hard to step back and not take offence. Chin up, and stick with the names you love - as PPs have said, it's only about whether you and your partner love the names in question.

Backforthis · 27/08/2015 16:35

Hate

Backforthis · 27/08/2015 16:33

I think it's pretty cunty to come onto a thread and say that you mustn't like your child to give it those names and be crushingly negative. Why bother to post when you every one of the (several) choices?

Original poster
ammature · 27/08/2015 16:33

God this thread is mumsnet at its worst. I seriously wish I hadn't asked. Perhaps I am over reacting but I find it very hurtful and negative to hear people call the names I've chosen ugly, drippy, wet and say I must not like my unborn child to name him xyz. Really? He will be bullied at comp? Do you not think that's a bit much? Its just extremely nasty to think that people can be so shitty about my unborn babies potential name. As some of the other posters have said if you don't like my choices that's fine I prob wouldn't like yours but you don't have to completely fuxking slate them for the laugh.

OP posts:
Squooshed · 27/08/2015 16:28

So it's bad to slate names but good to call people cunts.

Have I got it right?

Backforthis · 27/08/2015 16:23

If someone posts a thread and you don't like any of the 6 names mentioned maybe you could accept that this person has very different taste to you, leave the thread and not post just to slate them.

Costacoffeeplease · 27/08/2015 16:20

Of course you're overreacting - you know the names are unusual and you asked for opinions, if you're not looking for the approval of strangers, who you'll never even meet, then, shrug, call him whatever you want, and have done with it, but you did ask

Squooshed · 27/08/2015 16:18

Well then step away from the internet and keep future name conversations just between you and your husband.

Original poster
ammature · 27/08/2015 16:14

Well I don't.

OP posts:
Squooshed · 27/08/2015 16:12

A total cunt?

I think you're overreacting there.

Original poster
ammature · 27/08/2015 16:09

Thanks for your constructive comments I really appreciate it, and i understand that out name choices might not be for everyone. That said I agree that you can be constructive or even say you don't like them without being a total cunt about it- as you have. Yes we are never going to have an Oliver or grace but that doesn't mean I would slag off those names. Just not for us. Astrid is a definite and so don't really care about people's comments on this either way. The issues was that the way I feel about Astrid is not the way I feel about the boys names- I'm still uncertain. This thread has actually really upset me. I'm not looking for the approval of strangers on the Internet bit the total disdain some people seem to have for my suggestions is kind of horrible. I guess I'll keep thinking... Have found myself having just bought a baby name book Hmm

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 27/08/2015 16:01

If you don't like a name, its not hard to be polite about it or constructive about it without being an utter twat. You can point out problems with a name or say that its simply not to your taste.

Gilbert and Roscoe just aren't my cup of tea. I think there are other nicer 'bert' names out there and its a failing in my life to admit I know this, but the Roscoes are a family in Hollyoaks.

I like Clement a lot though, and its definitely on the rise and gaining popularity along with Clementine (which I don't like. go figure!). It will not be out of place in your son's generation.

Clarence I find a bit too similar to Clara or Claire. Its not awful but I personally prefer Laurence instead. (FWIW Clarence Clemons was Bruce Springsteen's saxophone player. He is not someone I would call effeminate).

Florian is a definite no though as its just a bit too frilly and I think many people not familiar with it, would assume it to be a girls name.

Just remember OP this isn't about what I like though. Its not about pleasing some randoms on the interwebs. Its down to how you feel about a name. If you love something, try and be aware of its possible pitifuls, and if you still think its right for you and your son go for it.

I love Astrid. But not said with an American accent... (just something to think about).

Marcipex · 27/08/2015 15:12

I like Roscoe and Gilbert.

Please don't call a boy Clemmie though.

Astrid is beautiful.

Squooshed · 27/08/2015 15:10

Spencer Perceval was the only PM to have been assassinated.

Top pub quiz fact!

merlottime · 27/08/2015 15:07

I love Astrid too. Not keen on the others, and I assoiate Clem/Clemmie with girls.

Alternative Prime Ministerial names from old:

Lloyd
spencer
Augustus
Arthur (too popular?)
Stanley (my fave I think)
Winston
Harold

Backforthis · 27/08/2015 14:57

I don't suppose you like Gerard or Tristan OP?

Squooshed · 27/08/2015 14:49

I know a Cnut.

Now there's a name that will present a few challenges.

StanSmithsChin · 27/08/2015 14:48
Squooshed · 27/08/2015 14:47

Although I do not love the name Gilbert I do love Gilbert Blythe.

I'm so conflicted!

Backforthis · 27/08/2015 14:46

I think Gilbert is fine. It wouldn't be my choice but it's a perfectly reasonable name. I love Clement but beyond Clement Freud I find it hard to imagine someone with that name. Roscoe, to me, seems very different from the other names and makes me think dog rather than child.

Some people will never veer away from the top 10 names and others are used to the names common in their environment and can't imagine that others' live lives with a very different name pool. Some are just cunts Wink

StanSmithsChin · 27/08/2015 14:43

I am happy your husband did not suffer Confused

Oh and don't worry you haven't outed yourself I still have no fucking clue who you are!

Lweji · 27/08/2015 14:40

Your friends and family won't tell you to your face, but see how enthusiastic they get.

Lweji · 27/08/2015 14:39

I hope your child is a girl.

Showing my age, but sheriff Roscoe B. Coltrane would be enough to put me off.
All the rest I don't like. Gilbert is the least bad, but definitely not Bert.
At least give him a better second name he can use instead.

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