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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aidan, Ryan or Liam? Final choices..

33 replies

Cheburashka · 04/09/2015 10:42

Hi all

Desperately need help with a name for our first baby. Our final list consists of Ryan, Liam and Aidan (DH half Irish). The problem is our surname (Axon). We love Aidan but it doesnt sound great with the surname. Ryan and Liam sound a bit better but we dont like them as much as Aidan. Any advice? Is Aidan a definite no? Do you have any preferences among these 3 names? Confused

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floatyflo · 04/09/2015 12:23

I'll be honest I don't really like any of them!
But I think Liam works best with your surname.

Tiggeryoubastard · 04/09/2015 12:21

Aidan is great, and agree with pp. it's a totally different style to Liam and Ryan. They're not the sort of names I'd personally choose. Ryan has always been one of 'those' names and sadly Liam has now become one.

Squooshed · 04/09/2015 12:20

Personally though I think Ryan is the odd one out as Ryan is a surname that has only in recent years been used as a first name. Both Liam and Aidan are ancient Irish names.

NullaBore · 04/09/2015 12:20

Aidan definitely. Was to be dd2 name if she was ds Smile

Squooshed · 04/09/2015 12:18

Aidan's my favourite.

Aidan Turner, Aidan Gillen.......need I go on?

PermetsTu · 04/09/2015 12:16

I find that Aidan is a very different "type" of name to Ryan and Liam (and I much prefer it). Ryan and Liam I see as very similar to each other.

I don't suppose I'm explaining myself very well. For example:

Carter, Mason or Benjamin
Joshua, William or Morgan
Ptolemy, Tristan or Brandon

In the examples above, I'd say the first two names are similar in feel, style, fashion, use etc and the third seems a bit out of place. I wonder if that's why you feel like you prefer Aidan, because it's slightly different to the other two? The other two sound similar, same number of syllables, same stress etc but somehow Aidan is different.

I think Aidan's fine with your surname btw and it's a lovely name. Not that the other two are perfectly acceptable, just Aidan stands out as clearly the best of the three imo.

afink · 04/09/2015 12:06

Go with Aidan. I don't think it sounds bad with your surname at all and it's a fab name.

weegiemum · 04/09/2015 10:50

Clearly Aidan, it is the one you love and also the Best Boys Name Ever! My dh was born/brought up in Ireland and is half Irish, and it was our choice even though we don't live there.

Choose the name you love - we have a awful surname that nothing at all goes with, so just chose what we loved and have never regretted it. Our Aidan is now 13 and it's a great name as they grow up too.

That said, our nephew is Ryan and it's ok too. But choose Aidan!