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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aghh boys names - unusual but not crazy

86 replies

Laquila · 12/11/2015 11:26

I love (but cannot use, for various reasons):

Gabriel
Rowan
Roman
Laurence/Laurie

I like, but not quite enough to use:

Alexander

I think I like, but am dithering over:

Jasper
Barnaby
Kester (nn Kit)
Gwilym
Auden

Help!! Any other suggestions?

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IoraRua · 12/11/2015 16:26

I like Corin!
Also Ezra, Elijah, Ciar, Lionel, Jared, Isaiah.

IoraRua · 12/11/2015 16:24

Barnaby is dire.
Auden...I would put it in the same mental category as Robin. Probably expect a boy but wouldn't be surprised if it was a girl.
Conrad is lovely.
Alexander is alright, I've met so many it's zzz to me now.
I cannot stand Kester, it's too birdlike and seems very trendy.
Gwilym....not sure of pronunciation but nice enough.
Jasper is grand.

CaptainKit · 12/11/2015 16:23

Jumping in to say I have the exact same problem. I sort of like some boys' names, but don't love any of them. Of course el bump has waggled his bits at the ultrasound tech and so I've had to abandon the easier list of girls' names.

Of the suggestions so far I'm loving Kester with the nn Kit. My bump is unofficially named 'Kit' at the moment as it's the word for a baby ferret, and I volunteer for a ferret rescue, so it became a cute shorthand and an alternative to 'peanut' or 'bean' or any of the other cute nicknames for an unborn baby. Also hence my current MN nickname.

Just so I'm not just here to steal all your suggestions, here are a few of the less common names from my shortlist (which just may be a spreadsheet, and just may contain the 2013/2014 INS numbers for each considered name because I just may be putting too much thought into this!)

Duncan (doesn't go with my D- surname, but is a fab name and other people should definitely consider it!)
Jeremy (many of them in the news both for good and evil depending on your political associations; Corbin, Clarkson, Paxman, but it's a great name and by the time baby's grown up those people will be stepping out of the spotlight)
Westley (much loved Princess Bride character)
Gideon (universally hated on MN because of the George Osbourne connection)

Original poster
Laquila · 12/11/2015 16:20

Tudor! We definitely couldn't carry that off...;)

I also liked Corin originally but don't know I still do. Does anyone have any strong feelings about that one?!

OP posts:
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 12/11/2015 16:20

Uhtred

I really like your top names and they are a good fit with Nathaniel but really do not like
Jasper
Barnaby
Kester (nn Kit)

Gwilym
Auden

I'm more interested in why you feel you can't use 4/5 of your favourite names? People don't own them.

CoralieConfused · 12/11/2015 16:17

Reuben is not unusual...

BertrandRussell · 12/11/2015 16:12

I have a Patrick. He has never come up against another in this country. Fab name.

Playdoughcaterpillar · 12/11/2015 16:12

Alistair or Reuben, I love them!

doceodocere · 12/11/2015 16:12

Tudor
Cassius
Casimir (I love this but DH has vetoed)
Hector

Original poster
Laquila · 12/11/2015 16:09

I do quite like Alasdair but feel it needs a Gaelic connection (which is admittedly ridiculous when I love Gwilym and don't have a Welsh connection...)

OP posts:
CoralieConfused · 12/11/2015 16:02

Quillan is much nicer than Quentin, IMO! I love Alasdair, don't really see it as unusual though.

weebarra · 12/11/2015 15:57

Alasdair?

Hobbitty · 12/11/2015 15:56

Jasper, Roman and Quentin get my vote! Great classic underused names.

Laurence is a French name to my ears, the feminine form of Laurent. I'd spell it Lawrence if you choose it.

Moohoomeltdown · 12/11/2015 15:54

I like Aubrey too. I'd think poet.

drinkyourmilk · 12/11/2015 15:47

I love Austin, Gabe and Karl

Original poster
Laquila · 12/11/2015 15:47

Coralie, I'd never heard of Quillan - I quite like it, I think!

Aubrey does sound more feminine to me than Auden. I like Augustin too but don't know if we could carry it off!

OP posts:
Minimaus · 12/11/2015 15:45

I love lots of names on here - in particular Auden, Roman, Quentin and Reuben!

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 12/11/2015 15:34

Btw my 30s are a tiny dot in the distance so maybe my age has something to do with it.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 12/11/2015 15:32

Yes, the poet.

I also think of Aubrey as a boy's name but nowadays people seem to like it for their DDs.

CoralieConfused · 12/11/2015 14:56

Quillan?

Original poster
Laquila · 12/11/2015 13:32

I really appreciate these suggestions, thank you! Not keen on Quentin but I do like Austin. I do know one other but he lives a long way away. Not sure about Lincoln - sounds a bit...American, but I'm aware that's just because of the car and president! Quentin doesn't really do it for me. I used to really like Malachy/Malachi, but not so much now - I do quite like Mal though.

Donkeys, is it the poet association that makes you thinks Auden is a boy (I know it wasn't his first name), or just the sound of the name?

OP posts:
Hastagwhatever · 12/11/2015 13:29

Malachy

Moohoomeltdown · 12/11/2015 13:29

Austin and Quentin and Lincoln. All classic, uncommon yet not weird at all... Any good?

celtictoast · 12/11/2015 13:28

I like Laurence, Ewan and Alexander.

Kit, Conrad and Auden are a bit "current" for me.

Original poster
Laquila · 12/11/2015 13:23

I think it's be hard to avoid calling him Barney, though! Conrad is sort of on my list, actually, but I don't really like the nn Con, and despite best intentions to never shorten a name, we never managed to avoid it with first son (Nathaniel) so am not confident that we'd so so with number 2! I really like Joel but close friends have one, and again, like Alexander it's aomehow in my list of "Names I like and that is be happy for other people to name their children, but that I just can't see me using". (I know that's not a very snappily-titled list.)

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