Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Using a name from a popular TV series... bad idea?

59 replies

terribletimes · 24/02/2016 00:16

I have a DS, he's 3.5 year and called Arthur. It was the only name we liked and the only name on our boys list.

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and we knew Arthur was going to be Arthur from about week 15. This baby still has no name :(

The problem is I really like the Name Tyrion, (pron. Tireeun) being Welsh it sounds like a "real" name to me and apparently does have celtic origin. But it's also a popular character from a book.

I also really like Henry, but our surname begins with a H so sounds a bit odd?!

We like James as a middle name with both names, but actually can we use James as a first name too. Is it a little bland? But then Henry isn't exactly novel is it?

ARGH - it's too hard. Everyone keeps saying "wait until he comes you will know" but I wont know and I wont have time to post on mumsnet then either :(

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Maverick66 · 26/02/2016 13:37

I like Alfred. And when the boys are older they would most likely be known as
Art and Alf
Artie and Alfie
I don't like names that are not instantly pronounceable iykwim
Sorry
My own son's name is Jonny

NotJanine · 26/02/2016 13:26

I don't watch GoT so wouldn't get the connection. From the spelling I would assume it was Tyrone

How about Talfryn?

Chewbecca · 26/02/2016 10:06

I know a Henry Hall who is a lovely little chap and his name flows beautifully to me. Hyphenating Henry-James would be v odd.

Really dislike Tyrion, sorry, I reckon the poor lad would be looking up how to change by deed poll in his teens.

scarfaceace · 26/02/2016 09:55

I seem to remember a Welsh boy called Rhydion - not sure if that's how to spell it, but it sounds sort of similar to Tyrion. To me, anyway. Also, someone suggested Owen, which is a lovely name.

JenEric · 26/02/2016 09:50

Ty and Ryan are common enough to give a good nickname that won't stand out if he gets self conscious about it. Ditto TJ.

JenEric · 26/02/2016 09:49

The problem with unusual names from books/shows/films that are currently popular is that they can date super fast. I would say it's fairly classic and old school though and does go with Arthur. People will assume you named for GoT though. I don't even watch GoT and I immediately thought of it. It depends of that bothers you.

A child can embrace the naming though. My DD is named Kara. She was actually named partially after Kara "Starbuck" Thrace from BSG. I say partially as we had 2 names and after watching BSG and hearing the name Kara a lot we just fell in love with it and discarded the other. BSG wasn't popular enough though for anyone outside of our geeky circle to comment.

Recently however Supergirl has been made into a TV show and her earth name is... yep Kara (although I actually had no idea this was a thing, I've never followed supergirl at all in the past). My Kara has totally embraced it though and thinks it's amazing. She is really happy that her name is the same as "someone super cool"

kittylh · 26/02/2016 09:30

It does make me think of GOT, but I do actually like Arthur and Tyrion together. If you use James as a middle, you've also got the option of a TJ!

By the time he's in bigger school, the show probably won't be on anymore (they'll run out of living characters before then, surely?!) so I don't see it being a massive problem. If you're fine with the comments you'll get in the near future, then I'd go ahead.

Mclaren37 · 26/02/2016 01:40

terribletimes I just realized the above is probably bad advice as actually we wouldn't change our son's name, so you shouldn't be dissuaded from a name you love either!
And I do like the mythical pairing of Arthur and Tyrion! Ty is nice if he wants other options when older. (Or even Rian/Ryan).
And hopefully all these shows will be unheard of by the time our kids are 10!

Mclaren37 · 26/02/2016 01:31

I like Tyrion, but tbh it did immediately make me think 'Game of Thrones' and I probably would assume that you named your boy after the show, which is not ideal. But then there may be more knowledge of the name in Wales? I only say this as our little one is called Archer, named long before the FX TV show. It was fine in the U.S, but back in the UK we do get comments about the show. It bothers me occasionally (it's a much more inappropriate character than Tyrion!) so just a warning in case it's something that would bother you.

terribletimes · 25/02/2016 20:06

yes good point and he will have a normal middle name to revert too if it really is hell on earth!

OP posts:
iklboo · 25/02/2016 19:43

It's not like you're thinking of calling him Paddington Wink

magpie17 · 25/02/2016 19:30

My DS has the same letter for first and surname, I like it! Henry James is nice but I don't think it works with a hyphen.

Henry and Arthur sound lovely together.

rosieliveson1 · 25/02/2016 18:22

I like Henry James :) I don't think you need the hyphen. The double letter really won't matter. My husband has S.. S.. and my sister is M... M... I've never actually noticed if you see what I mean!

FoolsAndJesters · 25/02/2016 18:15

Why on earth would anyone care if there kids names go together Confused. As long as they don't rhyme or sound too similar then I really don't see the problem.

DrSeussRevived · 25/02/2016 18:03

Jasper?
Edmund?

Stick with the Tudor theme!

terribletimes · 25/02/2016 17:36

rosieliveson1 thanks so much, my husband thinks it's awful and sounds like a green grocers / used car sales man - I don't think he realised when he said that my married initials are now H & H!

Would you name the baby Henry-James a first name to get away from the Henry H-? So when someone asks his names when he's older he could say say "Henry-James H-". Or is that a bit weird? I think I prefer it as a name by itself with James as a middle name?

OP posts:
rosieliveson1 · 25/02/2016 17:20

I think Arthur and Henry go together beautifully :) I don't think the double H matters at all.
I'm not sure about the GoT Link and Tyrion but do think that Henry and Arthur make a better pair.

terribletimes · 25/02/2016 17:16

I don't really mind people thinking I'm a GOT nerd, I'm more worried my son will hate it and think I've given him a name that will ruin his life Sad. I'm not sure it's weird enough for that to happen though?

I'll run Talliesin past DH, I'm not initially keen but will keep thinking about it because sometimes the name grows on you. Thanks Albert :)

OP posts:
NoCapes · 25/02/2016 17:15

Oh don't call your baby Tyrion
I've never read or watched GoT and even my first thought was the character in that
And it doesn't go with Arthur at all
And I just don't think it sounds nice

Stanley/Henry/George - all infinitely better

lornathewizzard · 25/02/2016 17:00

I have to admit, even as a fan of the show, I would roll my eyes at Tyrion. People will assume you've named DS after the character, even if you haven't. I don't particularly like it either.
But having said that, you probably shouldn't give a monkeys what people think anyway so if you both like it...

albertcampionscat · 25/02/2016 16:53

Tal -Yes - in. I think. Just thought it had the same celtic/unusual quality as Tyrion without the Game of Thrones problem.

terribletimes · 25/02/2016 16:47

How do you say it albertcampionscat - Tal-ee-us?

OP posts:
albertcampionscat · 25/02/2016 16:22

Talliesin?

terribletimes · 25/02/2016 15:52

That's the only thing stopping me Magpie17, people will think we were going from the GOT angle - which in 10 years might not matter anyway. But if you didn't know it was a GOT name wouldn't you think it sounds like a mythical/knightish name? To me Arthur is a name like that too, so in my head they do go.

But I realise that to other people who don't have the same though process as me and think along the classic old man name route then Stanley/Frank/Henry work better.

OP posts:
magpie17 · 25/02/2016 15:48

I like it but don't think it goes with Arthur at all! Arthur is a classic 'old man' name, which I love by the way and Tyrion just sounds like you are going for a GOT name. They don't really work as a pair for me.

I love Stanley though and pretty much all your other names!