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Baby names

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

Otto vs. Milo

36 replies

chinlo · 14/09/2016 12:24

Milo flows so nicely off my tongue, it's much less harsh than Otto, but it's difficult to imagine an adult Milo in my opinion. Plus everyone online says it reminds them of dogs and chocolate milk, even though I've never seen/heard of Milo powder or met any dogs called Milo (not worried about the Tweenies since I think that association is dying out and will continue to do so in the near future).

Otto, on the other hand, seems like a very cool name. On paper, I prefer it! It's different, and I love that it's palindromic too. It's a strong name. But it doesn't feel as nice to say as Milo does, and I don't know if I can imagine calling my son it.

So, a name I think is cool and manly but hard to imagine on a baby, vs. name I think sounds really lovely and is cute for a little boy but perhaps not great on a grown man?

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Pinklily1 · 16/09/2016 09:50

I love them both. OH said no to Milo as he associates it with the chocolate milk and dogs, but I don't care about that (we had a girl anyway). To me they are both strong names and I think will work at all ages.

0pti0na1 · 16/09/2016 09:04

Milo is nice, it sounds friendly and laid-back.

Otto is faddy and harsh.

soundsystem · 16/09/2016 08:03

I love Otto. Milo is fine. I agree with you though it's cute for a baby but harder to imagine on a grown up. Milo is also much more popular, if that's a consideration.

Anythewiser with the exception of Cosmo (as I know a toddler one) you've just listed out entire shortlist Grin

eatsleephockeyrepeat · 16/09/2016 07:57

... Arlo?

I do love the name Otto and think it works fine for a baby as well as a grown man :)

Thundercake · 16/09/2016 07:51

Both really cool, I think Otto depends on your accent - for example if you're somewhere where the T's wouldn't be pronounced properly it might sound odd. Milo is great. What about Otis or Barra (not a typo) ?

MimiSunshine · 16/09/2016 07:42

We had Milo as an option for a boy, my BF did get put off it by people saying its a dogs name. And we knew it was a drink in Aus, but we're not in Aus and if the drink ever came over here well the baby would have been here first. It's not like we or you would be choosing Kenco as your preferred baby name (I bet there is a Kenco)

But in the baby groups I've been too there are Milos, Arlos and Ottos as well as Hugo so they're all popular e Pugh that no one thinks them weird

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/09/2016 21:05

Otto makes me think of icy-eyed Gestapo in old war films.

Personally I think it's horrible. Would prefer Milo any day, though isn't it also the name of a Horlicks-type drink sold in many places abroad?

Motg82 · 14/09/2016 23:45

Love milo.

DramaAlpaca · 14/09/2016 23:43

Milo.

I really dislike Otto.

roseteapot101 · 14/09/2016 21:44

i like milo i think its nice

Sophronia · 14/09/2016 21:38

Otto

AnyTheWiser · 14/09/2016 19:36

I really like Milo, was going to have it but another baby in our group was named that just before Ds was born.
What about Cosmo or Ludo?
Or Ivo, or Murdo?
Or Sholto or Jago?

Jooni · 14/09/2016 19:30

I actually know more Ottos than Milos. It's definitely on the way up.

I really like both, but as Otto still feels a little bit quirkier and I do know a couple of canine Milos, I'll vote Otto. Great names.

bloomburger · 14/09/2016 17:24

Love Otto. I only know one but I know several Milos.

chinlo · 14/09/2016 17:19

Oh I don't know-o.

Me either-o Sad

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SusannahD · 14/09/2016 16:53

I think Milo is cool.

RiverTam · 14/09/2016 16:51

Otto. Not keen on Milo at all.

MitzyLeFrouf · 14/09/2016 16:50

Oh I don't know-o.

MortifiedinAsda · 14/09/2016 16:49

I have a Milo, its a lovely name and will suit him as a man too i think.

nennyrainbow · 14/09/2016 16:34

If you haven't got German or Austrian connections, I think you'll get a lot of people asking why he's got a foreign name if you call him Otto.

hels18 · 14/09/2016 16:15

I love the name Otto, although husband is not keen for a boy unfortunately. We are currently referring to bump as Otto until birth as it suits a surprise baby (girls name will be Ottilie).

BendydickCuminsnatch · 14/09/2016 14:28

*i watch a YouTuber

BendydickCuminsnatch · 14/09/2016 14:27

I LOVE Otto but not sure I could bring myself to use it after asking my Italian friend about it. He said its from back in the day when people just name their kids after where they were in the birth order, and it would be really weird if an Italian called their kid Otto now. But I'd be delighted to be told that's a ridiculous reason Grin

I was a youtuber and as well as an Otto she has Evan, Felix, Rufus and Henry (and Pearl), if any of those take your fancy?

I like the name Milo but again can't do it, every riding school I ever went to had a yappy Jack Russell called Milo.

Pipilangstrumpf · 14/09/2016 14:23

I prefer Milo.

Don't like Otto, it's a very unfashionable name in Germany at the moment.

heron98 · 14/09/2016 14:13

Wasn't there some big Nazi called Otto? Sounds like there should have been anyway.