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Baby names

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

Original poster

Underused English boys names..

98 replies

cakeandteajustforme · 08/11/2016 21:41

Expecting DS1 in the next few weeks. Would like to use an underused but classic name. DH no help - he removes names from the shortlist faster than I can add them!

I want some nice middle ground between the popular classics (William/Thomas/George) and the mumsnet 'classics' (Jolyon/Tarquin/Crispin).

My current shortlist includes:
Arthur
Corin
Edmund
Aubrey
Rupert

DH has vetoed (but I still love):
Laurence
Otis
Fintan
Ludo

What else might I like?

OP posts:
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Amithenormalone · 09/11/2016 19:35

Harvey
Henry
George
Alexander
Frankie

Frankiefarr · 09/11/2016 19:28

Hugh is timeless

Personally I think Algernon is great.

Niven, Phillip,

Mustangsallyis · 09/11/2016 18:16

There was a boy at my school whose name was Rowan and he was known as Roly

Original poster
cakeandteajustforme · 09/11/2016 12:58

Rufus and Osbert both have lots of potential, I think DH would park them in 'future dog names' category though (along with Basil, Monty). Shame as I do love them.

I like the nickname Roly, I think someone mentioned Roland upthread. What else could Roly be short for? (Would prefer not to name child after piano sitting in living room).

I'm inclined to agree with the 70s = overly popular.. just because there aren't many Davids at primary schools, I still work with about 23 of them!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/11/2016 12:35

Thanks! I visit a 1300-year-old church and graveyard. There's an Osbert in there. He died in about 1900.

Pinkponiesrock · 09/11/2016 12:30

There is only one William in my children's school out of over 200 children. Lots of Davids though, Nathans, Alfies, Sebastians, Finns and Finlays.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/11/2016 12:25

Osbert ! Now there's a name, not often heard 😂

expatinscotland · 09/11/2016 12:10

Osbert

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/11/2016 12:02

Ralph, fab name.
Ralph Jago ! 😄

Missingthesea · 09/11/2016 11:01

Jago = Jay-go.

Missingthesea · 09/11/2016 11:00

I recently met a lovely baby named Eric Smile

Gruffalosfriend · 09/11/2016 10:59

I'd have no idea how to pronouce Jago - is it Jag-oh? or Jay-oh?

lightsandresistance · 09/11/2016 10:58

Loads of Dominic and Miles boys in dc school.

Gruffalosfriend · 09/11/2016 10:57

Some underused classics that deserve a revival:

Edmund
Christopher
Dominic
Quentin
Raphael

Names like Steven, Andrew, Michael etc are still SO popular amongst the current population that they're a little 'dull' imo. In another 40 years or so they'll sound fresh to the next generation.

Original poster
cakeandteajustforme · 09/11/2016 10:56

Ooh interesting, FIL is Cornish and James is a name we both agree on despite its popularity so Jago is definitely going on the list.

OP posts:
Yokohamajojo · 09/11/2016 10:52

Patrick - Underused and lovely I think
Matthew
Alfred
Dean
Magnus/Manus
Symeon/Simon

daisypond · 09/11/2016 10:46

Inigo
Rafe
Casper
Julian
Jolyon
Giles
Gerard

MrsRolly · 09/11/2016 09:57

Jago is Cornish for James. Lovely name and plenty in Cornwall :)

QuimReaper · 09/11/2016 09:26

OP if you like Aubrey, how about Avery?

areyoubeingserviced · 09/11/2016 09:18

Alexander
Dominic

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/11/2016 09:14

Ernest
Norman
Reginald
Bertram
Oswald
Julius
Milford
Granville

katienana · 09/11/2016 08:46

Fate my ds1 is called David, we've only met one other child with the same name. It's top 50, just. We always have lovely comments on his name. My Dh is Edmund another lovely name.

ScarletSienna · 09/11/2016 08:39

I only know one Jago and I really like it. Christopher, Nicholas, Edmund and Rupert are great. How about Montgomery or is that too much?

Arthur is one of my least favourite names and is quite popular where I live.

Original poster
cakeandteajustforme · 09/11/2016 08:31

Oh and for completeness im also loving slightly fuddy duddy names like Basil, Herbert and Humphrey but DH won't hear any of it!
So any suggestion for this type of name but slightly more 'normal' would be much appreciated!!

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/11/2016 08:24

I like Edmund very much, from your list, also Laurence/Lawrence.
John is a great name, due a big come back.
Peter
Russell
Clive
Simon
Raymond
Vincent

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