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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic/boring vs unusual/weird - help us choose!

40 replies

Bubbinsmakesthree · 08/03/2017 15:07

DH and I have very different ideas on boys names.

I prefer popular classic names with clear diminutives - top of my list are Alexander and Thomas. DH is not a fan, he thinks they are boring and too common.

DH likes more unusual, strong names - his suggestions include Adair and Conrad. I think they are too 'hard' sounding and I don't like names that don't have potential for a diminutive/nickname (unless they are softer sounding short names - I quite like Leo).

Any ideas for names that DH and I might agree on? We're probably looking for vintagey/classic but a bit unusual with option for a nickname/diminutive. I have got literally nothing that meets these criteria!

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Sugarpiehoneyeye · 10/03/2017 18:47

Lemuel
Leighton
Leland
Levison

10Betty10 · 10/03/2017 18:19

*Adair even.

10Betty10 · 10/03/2017 18:18

How about Aidan/Aiden instead of Aidair? Has the more classic sound you like but still a little less popular?

Original poster
Bubbinsmakesthree · 10/03/2017 12:19

I think it's very difficult to know in advance whether an unusual name will be a gift or a burden.

My name is quite individual but I have never felt it suited the individual that I am.

OP posts:
oldbirdy · 10/03/2017 09:36

Molly what a nasty thing to say. Would it be OK for me to say 'i sneer inwardly whenever I hear a boy called Conrad or Arlo; so obviously "try hard" '.

Ironically in my kids school there are dozens of Finns, Stans and Wilfs. Very few Peters, Michaels or Patricks.

CountMagnus · 10/03/2017 09:26

I yawn inwardly when I hear names like Thomas, Oliver etc, just so so overdone, millions everywhere so gives the boy no individuality at all. They're not "classic" they are boring and safe.

A child doesn't need an outlandish name to give him / her individuality, what a ridiculous statement.

crapfatbanana · 09/03/2017 23:30

Adam
Alexei
Micah
Colm
Damian
Verne
Lawrence
Drew
Eamonn
Huck
Ralph
Frank
Tristan
Peter
Clive

mollyminniemo · 09/03/2017 10:26

I agree with your DH and I think you should take his opinion into account given he also grew up with a name considered boring- and doesn't want this for his future son. I yawn inwardly when I hear names like Thomas, Oliver etc, just so so overdone, millions everywhere so gives the boy no individuality at all. They're not "classic" they are boring and safe.

BookHunter · 09/03/2017 08:59

Hadley
Edmund
Travis

vitaminC · 09/03/2017 08:55

Alasdair jumped out at me as the perfect compromise between Alexander and Adair!

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 09/03/2017 08:46

Vincent (Vince, Vinnie)
Alistair (Al, Ali)
Patrick (Paddy, Pat, Patch)
Jonathan (Jon, Jonny)

All still classic names but slightly lower down the top 100 than Alexander & Thomas

Original poster
Bubbinsmakesthree · 09/03/2017 08:41

Grace - I completely agree about classic names!

Lots of good suggestions here, will run through with DH though I still like Alexander best

OP posts:
BingThing · 09/03/2017 08:35

Flynn (but biased!)
Theo
Elias
Hanley
Evan
Idris
Gabriel
Rafe

GraceGrape · 08/03/2017 22:57

Nothing wrong with classic names. They are classic for a reason. Also, it is your DC who will have to live with the name, not your dh. I have a relatively unpopular although not outlandish name but as a shy child I felt it singled me out, which I hated. I would have been absolutely mortified to have a name like Adair. There seem to have been plenty of good compromises suggested here.

OrlandoTheCat · 08/03/2017 22:49

Jackson?

OrlandoTheCat · 08/03/2017 22:48

Wilfred...shortened to Wilf, which is cute.

Joinourclub · 08/03/2017 21:53

Dominic
Cameron
Callum
Nathanial
Lachlan

SchnitzelVonCrumb · 08/03/2017 21:49

You are getting so many great suggestions!

Leo
Casper/Caspar
Archie

MelinaMercury · 08/03/2017 21:49

Conrad/Konrad is very popular around here (largely amongst the Polish community), as is Finn and Leon. Very much depends on where you live with respect to popularity though i guess!

Ruairi and Evan were both top of our list for a boy second time around.

How about Thorvin, Blake, Sebastian, Issac, Corey, Callan, Ethan, Luca, Luke, Derren, Jacob, Ellis, Hayden, Harris?

MadameJosephine · 08/03/2017 21:32

Franklin
Edison
Vincent
Sidney
Stanley

OneSecondAfter · 08/03/2017 21:17

Ivo

Original poster
Bubbinsmakesthree · 08/03/2017 21:10

witsender Xander and Sandy are part of the reason I really like Alexander - but there's also the safe option of Alex and I like the full name too.

I like Edwin from the recent suggestions and will try some of the others out on DH.

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 08/03/2017 20:39

Dashiel (Dash).

witsender · 08/03/2017 19:22

I'm biased as we have an Alex, sometimes known as Xander. Someone once called him Sandy which was a diminutive too apparently. I haven't met another little ones recently.

ToastVacuum · 08/03/2017 17:05

Caspar
Sebastian
Alistair
Samuel
Lucas
Christopher
Gregory
Austin
Niall
Leonard
Clement
Victor
Curtis
Gabriel
Saul
Edwin
Anthony
Levi
Dominic
Maxwell
Tristan
Frederick
Benedict
Nathaniel
Alaric
Nicholas

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