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Baby names

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

Original poster

Slightly unusual boys names with great nicknames?

84 replies

user1471547428 · 12/05/2017 00:04

Hello, we have a son Raphael, known as Raffy or Rafe. We chose the name partly because we loved all the different nicknames.
If the next baby is a boy, I'm really having trouble thinking of any names.
I'd like something else a little unusual but doesn't have to be incredibly rare. And a good nickname (but not a very common one like Nick, Ben, Ali, Ed).
Names I might quite like are Rowan, Tristan, Leander, Griffin if that gives an idea of style.
Bonus points if it's Hebrew or Irish in origin.
Thank you!

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CrispyBathTowel · 16/05/2017 18:29

Joah nn Joe/Joey?

Becklit · 15/05/2017 10:18

If you like Jem but not Jeremy, I know of a little James that goes by Jem. Also love the Christopher/Kit suggestion and Alexander/Xander suggestion!

WellErrr · 14/05/2017 19:58

Casper - Cass

wizzler · 14/05/2017 19:49

I was going to suggest Jeremy.. nn Jem as I think thats fabulous.

Just one word of caution OP... you dont always get to choose the NN... he might just get called something age 4 at school which sticks for the rest of his life!

bridgetreilly · 14/05/2017 19:43

The other thing to remember is that nicknames don't have to be related to the actual name. Some of the best ones come up in completely different ways after the child is born. So if you love a name but can't think of a nickname, don't worry about that, just use it anyway.

Original poster
user1471547428 · 14/05/2017 19:07

I can think of many many amazing girls names but buys are very hard!

OP posts:
BendydickCuminsnatch · 14/05/2017 11:17

OP I have 6 months left too ;) early nov. DS is called Jos, that's already been suggested. Not Josiah though. You've had lots of great suggestions which have been helpful for me too! Hate the naming process! Deffo finding out the sex just to narrow down the name options Grin

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/05/2017 13:15

I love Kit as a nickname for Christopher (I think it is medieval in origin). We intended to use it as the nickname for ds1, but when he was born, it just didn't suit him.

lydiangel83 · 13/05/2017 13:10

I love Aldrin actually - never thought of that before - may add to our v short boys list!

TMNT - I wondered if it was that?! Haha I love it! Still working on Rafael with DH :-)

GinIsIn · 13/05/2017 12:46

I'm married to a Welshman, welsh names are great. HOWEVER, I happen to have a very unusual name and having spent 34 years explaining how it's spelled/pronounced, I know what that's like. Which is why I urge caution!

WankersHacksandThieves · 13/05/2017 12:30

Oh for goodness sake. Are you trying to say that all children should be called Janet or John or should keep themselves in their own country if they have a local name in case the poor English people can't cope? Taliesin is a perfectly fine name and one that most people would manage and would certainly know after being told.

GinIsIn · 13/05/2017 12:21

Peg yes, but surely your son may also want to venture outside of wales?

JessKM · 13/05/2017 12:03

lydiaangel

TMNT - teenage mutant ninja turtles. They're called Raphael, Leonardo, michaelangelo and Donatello

PegLegAntoine · 13/05/2017 10:51

I just put the pronunciation because it's not so well known outside Wales

loulalou76 · 13/05/2017 10:37

We have an Oscar!

His nicknames are Oski, Osk and Ozzie but mainly Oski which we think is super cool!

GinIsIn · 13/05/2017 10:32

Peg if you have to put "pronounced..." when you mention it here, might it not be perhaps too challenging a moniker for a small boy?!

Ruletheroost · 13/05/2017 10:32

NC for this.
I have a Malachi his friends shorten it to Macca.
Also have an Elias/Eli and Cassiel/Cass. I do like Caspian though OP and don't automatically think of narnia.

PegLegAntoine · 13/05/2017 10:18

If our baby is a boy he will probably be Taliesin (pronounced tal-YES-in) nickname Tal/Tali

grufallosfriend · 13/05/2017 10:05

Occy, Corbie, Con, Rome, Jazzy.... I'd hate to be called these...Hmm

Mycutiemarkisrubbish · 13/05/2017 09:47

Douglas nn Doug/Dougie gets a great response (biased here Wink)

GinIsIn · 13/05/2017 09:45

The Patrick I know is known as Tricky. :)

Beebeeeight · 13/05/2017 07:24

Ossian nn Oz
Cosmo nn Cos or Mo(e)
Albert nn Bertie
Federico nn Rico or Fed
Alexander nn Lex or Ally
Alistair nn Ally
Archer nn Archie
Any 'Mc' name nn Mac
Kirk nn Kirry
Nathanial nn Nat
Artemis nn Artie
Galen nn Gale
Rupert nn Ru
James nn Jimi
Hercules nn Herc or Cool
Russell nn Rusty
Gerard nn Jed/Jeb
Jeffrey/ Jeff
Hugh/Hughie
Louis/Louie
Dillon/Dill
Douglas/ Dougie
Andrew/Drew
Stewart/Stewie
Steven/Stevie
Bernard/Bernie

marmitecrumpets · 13/05/2017 07:21

Roman - Rome, Romy

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 13/05/2017 07:19

Michael - so many nick names but I guess he was an angel too.
Lorchan
Robert - NN Robin, Robby, Bobby, Bertie...
David - Davy, Di

lydiangel83 · 13/05/2017 07:04

What does TMNT stand for?

I love Rafael but DH won't have it- good luck!

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