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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boy girl twins

42 replies

stj000 · 27/06/2017 03:22

Hi, I'm having boy/girl twins and am struggling to come up with a good boys name to go with the girl name I've chosen. We have a very plain and common single syllable surname (like Smith, Jones, Brown, etc) so long names should be fine.

I really like 'Benedicta' for a girl, but was wondering if the name 'St John' to go with it is too much? My husband's only opinion on the matter is that he didn't like my choice of 'Bernadine' for a girl because he doesn't like "ine" names, but he does like Benedicta. He's not much help with boys names.

My main problem is names like 'Michael' and 'Gabriel' look a bit plain to me next to Benedicta. Any thoughts? Thanks!

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BeingATwatItsABingThing · 27/06/2017 04:26

Hmmm...

I like Beatrice best of all of your girl names. I have to say, I'm not a fan of "stuffy old" names. I prefer some of the more modern one or the more timeless ones. Sorry OP.

Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 04:18

Bernadette is a family name I'm afraid! That was why I originally liked Bernadine.. but as I said, my husband didn't like the 'ine' ending.

And for clarification, yes I'm catholic.

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BeingATwatItsABingThing · 27/06/2017 04:16

Have to say, Sylvester immediately made me think cat.

What about Bernadette?

Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 04:15

Is Sylvester a poor choice? I'm guessing the association with the cartoon cat is still strong...

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Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 04:13

Haha, well my own name starts with an X, and my brothers have quite long and stuffy names as well (one of which you listed), so I'm perhaps not the best judge of names. I was aiming for saints, or something with religious connotations. I'm definitely set on a B name for a girl which is certainly limiting.

I suppose the trick of saint names is to aim more for Stephen, rather than something like Sophronius. :)

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nooka · 27/06/2017 04:12

I went to school with a St John pronounced Sinjin. He was very posh :) I think unless you move in circles where it's not completely out there it will just really confuse most people.

I think I'd assume a Benedicta was from a very Catholic family because it sounds like the religious order. Given that your second choice is Bridget (not sure why you'd not use that spelling as it's the most common in the UK as far as I am aware) I wonder if you are in fact Catholic (I went to a Catholic school run by mostly Irish nuns).

Anyway Beatrice and Sebastian, and Simon and Bridget both work, although you'll probably find people think Simon is a bit dated as it's quite a 70s sort of name.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 27/06/2017 04:11

Not even the tiniest part of my read St as Sinjin. Sorry.

Had a child at school called "King ---" like King John. Everyone called him John, he was fine with that. Come parents evening, teacher called him John and his mum stopped her to correct that it was King John. Confused

Popskipiekin · 27/06/2017 04:06

(Ps Beatrice & Sebastian = absolutely lovely and perfect)

Popskipiekin · 27/06/2017 04:05

Oh ok, old names (and Roman Emperors? Wink) rather than specifically biblical (as you listed two archangels in your OP, I wasn't sure which direction you were coming from).

Names like Valerian/Cornelius to my mind...
Atticus, Lysander, Tobias, Peregrine, Artemis, Cedric, Ignatius, Phinneas, Thaddeus, Julius, Augustus, Marcus, Constantine. There's a chap on our street called Ptolemy... I dare you. Good luck!

Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 04:01

That's true! Nobody around me has been willing to reel me in with these names. Well, if I scrap all my former choices... how about;

Girl-

  • Beatrice/Beatrix
  • Brigid/Briget/Bridgette

Boy-

  • Simon
  • Sebastian
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SuperBeagle · 27/06/2017 03:51

Remember that it's your child who has to wear the name for their entire life, not you. It's all well and good that you like Benedicta, Valerian and Cornelius but the overwhelming majority of people don't, and it's quite possible (even probable) that your child won't appreciate being saddled with that sort of name.

Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 03:47

I see St John was a huge misstep! I'm trying not to come across as pretentious but I really like kind of stuffy old names. I was going to list some other names I like (like Valerian or Cornelius) but I'm beginning to think my taste is a bit questionable!

I think I like Raphael better than Gabriel, thanks!

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Popskipiekin · 27/06/2017 03:42

Benedetta instead? St John/"Sinjin" is absolutely going to raise eyebrows and you will clearly get people who don't know how to pronounce it (unless they've read Jane Eyre Grin), he will find that hard.
Gabriel isn't plain at all! but what about Raphael?

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 27/06/2017 03:38

Nobody would pronounce "st John" as "sinjin". They would be calling your child "Saint John" and yes that is wholly pretentious and if I met one I'd think the parents a little loopy!

You just can't put "saint" in your child's name Confused

Original poster
stj000 · 27/06/2017 03:31

'John' seemed a little bit short next to Benedicta. I guess St John is a little bit too out there? I get that 'St' looks a bit pretentious written down, but I thought maybe it being pronounced 'sinjin' would get around that a bit.

Back to the drawing board I suppose!

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WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 27/06/2017 03:27

I didn't realise Benedicta was a name! Is it said like"Ben-eh-dick-ta"? I'm not too fond of it, I'm afraid.

And why "St" John? Why not just John? I've never heard of anyone having "St" as part of their name before. Seems a bit pretentious to have "saint" in your child's name.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 27/06/2017 03:24

St John? Hmm