Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Gabriel or James

66 replies

Dontwaketheneighbours · 13/07/2017 15:08

I like Gabriel, my husband loves James. I really like James but there seem to be so many of them about. My 2 other boys are Jude and Finlay and I think Gabriel goes better with them. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Topseyt · 17/07/2017 19:44

Good choice, OP.

TurquoiseOwl · 17/07/2017 19:37

James is sooo overdone Grin your choice though!

Original poster
Dontwaketheneighbours · 17/07/2017 14:58

Thanks again everyone. I think we're leaning towards James Gabriel. Appreciate all your thoughts Smile

OP posts:
Threeandabit · 16/07/2017 20:57

I like James best.

bridgetreilly · 16/07/2017 20:56

I like James much better, and I really don't think it matters that he'll have the same initial as a brother.

NoYouDontKnowItAll · 16/07/2017 20:01

I think a possible problem with mail is a trivial reason not to give a child a name you like, after all they aren't gonna live together forever. Two of my sons have the same first initial but they have different surnames so its not an issue but if it really bothered someone whose children did have the same surname then fair enough, it's just not important to me but each to their own. I know someone who has four daughters all with the initial E and the same surname but that's her problem

NameChange30 · 15/07/2017 16:38

Of course you're only speaking from your own experience, you can't possibly know how every single letter is addressed to every single person.

Not trying to start a war (!) just annoys me when people dismiss others' experiences.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/07/2017 16:33

Well I'm only talking from my own experience.
Let's not a war or nastiness.

NameChange30 · 15/07/2017 16:29

Awww
"letters always state your full name rarther than just Mr J Smith"
Nonsense. At least one PP has already said post can cause an issue. You're either ignoring them or accusing them of lying, both of which are rude.

pilates · 15/07/2017 16:22

Definitely James, strongly dislike Gabriel.

TurquoiseOwl · 15/07/2017 16:14

That's not true... I always have to open my sister's and she has to open mine to see who's it is. Even from the bank, WRT something, we had to open. Of course there are a lot, but definitely not always.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/07/2017 16:12

I don't think the same initial is a problem either.
Because letters always state your full name rarther than just Mr J Smith

TurquoiseOwl · 15/07/2017 16:05

@Dontwaketheneighbours - might not bother you, but what about them!?

MikeUniformMike · 15/07/2017 16:02

I much prefer James.

rightwhine · 15/07/2017 09:40

Gabe is lovely. Gabriel not so much. James is too common.

NameChange30 · 15/07/2017 09:35

I was just going to suggest Nate but I see you're going for James - great name Smile

Lemondrop99 · 15/07/2017 09:19

The good thing about James is, while popular, it's not super faddy (like Noah, Teddy etc), it's classic. You can't always predict name trends. Someone first picked Arlo and Albie thinking they were unusual, but popularity spread everywhere and now they're quite well known.

The ONS stats come from 2015, anything could have happened in the last 18 months, happening right now and over the next year or two, and you wouldn't know about it yet.

An unusual name can rocket up the lists unexpectedly. No, Gabriel is unlikely to be the next Oliver, but it is rising in popularity and I think it'll have moved up the list when the next ONS stats come out.

All I'm really saying is, if you love James then don't be too put off by the popularity thing. It's a classic name and you can't know what naming trends are currently happening.

Original poster
Dontwaketheneighbours · 15/07/2017 08:12

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, but we're kind of set on Gabriel and James. And I do love the name James, I just prefer names that are a little different. two boys having the same initial doesn't really bother me tbh. Thanks again Smile

OP posts:
WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 15/07/2017 00:15

I have a Gabriel (funnily enough middle name James!) and it is shortened to Rae. I do agree though if one of you loves a name it probably let should trump a name one of you 'likes'.

Lemondrop99 · 15/07/2017 00:11

Some other suggestions

Nathaniel
Benedict
Felix
Caleb
Dexter
Byron
Samuel
Tobias
Nicholas
Miles

NameChange30 · 14/07/2017 22:04

Ethan
Isaac (could be Zac)

Alyx80 · 14/07/2017 21:42

Gabriel. James is dull.

NameChange30 · 14/07/2017 21:41

Did you have any others on the list?

Some suggestions:
Leo
Toby
Reuben
Max
Elliott
Elijah

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/07/2017 18:06

Yes Name maybe there's another name that's better.

NameChange30 · 14/07/2017 17:45

Are there any other names you and your DH are/were considering? Just thinking that ideally it would be a name you both really like if possible.