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Baby names

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

Original poster

Benjamin or Robert and why

60 replies

PreemptiveFartSquats · 03/04/2018 18:09

Just wondering..

(Personally I'm not too bothered about popularity so long as a name isn't too "trendy" or "of its time")

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LoveInTokyo · 04/04/2018 21:45

Love both names but Robert probably has the edge for me.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 04/04/2018 20:07

Robert. It's a classic name that lends itself to all kinds of shortenings.

I like Ben, but not keen on the jamin bit or Benny or Benjie.

IndominousRex · 04/04/2018 20:03

Apparently Benjamin is traditionally the name given to the last child in a family.

PasstheStarmix · 04/04/2018 15:50

Benjamin’s or Robert I like as middle names but not as first names

madamedepoppadom · 04/04/2018 15:49

What do you guys think of Bob or Robin as a nn?

Bob just sounds too old for a modern little boy to me. Bobby too, but Bob would be an older man who worked as an accountant or something, and Bobby would be an older man who used to be a sportsman.

Robin I don't dislike, but I think it has been considered a separate name from Robert for a few hundred years now, so if your son was known as Robin you'd have to be prepared for people to assume that was his official name.

MammieBear · 04/04/2018 13:27

Robert is more unusual these days.

MrsMarigold · 04/04/2018 11:14

My six year old is Robert, there is one in every generation in both mine and DH's families for the past 150 years. He does not have a nickname and is just plain Robert. I don't think he'll abbreviate it.

TinyPawz · 04/04/2018 07:30

I have a brother Robert although mostly known as Bobby, sometimes Rab, very occasionally Boobs. He is a darling so I would choose that over Benjamin

Original poster
PreemptiveFartSquats · 04/04/2018 06:29

Thanks for your thoughts all.

OP posts:
CocoLoco87 · 04/04/2018 04:31

Love Ben/Benjamin! But I've got one so I would say that Grin

Thistlebelle · 04/04/2018 04:17

I like them both but prefer Ben to Rab (what he’d be called on Scotland)

On the other hand I know some great Rabs and Rabbies!

DarkRoomDarren · 04/04/2018 03:38

Like Benjamin, not keen on Robert, but really love Robin.

YoucancallmeVal · 03/04/2018 23:29

If dd had been a boy, Robert nn Bertie was one of my choices. Ben is lovely but it has travelled well and I know lots of all ages.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 03/04/2018 22:26

Robert/Rob.

Greggers2017 · 03/04/2018 21:54

Ben or Benjamin is nice but very meh! One of my brothers is a Ben and he says it's a lazy name.
Robbie is not thuggish, I'm almost wetting myself laughing at the thought. All the ones I know are like teddy bears!

chezmk1988 · 03/04/2018 21:46

Robert because it's not overly used, because I love older names and I adore the nicknames such as Bobby and Bertie x

Sophronia · 03/04/2018 21:45

Robert

daisypond · 03/04/2018 20:05

I like both. I think Ben must be going out of fashion now - the ones I know are in their early 20s. And Robert will be coming in again - I don't know any younger ones at all. It is definitely a classic name.

ToastyFingers · 03/04/2018 19:46

I'm not sure about either of I'm honest, they were very popular when I was a teen, about 10-15 years ago, so seem a bit dated to me now, much like Katie, Jade, Claire, Callum Jamie, Tom and all the other born in the 80s/90s names.

haverhill · 03/04/2018 19:45

I like both names a lot btw! But Ben has the edge.

IndominousRex · 03/04/2018 19:45

I like both, but prefer Robert. Both not too popular currently but classic, everyone knows how to spell them and pronounce them, suit all ages, plenty of different shortenings. What’s not to like?

haverhill · 03/04/2018 19:44

Ben is classic and cool. He’s good-looking and clever.
Rob is a serious chap, very kind and reliable.

DiegoMadonna · 03/04/2018 19:42

I prefer Benjamin. Just because.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 03/04/2018 19:40

Robert Pattinson, Robert Capron, Rob Kardashian (hmm. Not really a recommendation).

TinoTheArtisticMouse · 03/04/2018 19:36

I like the suggestion of Bertie as a diminutive of Robert.
Prefer Robert to Benjamin because I hate Benji.