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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boys names - which is best/how many do you know?

57 replies

BB2018 · 27/04/2018 12:44

Advice and opinions on boys names please! We loved Arthur, but with all the chat around that being a potential for the new royal baby, I'm worried it's too popular now/have been slightly put off...

So the current shortlist is:
Arthur
Edward
Fred
William
Wilfred
Ralph
Rory
Alastair
Dylan

Which is your favourite? And mums out there - are any of these super popular? I don't want him to be one of dozens when he goes to school!

Our surname starts with H, and is two syllables... And it's our first baby, so no worries about matching siblings etc.

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Original poster
BB2018 · 02/05/2018 13:28

Amazing, thank you, yes I think we’re pretty set on Alistair now! This has been so helpful!

I’m thinking Alistair William...

OP posts:
gwen25 · 02/05/2018 12:45

I really love Alistair! Classy and not too common. I would spell it Alistair or Alasdair.

auntyflonono · 29/04/2018 19:07

How about Rupert or Alexander?
Of your list I like Edward best!

fussychica · 29/04/2018 17:24

William or Edward.

Original poster
BB2018 · 29/04/2018 15:03

Thanks, ThePug, no I hadn’t heard any of the Ralph connotations either! I still think it’s cute Smile

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ThePug · 29/04/2018 15:00

I know you say you've ruled it out but for reference I have a 2 year old Ralph, everyone loves his name and we haven't met another one yet (although did hear a mum in the big playground calling over her slightly older Ralph recently). I'm 32 and neither me nor any of my peers know of/have had comments about the supposed penis connection.

shirleyschmidt1 · 29/04/2018 12:42

Love William, and Will as a shortening. The ONLY Will I know is in his 20s, tall, good looking and really nice, so I associate the name Will with that!

Also love Arthur but know what you mean about the recent hubbub! It'll soon die down though!

pipilangstrumpf · 29/04/2018 12:04

How do those with children with popular names find it? Are they bothered by being Arthur H at school etc?

It can be a pain, especially if they share the same surname initial.

Ginandplatonic · 29/04/2018 11:55

One of mine has to use his initial and really dislikes it. Sometimes says why didn’t you call me a less common name? (Dominic is his suggestion which was actually on my list and vetoed by DH as an aside)

Original poster
BB2018 · 29/04/2018 09:46

Morning!

We’ve ruled out Dylan, Ralph and Rory (just didn’t feel they were totally us).

So we’re down to Arthur, Alistair (that spelling I think as that’s how we’d pronounce it), Edward, William and Wilfred.

William and Edward are classics, but seem to be the most widely used, and Arthur is on the rise (wonder how many Arthurs there will be this year!)

Alistair and Wilfred still seem the least common.

How do those with children with popular names find it? Are they bothered by being Arthur H at school etc?

OP posts:
Chasingmytail17 · 28/04/2018 15:02

Dougal? I like Alastair

HairyToity · 28/04/2018 14:59

Alistair William Arthur and Rory

NannyR · 28/04/2018 14:57

I like Dylan and William best, Billy and Will are nice shortening.

TatianaLarina · 28/04/2018 14:55

Edward or Rory

lrwe · 28/04/2018 14:54

Excellent names - I have a William and an Edward.

And haven't come across anyone with the same name as either of them, but I'm sure I will!

Also - we don't do nicknames and my eldest is quick to point out his name is WillIAM to anyone who shortens it. As for my three year old, he stamps his feet and shouts I Edward

Original poster
BB2018 · 28/04/2018 14:38

It’s so varied isn’t it!
I think my tops are Alistair, Arthur and Wilfred, though I’m torn on the spelling of Alistair/Alastair now...

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 28/04/2018 12:47

💙 Dylan.

LinoleumBlownapart · 28/04/2018 11:28

Those are my kind of names but I do know 5 or 6 Arthurs from ages 2 to 14.
I know a Fred in his 40's and one who is 5. That's a timeless name, I like it. Also same with Rory, Edward and Alistair. I know some in their 40's and came across one each around 5-9 years old, but not loads. All good choices.
Wilfred is a bit odd, not so sure about William. Dylan is a nice name too. I don't know any.

Ginandplatonic · 28/04/2018 11:20

Excellent names, I used three of them - Alasdair, Edward and Rory. Weirdly I know about six other Alistair/Alastair/Alasdairs just from his school. Two other Edwards and two other Rorys.

There are about a thousand Williams, all known as Will at their school. Also a couple of Dylans. Don't know any children with the other names.

I like all your names except Dylan which I intensely dislike.

If you're looking for suggestions my other DS is Angus Grin

blackteaplease · 28/04/2018 11:14

Oh forgot Wilfred. I know three of those.

MonumentVal · 28/04/2018 11:14

Loads of young Arthurs, Williams and especially Dylans here. And cats called Rory.
A lot of Freddies, too. And some Edwards.

I like Edward though, but would prefer Rory, Wilfred or Alistair. Only thing with Alistair is so many spellings and misspellings.

blackteaplease · 28/04/2018 11:13

I know loads of Arthurs and Williams, one fred, one dylan and one edward.

I'd go for Rory from your original list.

TheKimJongUnofFeminism · 28/04/2018 11:10

Edward.

Patrick?

ooobisto · 28/04/2018 11:07

William by a long way! I know a fair few Williams/Wills but no babies or young children.

Original poster
BB2018 · 28/04/2018 11:06
Smile

Next question is Alastair/Alistair?

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