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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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pipilangstrumpf · 28/04/2018 10:59

Alastair is a great choice!

Chocmallows · 28/04/2018 09:58

I think Will is cool and classy.

Original poster
BB2018 · 28/04/2018 09:34

Ooh, those lists of how many under 3s you know with those names are super helpful, thanks!

Definitely getting some front runners (and we’ve ruled out Ralph now).

I’m not too worried about William/Willy - no Williams at my school go called that, it was generally shortened to Will.

Seems Alastair is well liked and not too common...

OP posts:
pipilangstrumpf · 28/04/2018 08:52

"Will is such a cool nickname"

Really? One letter from Willy? And a verb (Will, will you...) and noun...?

But it's great that we all have different tastes!

NumberFrame · 28/04/2018 08:12

Arthur- like know none
Edward- ok know lots of Ted/Teddy’s
Fred- ok very popular
William- classic and very popular
Wilfred- like it -know a few Wilfs
Ralph- good option-don’t know any
Rory- ok know a few
Alastair- love don’t know any was an option for my ds
Dylan- don’t like and massively popular

17caterpillars1mouse · 28/04/2018 08:11

Arthur - I know 3 Arthur's who are 2 and under
Edward - I know 1 Edward who is 3
Fred - don't know any
William - I know tons of Williams but 2 under 3s
Wilfred - don't know any
Ralph - don't know any
Rory - I know 1 boy and 1 girl. Both under 2
Alastair - I know 1 he's 5
Dylan - know several though all older children

I like Arthur, Wilfred (though I worry no teenage boy would want this name), Rory, Alistair and Dillon (this spelling only)

pilates · 28/04/2018 08:06

Rory

Leontine · 28/04/2018 05:10

Edward, William, Wilfred, Alastair and Dylan are all on my long list.

I think William is my favourite though, with Dylan a close second.

Carouselfish · 28/04/2018 00:11

I like Arthur, Alastair, Rory. Wilfred is adorable.
What about Angus, Douglas, Drew.

DiegoMadonna · 27/04/2018 23:09

I like Dylan a lot. Don't really like any of the others.

Chocmallows · 27/04/2018 22:51

Rob(ert) and Bertie are fine, unless you call Robert, Bert!

mrsdoglover · 27/04/2018 22:50

Alastair, Fred, Ralph I love. Alastair is my dads name and I've never heard it for anyone else. Fred is beautiful but may find a few Freddies around and the same with Ralph/Ralphie

Original poster
BB2018 · 27/04/2018 22:47

Definitely getting the dodgy connotations for poor old Ralph!!

Love Bertie, but DH is Robert so maybe too similar?

OP posts:
FizzyFeet · 27/04/2018 22:37

Other suggestions:
Nathaniel
Hamish
Hector
Tim/ Timothy
Toby
Nicholas

rebelrosie12 · 27/04/2018 22:33

William is my fav from your list. Will is such a cool nickname imo :)

CindyLouWhoo · 27/04/2018 22:32

I like Arthur and William. Ralph will shoot his eye out...

FizzyFeet · 27/04/2018 22:29

I think they're all nice! Personally I'd be less likely to go for Dylan (I know several, all a bit older than babies) or Arthur (just personal preference). My favourite of them all is Alastair - I think it's timeless and classic, and I've only ever met nice ones!

Mybabystolemysanity · 27/04/2018 22:28

Bertie and Stanley. I love it that traditional names are making a comeback.

Original poster
BB2018 · 27/04/2018 22:27

I think I’ll struggle to find any outside top 100 - all the names I like are in there!

Any suggestions similar to the shortlist?

OP posts:
feral · 27/04/2018 22:17

I think Arthur is definitely on the up. I'd go for something outside too 100.

My DS name is always waaaay down with 27 uses last year.

I do like Arthur too.

Sorry about Judy Blume but I just can't shake it!

Lovelife83 · 27/04/2018 19:02

Love Arthur, love Dylan

Original poster
BB2018 · 27/04/2018 17:13

I had read on other posts that Arthurs are ten a penny these days - has anyone with little ones found that? It was only number 28 in the top 100 of 2017, but sounds like it might be on the up?

OP posts:
Original poster
BB2018 · 27/04/2018 13:41

Haha, feral!

That's what I had read on another forum about Ralph. Fortunately I never read Judy Blume. I wondered if that might get mentioned though/how many people make those associations!

OP posts:
pipilangstrumpf · 27/04/2018 13:39

I thought a Willy is a penis nowadays, no?

feral · 27/04/2018 13:37

I like Rory.

I know a few of all the others except Raplh which is the name of a penis and always will be. Or another word for vomit. No no no.