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Baby names

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

Original poster

Opinions

29 replies

Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 09:05

Hello :) I would love to hear your opinions on my names and I would appreciate suggestions if you have any. We're expecting a little boy.
My hubbys british and I'm german, the baby is probably gonna grow up in england but I still got a lot of family and friends in germany so it needs to be usuable in both countries. I really like unisex names which makes this even more complicated.

My list so far :

Alex
Jona
Bente
Noel
Robin
Till (Not unisex but I've been told it sounds pretty neutral in english cause of the female Tilly)

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AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 23/07/2018 21:58

If you're from the north (as your suggestion of Bente would imply), how about Magnus?

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 23/07/2018 21:56

English half of English/German couple here.

Alex, Robin and Noah work. Don't do Till, that way endless unfunny 'jokes' lie. Bente, ditto, but still more so. If you do Jonah, spell it wth an H on the end, otherwise people will probably assume girl.

Second the suggestion of Lucas, though your German relatives will prob want to spell it with a K.

Leon would fit your bill. Familiar to the point of ubiquity in Germany and refreshingly uncommon, but still recognisable as a name, in the UK.

TatianaLarina · 23/07/2018 21:54

Sascha and Misha I really like.

MariaMadita · 23/07/2018 21:44

I'm also from Germany (I'm German-Italian) with a British husband :)

Alex: nice but a bit boring.
Jona: I prefe it with an h. Jonah is lovely imo.
Noel: lovely for a Christmas baby.
Robin: really nice.
Till: I really like it.

Suggestions:
Julian
Vanja/Vanya
Adrian
Simon
Alexis
Quinn
Dana
Ezra
Noah
Noam
Ari
Ori
Sas(c)ha
Misha
Milo
Emil

deptfordgirl · 23/07/2018 21:22

I love Jonah.

mondler · 23/07/2018 18:40

I like Alex, Robin and Jona(h). I think in the UK Till will be very unusual and I could imagine them having to repeat themselves lots.

Would Kelsey work? I know a male and female (US and UK ) and have always thought it was nice. Also Tony or Terry?

LeeMiller · 21/07/2018 18:55

I think from your list, only Alex/Robin are truly unisex in English. I would assume Noel and Jonah/Jona were boys, though I know Noel is a girl's name too. There are lots of unisex diminutives in English - e.g. Jan/Sam/Max/Bobby/Vic/Charlie - but the full name is usually clearly male or female.

Nico is ambiguous, Florian always sounds quite soft and almost unisex to me.

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 18:00

I know that Till is another word for cash register but I don't think that association is bad. Reminds me of Bill.
I like Emmanuel it has a nice soft sound.

And thanks for all the answers!

OP posts:
KnickersOnTheLine · 21/07/2018 14:49

Jonas is lovely

I also like Erik that PP suggested

How about Bertie or Quinton or Emmanuel which are all male but almost unisex

MikeUniformMike · 21/07/2018 14:40

Alex - ok
Jona - Jonah
Bente - girl's name
Noel - too christmassy
Robin - ok
Till (Not unisex but I've been told it sounds pretty neutral in english cause of the female Tilly) - No. It's a cash register.

LovelyLemurs · 21/07/2018 12:03

Noel
Alex
Jona

All lovely

AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 12:01

Bent is also slang for someone with criminal leanings!

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 11:33

I didn't know that. Thank you! Yes Bente is definitely off the list.

OP posts:
TatianaLarina · 21/07/2018 11:25

I think the greater consideration for Bente is that bent is the old and slightly offensive slang for gay.

Like Alex and Jonah/Jonas.

TimesNewRoman · 21/07/2018 11:24

Definitely Robin

AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 11:21

What about Bernard or Bertil?

MyBreadIsEggy · 21/07/2018 11:05

From your list I like Jona, but would add the “H” on the end Smile

HJL2506 · 21/07/2018 11:04

I really like Robin!

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 11:01

Thanks. I wouldn't have thought that the hard and soft J thing could get annoying.
Not exactly sure about the Uk but Finn actually is unisex in german.

And your definitely right about Bente, its of the table. Realisation just hit me that it sounds like Bend in english. As in "Bend over" Imagen an other child wanting to show him smth etc. and say "Bente, over there". Srsly I haven't thought this name through.

OP posts:
SophieE11 · 21/07/2018 10:56

Ha! Maybe not Sam then..

Chocolatecake12 · 21/07/2018 10:56

How about Lucas or Markus?

MissWimpyDimple · 21/07/2018 10:33

Marcus
Lucas
Finn

Though not unisex.

Of your list, I like Alex and Till

Don't do Bente. It's opening him up for mickey-taking.

Jona(h) is nice, but in the UK its a hard J and in Germany a soft "y" sound. Having grown up between the two countries myself with a J name I can tell you that's annoying.

AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 10:26

I don't think Bente or Till would work very well for a boy in the UK.

How about Erik or Steven?

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 10:13

I don't really like Kim cause of the north Korea association. Alexis is nice I haven't thought of that name yet.

Sam could work it's not a unknown name in germany. I just don't really like that name. And you need to pronounce it english or otherwise it sounds close to Samen which is a word for sperm in german. And I just know some of my older relatives will get the pronounciation wrong. Don't wanna imagen those jokes. Blush

OP posts:
unadventuretime · 21/07/2018 09:51

I like Robin. Noel is ok except for the Noel Edmonds connection and people might assume he has a Christmas birthday. Alex is ok but a bit boring. What about Alexis? Or Kim?