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Baby names

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

Original poster

Why does everyone hate the names...

67 replies

SadieAB9 · 06/10/2018 16:02

Wilfred and Wilbur?

I think they're both so cute, quite soft sounding, in my head would suit a little boy and a gentleman! But I only seem to hear negative things when I mention them. Wilfred has lovely nicknames (wilf, Freddie) and Wilbur may be the pig from Charlotte's Web but is that really so bad?

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ladycarlotta · 09/10/2018 10:37

I think Wilfred and its nicknames are lovely. Wilbur will always be the pig to me, I'm afraid.

MikeUniformMike · 08/10/2018 20:43

Wilfred is ok, Wilbur isn't.

Srilli · 08/10/2018 19:13

I had a hairdresser called Wilbur and he was fantastic! Love the name too Grin

notthegreenduck · 08/10/2018 19:11

Both adorable names. Love them.

foxtiger · 08/10/2018 19:10

I kind of like Wilfred but not Wilbur.

Sunflower321 · 08/10/2018 13:52

Will is too close to Willy Blush

Wilf is better imo

CakeRattleandRoll · 08/10/2018 13:48

I can't get away from the Charlotte's Web link with Wilbur, and it feels very American to me.

I'd use nn Will with Wilfred as Wilf makes me think of MILF.

isnothingsacred · 08/10/2018 13:14

Like both names, but now because of the term "MILF", they may be called "WILF" (the "W" standing for "woman") perhaps?

pumpastrotter · 08/10/2018 13:10

Grandpa was Wilfred and I had it on my list of names, unfortunately ex didn't agree. I don't like Wilbur though. My DS has a very old fashioned name, a lot of people ask if it's foreign but it is very (I thought blatantly) English. It raises some eyebrows but a lot of people seem to like it and it is very suited.

OutPinked · 08/10/2018 12:41

I don’t mind them but wouldn’t personally use them. My DC do have traditional names but I wouldn’t use either of those. Maybe for a pet Grin, they are quite cute.

toffee1000 · 08/10/2018 10:58

They’re too “old man” for me. Although I always thought Mumsnetters loved them.

TurquoiseWeekend · 07/10/2018 17:56

Oh I didn't know people hated Wilfred! I'm 20 weeks pregnant and if it's a boy, we're 99% sure he'll be a Wilfred!

HalfBloodPrincess · 07/10/2018 13:28

What's a Wally? A Willy?

A wally is the same as a plonker - someone who is a bit dim, inept, village idiot.

Sunflower321 · 07/10/2018 13:11

As is Max, Tom and Arthur

LeftRightCentre · 07/10/2018 12:11

Basil, Cecil, Ambrose, Osbert, Gerald, Melvin, Norman, Ronald are also hamster names.

LeftRightCentre · 07/10/2018 12:10

Wilbur is a hamster, dammit! A plump, ginger and cream Syrian hamster!

Sunflower321 · 07/10/2018 12:09

I'm not keen on any Will(y) name. But clearly some people do like them.

FrancisCrawford · 07/10/2018 12:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoomWithALoon · 07/10/2018 11:48

I read the OP and thought "yuck". Wilfred sounds very elderly, and Wilbur sounds like pet's name. But they've actually grown on me as I've scanned through this thread! I think I prefer Wilbur to Wilfred. But I can see them working. They are a bit marmite, but I could come round to them!

TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 07/10/2018 11:08

Hardly true nobody likes them, both are trendy with Wilfred hitting top 200 and Wilbur on the rise (522). I like both for what it’s worth.

llangennith · 07/10/2018 10:58

Old men's names.

Taytotots · 07/10/2018 10:48

I like both of them but I do have a DS with a similar old fashioned name so may be biased. A lot of people hated my choice (including my mum!) but if you like it go for it. I do find it weird how some names of that era are fashionable and others are hated. And yes Wilbur is a pig in Charlotte's Web but he is a very cool pig!

LeeMiller · 07/10/2018 10:38

Wilbur is too linked to Charlotte's Web for me, and I agree it sounds better in an American accent. It would be a cute pet's name but not great on a human, for me.

Wilfred makes me think of wilted, wimpy... Wilf sound too close to whiff... I find the overall sound very weak, personally. I do like Fred and Freddie but I much prefer them as shortenings for Alfred and Frederick. Sorry.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 07/10/2018 10:22

Love Wilbur, but strangely, dislike Wilfred.

DramaAlpaca · 06/10/2018 21:12

There is nothing I like about either of them, to me they are old fashioned and not in a good way. Wilfred is marginally better than Wilbur, but I don't like any of the diminutives. Sorry.

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