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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ian

120 replies

Nurseornot · 25/03/2019 17:11

I'm British but I did not grow up in the UK so I don't know many middle aged Ian's. Would it be very strange/awful to name a boy Ian? I seem to love the sound of it but I have heard that it is really dated.

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effiehabb · 01/04/2019 09:48

I think it's sweet, I know a teenage Ian and knew him as a small child and it didn't seem out of place at all.

TatianaLarina · 31/03/2019 20:57

Yes - Ian, Alan and Nigel.

Love the name Ioan though (pronounced Yoan).

Twisique · 31/03/2019 20:17

It will come back when my daughter's generation name their children after their dads, or when their children name their children after their much loved grandads. There will be lots, along with Martin, Simon, Neil and Nigel, and possible Alan although that might return sooner than Ian. Cant wait! We never imagined all the old fashioned names like Henry and George would be fashionable, so why not?!

Mmmhmmokdear · 31/03/2019 18:43

I quite like Ian, but I associate it with my friends' dads!

MamaDane · 31/03/2019 18:33

Ian is a nice name. I know a very kind person named Ian.

Go for it.

Nonameyet1 · 31/03/2019 18:31

Just no, sorry!

Friendabc · 30/03/2019 23:20

I don't like Ian.I think of Ian Huntley and Ian Brady, sorry.

driftingcloud · 30/03/2019 23:17

Would go well with Gloria. I actually like that!

bearfood · 30/03/2019 22:39

I know 14 year olds called Colin and Alan!

Mumsymumphy · 30/03/2019 21:58

My dad's an Ian, he's 75. He said he used to be called E at school. I know of 2 Ian's in their 40s.

Tbh, anything goes nowadays.

Changedmynametoolikeyou · 30/03/2019 21:57

I know a lovely wee Ian aged 7. He’s very sweet and his name suits him.

Gabrielknight · 30/03/2019 21:52

I know a few ians. 56, 30, 17 and a 5 year old. So it's still around!

Margot33 · 30/03/2019 21:45

The only ian I know is an alcoholic in his fifties! Personally I don't like the name but it's up to you.

Airbiscuits · 30/03/2019 21:44

My husband's name is Ian.

When I met him my sister pissed herself laughing at how bad his name was and pronounced it as bad as Alan, Colin or Graham.

Also, an American friend thought it so hilarious she named her cat after him. With his surname tooConfused

EggysMom · 30/03/2019 21:43

But if you name a child living in England as 'Iain', he'll spend his life correcting other people who spell it 'Ian'. (Even now I struggle to type Ian, I used to work with four Iains!)

origamiunicorn · 30/03/2019 21:39

Cutesie*

origamiunicorn · 30/03/2019 21:39

OP if you like it go for it. People laughing about a baby called Ian are ridiculous, a person is a baby for a heartbeat and then an adult for the rest of their life. Better that than calling your child acutest baby name they have to deal with as an adult.

FairfaxAikman · 30/03/2019 21:36

Both pronounced the same Tiramisu

Tiramisu1 · 30/03/2019 21:35

Is Iain pronounced Ee-ain?

I know Ian is Ee-an.

FizzyGreenWater · 30/03/2019 21:28

Don't like Ian but absolutely love Iain - totally different and Scottish is always good.

TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 28/03/2019 12:36

A lady I used to know called her baby Stanley and it just sounds too grown up and old

A little boy round here is about 5 year old and called Ronnie...

violeticecream · 28/03/2019 11:17

My lovely dad was called Ian. He was born in 1926!

chiarazuri · 28/03/2019 11:00

I don't really like it, it sounds quite dated!

Persimmonn · 28/03/2019 10:32

I can only think of 2 Ian’s. Ian Beale, and Uncle Ian from the chipmunk movies. Both Weasley characters. Yuck.

zoellafortitude · 28/03/2019 10:31

I knew a lovely man called Ian who used to really fancy me Grin.

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