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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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BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 26/03/2019 01:21

Huntley and Beale for me too I’m afraid. Lol at Ian being a noise not a name! I agree!

GroggyLegs · 25/03/2019 22:58

Give it 30 years and Ian, Neil & Graham will be popular names - like Harry, Arthur and George all had their revival.

But the world's not quite ready yet, I think.

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/03/2019 22:55

I teach a 15 yo Ian who is really lovely and (according to the girls in my form) 'well fit'.

YogaWannabe · 25/03/2019 22:50

I think of Huntley and Beale Blush

Chesneyhawkes1 · 25/03/2019 22:49

@GrintusBintuss my brother Ian is a programmer too 😂

MunsteadWood · 25/03/2019 20:31

I used to date an Iain (who would be mid 30s now) and he was totally gorgeous.

Not such a fan of the 'Ian' spelling though.

SammySamSam09 · 25/03/2019 20:20

It's a great name and definitely due a revival.

DramaAlpaca · 25/03/2019 20:17

I quite like it spelled Iain.

dementedma · 25/03/2019 20:15

Ian/Iain is a lovely name and due a revival. As is Simon.

Babyfoal · 25/03/2019 20:11

I like the name Clive too

GrintusBintuss · 25/03/2019 19:44

It is very dated.

When someone asked about Ian on here a few years ago someone said 'Are you giving birth to a 40 year old programmer?'

It made me laugh because I know 3 (BIL, a colleague, & a friend) all are in their 40's, all 3 are programmers.

Grin
HettyStThomas · 25/03/2019 19:44

I teach a young Ian.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 25/03/2019 19:41

I really don’t like Ian as a name, but I love Jason! Just like the look and sound of it.

AgnesNaismith · 25/03/2019 19:39

I’ve never met a bad Ian!

ParisWilton · 25/03/2019 19:38

There's a new CBeebies program called Baby Club which has a baby/toddler Ian. DP seemed surprised, which surprised me given he wanted to call DD Martin if she was a boy and was pushing for Fiona for her.

WaxOnFeckOff · 25/03/2019 19:34

Though my favourite at the moment is Lorna - that would go nicely with Iain.

Moominfan · 25/03/2019 19:34

I know one 24 year old ian and he's just lovely. I quite like it

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 25/03/2019 19:33

Nothing wrong with Ian

Admittedly I don't know any Ians under 30 and most of the Ians I know are in their 40s or 50s but I'd far rather a baby Ian than yet another Harry, William or George

It will probably become fashionable again in another 10-15 years so your baby Ian will be ahead of the trend Grin

WaxOnFeckOff · 25/03/2019 19:33

Ian's sister could well be called Patricia.

I think we are definitely ready for a little Patsy and maybe even Pammy (Pamela) too!

LiquoriceLane · 25/03/2019 19:26

I love it.

LynetteScavo · 25/03/2019 19:25

My next door neighbour is called Ian. He's recently retired and very active, gardening and fishing. He's married to Trish.

Ian's sister could well be called Patricia.

WaxOnFeckOff · 25/03/2019 19:01

Gaelic version of John when spelled properly Iain.

It's DSs middle name. To be fair I do prefer Euan but it was in memory of a couple of special people so Iain it was.

I don't know any young ones but I do know young Alan, Neil, Steven and Philip all mentioned on this thread, as well as a David, Martin, Stewart, Duncan, Robert all in the same vein/era.

loveshinealight · 25/03/2019 18:59

There were 20 baby iain/Ian's last year. Go for it!

Mrsbclinton · 25/03/2019 18:52

I like it, woulnt worry about what others think. Everyone has an opinion.
Rian & Cian would be popular similar sounding names in my area.

PCohle · 25/03/2019 18:51

I like it! I prefer the Iain spelling though.

It still seems quite popular in Scotland. There are certainly a few at my kids' schools.