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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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megrichardson · 25/03/2019 18:48

What about Ewan? Similar sounding but ..cooler: Ian Beale (as someone upthread said) v Ewan McGregor.

Daisydoesnt · 25/03/2019 18:48

My husband's name is Ian and he is bleddy marvellous Grin To me it is a class-less, honest and unpretentious name.

My DH is also 56, so that agrees with the earlier poster that said it was popular in the 60s. His old school friends call him "E"

Enjoy your baby!

Babyfoal · 25/03/2019 18:43

It's a good name. Due a comeback.

MightyAtlantic · 25/03/2019 18:39

I know a baby Iain.

madeyemoodysmum · 25/03/2019 18:37

I prefer the spelling Iain It looks nicer.

Evanna13 · 25/03/2019 18:37

I really like Ian, I know 2 in their 30’s and both lovely people.

JuniorAsparagus · 25/03/2019 18:37

Prefer Iain.

madeyemoodysmum · 25/03/2019 18:35

I know a lot of Ian’s but I’m 48. Most of them are older than me.
He will definitely be the only one in school.

Kescilly · 25/03/2019 18:20

I like it, I know a lovely Ian in his thirties.

brizzlemint · 25/03/2019 18:17

I'm in my 50s and have never met an Ian/Iain who is about my age, I think it's more of a name used earlier than the 1960s so it's old enough to come round again.

ReadingInReading · 25/03/2019 18:11

Don't do it! You may as well call him Graham if you do - both horribly dated names, like Sharon or Michelle.

Original poster
Nurseornot · 25/03/2019 18:11

I love this thread, we don't hold back here on Mumsnet do we? 😂 Honestly though I'm laughing.

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 25/03/2019 18:08

My brother is an Ian. He's 37.

MikeUniformMike · 25/03/2019 18:03

OP, it gets shortened to E.

AfterSchoolWorry · 25/03/2019 18:00

God, no. Tainted forever.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 25/03/2019 17:59

It's a horrible ugly sounding, bland name. Even when it was popular it sounded awful.

TheWomanin12B · 25/03/2019 17:53

Kids today are so unfamiliar with the name, that they'll say Lan if they come across it in a book.

sproutsandparsnips · 25/03/2019 17:51

What about Ioan?

LynetteScavo · 25/03/2019 17:49

I know a young Neil, a young Pete, and a young Alan. So there's no reason not to have an Ian.

Crockof · 25/03/2019 17:43

Totally love it.

LailaByron · 25/03/2019 17:43

I just think of Ian Beale 😕 not for me but if you like it, why not?!

Bumblebeesmum · 25/03/2019 17:41

I hate it but not because it’s a stupid name just because it’s very dated - their peers wouldn’t find it odd

SleepingStandingUp · 25/03/2019 17:40

There was a baby Ian in hospital when DS was a baby, so there's at least one 3-4 yo old out there. We also go to nursery with a Neil which I think is in the same bracket.

If you like it, go for it. People will get used to it.

GRW · 25/03/2019 17:39

Cian is much more popular now, but I like Ian.

Sexnotgender · 25/03/2019 17:35

My 7 week olds middle name is Ian.

It’s my dads name and I love it.