Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Massive name wobble!

64 replies

namewobble · 06/05/2019 16:20

DS is around 1 and I'm just not sure about the name. I've never really been sure about it, and he has another very plain name (think Thomas/Matthew etc) which we could use.

Has anyone done this? He's starting to recognise his name and I don't know what to do!

The name is Roman. We liked it because it was unusual, but solid, with nice rounded sounds and it goes with our surname. But I just feel like it's a bit silly. What do Mumsnet think?

Context: we live in a university town, do media-y jobs. Friends kids names range from Poppy/Toby/Leo through to Wren and Athene. If I'm being brutally honest, I'm a bit worried about the class connotations of Roman, though I'd never admit it in public, and I do try not to think like that.

Opinions please!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo · 06/05/2019 19:55

Wouldn't say it has class connotations (in the way you mean), but I don't like it, sorry. And I do like (some) names which others might consider out-there. I think Roman Polanski may have ruined it for me (but actually don't think I'd have been keen anyway).

Loopytiles · 06/05/2019 19:54

Strongly dislike it.

hewontstopshitting · 06/05/2019 19:50

I think it’s a lovely name, an Ro, Romy, Manny are lovely nicknames

MumUnderTheMoon · 06/05/2019 19:46

I like it also enjoy Ro (Row) as a nn.

Timide · 06/05/2019 19:31

It's very very popular in Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine in particular. If you don't have anything against such link then why not

OrdinaryGirl · 06/05/2019 19:26

'Ro' is a lovely nickname I think. And it's no different to Joe for Joseph really.

OrdinaryGirl · 06/05/2019 19:24

I love it and I'm 42! It's a great name. And very dashing.

snowdrop6 · 06/05/2019 19:21

What happens at school when they are learning about the Romans’? .kids can be cruel
I’d be changing it to Rowan personally
I’m not saying that to offend or upset.but you did ask for opinion.
I’m mid 40s perhaps that’s why.
I always wanted to be wild when I chose my children’s names,have out there names.
But I’m so glad I didn’t.they are adults now and they suit their normal names

wallymum · 06/05/2019 19:05

I'm 40 so bang in the middle of your demographics and for what it's worth I think it's a quality name. Love it

zebrarobot · 06/05/2019 18:51

I like it. I wanted to call our second son Roman but DH said he didn't like it because it was the name of a wrestler at the time. What about changing it to Ronan? Close enough that if anyone asks you can pretend they were mistaken.

Livvylovesgin · 06/05/2019 18:49

Have a friend with a LO with the same name. He often gets 'Mannie' or 'Romy' as a nickname....could you do the same, both quite cute on the LO I know.

peachgreen · 06/05/2019 18:48

I think it's fine. Unusual but still sensible, suits a young child and an adult.

DaisyStarburst · 06/05/2019 18:44

I'm well over 40 and love it. Maybe it's a name that will feel better as he gets older. I'd keep it.

Pearofwisdom · 06/05/2019 18:36

I don't mind it. If you changed could you switch to Rowan? Similar enough he wouldn't notice?

Sophronia · 06/05/2019 18:32

I’m not keen. I know a Roman who has siblings called Riley and Harley.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 06/05/2019 18:25

I wouldn't change a child's name at 1 year old (unless it was genuinely appalling, which it is not). He has been hearing people call him Roman all his life, he knows it is his name...I would stick with it.

DramaAlpaca · 06/05/2019 18:21

It's perfectly fine. And I'm well over 40.

TatianaLarina · 06/05/2019 17:08

Love Roman!

I don’t think it has any class connotations tbh.

It’s not like it’s Rupert or Jaxxon.

yoshismother · 06/05/2019 16:59

I think I just have a hard time with boys names. I have girls and they both have quite unusual names. I think as a pp said, it reminds me of actual Romans

Original poster
namewobble · 06/05/2019 16:57

Didn't meant to ding the taste of over-40s! It was just a description of the family divide...

You're all making me feel much better.

And yes I like that it's easy to spell. Plus, when he gets to the point of writing his name, 'R' is a great way to start a signature.

OP posts:
Original poster
namewobble · 06/05/2019 16:56

Thanks Ursula and nice username, Ursula is very top of my list if I ever manage to have a girl

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 06/05/2019 16:55

It's lovely, not rare enough to be 'out there' but not common. And, everyone can spell it. PS I'm over 40.

UrsulaPandress · 06/05/2019 16:55

I'm well over 40 and I love it. Worked with a lovely man called Roman many years ago.

Original poster
namewobble · 06/05/2019 16:54

Yep Bumble that's us. Lots of crap hand-thrown pots about.

yoshi do you tend to prefer more traditional/sensible names or is it something specific about this one?

OP posts:
daisypond · 06/05/2019 16:54

I’m not keen on Roman. It just brings to mind gladiatorial combats, even if I try to think of the many good things the Romans did. It seems a bit bloodthirsty and It does have connotations to me. Maybe be if you are from a country where Roman is a more common name it would be ok.

Swipe left for the next trending thread