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Baby names

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

Help! Can I get away with this name or should I forget it and move on?

84 replies

Welikethemoon · 11/08/2019 10:40

Birth of our second baby is imminent, we don't know the sex. We have decided on a girls name but have been struggling with a boys name. The other day we suddenly decided upon "Stanley Oliver". We both loved it, it works well with our surname, the initials aren't a rude word or otherwise enbarising acronym. We can yell it easily when he's naughty and shorten it to Stan when he's older. For 5 minutes we had it cracked. Then I remembered they are Laurel and Hardy! So we immediately vetoed it. Now we can't think of anything else. We loved that name. But neither of us are particularly fans of L&H and I don't think I can do it. He would be constantly asked about it wouldn't he? Could you name your child that?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
KronksSpinachPuffs · 11/08/2019 14:41

I never would have made the connection, and how often do you use a first and middle name together anyway?

If you like the name then go for it!

joystir59 · 11/08/2019 14:35

Really like Stanley

DailyMailcanfuckthefuckoff · 11/08/2019 14:28

If you're worried about the Laurel and Hardy connection, what about using Oscar instead of Oliver?

SperanzaWilde · 11/08/2019 14:25

I don't think the connection is a problem, OP. Middle names are hardly ever used, anyway.

Timmytoo · 11/08/2019 14:21

Reminds me of Stanley the Guinea Fowl!

cstaff · 11/08/2019 14:17

That was the first thing that came into my head when I read the first line of your post. I couldn't do it tbh.

IsobelRae23 · 11/08/2019 13:52

Stanley is horrible. All the Stan and Stanley’s were I live, are the rough, crime, Asbo men/boys. Not one nice one at all. People say to their children when they misbehave ‘you are gonna turn into a Stan if you carry on’.

IsadoraQuagmire · 11/08/2019 13:52

I immediately thought of Laurel and Hardy, but I love them.
Stanley is a great name.

Floralnomad · 11/08/2019 13:46

I made the connection immediately but then I can’t abide Laurel and Hardy . I’d also just ditch Stanley it’s awful as is Stan .

Antonin · 11/08/2019 13:40

L&H are the first thing I thought of. Have a vague recollection that I read somewhere recently that there is to be revival film, docudrama or such like made.
What about Stanley Oscar?
Stanley Orlando
Stanley Olaf

Pieceofpurplesky · 11/08/2019 12:20

Gorgeous name. So what if people make the connection? I teach two very lovely Stanleys.

pictish · 11/08/2019 12:11

I wouldn’t. It’s not the worst by any means but I still wouldn’t.

MediocreOmens · 11/08/2019 12:05

I'm 29, I have heard of but never seen L&H and would certainly have never made the connection. Your son will grow up in a generation that won't know L&H, I say if you love it then go for it!

Ohyesiam · 11/08/2019 12:05

Nobody except you will know the middle names apart from the recipient of some government forms.
So go for it

Cbeebiesrehab · 11/08/2019 12:02

I didn’t make the connection (in my 30s) lovely name and love Stan. Go for it, middle names are hardly ever used anyway!

Popskipiekin · 11/08/2019 12:01

What do you think of Sidney instead of Stanley, OP? There’s a Sid in my son’s class and I love it Star
PS don’t think there’s an actual issue with Stanley or Stan + Oliver. I just think of the fun kids book I read as a child called Flat Stanley, when I hear name Stanley. And I am yet another not to have made the L&H connection.

HMArsey · 11/08/2019 12:00

Keep Stanley but ditch Oliver. Middle names are pointless anyway, just pick something at random out of a naming book for a middle name.

ReasonedCamper · 11/08/2019 11:57

I love Stanley
Oliver very popular
I did make the connection, immediately.
And thought ‘no!’
And it isn’t a generation thing, no one on MN watched L&H as contemporary films.
My teens know full well who L&H are!

Welikethemoon · 11/08/2019 11:52

I don't think I can have Oliver as the first name. Our surname begins with an L, Ollie L... Is too much of a mouthful for me.

OP posts:
Rivkka · 11/08/2019 11:49

I didn't make the connection and can honesty say no one will know or care about the middle name anyway.

I don't know any of my friend's or my DCs friend's middle names

VenusTiger · 11/08/2019 11:47

I made the connection immediately and I’m a fan, but I wouldn’t go with it. Oliver is lovely, as is Ollie. Go with that. Middle names are hardly spoken so go with DHs middle name or first name.

TwinsWhatAreTheOdds · 11/08/2019 11:44

*familiarity

Went missing for some reason.

TwinsWhatAreTheOdds · 11/08/2019 11:43

I‘m under forty and made the connection immediately.
It sounds lovely but I think one of the reasons it sounds so good is the
However, it’s not like middle names get used very much so you could still go for it.
But why not keep Stanley and find something else for a middle name, or add another short middle name in between. Not John, though!

Debfronut · 11/08/2019 11:41

Stanley makes me think of a crusty old man its horrible. Oliver is nice.

Sleepyhead11 · 11/08/2019 11:39

It was my Grandfather's name so I am fond of it. It is also the name of my lovely old uncle.