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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Finley Otis Barney or Zachary

89 replies

Clownfish123 · 21/09/2019 08:20

I might be posting a few threads in the next few months as we he have found out dc2 is likely to be a boy!
These are our current top 4 names but they change a lot. I like Barney but DH can't help feeling it is a bit of a joke name so it will probably get vetoed. His favourite is Otis which I like but don't love.
We both like the other two names but again neither feels perfect.
Baby will be half Irish which makes Finley quite appealing and DS1 has an Irish name. Also likely to be blonde and fair if that makes any difference!
Loads of names are ruled out as DH is fussy and we have friends who have already used names. DH doesn't like anything royal, posh or old manish (although he does like Leonard) I'm more open minded.
Thanks

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LolaSmiles · 23/09/2019 11:59

Derbee
I came across it name hunting for bump. I thought it was unusual and quite nice, maybe the OP might like it as she likes other names I like.
I think it's off our shortlist now. DH wasn't convinced.

Grufallosfriends · 23/09/2019 11:26

Barnaby/Barney is lovely.

I don't like nicknames for Zachary- Zac, Zack, Zak all sound like a sound in a comic book. And sound like Sack...!

Astronica · 23/09/2019 00:29

My favourite is Zachary, Zac. I don't mind Finley but much prefer Finn.

Derbee · 23/09/2019 00:25

Brody and Liam are Irish, and cute

Derbee · 23/09/2019 00:16

Barney is lovely.

Arlo?

Kanga83 · 22/09/2019 22:49

I love Barney and Barnaby. My boy is Benedict but would have been a Barnaby otherwise. Not keen on the others at all, Barney is just lovely though.

LolaSmiles · 22/09/2019 22:47

I really like Barney as a short version of Barnaby.
Zachary is quite nice, but I don't like Zak as a short nickname so that alone would be a no for me personally
Arlo and Milo might work.
Maybe something like Reuben or Asher?

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 22/09/2019 21:05

Finley is kind of Irish which is enough for me. I think it originated in Scotland but there are a lot of old Gaelic names that were used a lot in both Scotland and Ireland. It's nice to have that link as he will be growing up in the UK.

I think we are leaning towards Zachary. I'm a bit put off by the sheer popularity of Finley and the fact Finn seems to be massively on the rise so it will get more popular.
Barnaby is just a no go for DH. He said in Ireland it would be considered very posh British. (He could be wrong as he moved away 18 years ago!) But he wants a name that's relatively classless and fits in in both countries, and I see what he means as we go back there multiple times a year.

Thanks for all your opinions.

OP posts:

Minai · 22/09/2019 20:38

Love Finley
Zachary is nice too
Not keen on Barney or Otis

Greggers2017 · 22/09/2019 18:29

Otis the aardvark
Barney the dinosaur
Love Finley and Zachary!
All nice names but I'd avoid the first too due to the links with the animal characters

MikeUniformMike · 22/09/2019 18:01

Finley, Otis, Barney or Zachary?
Finley seems a bit wet and Finn a bit of a naughty boy's name.
Otis is dreadful.
Like Barnaby a lot, and Barney too.
Zachary is great, but I only like Zac as a nn, and it ir very popular. Another minus is that it's a name likely to come last on a list.

I'd go for Barnaby nn Barney. I know 1 Barney (Barnabas) 60s , 1 Barnaby nn Barney in his 40s, and a teenage Barnaby.

I wouldn't say the name was posh. Safely middle class maybe.

MeMeMeYou · 22/09/2019 17:42

Finn and Zach are v v popular, in case that makes a difference.

autumnkate · 22/09/2019 17:40

Finley isn’t Irish. Finbar or Fintan is probably the Irish equivalent.

hopefulandstrong · 22/09/2019 17:40

I was shocked how Finley was so popular when I named my son 12 years ago but he is very well suited to it which is all that matters really. My eldest bf is Finley and he's so different from mine but again he suits his name.
My dp's ex recently called her baby Finley and she doesn't like me at all, so if you like a name and it suited to your family that's all that matters.

Love milo too

diddlediddle · 22/09/2019 17:33

Finlay - boring
Zachary - lovely, like zach. Goes well with Rory
Otis - aardvark
Barney - don't mind it actually, prefer as nn for barnaby but it does go nicely with Rory. Maybe you can work on your DH re barnaby? I don't think it's posh.

AverageMummy · 22/09/2019 17:13

Otis is very posh & Finley is v....the opposite

Depends if that bothers you. I like Zachary as it’s a nice name that fits in anywhere.

MissHenty · 22/09/2019 06:53

@Firsttimemama2017 Finley not that popular round here either

Plus popularity of the name now declining so it will be even less popular by time baby arrives

I like the name Zac and don’t find it too harsh. It’s a solid name whereas the Archie type names are a bit cutesy

MrsBertBibby · 22/09/2019 06:44

Barney is awful! That bloody dinosaur!

Seamus is good.

I like Finn but not Finley. How about Fintan?

Firsttimemama2017 · 21/09/2019 22:21

To me Barney and Otis are dogs names. I cannot imagine a child with either of those names! Finley is lovely and not that popular around here.

user1493494961 · 21/09/2019 22:17

I like Barney.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 21/09/2019 18:42

What about Finbar? Similar feel, but not as 'done to death'

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 21/09/2019 18:41

I don't really mind both ending in Y. I wouldnt go for Rudy and Rory or Remy and Rory as it's too matchy but I think Barney and Rory are different enough.
I don't want to add any more rules to this!

OP posts:

Nancydrawn · 21/09/2019 18:38

If your first son is Rory, I'd pick a name that doesn't end in a Y for your second son. Rory and James is better than Rory and Barney. (Not that I think James is up your alley; fill in the blank.)

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/09/2019 18:35

Finley is very popular here, teenagers as well as younger children. I'm not keen. I dislike Zachary but could tolerate Zach so I could use Isaac and shorten to Zac. I love Otis and Barney (but slightly prefer Barnaby).

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 21/09/2019 18:29

I like Milo as a suggestion. I do like Flynn but we have a short surname beginning with F. It works well with Finley and Fin, but I feel it's a bit of a tongue twister when you at the L in.
I'm so surprised at how popular Finley is. It's a shame as it fits with DS name so well being Irish. I'm trying to decide if that's enough to put me off. I think Fin is a nice name for a teenager and a man as well as a small boy.
Dh says no to Seth as he doesnt like names with 'th' in them. He says Quinn is a surname. I like Quinn. Maybe I should get a new DH?
He likes Owen, Otis and Seamus but would compromise on Zachary or Finley.
I do like Zac but do you think it's quite a harsh name?

OP posts:

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