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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

OP posts:

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JemSynergy · 21/09/2019 17:03

Otis. I don't like Barney.

IckleBear · 21/09/2019 15:00

I like the Flynn suggestion

Geneva1995 · 21/09/2019 12:38

How about Flynn which overs have suggested? Not as popular and still a lovely name

Geneva1995 · 21/09/2019 12:37

Barney is super cute and is on our list for boys names!! I think Finley a lovely name but quite popular now Zachary again is lovely but will you be happy with Zach as I’m sure it will get shorted. Otis is fine but not my favourite of your list! Congrats

Grufallosfriends · 21/09/2019 11:29

Finley/Finn is so overused and dull and will inevitably fall out of fashion and sound dated.

How about Quinn?

Grufallosfriends · 21/09/2019 11:28

Love Barnaby!

MissHenty · 21/09/2019 10:36

I meant to include Arlo as a name that’s exploded in popularity and increases year on year whereas Finley is stable and actually on the decline

MissHenty · 21/09/2019 10:24

Yes how about Flynn OP? What about Seth or Milo or Rex

MissHenty · 21/09/2019 10:24

@clownfish123 yes I agree about popularity being less of an issue for boys’ names. My husband has a very common name but loves that it’s not unusual. Whereas I wish mine was slightly less ubiquitous.

Anyway you’re right Finley isn’t that high on the name charts and even if you add together all the Finlay/Finn etc together, the name is still no where near the numbers of Harry or Oliver type names. (Can you tell I’m a total name geek 🤦‍♀️)

Finley’s popularity has also levelled out now (and is on a downwards trajectory), so it’s very different to names like Roman and that are still on a massive upward trajectory and are likely to reach top 10 soon. I think those names will date very quickly given the explosion of popularity in a short space of time. They could begin to disappear and be this generations Nigel or Keith

names.darkgreener.com/#finley

Fivebeanchilli · 21/09/2019 09:52

Finley is super popular. Especially when you consider all the Finlays and Finns.
I do love it though.
Flynn is a good alternative?
I like Barney a lot though prefer Barnaby.
I love Otis.
Zachary is ok but I find it a bit dull as I know so many.

Original poster

Clownfish123 · 21/09/2019 09:21

Barnaby is out as it's too posh according to DH. (I think its lovely) he would consider Barney though. Same issue with Jasper.
I'm surprised some people think Finley is done to death as it's only ranked 30 in the lists but I have heard it a few times lately, especially when you add all the Finns too.
Eli has been on and off the list.
I dont mind popularity but would prefer something that isn't ridiculously popular. I am generally less bothered about popularity with boys names than girls.

Rudy is too close to DS's name which is on ariamontgomerys list
Jude is lovely but doesn't go with surname.

OP posts:

starkid · 21/09/2019 09:00

I like Finley out of those, but would spell it Finlay

ariamontgomery · 21/09/2019 08:49

LOVE Barney ❤️ Don’t think it’s a joke name at all? It’s lovely! Barnaby is also lovely!

I don’t like Otis. I don’t hate it either, but it feels strange to me. If I met one I wouldn’t be like though - it’s not terrible.

Finley would be lovely but it’s just been done to death, in my opinion. I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but in my hometown the last 4 baby boys who have been born that I know of have been Finleys. Finn is a nice nickname but I feel like Finley is the male equivalent of Ava or Isabella or something - the nice sound is lost by the boringness of the name caused by how common it has become.

Zachary is nice.

What about

Rory
Jude
Felix
Jasper
Casper
And I second Rudy - fab name!

MissHenty · 21/09/2019 08:28

I really love Finley

People on MN tend to think it’s v popular (which it is) but it’s got no where near the same numbers as names like Oliver and Harry on the official statistics. I’ve actually not met any Finley/Fin’s near me

Are you concerned with popularity anyway OP?

Could Barney be a nickname for Barnaby?

I really like Otis

How about

Rudi/ Rudy
Eli
Ellis
Peter

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