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Baby names

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

Original poster

I challenge you to suggest a name I've not already thought of...

383 replies

Namesetc · 15/01/2020 19:53

I'm looking for a one-syllable name as the baby's second name will be long (double barrelled).

Boy's name.

Uncommon / not going to be too many of them either at school or in the media etc.

Names I've ruled out:

Things like:
John, Ben, Dan, Ed, etc (too boring, common amongst older people, 'around')

Things like:
Alfie, Albie, Ted, Wilf, Archie, (too popular)

Things like:
Bear, Fox, Snow, Thor (I kind of like them but they are a bit too much, iyswim)

Looking for a middle ground name. Uncommon, short, strong (not ending in "ie" sound) but not too wacky.

For example my favourite girl's name is Fern. (I quite like nature names).

The only boy's name I like is two syllables (Rohan- though could be shortened to Ro) but DH doesn't like it.

Any ideas for a name which fits the bill?

OP posts:
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Skyejuly · 16/01/2020 10:43

Maxwell
Neville
Duncan
Ambrose
Rowan
Kingsley
Nile
Also knew a man called Jade. Loved it.

Aspen

Guacamowle · 16/01/2020 10:39

My friend's grandson is called Rhu (pronounced Roo)

YasssKween · 16/01/2020 10:37

Gus
Ace
Jesse
Jude
Sage (I love this one!)
Lars
Dale
Roald

?

GeistohneGrenzen · 16/01/2020 10:33

BROOK

Goes well with FERN. I thought of it after suggesting Brock back on page 2 of this thread Grin

Original poster
Namesetc · 16/01/2020 10:23

I also love Fox but DH doesn't, thinks it's too out there, which I do understand.

Thanks everyone! Gosh this is hard!!! I feel like I'm super fussy. I don't see the point of a long name with a shortened nick name - eg Benedict/Ben. I'd just want to make them the shorter version from the outset. (Also Ben is cute but too conventional for my taste).

The second challenge is, it's amazing how many names remind you of a person you know isn't it?! Or a famous person. Is it possible to get over that? I don't think it can be, especially when you don't admire the person much. Eg I really like Noel but Noel Edmonds and Noel from Hearsay cannot be erased haha! GrinConfused. Also some names we can't use because of existing family members etc.

So once I've ruled out the conventional and the wacky, the names of people I know, I'm left with not that many!

I'm also aware that we have chosen two girls names and should I choose a name that goes with that, eg in case we have a boy this time but go on to have a girl later. Eg let's say I know I want the girl to be Fern, if I chose Fenn for the boy then each one cancels the other out- iyswim?? You can't (surely) have Fenn and Fern as siblings so I'd be ruling out the possibility of using the name Fern in the future - for example.

What a minefield this is! I'm sorry for being so fussy people, and thank you for all the suggestions. @NameChange30 thanks for the insight into how you whittled down your choices. This is probably the sort of guidance I need now. As it seems no name is leaping out as perfect in every way. I'd love to know the name you ended up choosing but probably too outing for you. I think we may end up needing a name that grows on us...

Xx

OP posts:
Ullupullu · 16/01/2020 09:54

Ken.
Flynn.

Divebar · 16/01/2020 09:54

There was a Leif Garrett in the 1970s who had a hit song “ I was made for dancing” Grin. Very very cheesy disco song.. I think it was pronounced Layf though not leaf. ( he was American though )

GryffinDora · 16/01/2020 09:54

Just throwing Sorley in to the mix of you like Soren but want something British

Original poster
Namesetc · 16/01/2020 09:53

@AnonymousP thank you, I have added Sylvan to my list! I know a Sylvan (adult) and really like it but had discounted due to syllables lol 🙈 But it's worth considering as it's actually quite classic and quite strong, easy to pronounce but also not too common.

OP posts:
Sillybillypoopoomummy · 16/01/2020 09:52

Thorn?

Original poster
Namesetc · 16/01/2020 09:51

@MamaDane how is Søren pronounced in Danish please?

Do you / others think it would be okay to pronounce as it reads in English - Sorr-ren?

OP posts:
AnneKipanki · 16/01/2020 07:45

Merce

AnneKipanki · 16/01/2020 07:33

I knew a Leaf too . It was definitely not the Scandinavian spelling.

Astronica · 16/01/2020 06:50

I love Frank and like Soren!

Kip (a favourite of mine)
Kep
Hal
Joss
Zeb
Joash
Titus
Reuel
Ruan
Ludric
Sol
Clyde
Clive
Linus

BikeRunSki · 16/01/2020 06:47

Knew a Leaf once. Wouldn't be my choice though

Was it Leif? That’s a fairly well known Scandi name.

AlliKaneErikson · 16/01/2020 05:36

Clem

MopsRUs · 16/01/2020 04:58

Felix
Cole
Jett
Bay
Tom
Niall
Abel
Dylan
Miles
Jed
Mick
Sam
Xander
Zeb
Nate
Clive
Hans
Bryan
Jem
Ray

Pumpkinbell · 16/01/2020 04:43

Jay
Jim
Theo
Jack
Josh
Leon
Louis
Issac
Callum
Finley
Ainsley
Ant

Some 2 syllable one there too sorry!

Lots of lovely names try writing some down with your choice of first name and surname and see what fits in front of your eyes. Good luck

katy1213 · 16/01/2020 03:30

Wasn't there a Trey in the Sex and the City? Always made me think of tea-cups and saucers.

katy1213 · 16/01/2020 03:27

Knew a Leaf once. Wouldn't be my choice though.

Maduixa · 16/01/2020 03:18

My shortlist of one syllable boys names workable in the UK. I've edited out common ones like George and James. Apologies, there may be duplicates from previous replies.

Bjorn - literally, bear in various Scandinavian/Nordic languages
Blake
Blair
Blaise
Blyth
Bran - Welsh/Irish for raven; a solid traditional male name
Bryn - Welsh for hill; also a solid traditional male name
Craig
Dane
Dove
Finn
Flann - literally means red in Irish, but is a traditional (very archaic) male first name
Gael - Spanish; may be too girly in a UK context but the Hunger Games character has masculinised it a bit
Gray/Grey - a guilty pleasure of mine - technially it's lastname-as-firstname, but IMO fmr California governor Gray Davis normalised it
Giles - patron saint of Edinburgh :)
Guy - I include this because I love it in French, but it may be a bit weird in English
Hugh - also Welsh Huw (might be too much if you're not Welsh)
Jacques - far too common in French, rare-ish but still recognisable in English
Jules
Kai
Keir
Lars
Miles
Neal, Neil, Niall
Noel - I keep mentally inserting the umlaut and thinking of this as no-ELL, but I think most British ppl will read it as NOLE
Piers
Rain
Rhys
Sage - this skews feminine in my Americanised head, but it's traditionally unisex
Serge
Sven
Yves

Ihavehadenoughalready · 16/01/2020 03:03

It seems we all know Soren Lorenson.

Leo really does go with everything. Maybe except Lorenson.

Good luck, OP.

Ihavehadenoughalready · 16/01/2020 02:52

Leo (two syllables but oh so short) and I love Leo.

Poorolddaddypig · 16/01/2020 02:10

Oops. Just noticed it said one syllable. Kit?

Poorolddaddypig · 16/01/2020 02:09

Rudy?

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