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

Help

30 replies

Freewanderer · 30/01/2020 21:19

Need to name baby boy. The clock is ticking. Shortlist as below. I’d like first and middle name and surname is Mac - something. It’s impossible to decide! Any thoughts are appreciated - I didn’t really want something too popular but am losing the will! I do tend to like more traditional names.

Alexander
Louis
Joseph
Zachary
Cillian
Benjamin
Laurence
Nathaniel
William
Aidan
Christian

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Freewanderer · 02/02/2020 14:56

Thanks everyone. Some good suggestions. Cillian not so popular so am taking off list! This is so hard when nothing jumps out. Was wondering if Zachary was dated actually and previously overused.

OP posts:
daisypond · 02/02/2020 11:15

That’s a good list.
I like particularly Alexander, William and Laurence/Lawrence.
I like Louis, but it seems dated to me and it’s demographic has changed now. I know a few in their mid 20s.
Joseph, Benjamin and Nathaniel are the best and more classic of Old Testament names currently fashionable. Zachary is much less classic and already dated.
Aidan and Cillian are both fine, especially if you have Irish connections.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 02/02/2020 11:07

Alexander like
Louis Not keen
Joseph Like
Zachary Ok
Cillian. Not keen
Benjamin Love
Laurence Love
Nathaniel. Like
William Like
Aidan Not keen
Christian. Not keen

I would go with Benjamin Alexander or Laurence Joseph

balletpanda · 02/02/2020 11:02

I love Alexander Louis and William Louis

PlantPotting · 02/02/2020 11:00

Alexander -love
Louis - love
Joseph -love
Zachary -love
Cillian - dislike
Benjamin - love
Laurence - ok
Nathaniel - love nn Nate is cool too
William - love
Aidan - love
Christian - ok

Malyshek · 02/02/2020 10:45

Don't like Joseph and William, too classic and overused (i.e. boring).

I do like Alexander, Nathaniel, Ayden and Christian.

Bit "meh" on the others...

Ayden Alexander sounds pretty cool !

FernBritanica · 02/02/2020 08:39

Alexander - good classic name
Louis - never seen the attraction, sounds like it's trying to be French Confused
Joseph - lovely classic, strong but gentle sounding
Zachary - not hugely keen, a bit American, but Zach Mac- does sound good as pp says Smile
Cillian - like this. Possibly influenced by Cillian Murphy..
Benjamin - same thoughts as Joseph above. My joint favourite.
Laurence - sounds kind of "stodgy"
Nathaniel - really hate Nathan but weirdly like this. Nate is a great nn
William - too Royal (but then I'm not a fan)
Aidan - a bit wet
Christian - a but wet

weegiemum · 01/02/2020 21:09

I love Aidan but I'm biased, because mine is 18 this week! It suited him as a baby, as a wee boy and as a teenager. It's a great name!

AlpacaGoodnight · 01/02/2020 21:06

Cillian

17caterpillars1mouse · 31/01/2020 09:59

I do love Alexander but dislike Alex so would personally only use it as a middle name

17caterpillars1mouse · 31/01/2020 09:58

Lovely shortlist

I really love Christian, possible mn Kit. Its a well known name but not overly popular. Christian Alexander sounds lovely

I also really like Benjamin, Joseph, Zachary and Nathaniel

I like William too but I know loads of Williams who are under 3

user1493494961 · 31/01/2020 09:09

Nathaniel Joseph. Also like all the others except Cillian and Aidan.

Grufallosfriends · 31/01/2020 08:55

I like Christian and Cillian.

I'd spell Lawrence like this as Laurence is a popular girls name in France.

How about Dominic or Quentin?

Urkiddingright · 31/01/2020 08:27

Laurence is lovely.

Maduixa · 31/01/2020 08:26

I like all of your list. Alexander stands out to me as a classic name that is also very flexible - it would work with any of your names as a middle, and also has quite a range of nicknames - Alex, Alec, Lex, Sandy, Xan, Xander, etc.

I have Kilian on my "short list" - French version of Cillian (DP is French), maybe easier to pronounce if you're in the UK (and not NI).

Astronica · 31/01/2020 08:09

All good names but my favourites are, in your order:

Alexander (middles: Louis, William, Rafe, Miles, Hugh, Gilbert)
Louis (middles: Benjamin, Nathaniel, Christian, Miles, Gilbert, Edmund)
Zachary (middles: William, Rafe, Miles)
Benjamin (middles William, Christian, Cillian, Rafe)
Nathaniel (middles: William, Christian, Cillian, Rafe, Miles, Hugh, Hugo)
William (middles: Zachary, Alexander, Nathaniel, Rafe, Hugo)

Also suggest: Hugh, Hugo, Fergus, Christopher (Kit, Kip), Rupert, Edmund (Ted, Ned).

Lavenderblues · 30/01/2020 23:14

Laurence is the feminine form of Laurent.

Grandmi · 30/01/2020 23:12

Laurence is my favourite name .

TrippingOnSunshine · 30/01/2020 22:30

I would use Joseph Aiden (JAM!)
Or Zachary Aiden (Zack Mac)
Love those names.

ParsleyPot · 30/01/2020 22:16

All nice apart from Cillian - children will give the nn 'Kill'.

AmelieTaylor · 30/01/2020 22:14

Nathaniel Alexander MacWhatever

As long as you call him Nate 😊

Standrewsschool · 30/01/2020 22:12

Not so keen on aiden on Cillian, but the others are good solid names.

Benjamin and Nathaniel are my favourite.

Krazynights34 · 30/01/2020 22:11

Joseph Laurence
Laurence Benjamin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 30/01/2020 22:11

Benjamin Alexander
William Alexander
Alexander Joseph.
ZachAry Louis
Aiden Louis
Alexander William

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 30/01/2020 22:09

I quite like Laurence. Laurence Alexander is lovely.

Swipe left for the next trending thread