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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boy’s name to go with difficult surname

78 replies

Leanybean · 23/04/2020 13:20

Hi, I need help! Confused
We are due in around 10 weeks and are really struggling to agree on any boys’ names. DH is extremely sensitive about how names sound with the first syllable of our surname, COCHRANE.

DD is Charley - Charlotte - so it kind of needs to compliment that too.
We both liked Rafferty for a while before feeling that it is too ‘brave’ compared to Charlotte. We can’t have Jack, Jacob or Alexander, all of which we both like.
We would both really like a name that can be shortened to a nn.

Example names DH likes:
Thomas
Arthur
Raphael

Example names I like:
Maxwell
Joseph
Zachary
Finley (DH thinks could sound like ‘thin ck’)
Isaac (I agree with DH that this is inappropriate with our surname)
Oliver (DH thinks could sound like ‘I love a ck’)

What other names are there that could compliment Charlotte but don’t have any remote phallic connotation and go ok with Cochrane??!

If it is a girl we have narrowed it to either Jessica or Megan.

Thanks for your opinions! Smile

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FizzyGreenWater · 27/04/2020 20:57

I think it's a fine surname.

Joseph works well. Rafe is great.

Original poster
Leanybean · 27/04/2020 11:27

Hi guys,
Wow thanks for all the suggestions and good humour! Lots for us to think about and lots of new names to mull over for consideration. Never made the ‘half a’ connotation with Arthur!
Can’t believe the newspapers have picked up this thread - slow news day indeed, and some nasty comments on them about our capacity as parents that I won’t be reading any further.
We live in central England (not Scotland) and it is pronounced ‘Cock’ here - we hear innuendos constantly, which I just take to be affectionate and brush off, but we want to give our child a name that won’t cause them any reason for unnecessary problems, especially given that a boy will quite probably have that name for his whole life. Changing our surname is not personally an option for us.
Thanks again for the love and feedback guys, so appreciated! Smile

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 27/04/2020 00:20

Donquixote bit late but 🤣🤣🤣🤣 at ivanka

That's OK. Clearly I was was very subtle :-)

Bubbletrouble43 · 26/04/2020 21:16

Donquixote bit late but 🤣🤣🤣🤣 at ivanka

SylvanianFrenemies · 26/04/2020 20:58

Yeah I know, I was (perhaps too literally) responding to your asking why the original pronunciation hadn't been altered to be more acceptable the way some other names have.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 26/04/2020 20:54

Cochrane is a Scottish name, so the existing correct pronunciation is with a "ch" sound like in loch. Totally different from Cock. So the original pronunciation is fine,if people would stop mangling it!

You're not wrong, but I don't know where OP lives. If you asked 500 people at random in England how you pronounce it, 499 (if not all) would say 'COCK-run'. You can either try to order the tide to go back or just accept that that's how things will be. Even the German supermarket properly pronounced 'Lee-dhl' just goes with the flow and calls themselves 'Liddul' in their UK adverts.

Drapeduboeuf · 26/04/2020 11:30

Eddie.

Lordfrontpaw · 26/04/2020 09:58

I hadn’t thought of that - it’s coh-krane in my head.

SylvanianFrenemies · 26/04/2020 09:57

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll Cochrane is a Scottish name, so the existing correct pronunciation is with a "ch" sound like in loch. Totally different from Cock. So the original pronunciation is fine,if people would stop mangling it!

Wickerama · 26/04/2020 09:48

I totally understand what you are saying
As a teacher I wish more people would give thought to the whole name and if surname matches first name
I suggest any of these - all on our lists
Alfred/Alfie
Freddie
Wilfred
Zac
Rory
Harry
Henry
Austin
George
Jack
Joseph
Thomas/tommy
Benjamin/Ben
Mathew
Bertie
Lenny
Alex

Good luck

Dyra · 25/04/2020 22:22

Heh. My youngest sister is called Megan, and as a Charlotte, imo those two names go together very well.

Boys names, I think Jake or Jacob might work well. Jack could also work. Benjamin and Christopher are my brothers names for other names to go with Charlotte.

MrsP2015 · 25/04/2020 22:05

Any you like so far?

I have to say I didn't make the connection.

Matthew
Jonathon
Andrew
Bernard
Martin
Patrick
Simon
Michael
Aiden
Stuart
James
Gareth
Kieron
David
Robert

donquixotedelamancha · 25/04/2020 21:34

Donquixote shame because ivor is a lovely name!

I agree. I think OP should aim for a girl and boy, Ivor and Ivanka, and forget about DH's cock problem.

Bubbletrouble43 · 25/04/2020 21:29

Donquixote shame because ivor is a lovely name!

donquixotedelamancha · 25/04/2020 19:22

Donquixote I was referring to your suggestion of ivor cochrane obviously

Doh. Sorry, I'm just really not good at spotting these double entendres. I did think I'd misunderstood you.

I'm going to stick to girls name suggestions from now on. Something with a little gravitas which couldn't possibly by distorted into something filthy.

How about Ivanka Cochrane, OP?

vodkaicepops · 25/04/2020 18:40

CHARLIE IS GREAT. GOOD CHOICE FOR DD.

HOw about

HAMISH Cochrane
Louis Cochrane
Paul Cochrane
Cameron Cochrane
Conner Cochrane
Rain Cochrane
Romi Cochrane
Dennis Cochrane
Austin Cochrane
Dexter Cochrane
Philippe Cochrane
Walter Cochrane
Brandon Cochrane

Bubbletrouble43 · 25/04/2020 18:37

Donquixote I was referring to your suggestion of ivor cochrane obviously

Elsadoesmyheadin · 25/04/2020 18:26

I have a Charlotte.. Her older brothers are Jack and Joe.. It sounds really nice together I agree 😂.. I also loved the names Jesse (was our choice for a boy) If I had another today and had to name a boy I'd go for Teddy or girl Hattie or Harriet.. Cant see a problem with it going with Cochrane.. Think it's safe 😂

Lordfrontpaw · 25/04/2020 18:02

I just came on to say I’d seen this in the Mirror! Lazy-assed ‘journalism’!

Aquamarine1029 · 25/04/2020 17:54

@Whatsyourflava

Sorry! It's not on DM, it's from the bloody Mirror!

www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/im-struggling-pick-name-baby-21925642

Same ridiculous "news" sites so it's easy to mix them up.

Whatsyourflava · 25/04/2020 17:48

@Aquamarine1029 could you link it? I can’t find

Aquamarine1029 · 25/04/2020 17:46

Your post has made it on to Daily Mail. They must be having a really slow day! Grin

MsPeachh · 25/04/2020 13:27

My colleague has the surname Cochrane and I have literally never made any connection to it and the word “cock” until now.

donquixotedelamancha · 25/04/2020 13:19

Donquixote sounds like I've a cockring

How on earth does donquixote sound like 'I have a cock ring'? That's just silly.

Bubbletrouble43 · 25/04/2020 13:07

Donquixote sounds like I've a cockring

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