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

Short names like...

33 replies

Currentlyprocrastinating · 05/08/2020 11:43

We both like the name James. I find it so handsome and classic but maybe underused for babies now a days and more of a middle spot?

Do you think it's too boring or would you be surprised to hear a baby James? Any other alternative short suggestions?

For girls, we like short names, again, that is probably less used. We like Lara and Mae so far. Just putting feelers out for any similar suggestions?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
zigaziga · 09/08/2020 09:18

James is fantastic!

Classic, not faddy, not overused...

I like Lara but not so much Mae. Mae tends to just be used as a middle name or as a second name on a hyphenated name as a filler so I see it as a nothing name really.

Shutupyoutart · 09/08/2020 08:50

I love james. Its lovely and timeless. Other boys names. Alex, adam, david, blake, Jack,john,max.Girls short names. Mae, sarah, lucy, Kate, anna, grace,beth.

Rachel247 · 09/08/2020 07:21

Faye for a girl is lovely.

For a boy, Quinn?

FizzyGreenWater · 09/08/2020 00:30

Tess is fab

Kit or Rory for a boy? Lovely and brief.

Scruffyoak · 08/08/2020 22:18

Nile
Jack
Karl

Grace
Jade

Spied · 08/08/2020 10:51

I don't know of any James under the age of 10 and all the ones I know of are nicknamed Jamie.
If you use Mae I'd definitely spell it May.
Suggestions
Isaac
Owen
Caleb

Molly
Nina
Helena

SassyMoodyNastyImASavage · 08/08/2020 10:50

I love Ace, I think it’s so cool.

Flynn
Cole
Dash
Nick
Rio
Beau

Taya
Nala
Suki
Una

sweetnosugar · 08/08/2020 10:45

I know a few boys named James. Youngest being 4 months, so I wouldn’t say it’s underused at all. Nothing wrong with the name, if you like it go for it.
Some suggestions -
Ivy
Winnie
Maeve
Olive
Lottie

Ernie
Locky
Theo - I just like this name, apparently popular but I thought I’d just add it in!
Max

CMMum88 · 07/08/2020 09:49

James is lovely. Lots of my generation but not a lot around now.

Prefer Clara to Lara and maybe Madeleine nn May.

Other suggestions are Max, Blair, Anna and Jane

MojoJojo71 · 07/08/2020 09:47

Love James, it’s my absolute favourite boys name. It’s classic and you always come across the occasional one but there are t loads of little ones named James.

For a girl short names I love are Eve and Joy

daisypond · 07/08/2020 09:44

I like James. Lara is OK. Not Mae. May is nice.
Guy?
I like John too.

Mary?
Anna?
Jane?

Original poster
Currentlyprocrastinating · 07/08/2020 09:32

I like Saul and Kier maybe to political right now?)

OP posts:
unmarkedbythat · 07/08/2020 09:27

Keir?

unmarkedbythat · 07/08/2020 09:25

Do you like Saul? Joel?

Original poster
Currentlyprocrastinating · 06/08/2020 23:11

No other names are really jumping out at me yet. I don't know any baby James' but I grew up in classrooms full of them. It really is such a classic.

I think perhaps it's something slightly more less used we're looking for 🤔 if this has helped me with anything, it's helped with that. I like Miles, Rafe, Seth, Tess, Lois and Faye!

OP posts:
IKEA888 · 05/08/2020 21:17

James v popular here.
3 in my daughter's school year... 4 / 5 year olds.
lovely name though.
what about Adam

BIGrahrah · 05/08/2020 21:15

James is really popular. I think James and George are two of the most used baby names for boys in recent years? Both very classic though. I am not keen on John, personally.

Whatsyourflava · 05/08/2020 20:58

John is a good suggestion

EuphieKat · 05/08/2020 20:38

You have good taste! I have a Lara, so I love the name ( there have never been any other Laras in her school) and my son’s middle name is James!

AntiAuntieAnty · 05/08/2020 14:58

James is fairly common where I live. I hear it a lot.

I love John and haven't met a little one before iirc...

This may be regional obviously!

InTheWings · 05/08/2020 14:46

Pearl
Maude
May
Ann
Bea

Original poster
Currentlyprocrastinating · 05/08/2020 14:10

@Iwalkinmyclothing I think one or two would be ideal as I'm not keen on shortening names particularly. Thank you for that.

OP posts:
InTheWings · 05/08/2020 12:10

James
George
Jake
Max
Nash
Seth

Jade
Nancy
Cara
Thea

Iwalkinmyclothing · 05/08/2020 12:05

James is a lovely name. Lovely! Are you after one syllable names only? Lee is a name I really like but I don't think of it as 'like James'. Ross sort of is though.

This might be interesting to you: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalestop100babynameshistoricaldata

dw23 · 05/08/2020 12:05

I've always loved the name Adam, short and sweet and hardly used any more. My daughter is called June. I love it. Don't think she'll ever have a contemporary with the same name. James is lovely too. Other short name classics;

Sam(uel)
Josh(ua)
Seth
Enid
Joy
Olive
Tess
Rose