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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help desperately needed!

30 replies

FingersXssd83 · 04/09/2020 19:49

Right, baby was born a week ago. Need a name. I keep flip flopping.

Surname begins with a T and is two syllables. Middle name begins with R and is two syllables. Not sharing as it's a massive give away if we know anyone on here.

So the options are:

Joseph
Thomas
Dylan

With Joseph, concerned that ppl might call him Joey. Fine with Joe - actually really love it for 5 years onwards and think it gets better with age. We're not big on religion and mindful that it's a biblical name so that's a con.

Love Thomas but we have a surname beginning with T so I don't want the name to be considered tacky or for baby to hate it when he gets older. Love Tommy if it's shortened but again worried it's a bit cartoonish with the T double syllable surname. Also love Thom as a shortened version but DH isn't a fan and this shortened version doesn't flow too well with surname.

Like Dylan as a third option because it's simple, whimsical and can't be shortened but not in love with it like I am Thomas or Joe.

All comments appreciated! Finding this really difficult!

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LarkDescending · 05/09/2020 12:19

Joseph is a lovely choice - congratulations!

MikeUniformMike · 05/09/2020 10:56

Congratulations Flowers, great choice, and thank you for the update!

chubbyhotchoc · 05/09/2020 10:24

Definitely prefer Thomas and Joseph over Dylan. Like them both equally. Go for Joseph if the alliteration sounds silly but if it doesn't you're good to go

AriesTheRam · 05/09/2020 10:09

I think names with the same letter sound the best tbh.

whatausername · 05/09/2020 10:07

Congratulations Flowers and thank you for the update!

CaffiSaliMali · 05/09/2020 10:03

Missed your update - Joseph is lovely, congratulations Grin

CaffiSaliMali · 05/09/2020 10:01

I prefer Dylan with the correct Welsh pronunciation.

Thomas and Joseph are both lovely and although biblical they are used enough that they don't give off religious vibes in the same way a name like Jedediah would.

Thomas is my favourite, but it depends on your T surname as PPs have said. For example:

Thomas Thompson - no
Thomas Townsend - yes

I think I would go with Joseph. All the Josephs I know are Joe or Joseph, none of them use Joey.

LittleCabbage · 05/09/2020 09:55

I agree with your choice of Joseph. It isn't THAT biblical, and I would never expect anyone to shorten it to Joey if you live in the UK. Surely that is more American?

Not a huge fan of alliterative names, and whilst I think Dylan is fine, I much prefer Joseph.

Original poster
FingersXssd83 · 05/09/2020 09:51

Thanks lovelies! Your comments have all really helped (well, maybe not the 80/90s one 😂)

Decided to plum for Joseph as I had a few too many doubts with the alliteration of Thomas. The more I look at him, the more he is a Joesph or Little Joe 💙

OP posts:
Peachbubble · 05/09/2020 07:01

I'd go with Joseph

sorryforswearing · 05/09/2020 02:40

I like Joseph best nn Joe. Doubt he’d get Joey especially if you correct anyone who says it. Of course if he prefers Joey when he’s older that’s what he’ll get. I don’t like alliterative names but that’s just my personal preference. Don’t agree that Joseph and Thomas are 80’s/90’s names. There’s still plenty of them around.

Pet8 · 05/09/2020 00:05

I'm very biased as I have both a Thomas and a Joseph. They get shortened to 3 letters. Don't know anyone that says Joey though.
The poster that said that they're 80s/90s names that have their day is talking through their arse. They are timeless names.

Heh1991 · 04/09/2020 23:50

I have alliterative initials and I love it! Go for Thomas x

itsjakeandamy · 04/09/2020 23:36

Joseph.
I only know 3 (and my children are in their teens now).
One is always Joseph.
The other two are Joe sometimes and Joseph sometimes but that's their choice - and never Joey!

Marlena1 · 04/09/2020 23:06

Dylan is gone (even though I love it). I think from what you say, it has to be Joseph(shortened to Joe) which is lovely.

monkeyonthetable · 04/09/2020 23:06

None of the Josephs I know get Joey as a nn. It's always Joe. I love that name best. Thomas is nice too but I agree the alliteration might sound a bit comical.

BikeRunSki · 04/09/2020 23:05

@GeorgiaWeLoveYou

Joseph and Thomas are very 80s/90s names. I don't know any boys with these names now. They've had their day IMO.

I would go with Dylan. It's classic and simple.

I know many boys with these names now! I don’t know many babies, but I am a Cub leader, and we’ve had multiple Thomases for about 5 years, and often more than one Joseph.
Whydoireadthis · 04/09/2020 23:03

Sounds like Joseph from your post 😊

copperoliver · 04/09/2020 22:58

Joseph. X

BackforGood · 04/09/2020 22:55

I'd go for Joseph.
When they are little, people take your lead in what you call them, and then as he gets to school, it is much more likely to be Joe than Joey. Though once he gets to secondary, it could be anything in the wrld, which is nothing to do with his name, or might be something to do with his initials which you've either not thought of, or hasn't been invented yet. Or he could end up being really tall, so they'll call him Titch, and so on and so forth.

GeorgiaWeLoveYou · 04/09/2020 22:50

Joseph and Thomas are very 80s/90s names. I don't know any boys with these names now. They've had their day IMO.

I would go with Dylan. It's classic and simple.

whatausername · 04/09/2020 22:36

Take Dylan off the list. Thomas or Joseph. I'd go for Joseph, I don't think of it as religious when I see it (I'm no at all religious, could that be why?). Also, in the UK many of the more traditional names do have a religous connection especially a Biblical one so don't let that put you off Joseph. It simply comes with having been a predominantly Christian country for so long, it's part of our history & culture.

Tillygetsit · 04/09/2020 22:32

Oh no, the "naughty boys name" old chestnut. Hmm
The Dylan I know is 8. Studious, serious and very polite, so not all Dylans are tearaways. Having said that, Joseph is my favourite ever boys name. I have one!

MikeUniformMike · 04/09/2020 21:36

Dylan - can't be shortened
Yes, assuming you are saying it as Dillun, to Dil.
Whimsical - not at all, it's a naughty boy's name.

Thomas - depends on the surname. Forget the middle name as it will hardly ever get used. Thomas Telford, Tom Tyler...

Joseph/Joe - fine

RuthW · 04/09/2020 20:11

I like Dylan best, but it can be shortened to Dyl.

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