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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tristan or Quentin

65 replies

HolyMusicalBman · 25/01/2021 11:16

Wondering which one is a better name for a boy. Surname ends in -Ton or -Ley. Thanks in advance.

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percheron67 · 26/01/2021 23:47

Like both of them very much but Tristan just comes in first. So glad to hear proper, sensible names. I am fed up with Mighty Mountain and the like!

TonkinLenkicks · 26/01/2021 23:44

Tristan

Orphlids · 26/01/2021 23:13

Tristan. Is there a name more romantic than this? Just wonderful.

WildCherryBlossom · 26/01/2021 05:29

I far prefer Tristan. It's a lovely name but I was always put off from using it by its meaning: sad or sadness. I think the Latin is tristis and in Spanish, French etc triste is the word for sad.

ZebraKid71 · 25/01/2021 22:36

Both lovely, but neither work with a -ton surname.

HerculePoirotsGreyCells · 25/01/2021 21:42

I have a Tristan, so I'm biased Grin

partyatthepalace · 25/01/2021 21:41

Like Tristan

Hate Quentin

Y ending to surname be better for both

Dyl04 · 25/01/2021 21:16

Wow Shock. That's a bit far. If you don't like them that much then don't comment

MerryInthechelseahotel · 25/01/2021 19:33

!00% Quentin, don't listen to the others.

Sheleg · 25/01/2021 19:32

Neither! They're both absolutely hanging names.

beela · 25/01/2021 19:32

Quentin.

I know one Tristan - who is really awful, and one Quentin - who is one of my favourite people!

finallychangedmyusername · 25/01/2021 19:29

I like Quentin! Cool initial and reminds me of Quentin Blake.

Reinventinganna · 25/01/2021 19:27

Tristan makes my teeth itch.

Definitely Quentin. What about Crispin or Gideon?

ParisJeTAime · 25/01/2021 19:23

Quentin!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 25/01/2021 17:42

Tristan is lovely - has a poetic image imo, thanks to the legend. Less keen on Quentin, it's okay but somehow feels a bit geeky to me.

But I agree with a pp that a first name ending in -tan or -tin might not work that well with a surname ending in -ton.

Katjolo · 25/01/2021 17:41

Both lovely OP.

Flymetothestars · 25/01/2021 17:36

Tristan is my favourite by a mile by the way. I love it

Flymetothestars · 25/01/2021 17:36

@ElectraBlue Quinten is outside the top 900 names and Tristan is outside the top 200 and on a huge downslope so looks set to leave the top 250 in the next year or so. These names really are not common and infact are declining in numbers year on year. (Source: official government ons statistics)

lookdeepintotheparka · 25/01/2021 16:47

I really don't like Quentin but think Tris is quite nice as a nn for Tristan or Tristram.

ElectraBlue · 25/01/2021 13:09

Everyone seems to want to call their kids Tristan, Quentin, Rupert or Tarquin these days,...choose something that has a real meaning for you and that you really love, not what will sound 'posh' (because you will achieve the exact opposite as these names are now so common).

IsadoraQuagmire · 25/01/2021 12:54

Quentin is one of my favourite names, you could use Q for short, like Quentin Coldwater in The Magicians. Isn't Tristan really common? I don't know any babies, but I know several adult Tristans.

YourWurstNightmare · 25/01/2021 12:50

If you picked Quinton, then you could shorten it to Quin?

MrsBungle · 25/01/2021 12:47

Tristan. Not Quentin.

ChnandlerBong · 25/01/2021 12:45

if surname ends in -ton, won't Tristan sound a but rhymey?

(we loved Annabel but surname also ends in the -elle sound so was a no go)

Tristram? Crispin? Lorcan?

bearlyactive · 25/01/2021 12:34

Definitely Tristan. Quentin reminds me of the stern scientist uncle from one of the Enid Blyton series (either the Famous Five or the Secret Seven).