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Baby names

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

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Original poster

How dated is Colin?

270 replies

insidejobb · 03/04/2021 16:30

We are trying to choose a name for our first baby which will be a boy. We are almost set on Colin and have made the mistake of telling other people. Most of them have asked whether we are having a baby or an 80 year old man and making comments about how dated it is. One of my friends even said "who looks at a baby and think it looks like a Colin?"

I like to think it's a very traditional and timeless name and I know comments could be worse but they still get to me.

What are your thoughts on it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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SmeleanorSmellstrop · 04/04/2021 05:31

Just RTFT. As usual with Mumsnet:

OP: Is Colin awful?
Everyone: YES!
OP: no it isn't!

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 04/04/2021 05:24

It's definitely not traditional or timeless. It's very very dated.

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 04/04/2021 05:23

Noooooo!!! To me it's a Roy or a Nigel name. I think it's so dated it might seem amusing to meet a baby Collin

CirqueDeMorgue · 04/04/2021 02:48

Awful, sorry.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 04/04/2021 02:37

I think compared to Clive, Colin is absolutely lovely OP. If those are your two top picks, I would definitely choose Colin - it has a much nicer sound imo.

Taikoo · 04/04/2021 02:33

Great name for a dog.
For a human - no.
Its in the same league as Gary, Brian and Trevor.

BadMudda · 04/04/2021 02:05

Oh it's shocking . Don't do it

AndreaMarteau · 04/04/2021 01:55

@insidejobb

There's a difference between giving your opinion and being straight up rude like some people saying my child is going to be a greasy weirdo and a perv because he's named Colin.

I don't think anyone is saying that your baby will actually grow up to be a pervy uncle, but rightly or wrongly, some names, for whatever reason, come with an association. It's why names like Sharon and Tracey have fallen out of fashion due to the (somewhat unfair) stereotype of the Essex girl in the 80's. Some have a revival when that stereotype is no longer relevant or falls from living memory and some don't.

As someone else has mentioned upthread, the baby name threads on MN can be harsh, but they're a good indicator of what people will be thinking or even saying about your choice of baby name behind your back. If you don't want that for your child, pay heed. If you don't care, crack on with Colin. Or Clive if you really must.

SingingInTheShithouse · 04/04/2021 01:44

Awful. Sorry

Plus I've known 3 Colins in my life & all were pervy oddballs. Not the sort of men you would want a son to grow up to be

OliverBabish · 04/04/2021 01:25

It’s a perfectly normal name. I wouldn’t think twice if I heard it.

I am quite pregnant and haven’t told anybody the name I’ve chosen because any reaction other than “that’s so gorgeous” would piss me off

Singlenotsingle · 04/04/2021 01:14

GappyValley - don't be so rude. You'd name your child Hubert, Nigel, Ignatius, Sextus or Albert would you? Leave Colin alone. It's a lovely name.

GappyValley · 04/04/2021 00:39

I’m paraphrasing here but I read a great post on here years ago...

The cruel irony of naming a baby is that you have to do it at the time of your life that you are least rationale and most able to see past common sense because you are in a total glow about an adorable cute baby.

Please for the love of god, don’t name a baby Colin or Clive
You will cringe yourself inside out in a few years when you tell people it was even on your shortlist...

imsoinmyhead · 04/04/2021 00:36

Both hideous names - neither of which can be considered timeless or classic!

But if it's what you like then ignore the general consensus on MN! (And your family/friends)

Original poster

insidejobb · 04/04/2021 00:36

There's a difference between giving your opinion and being straight up rude like some people saying my child is going to be a greasy weirdo and a perv because he's named Colin.

OP posts:

charlmwa · 04/04/2021 00:22

@insidejobb

No it's not a wind up once again for everyone asking. Everyone can keep on commenting but I think I am out now. Hopefully don't come across any of you when I'm out and about with my future Colin. Also would secretly love to know what your children are named. Bet there's a few tragic ones on this thread.

You've asked for peoples opinions then got arsey when people have given you their opinion 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Deadringer · 04/04/2021 00:15

@Singlenotsingle

Colin Firth? Yum My partner Colin? Yum

Hands off Colin Firth, he's mine!

Luckyelephant1 · 04/04/2021 00:09

Awful, sorry OP. But then I'm not a fan of this resurgence of old biddy/old man names generally. Then again it's a marginally better name than some of these uber trendy names like Bodhi or something. If I heard of a baby Colin I'd probably assume baby is named after someone in the family.

Singlenotsingle · 04/04/2021 00:02

Colin Firth? Yum
My partner Colin? Yum

1990s · 03/04/2021 23:35

@charlmwa

Is this thread a wind up? Colin and Clive you're pulling our legs surely! Both awful please don't call your lovely new baby either of these names... so many lovely timeless names you could use Edward , Henry , Joshua, Thomas , Jack , Oliver, Louis , Daniel all beautiful and so much nicer than Colin an Clive 😳 x

Bleargh. Edward Henry blah blah DULL.

1990s · 03/04/2021 23:32

@BlackberrySky

I would call it dated rather than timeless. Timeless in my mind is Edward, Thomas, James etc. Colin has mates called Keith and Lenny.

I would call those timeless ones listed very dull tbh.

I love Colin, and Kevin. I think they’re rare enough to be interesting and cool.

Cindie943811A · 03/04/2021 23:31

Colin has a nice sound to it.
I prefer Corin, I think.
Clive has some class to it.
Whichever you decide OP I hope you have a good birth and enjoy your new son.
Good luck

LilacTrees · 03/04/2021 23:27

I don't think Colin Firth is that impressed with his name www.firth.com/articles/02realmag_816.html

therocinante · 03/04/2021 22:54

I don't actually hate the name Colin itself as a word, how it sounds etc, when taken out of context, but IN context it's... Just not something I'd want associating with my baby. And Clive even more so, plus it's just not a nice sounding word.

Also, OP, sorry everyone hates the name but you did ask - think of the Mumsnet name boards as a sped up gauntlet of every opinion that will ever get passed, out loud or otherwise, about your baby's name. If you don't care that people think these things, all good. If you do care (and it really seems like you do) you're in for a bad time when you introduced baby Colin to someone and they smirk accidentally anyway - you can't make people like the name, so if it's going to make you furious or upset constantly you're gonna need to get used to it.

ShadierThanaPalmTree · 03/04/2021 22:54

😂😂 when I was pregnant my partner would suddenly say random terrible potential names as a joke to annoy me, or make me giggle. Colin and Clive definitely came up, op! They are just not names you would associate with anyone who isn't legally able to access their pension!

Original poster

insidejobb · 03/04/2021 22:45

OP posts:

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