Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

<Sigh> Boys names. What do you think of these?

38 replies

Allium16 · 10/05/2021 13:39

There is only one boys name in existence that I love, and I have already used that for DS1. I think it's probably bad practice to use the same name for subsequent children, so I think I'm just going to have to make do with something that I don't think is too awful for this one.

Here is my list. Thoughts please? And any other ideas?

Nathaniel
Evan
Ralph/Ralf

Actually, I think that's it. I'm just so stuck for ideas.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
partyatthepalace · 12/05/2021 00:36

Love Nathaniel
Don’t much like Evan / bit faddy / it’s ok
Ralph I really hate (sorry) wet and yappy

Other thoughts
Gabriel, Alistair, Dominic, Nicholas, Tobias, Joshua, Josiah
Owen, Ethan, Eli as nn Elijah, Levi, Jerome
Rafe, Rufus, Rory, Rueben, Ronan, Lorcan

Swearwolf · 11/05/2021 15:59

I really like Ralph! It seems like you prefer names with a softer sound, may I suggest Asher? I love this name right now! It would go nicely with Jude and Ash is quite a cool shortening.

Serpenta · 11/05/2021 15:48

Evan went global decades ago. Weird if you called him Dafydd.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/05/2021 15:38

@Allium16 - Imo it's not at all strange to use Evan with no Welsh links - it's a well known mainstream/anglicized name (like Owen). It might perhaps look slightly odd if you used the original Iefan with no Welsh heritage (or the many other Welsh John variations - Ieuan, Iwan, Ifan, Ioan, Ianto etc), but most people won't even be aware that Evan derives from a Welsh name.

MercyBodle · 11/05/2021 14:08

I like Ralph - and love Rafe. I like Nathaniel, but find Evan a bit bland.

Allium16 · 11/05/2021 10:04

@Crockful embarrassingly I never pronounce Gabriel properly - it always comes out GAB-riel rather than GAYB-riel, if you see what I mean. I can't really have a son whose name I can't pronounce correctly Grin. Although I don't have to worry now - Jude Junior is clearly a winner Grin

OP posts:
tiredteacher100 · 11/05/2021 10:03

I think it's quite hard with nicknames, you don't always get to choose them unless you use them yourself! So Nathaniel could just end up as Nath with his friends unless you already use a shortened version or he insists on keeping the long version with his friends. A friend of mine has a son called Charlie... it's Chaz to his school friends Confused

steppemum · 11/05/2021 10:00

I think it's probably bad practice to use the same name for subsequent children

sorry OP but that really made me laugh!

I love Ralph. It is unusual. I also like Raphael with the nickname Raffie.
All 3 names are good.
Nathaniel isn't my style but it is a good name. I do agree that it is different to Nathan.

Crockof · 11/05/2021 10:00

I was going to suggest DS1 names and tag on Junior, and then you said his name-Jude Junior is brilliant Grin problem solved.

I like Nathaniel, how about Gabe full name Gabriel (and I understand about the Tim/Timothy thing and parents seeming separate to their real life)

ZednotZee · 11/05/2021 09:55

Raphael
Eden
Michael
Blaise

Allium16 · 11/05/2021 09:52

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I did think yesterday that Han could also be a nickname! I will give it some thought.

@Flymetothestars DS1's name is Jude.

Re: Evan, I do quite like it the more I say it to myself, but husband and I have absolutely no Welsh connections - would it seem odd if we chose a Welsh name?

I used to think that Dominic was quite nice, but it's been totally ruined for me by Raab and Cummings unfortunately.

Surname begins with W so that rules out a number of names, eg those ending with "s" or "t" sounds as they just sort of run in to the surname, if that makes sense (eg Max Wells sounds like Mack Swells, Emmett Wells sound like Emme Twells) etc.

Austin and Tristan are quite nice, probably like Austin a bit more.

Lots of the other suggestions are already taken by close friends and family annoyingly.

Food for thought, thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Auxence · 11/05/2021 09:17

All good options but I especially love Nathaniel. It's an underused classic in my book, totally different vibe to Nathan to me as well.

Evan and Ralph are also very nice. I'm hearing Ralph quite a bit at the moment if that bothers you.

3weekstogo · 11/05/2021 05:51

I love Ralph but my OH vetoed it said it reminded him of the stupid kid from the simpsons which didn't bother me at all but he's been super difficult to please .... I found boys names so much harder

user1493494961 · 10/05/2021 21:16

Nathaniel by far.

JackieeWeaver · 10/05/2021 21:02

Love all of your choices. Evan is quite understated but cool. And Rory is one of my faves too!

Flymetothestars · 10/05/2021 20:18

Nathaniel is nice

Interesting comment about the Tim /Timothy @Allium16 which I will mull over (because I'm sad like that), funnily enough I think the opposite about my family. I feel like there's a nice connection in calling someone something they were called in childhood as you knew them before everyone else shortened their name or changed it, it signals out who's known someone the longest. I'm overthinking it too arent I!

Love Tristan, Nathaniel
Evan is alright
I don't like Ralph as much as your other options

Wilfred
Christopher Kit
Laurence
Eric
Ellis
Austin
Vincent

What's your first sons name out of interest

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/05/2021 20:11

If you don't like Nate, what about Nathaniel with the nn Han instead? (As in Han Solo, can't imagine a little boy who wouldn't find that cool).

I do like Evan too though - nice and simple but underused. Rafe/Ralph isn't my taste, sorry.

Agree with pp that Owen as a similar vibe to Evan (as do fellow Welsh boys names Dylan, Tristan and Macsen).

PinkSpots1994 · 10/05/2021 16:04

@Allium16

There is only one boys name in existence that I love, and I have already used that for DS1. I think it's probably bad practice to use the same name for subsequent children, so I think I'm just going to have to make do with something that I don't think is too awful for this one.

Here is my list. Thoughts please? And any other ideas?

Nathaniel
Evan
Ralph/Ralf

Actually, I think that's it. I'm just so stuck for ideas.

I'm due a little boy in 3 months and we are naming him Reginald on his official paper work but we will call him Reggie ☺️
Rainbow321 · 10/05/2021 15:51

Of you like Evan , how about Euan or Ethan ?

cptartapp · 10/05/2021 15:10

Evan is lovely. Don't like the others.
Adam
Elias
Zachary

ILoveShula · 10/05/2021 14:57

Nathaniel - too long and slightly whiney
Evan - nice
Ralph/Ralf - spelling issues. Ralf might avoid getting the Raife pronunciation but will be spelt Ralph at times.

emmathedilemma · 10/05/2021 14:54

I quite like Evan, it's a bit different but not too off the wall.
I can't stand Ralph or Rafe, they're such abrupt names.

AmyG10 · 10/05/2021 14:51

I love the name Evan. My brother in law is Evan and is the nicest bloke, I think it always helps if you know someone nice with the name. It’s not popular either, don’t know anyone else with that name

Arrierttyclock · 10/05/2021 14:40

Ralph is my front runner for my DC atm

Bimblybomeyelash · 10/05/2021 14:30

I like Nathaniel and Nat, but not Nate or Nathan (has a totally different feel IMO).

How about:

Daniel
Gabriel
Rory
Ellis
Benjamin
Laurence

Swipe left for the next trending thread