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Baby names

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

Original poster

I cannot warm to DH's favourite name

140 replies

BertieBotts · 18/06/2021 19:21

Expecting DS3 in the summer. It took us months and months to come up with DS2's name (Leo) and in the end it was the only one we both liked. DS1 is from a previous relationship and apparently it's easier to name a baby when you're only 19. I do not remember having such strong opinions...

Anyway, since we still can't find a name DH reckons we should just take a list into hospital and see what he looks like when he gets here. I'm OK with that plan. But DH has absolutely and totally fallen in love with Niko/Nikolas.

I don't like it! I want to like it because he loves it so much, but I don't. The K is too spiky. I don't like the way it rhymes with Leo. I have tried to imagine a baby Niko (Nico is better but I don't even really like that, and anyway DH particularly likes the K) and it doesn't feel like my child.

I on the other hand am getting more and more attached to Alex/Alexander. DH doesn't hate Alex, but he doesn't love it and is hesitant because we know people called Alex, and I keep reading about how choosing a name you feel differently about each is a really bad idea.

But the thing is, Alex was never my favourite name to begin with! I just suggested it half jokingly as the only one we'll be able to agree on. My favourite names are Lars or Idris. DH is not keen on either of them. So I leant back towards Alex, and the more I think about it the more I like it. It's a cute name for a baby/child, but a sensible/nice name for a grown up. Every Alex I've ever met has been a nice, quiet, kind, clever boy/man.

The other names I like are:

Max (DH says it feels like a dog's name to him)
Rory (Might be tricky with locals - we live in Germany)
Jupiter (I think we both feel this is a bit too much)
Alfred (Alfie/Freddie) - DH says too old man and doesn't like Fred, although Alfie is OK.
Owen - both feel a bit meh.

DH's list:
Lucas (It's OK, but boring/bland to me)
Miles (Don't like)
Chase (Kind of like, but feels v American and not comfortable)
Hal (Just no)
Oliver (Too stuffy)
Peter (Too old)

What happens if we go in with a list and we still feel the same about all the names and we can't agree?? :o Confused

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Warmduscher · 20/06/2021 20:34

A name that rhymes with Leo is Theo.

Warmduscher · 20/06/2021 20:33

Lee-o
Neek-o

Those two words don’t rhyme. They just both end with the letter “o”.

Original poster
BertieBotts · 20/06/2021 20:29

He says it's not a dog's name any more Confused or that it's grown on him or something.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 20/06/2021 20:24

Instead of Max, what about Dax? Solid name, one spelling, and not like a dogs name

Blacktothepink · 20/06/2021 19:36

I’ve got girls but my fav boys names are Pip and Kitt a la Charles Dickens 🙂

Original poster
BertieBotts · 20/06/2021 19:36

I don't really like Niles/Nils or Miles.

OP posts:
Happenchance · 20/06/2021 19:32

Have you considered Niles? I like that but not Miles.

Original poster
BertieBotts · 20/06/2021 19:29

Well, we have redone the list.

Alex / Alexander
Max
Oliver / Ollie
Robin
Niko / Nikolas
Rory
Miles
Idris
Rowan

He wouldn't let me take Niko off the list :o So I have refused to take Idris off the list. Apparently Idris is "too unique" - it was in position 163 in England and Wales last year! Nico / Niko is about position 250.

Miles is "waiting to see if it grows on me"
Oliver I doubt we would go for but have kept as neither of us feel strongly for/against.

I think this is our real list/most likely contenders:

Alex / Alexander
Max
Robin
Rowan

And that's probably enough to wait and see which he looks like.

OP posts:
Poppyandpeaches · 20/06/2021 08:21

Start again. Get the baby name book and two highlighters. Go through it and highlight ones you’d be ok with, get DH to do the same. Then work on a joint list and narrow that down.

MitheringSunday · 20/06/2021 07:29

Has anyone suggested Felix?

MitheringSunday · 20/06/2021 07:26

I really like Nikolai as well (nicer still with a C).

Axel is major 'late-middle-aged man' territory in Germany - equivalent to Dave or Clive. Plus it sounds the same as the word for armpit and has therefore become the subject of one of the relatively few name-based jokes in German culture (Axel Schweiss).

timeisnotaline · 20/06/2021 02:16

Don’t go into hospital with a name you dislike still sitting on dhs list. ‘Honestly, I do not like it and I do not want to name our child that. I also really hate the idea you would watch me give birth and then suggest a name you know I don’t like for the baby I just pushed out, so take it off the list now please.’

NiceGerbil · 20/06/2021 02:09

Nice one shamoo!

Axel is great.

Shamoo · 20/06/2021 01:06

Axel!

BulbasaurusRex · 19/06/2021 22:13

I think Nikolai is fab.

Oscar?
Alexei?

DH has a friend called Johannes but they just call him Hannes which I think is cool.

TwinsAndTrifle · 19/06/2021 22:02

Maxwell?

wanderedlonelyasacloud · 19/06/2021 22:00

Not sure how any of these would work in Germany but how about:

Franklin
Lincoln
Bram (can be short for Abraham if you need an official name in Germany but in the UK I would just use Bram)
Evander

Slightly more "normal" ones!:
Harry
Henry
Arlo
Jack
Theo / Theodore
Ben
Isaac
Thomas

Many of these are on my long list of boys names

Kassalah · 19/06/2021 21:56

How about Alfie, since you both like it?

Original poster
BertieBotts · 19/06/2021 21:52

You can if you like, as long as I don't have to respond to every single name!

I think I don't particularly like the K sound in names at all, thinking about it. Although actually no, that's not right because I like Jake. But there is a close family member called Jake.

Short/long doesn't seem to be a differentiation. I like some short names and some long names.

Not keen on surname sounding names (Hunter, Jackson, etc)

It's really hard to pin down what I like/dislike about some names. I can't find any patterns there so who knows if anyone else will. For example, love Toby but really dislike Tony. Love Leo but not in the slightest bit keen on Leon. Lars is lovely but Nils is not my cup of tea. Alex cute, Alec no.

It's mostly irrational/goes on gut?

I have looked at so many boy name lists/threads :o

OP posts:
MondeoFan · 19/06/2021 21:46

I like

Lars
Alex
Idris

Like Niko
Dislike Nikolas however you spell it

MitheringSunday · 19/06/2021 21:44

On the gender neutral thing, I recall a case in Berlin yonks ago where the parents had to fight to be allowed to call their daughter Marie Christin, because (said the registrar) both of them can be used as boys' names Hmm (Marie/Maria is only ever a middle name for boys and Christin is definitely feminine-connotated in German).

Any mileage in Lennard/Lennart, OP? Only thing is there are loads of them around atm (or maybe that's just where we live).

RiaOverTheRainbow · 19/06/2021 21:39

Jonathan
Stephen
Linden
Ashley
Jonah
Angus
Fraser
Cameron
Douglas

marmitepasta · 19/06/2021 21:14

What about Luka? I know one with this spelling

MargosKaftan · 19/06/2021 21:02

OK, shall we keep throwing "definitely boys names" ideas at you, both traditional and modern, and see if any grab you?! Do you like shorter names or longer? Do you like the K sound or is that just your DH?

Luke
Sebastian (could be Seb or Bas)
Aneurin / Nye
Thomas / Tom
Ethan
Daniel /Dan / Danny
Jasper
Zak/Isaac/Zachary
Michael/Mike
Neil
Fergus /Gus

Original poster
BertieBotts · 19/06/2021 20:45

YY I think DH hadn't come across anyone called Toby/Tobias until he started his German job. Also possibly the Tobias he worked with wasn't that nice - I got that impression but he didn't explicitly say so.

He works with an Alex (but who doesn't know any Alexes) which I think is putting him off as well. But I think that's OK with a common name.

OP posts: