Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Names like Percy

81 replies

MonkeyBirdy · 30/06/2021 06:10

We're expecting a boy and I'm having such a hard time finding names I love. Like they're all ok but nothing really stands out. Then DH suggested Percy (with Percival on the birth certificate) and after an initial wtf reaction I think I really love it.

It has everything I like in a name - classic, not too common, nice to say, 2 syllables (so it fits with the rest of our names - I don't know why but this is a big deal for me).

I think it's due a comeback...

I know about Percy pigs. They're a nice sweet though! Plus we don't live in the UK and they're not really a thing here.

Is Percy really that awful? If you think so can you suggest some similar names.. he'll hopefully end up going to a posh school unless we have some financial catastrophe so I'm not concerned about the name being too public school.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Chilldonaldchill · 04/07/2021 12:42

My first thought is Harry Potter and he's not a great character in that (but redeemed by the end).
I'm not a fan but I think that's because I'm not a fan of any of the old man chic names that have been so prevalent in the last few years. If I never met another young Stanley, Archie, Ronnie, Alfred I'd be very happy.
I'm a fan of names others would consider posh (Rufus, Rupert, Hector, Hugo, Benedict, Rafe, Lucian etc) and I don't think Percy or Percival fit into that category.
Having said all of that, I don't think it's a horrid name and, if you love it, I would go for it.
A quick straw poll of the 2 teenagers currently in my house confirms Percy Pigs, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter and no awareness at all of penis slang - and a "that's quite a cool name" from the eldest.

user1745 · 03/07/2021 22:26

For me it's in the same "niche" as:

  • Clarence
  • Bertie (Albert/Bertram)
  • Stanley
  • Bernard/Bernie
  • Freddie (Alfred/Frederick)
  • Leonard

I wouldn't use Percy in the UK just because of the sweets but if you're not in the UK, it's probably fine. It's certainly not an awful name!

LostInTheColonies · 30/06/2021 23:35

Peregrine / Perry would be a great alternative!
Montgomery / Monty
Rupert
Gregor
Dickon (getting a bit Secret Garden but not the posh bit 🤣 and wound probably lead to teasing but such a great name)

Happenchance · 30/06/2021 23:34

I like Percival but not Percy.

Other 2 syllable suggestions:
Herbert nn Herbie
Jovan
Edgar
Lucious
Jonty
Peris (nice but similar to Penis)
Lucian
Douglas nn Dougie
Linus

TotorosCatBus · 30/06/2021 23:08

Might be a sign of my age but I thought of Percy from Thomas the Tank Engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListoffThomas%266Friends_characters

Lots of similar names in the link.

TheVanguardSix · 30/06/2021 22:37

Or Monty?
Bertie?

TheVanguardSix · 30/06/2021 22:34

Barnaby/Barney
Digby

Squiz81 · 30/06/2021 22:28

I like Percy.

Other suggestions for similar names…

Wilf
Edmund
Arthur

SeanChailleach · 30/06/2021 22:19

The Percy in Harry Potter isn't really a sympathetic character.

stellarfox · 30/06/2021 22:04

I really like it but asked about it recently on here and got similar feedback. I think it’s quite a classic, handsome name. I don’t think his peers would know the penis reference. However the fact that so many hate it has put me off!

Dinosauraddict · 30/06/2021 21:37

I like Percy (and Percival).

ScribblyBaller · 30/06/2021 20:56

"Percy, do you want a pint, mate? Just no

That gave me the giggles Grin

polkadotpixie · 30/06/2021 20:45

Honestly I think it's horrific, sorry. When you're naming a boy I think it needs to be something you can yell across a pub without people thinking WTF?! "Percy, do you want a pint, mate? Just no 😩

wanderedlonelyasacloud · 30/06/2021 20:41

@TheSunShinesBrighter

Percival is in the same league as Cyril, Stanley, Bernard, Desmond, Horace and Earnest. There is a reason why they haven’t made a comeback!

Different generation perhaps but names like Lynda, Janice and Jeanette are similarly unpopular for babies...

I know 3 Stanley's under the age of about 4!

Other name suggestions:
Felix
Rufus
Rupert
Barnaby
Orson
Roland
Augustus
Bartholomew
Clarence
Montgomery (Monty)
Ralph (as in Raif)

AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying · 30/06/2021 20:37

Sidney

AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying · 30/06/2021 20:36

It's a penis name.

How about:

Stan
Archie
Teddy
Henry
Alf
George
Albie
Otis

????

TheSunShinesBrighter · 30/06/2021 20:33

I know various Stanleys. It’s a Notting Hill name.

I was actually going to follow ‘I work in a high school and am yet to come across a Stanley’ with
But maybe that’s because I don’t live in London...
I thought I would get shouted at so stopped myself! 🤣

Chunkymenrock · 30/06/2021 20:10

Seymour, Gilbert?

iloveautumn3 · 30/06/2021 20:08

No I was born late seventies given a very old ladies name. All the girls I went to school with were Sarah's Rebecca's lauras. I suffered piss taking at primary school and secondary school and still occasionally in the work place. I vowed to never do it to my children and I didn't. I absolutely hate my name.

TatianaBis · 30/06/2021 19:58

My mums cat when she was a kid was called Percy Peregrine Pericles Patch.

TatianaBis · 30/06/2021 19:57

I know various Stanleys. It’s a Notting Hill name.

I like Perceval as it’s a very ancient name. Could you call him that nn Val? Peredur is the Welsh original.

If you like Celtic myths what about Merlin? I quite like Gawain too.

Or if it’s the Edwardian vibe you like - Edgar, Lionel, Sebastian, Orlando, Benedict, Conrad, Caspar, Hector, Gabriel.

mommybunny · 30/06/2021 19:54

@Hothammock I have thought if I ever had a male cat I would name him Admiral Percival Fitzwallace and call him Percy for short.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/06/2021 19:51

Percy is horrible.

WatchingTheRaindrops · 30/06/2021 19:49

My immediate reaction was it sounds like Percy pig?

Hothammock · 30/06/2021 19:45

Percy is a great name. My cat is called Percy, and when he is naughty I call him percival.