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Baby names

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

Original poster

Am I going to call my baby boy...

105 replies

stalebananabread · 13/09/2021 13:59

Francis (Frank/ie), Jude, Isaac or Patrick?

(Suggestions welcome, but I think we have considered every boys name that currently exists in the English language. At least, that's how it feels. Also, I am fussy)

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DoesHePlayTheFiddle · 14/09/2021 14:39
PadManic · 14/09/2021 14:37

Which one sounds best with your surname? That's very important.

Personally, I like Patrick as it's a solid, grown-up name with lots of nickname options. Over the years I've come across Patricks who go by Patch, Rick, Paddy and Pat. I don't think you particularly need an Irish heritage to use it and would put it in the same camp as Alistair, Nicholas, Nathaniel i.e. well-known but not trendy.

Jude already sounds like a nickname to me - I would assume it's a shortening for Julian or possibly Jacob at a push.

Isaac is often misspelt as others have pointed out. You could have Zachary, if you wanted Zack as a nickname.

Francis sounds a bit soft to me, but I like Frank a lot.

Mol1628 · 14/09/2021 14:16

Patrick is a lovely name. Then Francis. Not keen on the others.

WinterCarlisle · 14/09/2021 14:04

I have a 10 year old Isaac so I think that’s the best name Smile

Otherwise I also really like Jude and Patrick. Francis not so much.

If you want other suggestions how about Reuben or Seth?

Congratulations!

MajorCarolDanvers · 14/09/2021 14:00

Patrick

Runningupthecurtains · 14/09/2021 13:58

Would Julian NN Jude appeal to you more?

annacondom · 14/09/2021 13:44

I like all your names but I really love Gabriel. It's gorgeous. Also Daniel but I know that's been a bit over-used in the past. Sebastian is my other favourite.

ILoveShula · 14/09/2021 13:39

I know some people called Patrick. Never crossed my mind to ask if they were Irish.
One lives round the corner here in SE England, one has an irish surname and lives abroad, and the other one is french.

FASDE1517 · 14/09/2021 13:25

Frank /ie and Jude are both lovely.

Original poster
stalebananabread · 14/09/2021 13:06

The "are you Irish?" question is the only thing that puts me off Patrick. Is it weird given that we're not Irish and the only Catholic connection is my late, very devout grandmother who I have no memory of?

Is the Irish association really that strong? I know it has been a very popular name in Ireland, St Patrick etc etc, but it's not actually an Irish name at all. It's not like I'd call him Padraig.

Frank/ie is tipping it today. I'm also now mooning over Gabriel. I suggested it again last night and got another firm "no". I don't even know why he doesn't like it, but he expresses so few strong opinions on names that I think I'd better give up on having a little Gabriel running around.

OP posts:
listentomydeclaration · 14/09/2021 12:34

I like Jude

Patrick - only okay if you are Irish or Catholic where I am

Don't like the others

RuthW · 14/09/2021 12:16

Patrick or Francis are lovely. Don't like the other two.

Trinacham · 14/09/2021 12:08

Francis or Jude (we considered this one) would be my choices

DoesHePlayTheFiddle · 14/09/2021 11:50

Not Isaac, there are too many.
Not Frank. It's a family name for me, it isn't flexible. Frankie is, sadly, pathetic.
Francis. OK.
Patrick. OK but why? If you're Irish there are a lot of other names to choose from.
Jude. If you must.
Someone said Gabriel. That's a great name.

CornedBeef451 · 14/09/2021 11:43

I prefer Isaac but then I did choose to use it for one of mine.

I like Patrick too, not keen on the others.

Frankley · 14/09/2021 11:40

Francis or Jude

ILoveShula · 14/09/2021 11:21

Patrick is by far the nicest

Francis is nice but I'm not keen on Frank/Frankie
Isaac is ok but I wouldn't choose it
I don't like Jude at all

bloominglovelyorange · 14/09/2021 10:31

Gabriel is lovely. Maybe if your partner knew it's a more mainstream name these days it might grow on him. I agree it would have stuck out 20 years ago at school but it won't raise eyebrows in 2021. Often I think partners tend to think of how they'd feel if that had been their name in 70s/80s/90s (whenever they were at school) but they don't factor in how times have changed. Really great name anyway @stalebananabread

Original poster
stalebananabread · 14/09/2021 09:19

@Forestcantrun ooh really?? I thought they'd stay bumping along outside the top 100 (Patrick and Francis anyway, I think Frank/ie is getting popular).

I don't want to call myself a trend-setter or anything Grin but when we told the midwives our daughter's name several of the older ones said they'd never had one before. Now, I see it in many a MN name thread and it's slowly climbing up the charts albeit from obscurity

OP posts:
Forestcantrun · 13/09/2021 22:43

I dislike the name Isaac but the rest of those names are all lovely solid names.
Patrick and Frank are really on the up this last year. Patrick/Paddy is my very favourite boys name.

Happenchance · 13/09/2021 22:40

They are all nice names. I think you should just wait and see which suits him (if any Grin) once he's born.

Jigsawprison · 13/09/2021 21:26

Issac.

InconstantMoon · 13/09/2021 20:27

Patrick is just lovely

LittleGwyneth · 13/09/2021 20:26

I think Trick would be such a sweet nickname for Patrick.

MurphyBhoy · 13/09/2021 20:24

Patrick
Jude
Frankie (not really my taste but I know one and he's the best wee guy ever, barring mine of course)

Isaac