Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Popular boys names

35 replies

toadstool32 · 15/10/2021 05:47

We actually like popular names which seems surprising on mn. We have two girls both top 40 now but were much higher when they were born. Dc3 is going to be a boy and whilst we've got a shortlist I just can't decide. Josh (Joshua on bc) is front runner but interested in hearing what other popular names others like.

Theo (dh first choice)
Jack
Oliver (dh hates)
Josh (my first choice dh second)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
toadstool32 · 12/11/2021 06:09

Thanks all. Little boy is going to be Joshua Smile

OP posts:
Amdone123 · 05/11/2021 16:14

@Edenember, that's the word...refreshing. I heard a John the other day, so...refreshing! ( I've had a longgg day!)
Christopher is beautiful.

Amdone123 · 05/11/2021 16:11

I love Joshua. I like classic names, some biblical ( Joseph, Joachim, Elijah. Love Jacob not Jake)
Theo I don't really like. I like Jack but as with Harry, it's a bit meh.
Love Oliver.

My other favourites.....James, Edward, Michael, Gabriel, Vincent, Dominic.

I don't like 'popular ' names like Arlo, Teddy or Albie. They'll date whereas a Peter or James for example, will stay lovely forever!

Nellesbelles · 05/11/2021 16:00

Popular names in primary schools I have worked in (have taught more than one child with these names over last 7 years):
Harry
Leo
Theo
Jake
Teddy
Freddie
Ethan
Logan
Jayden
Henry
Lucas
Tom/Tommy
Daniel
Benjamin
James
William
George
Alfie
Archie
Kian
Lewis
Alexander
Toby/Tobias
Callum
Isaacs

I haven't actually come across any boys called Joshua so it isn't so popular in my area. I think it's lovely.

Edenember · 04/11/2021 23:31

Also, what about Leo? Was just thinking of similar to Theo but without the Feo problem. Oscar if not Oliver?

Edenember · 04/11/2021 23:28

Josh is my favourite from your list. It’s a name that’s comfy to wear for a little one and a grown man. What’s your thoughts on popular names of the not too distant past that may sound refreshing on a little one now? I like lots of more unusual names, but I really like John for some reason, maybe Jonathan as longer form. I also like Christopher nn Kitt and Peter.

Blubells · 04/11/2021 22:54

If you have a less common surname, a popular first name might not be so much of a problem with identification.

I'm saying this as know two Harry Smiths... and several Steve Smiths!

Onlinedilema · 04/11/2021 22:13

I like Jacob but if your dh isn't keen I think you will have to go with Joshua as you both like it.
Lots of names are popular but not for long. I tend not to like those names. I didn't want my dcs to have a name that you could pinpoint to the decade when they were born.
Joshua has more longevity. Plenty of Joshuas were born 20 + years ago.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/11/2021 21:46

He loves Theo (im nonchalant about it. Plus the idea of some saying fee-o really grinds my gears)

I reckon if he lived in our neck of the woods he'd be Fee-o ( or Fee ...even worse !)

I like Josh and said to my DS it was a lovely name "Even 2nd kid in school is called Josh" he said.

He;s Max . Haven't met that many other Maxs .

pilates · 04/11/2021 21:45

Harry and Jack are great names

Original poster
toadstool32 · 04/11/2021 21:34

Still not set much to my annoyance need to plan in advance mindset. Most likely he'll be josh / Joshua which we both like but neither love. Is that ok? Fwiw we both loved our daughters names; they were so easy to pick.

However i love Oliver and Jacob (dh "hates")
He loves Theo (im nonchalant about it. Plus the idea of some saying fee-o really grinds my gears)
So... all of these are off the menu.

OP posts:
wingsofabird · 16/10/2021 15:08

Joshua

Great choice!

Afoxtail · 16/10/2021 08:01

Henry
George
Edward

Original poster
toadstool32 · 16/10/2021 07:58

Thanks all - Oliver is now off the table entirely. Joshua is the front runner though dh has piped up with Harry too.

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/10/2021 23:24

Imo there is nothing wrong with popular names - as long as you don't mind it being statistically more likely there could be another child with the same name in their class, and you also don't mind the name might more likely to date (if it follows popular trends/has had a sudden big popularity surge).

But with boys names it can be possible to avoid the latter more easily, as a lot of boys names are perennially popular so less likely to date (some of my personal faves of these are Thomas, William, Edward, Alexander and James).

Of your boys choices I like Jack best, as whilst it's very popular currently, it feels the most timelessly so imo (admittedly years ago many of the blokes known as "Jack" may have been John on the BC).

IVflytrap · 15/10/2021 19:37

Joshua! My second favourite is Jack.

I think you need to forget about Oliver if your DH hates it. It wouldn't be fair to name his child something he hates.

Thesearmsofmine · 15/10/2021 18:51

I like Jack and Joshua.

I also like Alexander popular and doesn’t date,

bloominglovelyorange · 15/10/2021 18:47

Love Joshua and it's actually falling quite rapidly in popularity so sounds like it will be a good fit for your other names @toadstool32

thetesdybears · 15/10/2021 16:55

Sorry heard ur after some others, I also like:

Aaron
James
Alexander
Fraser (Scottish, prounounced Frazer)

thetesdybears · 15/10/2021 16:54

All names on your list are nice. I really like Jack and Theo close second.

MirandaBlu · 15/10/2021 15:10

I like James, Rory (although I prefer the Gaelic spellings), Alexander, Thomas, Ethan, and Adam.

Like Oliver and Joshua best from your list, not so crazy about Josh but it's probably inevitable.

KirstenBlest · 15/10/2021 14:17

Theo (dh first choice) - don't like
Jack - like but know far too many
Oliver (dh hates) - cross it off your list then
Josh (my first choice dh second) - then use it. Probably less popular than the others but not unusual

AnotherLauraLou · 15/10/2021 14:02

Theo!

trumpisagit · 15/10/2021 09:26

I like Oliver best, but if DH doesn't how do you feel about Theo (lovely name and I have only ever met nice Theos) .

omfgimgettingmarried · 15/10/2021 09:19

Joshua is lovely