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

My wildcards: Aubrey or Barnaby?

37 replies

Mybobowler · 26/10/2021 12:38

Baby boy due soon. We have a shortlist of very boring normal/common names to choose from when he arrives (think Harry, Charles/ie, William etc) but I fancy having a couple of wildcards up my sleeve. Our daughter has an uncommon-but-not-weird name and I like that it's fairly unusual.

So, tell me, am I a hormonal mess or are Aubrey and Barnaby good options?

(And yes, I know Aubrey is increasingly used for girls but that doesn't bother me at all. It annoys me that the go-to "gender neutral" names are usually traditionally boys' names (Frankie, Sammy, Stevie, Jamie etc) rather than the other way around)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
TatianaBis · 26/10/2021 15:32

I think Aubrey sounds terribly pompous in the U.K. and in the US is a girls’ name.

Prefer Barnaby but don’t live Barney.

bloominglovelyorange · 26/10/2021 15:29

Really love both
I'd pick Barnaby

Shasha17 · 26/10/2021 15:29

Aubrey is way too feminine now - it may not bother you, but it's not really about you, it's your son who has to live with it. I drastically prefer Barnaby any way, it's a much nicer name than Aubrey.

Original poster
Mybobowler · 26/10/2021 13:46

Ooh this is much more positive than I was expecting - thanks everyone! Husband prefers Aubrey, but Barnaby has a slight edge for me. I love them both though - I like the earthy/folky vibe to them.

Right then, they're on the list!

OP posts:
chesirecat99 · 26/10/2021 13:33

Barnaby.

I prefer the sound but also because I knew a lovely Barnaby/Barney when I was a teenager Grin

PanicBuyingSprouts · 26/10/2021 13:14

Barnaby gets my vote Smile

2catsandacomputer · 26/10/2021 13:04

Aubrey always brings to my mind the novels by Patrick O'Brian where one of the leading characters is Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe in the film).

Maybe it's just from having read the books, but I now associate the name very much with that time period (200 years ago).

Mischance · 26/10/2021 12:53

I think they are both lovely.

maddy68 · 26/10/2021 12:51

I love barny as a shortened version.

inmyslippers · 26/10/2021 12:49

I love Aubrey

Cotswoldmama · 26/10/2021 12:47

I prefer Aubrey

elfran · 26/10/2021 12:45

I 100% agree with you on the gender-neutral thing, but that said, I prefer Barnaby. I just think it's a fab name!

Swipe left for the next trending thread