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Baby names

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

Original poster

Traditional names for boys that aren’t super popular?

170 replies

DrPrincessFluffyToYou · 03/12/2021 19:41

I love unusual names - for example I was set on Cosmo, but DH absolutely hates it.

DH prefers traditional names like George or Harold, but for various reasons can’t use Harold and half of little boys seem to be George or William or Henry! Any traditional names which are slightly less popular? I am struggling!

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lastchristmasigaveyoumyheart · 03/12/2021 22:44

Michael
Gabriel
Joshua
Miles
Jonathan
Elijah
Isaac

Laureatus · 03/12/2021 22:41

We have a Ralph (pronounced 'rafe'), it's an older name in my family.

My suggestions:
Nicholas
Christopher
Andrew
Thomas
James
Laurence
Gideon (was on my list but it annoyed me I couldn't come up with a suitable shortening)
Frederick

There are also what I call the Cold Comfort Farm names:
Amos
Seth
Reuben
Adam
Mica/Micah

Coffeesnob11 · 03/12/2021 22:17

Ivan or Declan?

BiscuitLover3679 · 03/12/2021 22:12

Augustus

SingingSands · 03/12/2021 22:03

Raleigh

Gillypip · 03/12/2021 21:50

Kevin, Emmet, Joseph, Pearse, Ivor, Thomas, Augustine, Eamonn

All normal/unusual.

FleetwoodRaincoat · 03/12/2021 21:37

Montgomery (Monty)
Ernest (Ernie)
Rowan
Oscar
Leon
John
Robin

FindingFlorestan · 03/12/2021 21:35

Constantine
Magnus
Torben
Alan
Douglas
Ivor
Gregory

Icequeen01 · 03/12/2021 21:34

Andrew - I have a 22 year old Andrew and I still love his name. We have never shortened it to Andy as I hate it and luckily people have followed suit. I don't think it's a particular popular name.

BirdsBirdsBird · 03/12/2021 21:33

From genealogy research, some suggestions:
Bertram
Herbert
Adolphus
Edwin
Cuthbert
Lancelot (honestly quite popular with Victorians)
Valentine

Rockandgrohl · 03/12/2021 21:32

Thomas, Fergus and gregor are my faves

HelloBunny · 03/12/2021 21:31

Peter
Simon
Denis

isacurlypotatoaquaver · 03/12/2021 21:30

Theodore
Jeremiah

Flumo · 03/12/2021 21:28

Riley :)

getsanta · 03/12/2021 21:24

Elliot?

Buttercup72 · 03/12/2021 21:23

Gideon
Donald (Donnie)
Alasdair
Peter
Edwin
Marcus
Gray
Hugh
Cornelius (not a fave of mine but a family name shortened to Neil )

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 21:15

I vote for Norman too

Also @DrPrincessFluffyToYou, check similar or connected names.

e.g. you might like Theodore but also check Theo and Teddy
or you might like Edward and not know any baby ones because they called Teddy or Eddie, the ons/darkgreener data is based on the first name

Not everyone uses the first given name as the day-to-day name, and that won't show up on name popularity sites

smorgasborgen · 03/12/2021 21:14

My son's called Seth. Traditional but quite cool sounding I think.

Just10moreminutesplease · 03/12/2021 21:07

@Daisy829

Edward I know a few teds but not Edward. Such a great strong name. Also James is lovely.
There are three Edwards in my various baby groups. It’s gorgeous though (most of the more popular names are, that’s why people use them!).
elbea · 03/12/2021 21:06

Have a look at the Telegraph birth announcements, always good names on there

SpiderinaWingMirror · 03/12/2021 21:06

Norman.

TheVanguardSix · 03/12/2021 21:05

Elias
Linus
Magnus
Atticus
Axel
Richard
Patrick
Laurence
Florian
Roscoe
Gus (Gustav)
Felix

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 03/12/2021 21:04

Traditional, not biblical and not super popular (AFAIK!):
Michael (uncommon these days!)
Patrick
Charles
Philip
Robert
Adrian
Felix
Ernie

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 21:04

It is. It is easy to think a name is unusual because you don't know any, but that covers England & Wales, and names can be popular in a region but not popular generally or vice versa.

I don't know any baby Olivers or Olivias for example, but they're the top names. I know lots of little Sophias and Sebastians

Take into account how popular the name has been for a few years because your DS will be in schools with other age groups and then at work with others.

There are usually quite a few Daves, Pauls, Richards, Alans, Mikes Ians, Steves and Marks where I work but there won't be in 22 years' time

MaybeWeShouldGoToEastbourne · 03/12/2021 21:02

Atticus

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