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

Traditional- Robert, John or Edward

67 replies

sleepyhoglet · 09/12/2021 18:16

With my daughter, I knew straight away what to call her and never wavered and still love her name. I am having a boy in a few weeks and have no idea! I think it's better to go traditional if I am unsure than something I might regret hence thinking either Edward, John or Robert. I'm not so keen on George. Do you think they are acceptable names? I wish I could just stick. When I first found our I was having a boy I had slightly more unusual names but I've gone off those. Also considering Dominic

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Skeumorph · 13/12/2021 21:49

Oh so sorry -I didn't see your brother post!!! Haha. Glad you have a name!

Skeumorph · 13/12/2021 21:49

Not keen on any of the ones in your OP to be honest really.

If this were me, I'd go for Jonathan.

Classic

but not overused at all

great short forms - Jon, Johnny, Jonty if you want to be posh.

And it's a really gentle name.

Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 13/12/2021 21:22

Thanks everyone again- we have a name!

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/12/2021 16:30

Thanks very much for that @toastofthetown - really interesting, I don't know how I missed the others (I think looking at the spreadsheets too long was making my eyes blurry!).

Not so surprised about Joseph, and I agree David and Michael do still somehow feel a bit mid century (although I personally have a soft spot for the sound of Michael). But I'm kind of surprised about Daniel, as I don't feel like I've heard of that many much older Daniel's (and in which case I might have expected Samuel to have been there too, since Michael and Daniel are!).

Sorry to derail your thread again OP - btw I'm still loving John, then Edward best, and don't dislike Robert, but Dominic is my least fave (mainly as I dislike the sound of "Dom", although rarer nn "Nico" sounds quite cool).

RachelTheRedNosedReindeer · 13/12/2021 12:41

I like John best.

I like all of them though. Edward is a bit trendy ATM as people like Teddy so much these days.

CrispAndFrosty · 13/12/2021 12:40

They're great. They stand out, in a quiet and distinguished way, from the trendy names. I always find it refreshing to hear a name like that on a small child.

pilates · 13/12/2021 07:00

Edward is a great name
How about Jack?

toastofthetown · 13/12/2021 06:55

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

It's one of eleven boys names which hasn't left the top 100 since 1904.

That's really interesting @toastofthetown , thank you. I found Edward, Charles, George, James, Thomas, William and Alexander, but what are the other 4 names I missed? (sorry to derail your thread OP but I love timeless names so I'm really curious Grin)

All the names which haven’t left the top hundred are here. Some of them (David and Michael) feel a little date to my ears actually, but clearly that’s just a me issue.

ALEXANDER
CHARLES
DANIEL
DAVID
EDWARD
GEORGE
JAMES
JOSEPH
MICHAEL
THOMAS
WILLIAM

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/12/2021 01:57

It's one of eleven boys names which hasn't left the top 100 since 1904.

That's really interesting @toastofthetown , thank you. I found Edward, Charles, George, James, Thomas, William and Alexander, but what are the other 4 names I missed? (sorry to derail your thread OP but I love timeless names so I'm really curious Grin)

VanillaAndOrange · 12/12/2021 22:29

I like Robert a lot, but right now I think I'd like to hear of a little John. It's a nice name that has good family associations for me, and I've been thinking for a while that it should make a comeback.

PrincessesRUs · 11/12/2021 21:21

My baby is called Robert - we picked it as we love Robbie for when he's little but he often gets Robbo or Robbie Roo.

VenusClapTrap · 11/12/2021 21:17

I like Edward best of those three. But I like Edgar and Edmund even more.

CatsArePeople · 11/12/2021 09:40

John

Monkeytapper · 10/12/2021 21:26

I have a ‘Robert Edward Surname’ he is known as Bobby at the moment.

seriousandloyal · 10/12/2021 21:12

Love John and Robert

Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 10/12/2021 20:57

Thank you- I wasn't so keen on Dominic. Jonathan is out as it's a bit long for my liking and I have a brother with that name. John has always been the strongest contender but I still can't fully decide. My other child had chosen the middle name and it's more unusual! In fact, I've never met another one.

OP posts:
Buddhabowl · 10/12/2021 20:27

These are all nice names OP, for me it comes down to nicknames. I love Bobby and Johnnie, not so keen on Eddy or Ted.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 10/12/2021 20:22

I like Edward (Eddie not Teddy) and John (Johnny). Not very keen on Robert.

It's funny John is so out of fashion in the UK, I think it's been a top 30 boys' names in Ireland for over 50 years, and probably the No 1 name for a big chunk of those.

astonvanilla · 10/12/2021 20:07

@newterritory

I have a James Edward - still love it 13 years on!
Mine is Edward James- you obviously have good taste 😁
emmathedilemma · 10/12/2021 09:58

They're all good solid sensible names. I'm not keen on Dominic, it's a bit dated and not in a classic way.

M0rT · 10/12/2021 09:37

In order my favorites are John, Robert, Edward.
I also like Michael, Alexander, Mark, Thomas, Adam in the traditional sense.
Do think about nicknames, I really like Dominic but I know three and all are called Dom by everyone but their mothers.

Olga03 · 10/12/2021 09:28

I'm a bit biased because I have an Edward. I do get many compliments on it and I love the name itself and its NN options. Regarding the popularity, we never came across another baby/toddler named Edward. But then we are based in London, where it seems children are given more trendy names like Alfie, Teddy (his mum seems to regret it though), so might be worth to check on the ONS side.
I like John, but definitely prefer Jonathan (love it, another favourite name of mine).
Robert is nice as well, but personally my least favourite.
Whichever name you decide on, it will be a lovely one :)

MissBPotter · 10/12/2021 09:07

I like all of these, much prefer them to all the surnames that are popular Smile

Robert is a bit more Scottish, as is James or Alexander (ok mostly royal scottish names!). But John is a fab name and you can’t go wrong with it.

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 10/12/2021 09:02

John ❤️

toastofthetown · 10/12/2021 08:58

@RosesAndHellebores

Edward was v v unusual in the 60s/70s/80s! Rather like John now.
I'm not sure where you are but in England and Wales Edward was ranked 50, 53, and 52 in popularity in 1964, 1974, and 1984 respectively. For context, John is ranked 150 now. While 53 was the lowest recorded point of Edward's popularity, it can hardly be described as very very unusual. It's one of eleven boys names which hasn't left the top 100 since 1904.