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Baby names

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

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:
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Imabitbusyatthemoment · 10/12/2021 07:36

Edward is beautiful.

I don’t like Robert. And John is everyone’s dad.

RosesAndHellebores · 10/12/2021 07:31

Edward was v v unusual in the 60s/70s/80s! Rather like John now.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/12/2021 01:31

I'm exactly the same as you OP, in that I'd mostly settled on a (less common/popular) girls name I loved quite easily, so expected to feel the same about a boys name when I found out I was having a DS instead.

As a name lover I thought I'd go for something more unusual too (I liked names like Orlando, Zev, Bram, Ivo, Heath etc), but now that he's getting closer to arriving I've turned to more traditional names instead - William, Alexander, Hugh, Edward, Samuel and James are some of the names on my list now! (John, Thomas etc would be there too but they are already used by close family members)

For me of your choices, I'm probably drawn towards John the most - it used to be so popular that there are some amazing historical namesakes but it's much less common now, so he'll probably be the only one in his class/groups. Plus I like both it's nn's Johnny and Jack so that's a bonus, as you can never tell if he'll get a nickname.

Edward is my second choice and may be the "safer" timeless option since it's never left the top 100 in popularity. But I'm less keen on Ed/Eddie (of the many Edward nn options) which personally puts me off a bit.

RosesAndHellebores · 09/12/2021 23:14

I think John is lovely and overdue a comeback. I once dated a lovely man called Johnnie.

Usuallyhappycamper · 09/12/2021 23:09

I like Robert with nn Bert and Edward with nn Ned. Dominic will be shortened to Dom, which I don't really like.

MarshaBradyo · 09/12/2021 22:55

Edward
Robert

Then John

In order of preference

ColdinNovember · 09/12/2021 22:54

I think of your’s Dominic is my favourite, I also quite like Michael as a traditional name and Nicholas.

Ilikecheeseontoast · 09/12/2021 22:53

Jonathan, Joseph, William, Thomas, Peter, James?

WeasilyPleased · 09/12/2021 22:48

I've surprised myself by how much I like John and Johnny is great.

weegiemum · 09/12/2021 21:22

I love Robert with nn of Robbie.

Campervan69 · 09/12/2021 21:13

I have a Robert, we call him Rob. Benefit is he's the only one in the school so feels unique. And you can always get his name cheap on personalised stuff....

I like traditional names.

Yika · 09/12/2021 21:10

All three are absolutely lovely, you can't go wrong. My favourite is Robert.

Taswama · 09/12/2021 21:06

I have one of those and chose it as it was only just in the top 50 the year he was born.
All good, classic names with multiple nickname options.

ODFOgrinch · 09/12/2021 21:03

John (with Jack as a diminutive if you want one) is lovely.
Edward has had a bit of a revival and although I do like Robert there seem to be a few baby Robbies about I recently, so I wouldn't necessarily choose those even though they are classic timeless names.
I'd like to throw Peter, Hugh, Guy and Alasdair into the mix if you like Dominic.

AliceMcK · 09/12/2021 21:02

Love all 3.

I’m related to a lot of Edwards, all Irish with surname Murphy. Even Murphys Law was created by an Edward. I suppose I can see why it seems too English with all the king Edwards though.

Andrew is also a nice traditional Scottish name. My DHs family is Scottish and the name pool is literally Robert, Andrew, John & Malcolm. I think there may be a few Duncan’s too.

itssquidstella · 09/12/2021 20:43

I like them all. John and Robert are my favourites.

trumpisagit · 09/12/2021 20:43

All lovely names.
My favourite would be Robert: Bob/Bertie.
Edward is quite often shortened to Ed in adults, and though I like Edward, I am less keen on Ed (it seems more like a sound than a name/too short).

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/12/2021 20:33

I love John, due a revival. Also like Robert, esp nn Robbie.

Way too many Edwards, so I'd ditch that.

Sourwolf · 09/12/2021 20:27

Robert's a great name.
Not so keen on the others,

Grumpyosaurus · 09/12/2021 20:25

John is an excellent and underused name due a comeback.

Robert is making a comeback.

If you like Edward, how about Edmund?

roadwarrior · 09/12/2021 20:24

John is a strong and classy name imo.

Bumpsadaisie · 09/12/2021 20:22

I think you should go the whole Kennedy homage and call him

John Robert Edward Patrick

😀

newterritory · 09/12/2021 20:20

I have a James Edward - still love it 13 years on!

MissHoney85 · 09/12/2021 20:18

I actually really like John. It's such a solid name and really underused these days, even though only a few generations ago it was so ubiquitous.

Jingers5 · 09/12/2021 20:15

Are you a fan of the Kennedy family op 😁

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