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Baby names

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

Original poster

Colin or Neil?

110 replies

Gigi97 · 16/01/2022 16:54

Which name do you prefer? Old fashioned I know, but that’s the style we like. Opinions on these names?

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1forAll74 · 16/01/2022 18:17

I think you should choose either of those names, as you obviously like them.. Other peoples views don't matter at all. It's quite ridiculous that some people have a problem with so called old fashioned names, that were more in vogue years ago, this does not matter at all. I have always liked older types of names, as opposed to some odd ball name choices,often mentioned on here.

campion · 16/01/2022 18:16

Colin is nice if it's a cake. The mini ones especially.
Otherwise you need to be about 70 or so.
Neil is 'the baby', obviously.

Both very last century - and not in a good way.

TheDuchessOfMN · 16/01/2022 18:12

I quite like Colin

LizBennet · 16/01/2022 18:12

Colin if I was forced.

MondayYogurt · 16/01/2022 18:11

Colin with Cole as nn

MajorCarolDanvers · 16/01/2022 18:11

Not uncommon names in my part of Scotland

I prefer Colin

MintMatchmaker · 16/01/2022 18:10

Both absolutely dreadful but Neil if I had to choose one.

Neil is very 70s but I would have had Colin as more popular in the 40s.

Whenever they’re from though I think they’re best left there!

Santahasjoinedww · 16/01/2022 18:09

They are both bloody awful for any baby born in 2022. Or in any year post Old Days.
Please don't..

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 16/01/2022 18:07

I hope your surname is not Cone... Wink

Colin or Neil?
onlyreadingneverposting8 · 16/01/2022 18:07

Love both of them. Colin is the Scottish short version of Nicholas. I knew two growing up - one my own age (born 1976) and one the Dad of a friend. One pronounced if Co-lin with the o as in cot and the other as Coe-lin with the o as in boat.
Also knew a few Neil's my own age.
But then 3 of my boys have names int he same sort of time era so I would love them 🤣

ufucoffee · 16/01/2022 18:06

I really like the name Neil

FayCarew · 16/01/2022 18:06

I like Neil but I'm old fashioned too - I also like names like Gary, Nigel, Darren, Richard and Roger, mainly because I know nice people with the name.

Colin is ok but I prefer Nicholas.

Had you asked Cailen or Niall the responses would probably be quite different

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 16/01/2022 18:04

Colin is my friends cat, because of this I always just hear "Coliiiiiinnnn" in an Italian accent & at full volume when I read it now. So I vote Neil.

BarefootHippieChick · 16/01/2022 18:00

@Tree543

Colin isnt a name for 70s and 80s born babies its much earlier than that. I was born in 1971 and don't know anyone my age called Colin.

I was born mid 70s and went to school with 3 Colins.

Ceramide · 16/01/2022 18:00

They're both fine but I'd go for Colin

AlwaysLatte · 16/01/2022 17:57

Colin sounds like colon and Neil sounds like Kneel, so neither!!

RuthW · 16/01/2022 17:54

Colin. Neil is awful.

Ikeabag · 16/01/2022 17:53

I think Callum and Niall sound like naughty lad names! I know someone who called her boy Stevie a while back. I love that.

GirlOnPfizer · 16/01/2022 17:52

I was born in 1975 and my GRANDFATHER was called Colin. It's as old as Jack, Alfie, and the other (mostly dreadful, IMO) retro names that have been so fashionable lately, so why not...

On the other hand, there were 3 Neils in my class at school.

degsydoodoos · 16/01/2022 17:52

If forced to make a choice, I'd have to pick Neil as it's one of my cousins' names, but both your choices are firmly rooted in the 60s so I can't say I like either. I can only think of "Neil, the baby" from Gavin & Stacey, or Colin the Caterpillar! Sorry!

Ikeabag · 16/01/2022 17:51

I prefer Colin. Also a character from Secret Garden with a redemptive story arc.

FreshsatsumaforDd · 16/01/2022 17:51

I love Neil!

MojoJojo71 · 16/01/2022 17:48

I like Neil. Not keen on Colin.

I really like Iain too which is a similar style

Shmippy · 16/01/2022 17:42

Neil isn't as awful as Colin.

That's the best I can say.

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 16/01/2022 17:42

There's such a wide variety of names to choose from nowadays, there's really no need to saddle a child with a name like Colin or Neil. I don't think many already existing Neils and Colins liked their names even when it was trendy.

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