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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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Sheabutterisdelish · 16/01/2022 17:22

Neither unless you plan on giving birth to a 58 yr old heating engineer with a wife called Susan.

Grin
Sheabutterisdelish · 16/01/2022 17:21

Both awful but I did like Colin in It's a Sin .

Not sure that helps though....why do people do this to their kids? Just give him a nice normal name that he won't despise growing up

pollygartertidywife · 16/01/2022 17:21

Neither unless you plan on giving birth to a 58 yr old heating engineer with a wife called Susan.

itssquidstella · 16/01/2022 17:19

Colin

topcat2014 · 16/01/2022 17:17

Just checking your surname is not Hunt!

What about Gary?

If we are going with 1970s theme

GrendelsGrandma · 16/01/2022 17:16

Colin. Good solid pastoral name (old link to shepherds, look it up)

Neil sounds a bit slimy.

PrivateParty · 16/01/2022 17:15

Neil sounds like kneel though, which puts me off. Same as I can't do Luke/look.

OhMyChickenDinner · 16/01/2022 17:14

Colin makes me think of a cauliflower for some reason!

ProfessorSillyStuff · 16/01/2022 17:14

Really can't stand either. Isn't there something in a similar vein that's just a bit less drab? For example, Wesley, Sean, Ernest

SpikeySmooth · 16/01/2022 17:13

Neil at a push.

IsThePopeCatholic · 16/01/2022 17:12

Neither. Just too bland.

millymae · 16/01/2022 17:12

I love Neil (and Niall almost as much).
I also love Paul - like Neil it’s a simple name that is hard to abbreviate.
OH didn’t like Neil at all so it was a no goer here sadly as was Paul because it sounded ridiculous with our surname.
I am not a fan of Colin though

Comedycook · 16/01/2022 17:11

There's lots of other names from that kind of era that are far nicer.

Steven
Peter
Paul
Philip
John
Terence

toastofthetown · 16/01/2022 17:11

I prefer Colin.

MintyGreenDream · 16/01/2022 17:11

Neither

canlkeepthispen · 16/01/2022 17:10

Neither.
But I think out of the two, a kid could get away with 'Col' as a nickname, so Colin.

steppingcarefully · 16/01/2022 17:08

This just makes me think of Gavin and Stacey. When they named Neil the baby Pam said she always thought Smithy was called Colin!

CurtainTroubles · 16/01/2022 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

ofwarren · 16/01/2022 17:07

Neil

BarefootHippieChick · 16/01/2022 17:07

Neither of them, so awful and 70s/80s. There is a boy at my childs school with a very similar old fashioned name and he hates it, he gets ribbed for it constantly. Unfair I know, but worth bearing in mind for when your child is a teen.

lakeswimmer · 16/01/2022 17:05

Colin. I quite like it and know a youngish Colin.

loves2plan · 16/01/2022 17:05

Of the two, Colin would be my choice :)

Neolara · 16/01/2022 17:03

Both awful. Sorry..

tsmainsqueeze · 16/01/2022 17:03

Neither , unless picking them for a cat .

GorgonzolaSouffle · 16/01/2022 17:03

Blimey

Neither of them