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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on the names Freddie/Fred and Lily for b/g twins?

83 replies

Oscarssmum · 17/01/2022 23:25

I’m due b/g twins in 2 weeks and we’re thinking of calling them Freddie/Fred & Lily. What are peoples thoughts? I appreciate they’re popular names…but Fred I’ve just always loved and Lily is after my Nan.

Middle name James for boy and struggling with Lily (on the list are Emilia, Amilia, Elenor, Eloise,Olivia…open to options!)

Thanks!

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Wotagain · 18/01/2022 11:36

@piney07

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!
It's been running for over 70 years, making it the longest runnnig drama/soap opera in the world.
GemmaRuby · 18/01/2022 11:34

I think the demographic of The Archers listeners probably doesn’t have much cross over with your DC’s generation. Lovely names - don’t let that put you off.

ancientgran · 18/01/2022 11:32

@piney07

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!
But if you were an active consumer of radio 4, as millions of people are, you'd be well aware. I don't listen to the Archers very often, probably haven't heard it in 12 months but it is still the first thing I thought of.

It is supposed to have 5 million regular listeners so it is significant, it doesn't mean the OP can't use it, she might not care but it is something that is worth noting because it is something lots of people will think and many will comment on as you can see on this thread.

HoneyMobster · 18/01/2022 11:31

It's the sort of thing you worry about when pregnant but it's really not an issue. I got very worked up about the 'Freddie' character in The Talented Mr Ripley being associated with my Freddie. No one has ever mentioned it!

TeddyTonks · 18/01/2022 11:26

Lovely names.

I wouldn't worry about the archers thing.

piney07 · 18/01/2022 11:11

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!

ancientgran · 18/01/2022 11:08

Definitely The Archers. It was my immediate thought and made me smile.

Ceramide · 18/01/2022 11:06

To avoid The Archers connection what about Ted/Jed/Sid and Lily? I wouldn't think twice if I heard the two names together though.

Is there any particular reason for James as a middle name? It seems to be almost a default middle name for boys. I think the middles you've stated for girls will make the name too L heavy.

Lily Seren
Lily Marianne
Lily Carys
Lily Naomi
Lily Megan
Lily Aurora
Lily Roxanna
Lily Freya
Lily Jade

QuizzicalEyebrows · 18/01/2022 10:58

Great names.
No one cares if they are twins on the archers as none of their friends or their parents will have listened to it so I wouldn't worry about that

SiobhanSharpe · 18/01/2022 10:53

The thing with the Archers is that not only has very loyal fanbase, it can pick up more listeners from time to time when a storyline goes 'viral' so to speak..
There was one about domestic abuse/coercion and control a few years ago which was massive, picked up in the press , lots of social commentary etc etc.

And obviously the producers try very hard to do this.

HoneyMobster · 18/01/2022 10:52

I have a Frederic. I like the spelling better than with the K. Currently know as Freddie but known as Fred and Frederic interchangeably.

It took a while for some members T the family to spell his name right though!

Flutterflybutterby · 18/01/2022 10:49

The popularity would bother me, but they're both nice names. I've literally only ever heard of the Archers through Mumsnet. I have never heard it and don't know anyone who listens to it either.

campion · 18/01/2022 10:46

@Oscarssmum

Thank for your replies! The ‘Frilly’ thing did cross my mind. I have no idea what The Archers is… I wonder if it’s known enough to be an issue Confused
The Archers is the most popular non-news programme on Radio 4, 5 days a week and averages 5 to 6 million listeners.

You might not know it but lots of other people do. Freddie and Lily ( age 22? now) have had their share of ups and downs you could say.
I'd go for another combination!

trumpisagit · 18/01/2022 10:42

My Grandmother and her twin were Fred and Lily. Lovely names. They were born in 20s and fostered as born to a teenage single Mum, interesting history.

PiesNotGuys · 18/01/2022 10:38

I didn’t think the archers but Fred and Lily X brought to mind Fred and Rose West (probably if you said “Fred and…..” with fill in the blanks word association, I’d say Rose). But I suppose Lily is also a four letter flower name too.

Frederick James and Eleanor Lily?

Troutfin · 18/01/2022 10:38

My first thought was The Archers, too.

SallyWD · 18/01/2022 10:37

I immediately thought of The Archers but not everyone listens to it! It wouldn't put me off. They're both lovely names and go well together.

SiobhanSharpe · 18/01/2022 10:36

The Archers is a very long-running radio soap opera and is very popular in the UK. (And possibly elsewhere in the ex-pat community)
The Freddie and Lily twins in the programme are now in their 20s and the names were quite out there unusual when they were chosen and were seen as disinctly upper crust. Not so much these days, though.

toastofthetown · 18/01/2022 10:35

They are fine. I would prefer Frederick as a full name, but Freddie is more popular than Frederick so that’s just my taste. Lily doesn’t need a longer name (Elizabeth only works if you like that and other diminutives, and Lillian etc aren’t to my taste). It’s a standalone name which ends in a y, like Lucy, Mary, Cecily, Felicity.

Is James also a family name? It’s very much a filler middle name for boys. I know two Freddie James and with such popular first names, I’d try but use middle names which aren’t the most popular. For Lily, a lot of the names you’ve chosen are also quite L heavy, which is try to avoid with Lily as the first name.

Bluebluemoon39 · 18/01/2022 10:35

mind. I have no idea what The Archers is… I wonder if it’s known enough to be an issue confused

It's a radio series that's been going for eons. Don't worry, most people would't have a clue about the archers connection! I know the programme but wouldn't know any of the characters names.

Lovely names.

WildGeece · 18/01/2022 10:34

I also thought the Archers. I personally wouldn't for that very reason.

CoddledAsAMommet · 18/01/2022 10:33

The Archers! First thing that came to mind.

PinkSyCo · 18/01/2022 10:32

Both lovely names. Lily Emilia and Lily Eloise are beautiful names.

DoodleBelle · 18/01/2022 10:30

Lovely choices

Original poster
Oscarssmum · 18/01/2022 10:28

Thank for your replies! The ‘Frilly’ thing did cross my mind. I have no idea what The Archers is… I wonder if it’s known enough to be an issue Confused

OP posts: