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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jack, Alexander, Thomas or William

94 replies

Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 13:59

Which do you like for a first name and why?

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WeasilyPleased · 24/05/2022 22:33

Good names...all in my family. I like the. In this order. (The names not the people!)
Thomas
Jack
Alexander
William.
A friend of mine has a Tommy because she's a massive Who fan. Better than Keith or Roger

pitterypattery00 · 24/05/2022 21:23

I love Alexander. Growing up (in Scotland) the two in my year were known as Alec and Sandy. I generally prefer two syllable names but Alexander is great.

Thomas is also a nice name. I like Tom but not keen on Tommy.

I like Jack too but agree it is much too similar to Jacob.

Not keen on William.

MassiveSalad22 · 24/05/2022 21:08

Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 20:24

I really don’t like Al, really hope he’d never be called that!

I totally see that! But you can’t really prevent shortenings. People will always shorten even the shortest shortening 😄 Arabella - Bella - Bebe - B and so on 😄

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 24/05/2022 20:34

Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 16:10

Also wondering if anyone would see Alex (as a unisex name) as a negative for a boy?

Confused

No.

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 20:24

I really don’t like Al, really hope he’d never be called that!

OP posts:
Dreikanter · 24/05/2022 20:15

Thomas William gives him lots of options to choose from as he gets older.

cptartapp · 24/05/2022 20:12

James is nicer than them all.
James Alexander.

MassiveSalad22 · 24/05/2022 20:00

They’re all much of a muchness but I’ve really come round to Alex lately. I like the X sound and it has loads of options for shortening. I know a great young Al. Always liked William too, a Will is a nice guy.

DuchessOfSausage · 24/05/2022 19:57

or Kerr

DuchessOfSausage · 24/05/2022 19:57

Rowan would not be good with the surname King

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 19:51

Oh I see!!
🥴 Yes that would be bad!
I think it’s down to Tom or Alex …

OP posts:
DuchessOfSausage · 24/05/2022 19:36

Say your surname was Watt. Thomas Alexander Watt would be TA Watt or T Watt

Initials with surname or just initials might make a word. Thomas Alex Green would be TAG, Serena Lily Annabel Green might not like her name. Rory Aktins might be Ratkins ...

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 19:16

Ah thank you all for comments, really useful. Popularity of names doesn’t bother me at all for boys,
@DuchessOfSausage I’m probably being silly but I don’t understand what you said about the surname thing? (ours isn’t a W though but now I’m genuinely curious as to what you mean!) 😃

OP posts:
pinklavenders · 24/05/2022 18:39

Tom, Alex, Jack and William are all VERY popular - there's one in most classes in our secondary school.

DuchessOfSausage · 24/05/2022 18:29

surname initial. Be wary if your surname is Watt or Watson. School kids would not be kind to Thomas regardless of middle name

BeatricePortinari · 24/05/2022 18:27

Thomas not shortened.
I love Thomas for a little boy so sweet.

The Tom is nice for a teenager and man.

DuchessOfSausage · 24/05/2022 18:23

T A followed by surname might make a word.
As much as i like the name James it is very popular as a middle name

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 18:10

Re middle names if Thomas it would likely be Alexander as a middle name, or if Alexander possibly James,

OP posts:
LivesinLondon2000 · 24/05/2022 17:42

Just noticed your oldest is Jacob

I quite like the sound of Jacob and Alexander. They go well together 😊

jackstini · 24/05/2022 16:25

Bear in mind you won't get to pick the nicknames. School friends will always override!

So do you like:

Al, Alex, Sandy, Xander
Tom, Tommo
Bill, Will, Billy
Jacko

All good solid names. What about middle name/surname?

cptartapp · 24/05/2022 16:16

Alexander of those two.
But I much prefer William.

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 16:10

Also wondering if anyone would see Alex (as a unisex name) as a negative for a boy?

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 24/05/2022 15:43

William.

Original poster
Imtryingmybest123 · 24/05/2022 15:23

I think you’re right so it’s down to Thomas/Tom, or Alexander/Alex. (I like William/Will but not sure I could use anyway since a friend has a son called William and might think it a bit odd!)

DS1 has a mop of blonde hair and is quite cheeky, while DS2 could be different I’m trying to imagine which name might suit someone similar. Definitely not a fan of waiting to see what suits him on the day…too much pressure and all babies could be anything I think haha!

OP posts:
Classica · 24/05/2022 15:14

He might well decide to go by Jake when he's a teen/adult, and then it would be a bit odd him having a brother called Jack. So I'd scratch that one.