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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please help me pick between these two boy names!

43 replies

Babydo22 · 20/07/2022 20:21

Our baby will be here anytime now and we are stuck between Finn and Ivan if it's a boy. My husband prefers Ivan and as much as I love the name, I think I prefer Finn but go back and forth between them both frequently. Which do you prefer?

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HouseofGods · 21/07/2022 13:26

Finn

Echobelly · 21/07/2022 11:17

Ivan is less ubiquitous, so I'd go with that, Finn is nice, but as others have said, a bit overused.

DuchessOfSausage · 21/07/2022 08:55

I know several Finn and Finleys. Finnley is awful.
Ivan is fine but I prefer Evan.

Check how they go with the surname cos Ivan sounds like 'I've an' and Finn is someone from Finland and sounds like a part of a fish

savemeagin · 21/07/2022 08:31

Although I like Finn - it's now overused so I'd go for Ivan. It's easy to spell, easy to pronounce and I bet he'll be the only Ivan in his year group unlike Finn.

SoSo19 · 21/07/2022 07:50

Definitely Finn.

I have one and he is the only one in his school, in fact I don’t know of any others at all.

OneCup · 21/07/2022 07:47

Finn!

LittleChicken11 · 21/07/2022 07:28

Finn. Or what about Fintan as an alternative?

Amdone123 · 21/07/2022 07:23

Finn, definitely.

WinterMusings · 21/07/2022 07:22

There's a reason there are more Finn's than Ivan's! Though I'd go for Finley and Fin (the double n irks me!£

Luredbyapomegranate · 21/07/2022 07:17

They are both fine

I’d go with Ivan because Finn very overused

Chickpea17 · 20/07/2022 22:28

Finn

bruce43mydog · 20/07/2022 22:28

Love Finn as a name. 100% Finn and everyone in my house has voted for Finn.

Anystarinthesky · 20/07/2022 22:25

I prefer Finn, like a PP I automatically think Ivan the Terrible.

pinkpanther84 · 20/07/2022 22:24

Finn

goldfinchonthelawn · 20/07/2022 22:23

Ivan. It's both more classic and more unusual. Finn feels like the kind of name that might date, like Gary or Wayne in 1970s.

Riverlee · 20/07/2022 21:56

See what suits him when he’s born.

Aspidistra1 · 20/07/2022 21:45

Finnan? Bit of a combination!

Although I love Ivan. And Ivo.

ODFOx · 20/07/2022 21:44

So many Finns. So many!

Celia24 · 20/07/2022 21:43

Cheeksy · 20/07/2022 21:42

All I can think of is Ivan The Terrible. Sorry! I’m a nightmare for name association! I’d go for Finn on that basis.
I'm sure whatever you call him he’ll be gorgeous, and grow into his name ❤️

Came go say the same. Love Finn.

Cheeksy · 20/07/2022 21:42

All I can think of is Ivan The Terrible. Sorry! I’m a nightmare for name association! I’d go for Finn on that basis.
I'm sure whatever you call him he’ll be gorgeous, and grow into his name ❤️

Cotswoldmama · 20/07/2022 21:37

I like the name Finn better but it's just so.popular that I wouldn't use it myself.

IHateWasps · 20/07/2022 20:55

Definitely Ivan. I'm not fond of Finn and it's been done to death.

Hellocatshome · 20/07/2022 20:54

I think Finn is over used. Ivan is good but Ivor or Ivo are better.

Blankbias · 20/07/2022 20:54

Ivan definitely (pronounced eevan). I know two and they are kind and lovely men, so maybe I’m biased!

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 20/07/2022 20:53

I prefer Finn. Would use Finnlay as the full name, Finn for short.

Ivan is ok. Prefer Evan or Ewan though.