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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ignatius

135 replies

DaisyJoy1 · 26/08/2022 13:10

Looking for a saint name for next baby! For a girl we have picked Helena and Marina, (we love both, have already posted a thread about this and got lovely feedback, so decided if baby is a girl just to see which names she suits most and save the other name for a potential future daughter!)

For a boy, my husband has decided he loves Ignatius. Which was unexpected! It was suggested on another thread where I asked about saints names for boys and he took a liking to it.

Other names that were suggested that we liked were Moses, Cassian, Fabian.

Was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on Ignatius? Does it seem OTT - is it a bit Jacob Rees Mogg? (DH isn't British and doesn't see any issue with the name, but I feel British people might feel differently. While we don't live in the UK, we still have family there and will be returning every so often, children will be British citizens so British opinions on the name are definitely important!)

He likes nickname Iggy which I feel is the only natural shortening anyway.

OP posts:
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AllyCatTown · 27/08/2022 05:00

I prefer the Spanish version Ignacio which is more common there and gets the nickname Nacho, though I can’t see that carrying over here.

Original poster
DaisyJoy1 · 27/08/2022 04:32

I should have said this at the beginning, but we are Catholic!

OP posts:
supperlover · 27/08/2022 02:51

Definitely makes me think of an Irish monk- Brother Ignatius. I live in N.ireland and can't imagine any young Catholics here would give their children that name. Would have been fairrly common 60 or 70 years ago. Patrick on the other hand is a lovely saints name.

ohidoliketobe · 27/08/2022 02:44

I would never make the Catholic connection.
I do however just think 'ignoramus' whenever I hear it.

Apollonia1 · 27/08/2022 02:37

I'm Irish and didn't even realize Ignatius was a Catholic name. I've never met one, but it's a nice name with good nickname potential.

It's funny the impression names give in different languages. In Spain, Ignacio (Nacho) is completely normal.

midsomermurderess · 27/08/2022 01:56

I know a Spanish Ignacio, nn Nacho, which I like. It might be a but, well, bold here, UK.

ZenNudist · 27/08/2022 00:45

I like it! Then again I'm a practicing Catholic. I've literally never met an Ignatius.

I also like Fabian, Francis or Benedict for slightly unusual saints names with great nicknames.

Cannot go wrong with Nate.

Nathaniel is a great name too. He gets one of the few comic lines in the Bible.

Ooh have you considered Ambrose?

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 27/08/2022 00:27

Wouldloveanother · 27/08/2022 00:08

All I can say is I’ve lived in the U.K. for over 30 years with a ‘Catholic’ name and have had zero issues. There may be a hangover from the past among certain age groups, but younger people now are well past it, if they’re even aware of what the issues are (I’m not including real sectarian hot spots, but even then, I’ve been to a few and zero issues). I also object to people saying not to use Catholic names because of ‘cultural appropriation’ (I couldn’t care less) and ‘not to use them because of prejudice’ (wtf? Would you say this about a name from any other culture?).

All that said I still don’t like Ignatius…

Obviously you won’t want to tell us your name but I do wonder if it is quite as uniquely Catholic as Ignatius, which is certainly a step beyond Mary / Maria, for example.

Of course, if you’re telling us that your name is Assumpta or Magdalena and no-one notices its Catholicism then I will stand corrected.

OP, Ignatius is a great name and I think you’ve had a thorough explanation of its connotations in the UK!

RobynNora · 27/08/2022 00:09

Like it a lot. Kids are far less judgmental about names than our generation so I don’t think you’d need to worry about Rees Mogg connotations etc! My theory is they’re open minded because they’re more used to more international names thanks to more diversity in music and football. Iggy and Nate are strong nicknames too

Wouldloveanother · 27/08/2022 00:08

KirstenBlest · 27/08/2022 00:07

What's wrong with Theophilus? apart from it being yet another Theo
www.discogs.com/artist/396241-Theophilus-P-Wildebeeste

It sounds like a small dinosaur

Wouldloveanother · 27/08/2022 00:08

All I can say is I’ve lived in the U.K. for over 30 years with a ‘Catholic’ name and have had zero issues. There may be a hangover from the past among certain age groups, but younger people now are well past it, if they’re even aware of what the issues are (I’m not including real sectarian hot spots, but even then, I’ve been to a few and zero issues). I also object to people saying not to use Catholic names because of ‘cultural appropriation’ (I couldn’t care less) and ‘not to use them because of prejudice’ (wtf? Would you say this about a name from any other culture?).

All that said I still don’t like Ignatius…

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 27/08/2022 00:08

Livpool · 26/08/2022 23:58

@ZoyaTheDestroyer I live in Liverpool and have never heard any negative connotations to 'obviously' RC names

Are you aware that there are approximately 100 lodges of the Orange Order across Liverpool and Bootle?

KirstenBlest · 27/08/2022 00:07

What's wrong with Theophilus? apart from it being yet another Theo
www.discogs.com/artist/396241-Theophilus-P-Wildebeeste

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 27/08/2022 00:05

I love it! I prefer Nate to Iggy though.

That said, I quite seriously flirted with Theophilus (Theo) as a name for my DS so maybe take my vote with a pinch of salt!

KirstenBlest · 27/08/2022 00:02

@Livpool , it is well-known that Liverpool has a history of anti-Catholic issues. Why do you think it has two football clubs?

User1563 · 27/08/2022 00:00

i like Ignatius for a middle name. Cassian is a wonderful name I love it

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2022 23:59

I love the 'Catholic' names but would not choose to use one because of possible prejudice.

Livpool · 26/08/2022 23:58

@ZoyaTheDestroyer I live in Liverpool and have never heard any negative connotations to 'obviously' RC names

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/08/2022 23:57

Wouldloveanother · 26/08/2022 23:54

That was years ago. I’ve had no problems at all with my Catholic name, in fact most people don’t even know it is!

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  1. Recent living memory. You’ve sort of made my point for me - when Catholicism is a minority culture many people won’t recognise the cultural context of a name.

How much time have you spent in the locations I mentioned?

Wouldloveanother · 26/08/2022 23:54

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/08/2022 23:52

Much of Northern Ireland
Parts of Glasgow
Parts of Liverpool

Remember how Tony Blair didn’t publicly acknowledge his conversion to Catholicism until after he had left political office?

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That was years ago. I’ve had no problems at all with my Catholic name, in fact most people don’t even know it is!

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/08/2022 23:52

Wouldloveanother · 26/08/2022 23:42

Where? I have a traditionally Catholic name and have had no bother at all.

Show quote history

Much of Northern Ireland
Parts of Glasgow
Parts of Liverpool

Remember how Tony Blair didn’t publicly acknowledge his conversion to Catholicism until after he had left political office?

Livpool · 26/08/2022 23:49

Hidingawaytoday · 26/08/2022 13:23

Ok, so you did ask. But the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title was JRM. So for that reason it's a no from me.

Same!

Cheeselog · 26/08/2022 23:45

Will he be going to Eton or the equivalent in your country? If not, it’s too much imo. It does come across very JRM to me.

I actually really like Fabian. Anthony is a lovely saint name as well.

Wouldloveanother · 26/08/2022 23:43

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/08/2022 23:40

I love Aloysius but folk can’t pronounce it. He’d get a-loy-zee-us.

Ooooh no, it’s so pretentious. If you want a good solid Catholic name that people can pronounce then choose Bede.

Wouldloveanother · 26/08/2022 23:42

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/08/2022 23:03

You are in a totally different cultural context in a country where Catholicism is the dominant paradigm, whereas in much of the UK Catholics have been a frequently oppressed minority since 1534 (and I am very aware that Irish Catholics need no lessons in oppression from me).

There are still parts of the UK where having a very explicitly Catholic name has political connotations.

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Where? I have a traditionally Catholic name and have had no bother at all.

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