Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

On a scale of 1 to 10 - how much of a bad idea is this name?????

181 replies

coby · 22/01/2008 21:04

1 = not a bad idea at all, it's a wonderful name

10 = what on earth are you thinking???

The name is

Portley (for a boy)

Go on - do you worst

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Ellbell · 22/01/2008 23:28

A google search turns up only female Tamars.

NorthernLurker · 22/01/2008 23:20

Hugely relieved you've thought again on this one - I 'know' the Wind in the Willows character and it comes across really well there - but in 2008 - sorry no!

We always produce girls here - but I would have liked Orlando for a boy - maybe it's as well I've only got girls!

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 23:18

nothing in cornwall is 'just a river' or 'just a place name' - there are loads of people across the UK named after cornish place names but then many cornish place names are named after people so it all works out in the end. Tamar is one of them btw, not sure if it is for a girl or boy, these days it doesn't seem to matter anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 23:16

controlfreaky methinks randomwaffler suits me better though

OP posts:
AllieBongo · 22/01/2008 23:08

10

vipersister2 · 22/01/2008 23:07

Is Tamar a girl's name? I just thought it was a river.

controlfreakygobshite · 22/01/2008 23:06

well isaacnewton would be good mn name....
or hmsbeagle, bluefootedbooby...... etc.

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 23:00

Whoever suggessted Moby...nope! I need a new MN name. Thought up Coby on the spot - no idea where it came from it is a revealing insight into the void that is my brain . Can't think of anything suitable for me (although 'randomwaffler' springs to mind suddenly). Asked MN opinions on New Years Eve thread and was told Coby sounds like a yappy american dog

OP posts:
Ellbell · 22/01/2008 22:54

Isn't Tamar a girl's name?

A distant cousin of my gran's was married to Richard Trevithick, coby. (But the further west you go, the more everyone's related to everyone else... ). Agree that Humphrey is a funny old name... suitable for ... ooh, I dunno, hippos and walruses and sort of flobby aquatic creatures, don't you think?

vipersister2 · 22/01/2008 22:50

Glad Portley's gone, I'm all for unusual names [husband not so; Orlando and Rufus got vetoed pdq] but let's not give the bullies too much ammo. Speaking of ammo, isn't Monty just a little bit waxed-moustache-and-colonel's cane?
Tamar. Dufton. Dickon. [dodgier..but I met one who was lovely.]

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 22:49

One of my A Level Science lecturer's was Humphrey Davy's granddaughter. Humphrey not good for us though.

OP posts:
thefunkypea · 22/01/2008 22:47

Isaac above Montgomery every time

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 22:46

I think DH and I are thinking either Isaac or Montgomery or both. He will likely have a Celtic-ish middle name too as both DDs have tolkien elvish princess names so that will provide a cornish feel I guess.

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 22/01/2008 22:45

I was going to suggest Porter instead, but I see that someone already has.

From your list I like Elliot (our name if we ever have a son) and Monty (one just been born to a toddler group mum I know).

Ellbell · 22/01/2008 22:43

OK, OK... maybe I didn't think that one through!

flameboy · 22/01/2008 22:42

10 Portley is a portly gentleman

controlfreakygobshite · 22/01/2008 22:41

.... king of the wild frontier.....

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 22:41

controlfreaky hmmm...how do I put this???? ummmmm......any more suggestions? No need to add the West Country feel...or indeed the victorian hero bit.....or the darwin bit in fact Tintagel is just down the road from me...once, when in a touristy shop DH and I overheard a man say to his wife (in Yorkshire accent) 'ere...look - they've got a postcard of tin ta gol over here' Ever since it has been tintagol to us

Rosalux I am easily idenitifiable to, but boring, so no-one is going to be that excited if they find me methinks

OP posts:
thefunkypea · 22/01/2008 22:39

Davy Crockett ha ha

Ellbell · 22/01/2008 22:38

Oh, go for Davy. I really like Davy.

(I have a really vivid memory of playing my clarinet (I was in a school orchestra type thing) under the statue of Humphrey Davy in Penzance just before Christmas 1981 to raise money for the families of the crew of the Penlee lifeboat, which went down on 19th December. And this story is completely irrelevant, but it's what I think of when I think of Humphrey Davy!)

Ellbell · 22/01/2008 22:34

Coby, if you like science-y names, and you're Cornish, you could go for Humphrey (after Humphrey Davy, of course, or even Davy (which I really like - less sure about Humphrey), or Richard (boring, though) after Richard Trevithick.

My (Cornish) grandfather was an Isaiah, and I really like that name (though it's a bugger to spell). It has something of the Isaac about it, but is less popular.

controlfreakygobshite · 22/01/2008 22:29

nathaniel
beagle
galapagos
tintagel
arthur
booby
kingsley

just trying to go with a darwin / victorian hero / west country feel.....

RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 22/01/2008 22:29

I have only fairly recently taken the plunge and admitted where I live, Coby. It is a small town and I am easily identifiable! Now I think - what the heck, I have nothing to hide.

Original poster
coby · 22/01/2008 22:23

NO! not Kingdom either Kingdom was Isambard's mother's maiden name you know

Too many engineers in my family already so not too bothered about naming him after an engineer. DDs do have a strange interest in bridge construction though (I kid you not!)

OP posts:
thefunkypea · 22/01/2008 22:21

Kingdom makes me think too much of Stephen Fry - maybe i watch too much TV

Swipe left for the next trending thread