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Baby names

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

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Help us name our son!

59 replies

Sunshinemum12 · 28/04/2023 11:10

Hi there,

DS is due later this year, just found out it's a boy and struggling with names but have come up with a shortlist. I am drawn more to classic names. Which is your favorite from the following:
Julian
Alexander
Harry
Oliver
Xavier
Lucas
Any other suggestions most welcome. Thanks in advance!

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Original poster
Sunshinemum12 · 29/04/2023 08:41

@Luredbyapomegranate and @ShinyShinyShinyBootsOfLeather fabulous suggestions, adding some of those to the list too! Great to get your opinions :) @rainbowiris awww how lovely! That is really great to know especially from a teachers perspective as you would really see the popularity of names!! So helpful xx

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Sunshinemum12 · 29/04/2023 08:31

Thanks @KirstenBlest yes I like Julius too. Good to know about Lucas! @ourflagmeansdeath thank you, you have excellent taste! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, your son's name is lovely! @Mumofgirls2017 @PurpleReindeer2 thank you, so helpful to get that feedback! X

OP posts:
PurpleReindeer2 · 29/04/2023 08:04

Mumofgirls2017 · 29/04/2023 07:59

Harry or Alexander!

☝️this

Mumofgirls2017 · 29/04/2023 07:59

Harry or Alexander!

ourflagmeansdeath · 28/04/2023 20:19

Julian - It's beautiful and I like Julian John somehow, I think it flows depending on your surname
Alexander - Love Alexander so much considering my son is called it! He's Alexander James but Alexander John flows just as well. This is my fav on your list.
Harry - Seems a bit plain to me
Oliver - Same as Harry
Xavier - I like Zavier pronunciation not Zavia but it isn't my favourite name anyway
Lucas - I quite like Lucas! Prefer Luca though

So favourites are Alexander and Julian. 😊

KirstenBlest · 28/04/2023 19:59

I know 4 Julians and still don't like the name. Julius is better.
Lucas and Luca combined is popular - I know they're different names but they're both forms of the same name and sound alike. Add Luke, Lukas, Lukacz etc and it's even more popular.

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Sunshinemum12 · 28/04/2023 19:56

@ToBeOrNotToBee aw that's lovely, thank you. Yes I've met 3 Julian's in my time, all very lovely (and handsome)!

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Sunshinemum12 · 28/04/2023 18:57

@MuddledMindy I agree, Julian John sounds a bit odd but I thought maybe he could go by JJ as nickname! Alexander John does seem to go better though. Thanks @MrsSamR, good idea re: Xander! @RenoDakota thank you, yes Alistair is lovely, my good friend just called her son that. @Squamata thank you and appreciate your suggestions too! Wow amazing and super helpful list @emmathedilemma and @ShoesoftheWorld and yes, I agree Julian John not the best combo! Thanks @Pocketfullofdogtreats yes Sebastian is a great name but I knew one and it's kind of tainted it for me! @KirstenBlest thank you, really great feedback! So so helpful to get honest opinions as friends won't tell me their thoughts! @Theoldwoman thank you! Really like your list of names too, adding a few to our list!! @Heinzbakedbeans thank you! @pilates thanks! @DustyLee123 thanks! @bumblebeees thank you! @NBLarsen thank you and what a beautiful list of names, I had Gabriel on the list too@cptartapp great feedback, thanks. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply, based on responses Alexander is the favorite at the moment but Julian second! Your responses have been so helpful in narrowing things down! Xxx

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ToBeOrNotToBee · 28/04/2023 18:47

I've met one Julian in my time.

He was my biology teacher, and an absolute inspiration.

I'm very fond of the name as a result.

rainbowiris · 28/04/2023 18:43

I have got an Alexander John, John is a family name here too and I liked Alexander because whilst it has been in the top whatever for years (mine will be 17 this year), we don't actually know anyone else with that name. I'm a primary school teacher as well and I've only had one or two Alex's come through school in the 14 years I've taught, I've taught quite a lot of Harrys, Olivers and Lucas's though!

ShinyShinyShinyBootsOfLeather · 28/04/2023 18:38

I love classic names, but weirdly don't like any of those options! Maybe Julian or Alexander at a push.

How about;

Henry
William
Thomas
Hugo
Dominic
Nathaniel
Nicholas
Edward
George

Luredbyapomegranate · 28/04/2023 18:35

Xavier
or Julian / Julius

Julian - nice, I like Julius better though
Alexander - overused right now
Harry - done to death
Oliver - done to death
Xavier - my favourite - standard UK zay-vee-uh pronunciation
Lucas - overused right now, and faddy

others might be..

Alistair
Jonathan
Nicolas or Dominic nn Nico
Laurence nn Laurie
Lucian
Cassian
Robert nn Robbie / Bobby
Darius
Issac

cptartapp · 28/04/2023 16:44

Alexander is nice.
Prefer Luke to Lucas.

NBLarsen · 28/04/2023 16:42

I absolutely love Julian! That would be my top choice. From your list I also love Lucas.

Other suggestions from me that I had on a list with Julian:
Nicholas
Oscar
Casper
Gabriel
Carl
Christian

bumblebeees · 28/04/2023 16:32

Go for Julian

DustyLee123 · 28/04/2023 16:31

I like Luca.

pilates · 28/04/2023 16:30

Alexander

Heinzbakedbeans · 28/04/2023 14:21

Sebastian
Tristan
Toby

Theoldwoman · 28/04/2023 14:20

Sunshinemum12 · 28/04/2023 11:10

Hi there,

DS is due later this year, just found out it's a boy and struggling with names but have come up with a shortlist. I am drawn more to classic names. Which is your favorite from the following:
Julian
Alexander
Harry
Oliver
Xavier
Lucas
Any other suggestions most welcome. Thanks in advance!

I love classic too, yours are great, I especially love Julian, Alexander, Lucas and Oliver.

Other favourites are Jeremy, Benjamin, Nicholas, Thomas, Adam, Caleb, Patrick and Fraser.

KirstenBlest · 28/04/2023 13:34

Depends on the surname, but

Julian - don't like
Alexander - very popular but has several diminutives
Harry - ok but I know lots of them
Oliver - very popular
Xavier - ok but some will say Ex-avier
Lucas - prefer Luke. A bit trendy.

I don't like Luca or Roman

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 28/04/2023 13:33

I like them all, but wouldn't go for Oliver or Harry, as too popular. What about Sebastian? A bit like Alexander but a bit more fabulous.

ShoesoftheWorld · 28/04/2023 13:30

Alexander or Lucas. I like Julian a lot but don't think Julian John works.

Others:
Laurence
Leander
Francis
Sebastian
Nathaniel
Zachary
Christopher
Magnus

emmathedilemma · 28/04/2023 13:29

He could also be Sandy from Alexander
I'm not a fan of Julian and Xavier doesn't really do it for me, but your other options are all decent classics. I prefer Luke to Lucas which seems more popular.
Thomas
Benjamin
Samuel
William
Alistair
Matthew
Nicholas
George
Robert
Patrick

Squamata · 28/04/2023 13:18

They're all quite solid and sensible, OP! From your list I'd go for Alexander or Lucas. You might like Benjamin or Gregory too?

RenoDakota · 28/04/2023 13:16

Really like them all apart from Xavier.
Do you like Alastair?