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Baby names

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

Original poster

Liam or Owen

54 replies

telestrations · 26/01/2024 15:46

Just that really

Which do you prefer?

Or something else

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pontipinemum · 29/01/2024 11:37

I prefer Liam.

I'd go with Eoin over Owen - I am Irish though.

fightingthedogforadonut · 28/01/2024 13:48

Owen by a mile.

Onelife2024 · 27/01/2024 18:36

telestrations · 27/01/2024 18:28

Thanks for all of the replies. I read them to DH and we've decided to go for Liam but as a William

Neither of us had any idea if was a shortened version of this as we've only heard it as a name in its own right, but the love the flexibility it will give him

Lovely name, thanks for sharing

Original poster
telestrations · 27/01/2024 18:28

Thanks for all of the replies. I read them to DH and we've decided to go for Liam but as a William

Neither of us had any idea if was a shortened version of this as we've only heard it as a name in its own right, but the love the flexibility it will give him

OP posts:
Multipleexclamationmarks · 26/01/2024 22:25

Liam.
I have a liam, he's the best person I know.

MaloneMeadow · 26/01/2024 22:21

If you’re of Irish heritage then the Eoghan spelling is really nice, my favourite by far!

How about Conor?

Celeriacisquitenice · 26/01/2024 21:35

Liam often seems to get bad press on MN to be honest. It's a normal name in Ireland.

Celeriacisquitenice · 26/01/2024 21:33

Sofabum · 26/01/2024 21:29

If you have Irish heritage then the obvious is Eoin

I was going to suggest Eoin too.
Eoghan also sounds the same but spelling could be a problem outside Ireland.

Original poster
telestrations · 26/01/2024 21:32

DesertSnow · 26/01/2024 20:59

I like both. Why not wait to see if he looks more like one? Congratulations!

I think that's likely what we'll plus now have a couple more options as well if either just don't feel right

It's been great to get a sense of how they land so thanks so much MN!

OP posts:
Sofabum · 26/01/2024 21:29

If you have Irish heritage then the obvious is Eoin

vanillaspice235 · 26/01/2024 21:28

Liam

DesertSnow · 26/01/2024 20:59

I like both. Why not wait to see if he looks more like one? Congratulations!

theduchessofspork · 26/01/2024 20:56

Owen is very nice

Liam has gone a bit south since Mr N’s heyday, although better if a pet name for William, which I think it is for him actually

Ronan?
Lachlan
Struan
Ivan

Ewan makes me think of sheep..

YourWinter · 26/01/2024 20:35

I’ve recently retired from working with two men in their 20s called Owen. I like the name much better than Liam.

Guitarbasher · 26/01/2024 20:29

Neither to be honest.

UserNameChange6 · 26/01/2024 20:27

Owen for sure! Liam is so overdone and meh. DD would have been Owen. We also liked Evan, Elliot, Leo and Leon.

amz4 · 26/01/2024 18:36

Owen

PaulCostinRIP · 26/01/2024 18:36

Not Owen. Liam is ok.

The suggestion of Evan is lovely.

mintich · 26/01/2024 18:27

Liam!

YesItsMeYesItsMe · 26/01/2024 18:27

I have an Evan 😍 it’s honestly the perfect name HOWEVER he is 6 and in his nursery class there was another Evan (we’re nowhere near wales), a Ewan, a Euan and an Ethan!!!!!

I’m still totally obsessed with it though, it’s such a friendly name, and all 3 of my kids love meeting others with their same name so I think unique names are overrated. DS1 has an unusual name and whenever we’ve met another (v rarely, never found personalised items for him etc) he’s been so pleased.

To me Liam and Owen are v v 90s (not necessarily a bad thing, my daughter has an 80s name).

BarbaricPeach · 26/01/2024 18:26

I have an Owen and we've not met a single other one in the under 10s crowd. My intention when naming him was something people know of but wasn't likely to have more than one in his social circle.

I've seen online that it's pretty popular in the US, but it was 130ish in 2021 when my son was born. Names beginning with O were super popular that year though, he has an Otis and Oscar in his nursery class.

DuchessOfSausage · 26/01/2024 18:24

@ginasevern , his name was Owain ap Gruffydd.
He was a prince not a king, but he was a leader.

Original poster
telestrations · 26/01/2024 18:23

Doublebiscuit77 · 26/01/2024 18:03

It's funny how trends can impact individual choices and feelings about names. Liam was a very normal top ten choice back in the late 90s but then lost its popularity- it's 76 according to darkgreener website. But it's only my own experience knowing only Irish heritage very young Liams. Still seems more popular than Evan and Owen: https://names.darkgreener.com/#evan

Liam Zvonimir Sullivan is a great name.

Show quote history

It is indeed bizzare. I was shocked to find that Liam is currently no. 1 in the US not I've even met one there. Owen is 14. Again never met one outside of the UK and then only two.

That is according to one list I've read. I'm sure there are many

OP posts:
jayjayson · 26/01/2024 18:22

Liam is a lovely name.

tokesqueen · 26/01/2024 18:15

I don't like either.
But I love Evan and Adam.

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