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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic but unusual boys names

78 replies

toastofthetown · 02/02/2024 14:52

The kind of name where someone would say ‘ooh I’ve never met an X before’, but also wouldn’t raise eyebrows in a rural village where most boys are called Henry, Oliver, Edward/Teddy, Arthur etc.

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zerored · 02/02/2024 20:20

Ivo

Riverlee · 02/02/2024 20:19

Hector
Howard
Bertram
Aloysius
Josiah
Richard
Perry
Thaddeus
Roderick

GingerSquid · 02/02/2024 20:19

My theoretical third boy (having a girl after two boys) was going to be:

Louis - classic, of course the prince, but have never met a young one and have a lot of double boy mum friends!

Ellis - again only ever met one in a restaurant, aged 6, never in my day to day life

Edwin - mentioned a lot, gorgeous and only know one who is 40! Much rarer than Edward, Teddy etc and also has nickname option of Winnie

Others that are classic, but not trending a la Arthur, Edward / Theodore (Teddy for nickname), Henry etc:

Peter
Miles
Guy
Toby
Rory
Daniel
Sebasatian
Samuel
Ivan
Christpoher (nn Kit)

sleepismyhobby · 02/02/2024 20:18

I have a son who's name is a classic listed many times I never thought it was unusual at the time but I've never met another boy of his age called it . My other son has a very popular name from the 1990's never met another one either

FayCarew · 02/02/2024 20:15

I know a young Robert, @WhatiswrongwithRobert .

I tried to pick names that I think would be 'a refreshing change'.
Mark goes well with many surnames and is uncomplicated. I used to think it a bit too ordinary but like Paul and John, I like it now.
Luke on the other hand is too close to Lucas and Luca, which I'm not keen on, and there are so many girl's names of about 4 letters popular.
Ian's not due for a comeback, IMO.

WhatiswrongwithRobert · 02/02/2024 20:08

Well… I have a Robert and everyone comments on how unusual it is “nowadays”. It’s 150 in terms of popularity.

Huge fan of Mark. Think that would be lovely on a baby. And Laurence nn Laurie I’ve not heard in a while.

Ian and Richard probably due a come back.

@FayCarew I’ve started the trendy revival 😉

NotFastButFurious · 02/02/2024 20:03

FayCarew · 02/02/2024 18:29

John, Paul, Peter, Simon, Mark, Andrew, Timothy, Richard, Robert, Jeremy, Philip, Michael, Brian, Graham, Alan, Martin, Nigel aren't currently popular

Yes, I think the generation that’s currently in their 40’s & 50’s are now uncommon in children but not old enough to have had that trendy revival yet. These are literally all my peers names! Also David, so many David’s and Dave’s!!

FayCarew · 02/02/2024 18:29

John, Paul, Peter, Simon, Mark, Andrew, Timothy, Richard, Robert, Jeremy, Philip, Michael, Brian, Graham, Alan, Martin, Nigel aren't currently popular

DelphiniumBlue · 02/02/2024 18:13

From the names suggested so far, the following names are names of a child or children at my primary school:
Lawrence 3
Benedict. 2
Edwin. 2
Dylan 2
Michael
Stanley / Stan
Sidney / Sid
Benedict / Ben 3
Alexander / Alex / Ali At least one in every class I've ever taught
Jasper
Casper
Rufus
Maximillian (Max)
Walter
Seth
Hugh
Dominic
Edward 3 or 4
Toby
Joseph
Sean
Felix
Raphael
Patrick
Gabriel
Miles/Milo

So if you want unusual, avoid those!
Personally, I like Alaric ( veto'd by DH when I was naming my own sons) . I've only ever met one, about 25 years ago, and he was an adult then.

SleepingStandingUp · 02/02/2024 18:06

Sebastien

beetr00 · 02/02/2024 17:59

@toastofthetown I give you Magnus (meaning; greatest) 😊

BigBoysDontCry · 02/02/2024 17:52

Paul
Mark
Neil
Raymond
Morris

Purpleavocado · 02/02/2024 17:52

Lysander
Hector
Gabriel
Miles

Sunshineclouds11 · 02/02/2024 17:49

Patrick
Marcus

sunflowerpinks · 02/02/2024 16:14

Quentin
Raphael

MrsSamR · 02/02/2024 16:13

Xavier
Caspian
Caspar
Finbarr
Felix
Monty
Bertie
Bartholomew

CoffeeBeansGalore · 02/02/2024 15:55

Edward
Edmund
Matthew
Toby
Joseph
Ross
Russell
Sean
Cristian
Christopher
Lance
Byron
Milton
Robert

Bestforchildcare · 02/02/2024 15:55

Augustus (Gus)
Wilfred
Francis
Edgar
Edwin (my favourite!)
Maximillian (Max)
Walter
Roland
Hugh
John
Alistair
Quentin
Dominic
Sid

NotFastButFurious · 02/02/2024 15:48

I think most people will have met someone of any "non-eyebrow raising type name that you choose but maybe of a different generation to your baby. For example, I know lots of Davids but don't know any under the age of 30! Region will come into too as I hear Lewis and Alistair a lot in Scotland.
Douglas / Dougie
Wilfred / Wilf
Leonard / Lenny
Stanley / Stan
Sidney / Sid
Benedict / Ben
Alexander / Alex / Ali
Jasper
Casper
Rufus
Barnaby / Barney
Seth
Tristan

BigBoysDontCry · 02/02/2024 15:45

Sylvester
Eric
Piers
Norman
Anthony
Giles
Guy

MaloneMeadow · 02/02/2024 15:39

Myles
Sebastian
Harrison
Hector
Maximillian

Ariela · 02/02/2024 15:24

David - not heard of a baby one for a while
Edgar - ditto
Stephen
Harold
Melvin
Gordon
Peter
Hugh

NotmySundaybest · 02/02/2024 15:05

I can see Barry making a come back after Saltburn!

Onelife2024 · 02/02/2024 15:04

Aaron
Lewis
Owen
Evan
Ewan / Euan
Nicholas
Seth
Christopher
Peter
Jonathan
Hayden
Ashley
Noel
Timothy
Andrew
Stephen
Alistair
Jeremy
Lloyd

BigBoysDontCry · 02/02/2024 14:56

Dorian
Crispin
Whittaker
Grant
Francis
Roderick

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