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Baby names

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

Original poster

Barnaby, Otto or Gus

61 replies

kirkgate · 20/03/2024 17:17

What 'feel' do each of these names give you? These would be names on BC, no lengthened versions.

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Jellycats4life · 21/03/2024 11:19

I agree that Gus is very guttural sounding. And unlike those who said it sounds like gust or gush, I think of guff or gas (which have very similar connotations!). I just don’t like it.

Original poster
kirkgate · 21/03/2024 11:15

NotFastButFurious · 21/03/2024 07:47

I voted Barnaby but he’ll probably end up being Barney. It’s a bit posh but maybe you’re posh!
im not keen on Otto and I think Gus needs to be a nickname.

We aren't posh at all! I just like the sound. And (going against other posters) I think it does sound good at all ages. Cute child, cheeky teen and in my imagination a Chris Hemsworth lookalike adult, all suave and romantic. Interesting to get other takes though!

OP posts:
supercalafragilisticexpealidocious · 21/03/2024 11:14

I really don't think Otto or Barnaby are dogs name!!! Never heard of one called either name.

I love both Otto and Barnaby. Both top of my list. I don't have any preconceptions about Otto...my only worry is that it's relatively trendy and will date/age. I've recently come across a massive Uber car hire business in London called Otto and Arlo & Jacob have a sofa called Otto. It sort of makes me think the word itself may be trendy or overused.

Barnaby I think is great. And I adore Barney. Don't get the cutesie associations at all. Works for all ages to me.

Gus I like less- it feels sort of clunky and middle aged to me somehow. But I like Angus and Fergus. Both of which can be shortened to Gus. Having said that I do think Gus is a good classic name. You wouldn't bat an eyelid at a successful person in any job called Gus.

TM1979 · 21/03/2024 11:12

Don’t like any of them sorry. Please give some thought to when he’s a grown man and how being called Barnaby is going to work for him.

Original poster
kirkgate · 21/03/2024 11:08

Charlotte120221 · 21/03/2024 10:47

Otto and Barnaby are popular dogs names

Gus is not actually a name.

So is Ben, Max, Milo, Toby, Sam, Bobby, Teddy, Reggie, Charlie, Alfie......that wipes out a lot of options! Actually never met a dog Barnaby or Otto....

Always one.

OP posts:
TheOriginalEmu · 21/03/2024 11:05

RogueFemale · 21/03/2024 02:23

You asked for the 'feel'.

Barnaby - Maybe cute for a baby, but ghastly for a grown man, both professionally and sexually.

Otto - not the finest of the 'o' ending boy names, but amusing in a Boris Johnson sort of way.

Gus - Guss isn't a good sound. Guss. A twin sister could be Gussette. I also dislike diminutives as birth names.

‘Both professionally and sexually’ has cracked me up 😂😂😂😂

Charlotte120221 · 21/03/2024 10:47

Otto and Barnaby are popular dogs names

Gus is not actually a name.

amispeakingintongues · 21/03/2024 09:32

amispeakingintongues · 20/03/2024 17:21

Gus is the name for the evil cat in disney's Cinderella

I stand corrected! Gus sounds more appealing now

NotFastButFurious · 21/03/2024 07:47

I voted Barnaby but he’ll probably end up being Barney. It’s a bit posh but maybe you’re posh!
im not keen on Otto and I think Gus needs to be a nickname.

Mercurial123 · 21/03/2024 03:21

None they are awful.

IShouldNotBeSurprised · 21/03/2024 03:18

Years ago, a good friend called her baby Gus while in utero. Back then, you couldn't find out the sex before birth. They ended up liking it so much that when the baby turned out to be a boy, they named him Gustin, and called him Gus.

My husband's grandfather was named Otto. He used to always say to the kids, "Forward it's Otto, backward it's Otto, and inside out it's Toot!"

Muthaofcats · 21/03/2024 02:53

Barnaby: posh
Gus: gush
otto: best of a bad bunch

RogueFemale · 21/03/2024 02:23

You asked for the 'feel'.

Barnaby - Maybe cute for a baby, but ghastly for a grown man, both professionally and sexually.

Otto - not the finest of the 'o' ending boy names, but amusing in a Boris Johnson sort of way.

Gus - Guss isn't a good sound. Guss. A twin sister could be Gussette. I also dislike diminutives as birth names.

SnowFrogJelly · 21/03/2024 01:28

Nada

CheapThrillsMeanNothing · 21/03/2024 01:09

amispeakingintongues · 20/03/2024 17:21

Gus is the name for the evil cat in disney's Cinderella

No, Gus is the fat mouse. The cat is called Lucifer.

PickledScrump · 20/03/2024 23:01

amispeakingintongues · 20/03/2024 17:21

Gus is the name for the evil cat in disney's Cinderella

Lucifer is the cat, Gus is the adorable fat mouse.

fancyfrogs · 20/03/2024 22:11

Barnaby - posh but cute
Otto - quite like it
Gus - makes me think of Augustus Gloop

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/03/2024 22:02

Barnaby by a long way (although I’m personally not as keen on its common nn Barney- that’s a bit children’s TV character) . Barnaby has a nice, friendly sound.

Gus sounds too like Gust to me and very nicknamey. Otto is a comedic stereotype of a German man to me ( like Bruce for Aussie men).

theduchessofspork · 20/03/2024 21:57

Barnaby - nice chap - though I’d like Barnabas even better

Otto - Nazi (I know this is irrational)

Gus - not as full name - it’s a bit guttural - but fine as an optional nn for Angus, Augustus, Julius etc

Lalupalina · 20/03/2024 21:53

Otto is a huge mail order company

www.otto.de

TheOriginalEmu · 20/03/2024 21:46

salamithumbs · 20/03/2024 17:49

Gus is the mouse! The cat is called Lucifer

Show quote history

That’s what I was gonna say!

Barnaby isn’t for me, it’s very posh boy. Which is fine if that’s you I suppose lol. It’s not me so it wouldn’t work for me.
I really like Otto and I like Gus.

id pick Otto personally.

SwedishEdith · 20/03/2024 21:39

Augustus would be an amazing long name.
I like Otto but feel I'd need a German connection.
Barnaby is a bear. Cute for a toddler.

What about Guy? Same posh boy feel.

SkaneTos · 20/03/2024 21:36

They are all great names! I voted for Otto.

Barnaby makes me think of Chief Inspector Barnaby in Midsomer.

SquawkerTexasRanger · 20/03/2024 21:27

My name is Otto I like to get blotto

Gus is cool

bridgetreilly · 20/03/2024 21:17

I do like Gus, but personally I would use Fergus nn Gus.