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Baby names

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

Original poster

Julian

94 replies

yumyumyumy · 11/06/2024 17:03

What are people's thoughts on Julian? Brother for Alex.

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mopopo · 12/06/2024 10:39

Julian Assange
Julian Clary

mopopo · 12/06/2024 10:38

It's a very marmite name. I personally dislike. Smarmy somehow.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 12/06/2024 10:37

Julian Clary is not the first person that springs to my mind,

I am more inclined to think of Enid Blyton - The famous Five or...
Jools Holland.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/06/2024 10:30

Sunnnybunny72 · 12/06/2024 09:59

I thought effeminate too.
I agree it's rather wet.

There is nothing remotely effeminate about the name Julian to my ears. Is it because it happens to sound like Julie, Julia, Juliet etc which are more common?

Bit depressing also that in 2024 some people still think boys' names have to be super masculine with no hint of effeminacy.

NeverEndingWait · 12/06/2024 10:05

The only Julian I've met irl was absolutely the nicest guy.

Sorry, I'll cancel this out with the only one I know is vile Blush

I also think it's a bit wet, Op. Sorry! Plus he'll get Jules as a nn which is immediately makes me think of Juliet, Julia or Julie rather than a man.

Sunnnybunny72 · 12/06/2024 09:59

I thought effeminate too.
I agree it's rather wet.

Apollo365 · 12/06/2024 09:59

Love it

FiddleFigs · 12/06/2024 09:58

It's a really lovely name.

The only Julian I've met irl was absolutely the nicest guy.

Moveoverdarlin · 12/06/2024 09:55

yumyumyumy · 12/06/2024 09:45

I'm also 39 but I honestly doubt anyone born now would know/care who he is.

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Of course no one born now will know / care who Julian Clary is, just merely pointing out he’s probably the most ‘well-known’ Julian in the UK. It’s just an association that some ‘old farts’ might make.

I have a neighbour with a child called Reggie, another neighbour who is in his 60s always hollers ‘Here he is, my little Reggie Kray’ whenever he sees him. The child clearly has no idea of the reference.

Moveoverdarlin · 12/06/2024 09:46

ForGreyKoala · 12/06/2024 02:45

I'd love to know what names you like. Stands to reason some people on this thread would hate them (but might well be too polite to say so).

Signed,
Julian

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Of course they would hate some of my choices, that’s what differing opinions are all about. In real life I would never tell a parent that I didn’t like a choice of baby name. Because I’m polite.
But it’s an anonymous forum, the OP has asked what we think of a particular name. Some have loved it, some haven’t. She couldn’t do that in real life and get true, honest feedback. This way she can go ahead with the name Julian, but at least she knows some people (old farts like me as I was called) may think it’s an odd choice.

Original poster
yumyumyumy · 12/06/2024 09:45

Moveoverdarlin · 12/06/2024 09:39

He’s in Panto every year, so lots of kids will know him. I’m 39, so not in old fart territory just yet I hope.

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I'm also 39 but I honestly doubt anyone born now would know/care who he is.

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 12/06/2024 09:39

yumyumyumy · 12/06/2024 02:49

Yeah but what child born now is going to know who Julian clarey is? Only the old farts will know who that is.

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He’s in Panto every year, so lots of kids will know him. I’m 39, so not in old fart territory just yet I hope.

GoodVibesHere · 12/06/2024 03:06

It's girly

WhatsUnderneathTheClothesBrookeDavis · 12/06/2024 03:04

I love the name Julian! Uncommon but not difficult to spell or pronounce so he won’t be constantly correcting people. Strong and unaffected- great choice!

Ladyandherspaniel · 12/06/2024 03:00

My Dad has Julian for his middle name and he cringes whenever he has to announce it. He hates it and thinks the same as other people it's a bit wet and feminine.

Ruthietuthie · 12/06/2024 02:57

The Julian I knew was definitely of the slimey Tory type, with a tendency to say, "Well, look here, old chap" (which didn't go down very well with my working class Northern dad) and cheer boorishly at the boat race or the rugby. He also had an extreme shoe fetish which began with a glimpse of his friend's mother's feet as she arrived to visit him at boarding school (his own mother neither visited nor wore heels) and begged me to stand on his penis in heels (I declined).
So yes, not my favorite name.

Spencer0220 · 12/06/2024 02:54

Love it! We named our guinea pig Julian and everyone loves the name!

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 12/06/2024 02:52

Sorry if I’ve misspelt it . Great name

Original poster
yumyumyumy · 12/06/2024 02:50

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/06/2024 23:24

I’m a Julia and know a couple of others, as well as lots of (older) Julie’s and a Juliet. So whenever I hear Julian it sounds quite feminine to me - but maybe that’s because I’ve only ever met one Julian in RL (though weirdly I don’t find Julius sounds as feminine? 🤔)

With Alexander being such a timeless classic, I’d be tempted to find something perennially popular to match- maybe William? Then they would have Alexander the Great and William the Conqueror as namesakes - most boys would love that 🤣

Or if you want to continue in the Classical style, then I think Maximilian works really well with Alexander. Alex and Max sound like a cool pair.

I like William. Not max though, we know too many.

OP posts:
Smallonesaremorejuicy · 12/06/2024 02:49

I know 2 Juliens both handsome intelligent men . Love name for a baby child & man . Definitely go for it x

Original poster
yumyumyumy · 12/06/2024 02:49

Moveoverdarlin · 11/06/2024 23:42

I think it’s awful. Very of it’s time, I imagine a drip of a man in a shit suit and a Filofax in the 1980s. Julian Clary didn’t do the name any favours.

Yeah but what child born now is going to know who Julian clarey is? Only the old farts will know who that is.

OP posts:
ForGreyKoala · 12/06/2024 02:45

Moveoverdarlin · 11/06/2024 23:42

Wet is a great way to describe it.

Show quote history

I'd love to know what names you like. Stands to reason some people on this thread would hate them (but might well be too polite to say so).

Signed,
Julian

Moveoverdarlin · 11/06/2024 23:42

Comedycook · 11/06/2024 17:06

It's a bit wet.

Wet is a great way to describe it.

Moveoverdarlin · 11/06/2024 23:42

I think it’s awful. Very of it’s time, I imagine a drip of a man in a shit suit and a Filofax in the 1980s. Julian Clary didn’t do the name any favours.

ForGreyKoala · 11/06/2024 23:31

I love it - and at least he won't have the same name as half the school!