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Baby names

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Hugo or Oscar - really struggling

61 replies

Leeloo1233 · 12/09/2024 17:06

We have narrowed down our list to two names, Hugo and Oscar. It needs to work in English, Swedish and French.

We were almost settled for Hugo and have told many people, but now I'm freaking out that it's perceived too posh in the UK and people will think we are pretentious or tory voters or something else that I dont want to be associated with. Hugo is a normal name in Sweden and France and we live in Sweden, I just dont want to rule out us moving back to England to my DH's home country one day.

I had major naming anxiety with my first born and now fear it's coming back again :(

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Trebol · 15/09/2024 16:15

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Mandarinaduck · 15/09/2024 15:59

Great name! Congratulations and thanks for the update!

Moreteaandchocolate · 15/09/2024 15:57

Leeloo1233 · 15/09/2024 15:36

Thanks everyone! We went with Hugo Arthur.

In the end the posh thing seems to be going away with so many little Hugos around, and in any case people who judge others by their name need to find something better to do!

Gorgeous name! Great choice 😊

FayCarew · 15/09/2024 15:44

Great choice@Leeloo1233 . Both names were good but I prefer Hugo.

hazandduck · 15/09/2024 15:43

Leeloo1233 · 15/09/2024 15:36

Thanks everyone! We went with Hugo Arthur.

In the end the posh thing seems to be going away with so many little Hugos around, and in any case people who judge others by their name need to find something better to do!

Love Hugo 🥰 It was ‘our boy’ name but we had girls!

TheGirlWhoLived · 15/09/2024 15:40

Gorgeous name! We’ve got a little Hugo too, there’s not loads of them around, but enough that it’s not totally out there and unusual. Although we did then go with the middle name Loxley which is a smidge more unusual 😂

Leeloo1233 · 15/09/2024 15:36

Thanks everyone! We went with Hugo Arthur.

In the end the posh thing seems to be going away with so many little Hugos around, and in any case people who judge others by their name need to find something better to do!

OP posts:
Everleigh13 · 14/09/2024 19:31

I prefer Oscar but I also want to say that you should go with what you like the best. For example, I know my second daughter’s name is not particularly popular - but my husband and I love it and that’s what counts. Don’t be swayed too much by what others might think.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 14/09/2024 19:26

Oscar. I have one and he is amazing.
We call him oscy sauce as a nickname :)

FayCarew · 14/09/2024 19:24

@RogueFemale , Oscar is in the top 10 baby boys' names in England & Wales and has been for 10 years.

RogueFemale · 14/09/2024 01:07

Leeloo1233 · 12/09/2024 17:06

We have narrowed down our list to two names, Hugo and Oscar. It needs to work in English, Swedish and French.

We were almost settled for Hugo and have told many people, but now I'm freaking out that it's perceived too posh in the UK and people will think we are pretentious or tory voters or something else that I dont want to be associated with. Hugo is a normal name in Sweden and France and we live in Sweden, I just dont want to rule out us moving back to England to my DH's home country one day.

I had major naming anxiety with my first born and now fear it's coming back again :(

Please not Hugo or Oscar, they are sort of comedy posh names in the UK.

So many names work across European countries - William, George, Edward, Francis, etc with variations in every country. If you need a multi-cultural name, choose one like that. (My cat is called Edward and it's beautiful).

Spomb · 13/09/2024 23:05

Both are very popular, and definitely not ‘posh’ these days. I would pick Oscar as Hugo is a popular name for dogs where we live and Oscar works better in terms of pronunciation for English and French.

Backtoschoolhell · 13/09/2024 23:00

Although I like Oscar and considered it for DS 6 years ago it just seems a bit overdone now. Hugo is great, go for it!

(And I do think you are overthinking. From a fellow anxious overthinker)

AgainandagainandagainSS · 13/09/2024 22:54

Both fabulous strong names

TheSnootiestFox · 13/09/2024 22:52

helibirdcomp · 13/09/2024 20:56

Oscar, I know his school years are a bit of a long way but if he ends up in a UK school Hugo will be turned into Huge (as in fat) and if he has any weight problems it will make if easy to pick on him

In 14 years, Hugo has never been 'Huge', even when chunky and actually is known almost universally as Boogie 🤷‍♀️.

PlantDoctor · 13/09/2024 20:57

Hugo is really quite popular these days. And I'm not in a posh area! Oscar is too popular for me.

helibirdcomp · 13/09/2024 20:56

Oscar, I know his school years are a bit of a long way but if he ends up in a UK school Hugo will be turned into Huge (as in fat) and if he has any weight problems it will make if easy to pick on him

CruCru · 13/09/2024 20:49

Both are really nice names. Oscar was really popular but isn’t as much any more (at least where I live).

Hugo is very popular - my daughter has two in her class.

45fatandtired · 13/09/2024 18:01

I think both names are quite sweet, but unfortunately my next door neighbours 2 dogs have these names so that rules them both out for me 🤦🏻‍♀️

Giggorata · 13/09/2024 17:46

I like both Hugo and Oscar. I guess it depends on which you think goes best with your surname.

FayCarew · 13/09/2024 17:16

@Comedycook , those names aren't 'posh' names any more. They strike me as regular names. They might not appeal to younger parents but I think that parents with jobs like tradesperson/office worker/teachers might choose them.

Comedycook · 13/09/2024 16:46

MerryMarys · 13/09/2024 16:43

*Names in the UK unfortunately do often indicate your social class.

Hugo, Rupert and Sebastian are stereotypical posh names.*

Ok, and in what way is this bad? How are people with posh names affected negatively (if they indeed are)??

I honestly can't see any problem Confused

It's not necessarily bad but people will often have pre conceived ideas about someone based on their name which may be wrong. Whether this bothers you or not is up to you.

MerryMarys · 13/09/2024 16:43

*Names in the UK unfortunately do often indicate your social class.

Hugo, Rupert and Sebastian are stereotypical posh names.*

Ok, and in what way is this bad? How are people with posh names affected negatively (if they indeed are)??

I honestly can't see any problem Confused

Comedycook · 13/09/2024 16:28

MerryMarys · 13/09/2024 16:21

Hugo is a great name but yes it is a stereotypical posh boy name in the UK

And why would that be bad? Would people discriminate against those with posh names Confused??

Names in the UK unfortunately do often indicate your social class.

Hugo, Rupert and Sebastian are stereotypical posh names.

Jayden, Tyler and Mason are stereotypical working class names.

Some names could be either....George, Thomas, James could be found on a country estate or a council estate.

Personally I like names which don't give anyone any pre conceived ideas about that person.

SpiderGwen · 13/09/2024 16:25

Both are nice and both are names of prestigious awards. I think I’d rather win a Hugo than an Oscar.

On balance I like Hugo best, probably because I know quite a few Oscars and only one Hugo (and he’s lovely)