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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boys names: Arran or Dacre? Help please!

67 replies

onetowatch · 22/04/2008 14:17

We are trying to decide between calling our baby boy Arran (after the scottish island) or Dacre (pronounced Daker - after a cumbrian place name) what do you think?!
We like the sound of both names, have links to both places, have a second name ready and are confident all names go with our surname...BUT are they too unique or do you know lots of Arrans?!!! Also, I've heard that boys are more successful if they have 'harder' sounding names so is Arran too wishy-washy? We're really stuck and keep changing our minds! Will anyone be able to pronounce/spell Dacre?

Thank you!!!!

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artichokes · 22/04/2008 16:29

Crush - Dacre rhymes with Maker.

Underconstruction · 22/04/2008 16:29

My DD2 has an "unusual" name (just because we liked it) and so far it's worked out OK (she's only one so hasn't exactly run the gauntlet with it yet... no playgrounds, no job interviews. The worst for me has been that everyone says "that's a pretty name" and I feel that poor old DD1 with a "normal" name feels a bit left out. I do get a little sick of the misspellings and mispronunciations though.

artichokes · 22/04/2008 16:28

One of me ex boyfriends was called Dacre. He was from an uber-posh family and it was a family name. He was related to a famous historian called Lord Dacre of Glanton.

He loved his name (partly because of the family significance) and as a result I quite like it too.

PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2008 16:24

I'm all for unusual names, me! I have one myself ...just prefer NICE ones.

CrushWithEyeliner · 22/04/2008 16:24

Neither have a nice sound to them - they don't roll of the tongue. Does Dacer rhyme with packer? Hmm maybe I would choose that if a gun was held to my head but only then...
sorry - just being totally honest

Original poster
onetowatch · 22/04/2008 16:12

thanks spidermama and all those who support unusual names! we haven't chosen these just to be different, our first child had v common name just because we liked it. We've chosen these for the same reasons. Anyway, most names start off being unusual when invented and just get accepted....eventually! am surprised at grumpy opinions this afternoon tho...is everyone having a bad day?!!!

OP posts:
slinkiemalinki · 22/04/2008 15:36

Wasn't/isn't Paul Dacre Editor of the Daily Mail eek...
Well I don't mind Arran as I plan to call my son Arun but not keen on the spelling for reasons others have pointed out.

ButterflyMcQueen · 22/04/2008 15:27

Yorkshire has a Dacre also

Original poster
onetowatch · 22/04/2008 15:26

Thanks everyone, don't mind any opinions as that's exactly what I asked for and would rather know what people might think before I name ds!

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 22/04/2008 15:16

I love unusual names but am not wildly crazy about either. I do have a lovely arran sweater though.

Seriously, do you like the idea of the baby being named after a place?

I did not know that about strong names and whilst I'd probably rather have a ds who mooches round Europe painting and writing, I will consider something strong for him should he wish to make money from his mooching. Strontium maybe.

FranSanDisco · 22/04/2008 15:13

I really can't see anything wrong with Arran or Aaron. Not too keen on Daker but don't find it awful just a little too unusual. It's a name that could grow on me though if I heard it often enough. Honestly, just pick the name you and your dh like. My friend just called her dd a very odd name (to me) and I had to lie and say I liked it. I;m sure she couldn't give a toss though otherwise she'd have asked me before choosing the name . There are more unusual names than common ones where I live so I find people's reactions on here a little OTT.

spicemonster · 22/04/2008 15:07

Dacre is the surname of the editor of the Daily Mail.

Spidermama · 22/04/2008 15:05

Dacre is really growing on me.

Yes MMJ.It sort of does mean scallies. Just Scottish ones which are slightly different.

AHLH · 22/04/2008 15:02

I know a few baby Arrans. No Dacres though.

themildmanneredjanitor · 22/04/2008 15:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spidermama · 22/04/2008 15:00

Ned's a good name. What's it short for?

You could never call a kid Ned in Scotland. It means something very different.

branflake81 · 22/04/2008 14:59

Arran is ok (though I would spell it with one "r" just so it's a real name rather than a place)

Dacre is just....not very nice AT ALL.

2point4kids · 22/04/2008 14:58

I vote Ned as well

mejon · 22/04/2008 14:57

I went to school with an Arran - but it was a she! (may have spelt it with one 'r' though)

PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2008 14:53

Ned's a great name!

RosaLuxembourg · 22/04/2008 14:47

There are a lot of Aarons around atm and the name inevitably does seem to be pronounced Arran - and they tend to be on the more challenging end of the behaviour spectrum ime. Dacre on the other hand, although unusual, might prove a bit of a cross to bear.

collision · 22/04/2008 14:45

sorry!

But I just cannot understand why people want to be so different all the time and if you ask on a public forum then expect to be told.

I do think they are both quite hard names and that people will think that she has not been able to spell Aaron properly and that Dacre will probably get lots of and have the r pronounced.

Didnt mean to be so rude and sorry if I offended but what about Ned?

Spidermama · 22/04/2008 14:44

Do you savoy? Good on you.

A couple of mine have unusual names too. I did my research before lumbering them. I asked people I knew with unusual names how they;'d felt about it and I even called an actor who has the same name as ds3 to ask him how he has enjoyed it.

I really do think Arran is beautiful but maybe that's because of my Scottish upbringing and because the Isle of Arran is so, so gorgeous.

savoycabbage · 22/04/2008 14:40

I really love unusual names but neither are very attractive names at all and I DO want my child to be 'the one with the strange name'.

Spidermama · 22/04/2008 14:40

Arran is a particularly nice name. How anyone can say it's 'horrible' is beyond me. Not that I necessarily have an Arran in my extended family or anything like that.

Seriously though, don't be so rude about peoples choices. It's fair to say you don't like something but to call it horrible or to be too poetic in your dislike is hurtful.

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