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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think: Wesley or Julian?

86 replies

amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:33

These boy names are not extremely common but also not 'out there' where I'm from but I wondered what their popularity and associations are in the UK? There have been names I liked that my (English) DH informs me are too poncy or too common or too weird so I wanted to run these two past some other UK natives for perspective.

DH likes both names but thinks one might be considered odd and the other too popular. What do you think?

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Gobbledigook · 24/04/2008 18:06

I have been here all along under a different name!

hatrick · 24/04/2008 18:05

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sleepycat · 24/04/2008 18:04

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pointydog · 24/04/2008 18:03

You are right, grapefruit.

I am thinking more or southern softyville, like London or Bristol

Gobbledigook · 24/04/2008 18:03

Julian - I wanted to use Julian but I wasn't allowed

motherinferior · 24/04/2008 18:01

PMSL at Edam. (Are you feeling better, btw?)

I know a rather nice Julian (secretly I quite fancy him) but he doesn't go with his name IYSWIM.

edam · 24/04/2008 17:59

Try the test from the other angle: 'Wesley Stanley Fletcher, you are an habitual criminal...' OR 'Julian Stanley Fletcher...'

I think Wesley sounds more of a likely candidate for the name of a character in Porridge.

Original poster
amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:57

collision, I have never heard of 'the test' that's hilarious. Though if you can imagine a newscaster or pilot being named that, doesn't it mean it will be quite common and/or boring?

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OrmIrian · 24/04/2008 17:56

Aha cyteen. Only that one is married (newly, in his 40s) and the other is a serial shagger (of women)

collision · 24/04/2008 17:53

Am now trying to think of names in the same sort of genre but have only come up with Tristan and Sebastian.

IMHO Wesley is a bit wet and I cannot think of a baby called Wesley or a small boy or even a teenager being called it.

Julian is slightly better but not my personal choice.

do the test.......

'this is Wesley Foster, News at Ten, in the Gulf....'

'this is your Captain Wesley Shaw speaking...'

they dont do it for me, Im afraid......

GrapefruitMoon · 24/04/2008 17:53

Not sure about that pointydog - i used to someone whose middle name was Julian. He was a bit secretive about it - when I asked him why (because I thought it was a nice name) he said "Try growing up in Liverpool with a name like Julian"!

(Apologies to any Liverpudlians)

Califrau · 24/04/2008 17:53

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Original poster
amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:52

See, I think that's my problem. I really like the nicknames for both of these (Jools and Wes) but don't know if it's a good idea to name a kid something just 'cause I like the nickname, KWIM?

ButterflyBessie, that is just freaky because my own name is apparently a branch of the methodist church so if I name my kid Wesley ppl are gonna think we're in a bloody cult!

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pointydog · 24/04/2008 17:50

well, in a large urban area you might just about carry these names off. In fact, Julian in particular would probably be very easy to carry off.

hatrick · 24/04/2008 17:50

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Original poster
amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:49

cornsilk, yes he is.

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ButterflyBessie · 24/04/2008 17:49

wesley church website here, you could name your son after a methodist church

Julian Lloyd Webber is Andrew's lesser known bro, who iirc a cellist

cyteen · 24/04/2008 17:49

You sound like you know something there, Orm.

hatrick · 24/04/2008 17:48

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OrmIrian · 24/04/2008 17:48

Not gay though! Definitely not gay.

cyteen · 24/04/2008 17:48

But on the other hand, there's Julian Cope (mental druid drugfucked spacecase rock star and generally v amusing fella)

Original poster
amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:48

Eh, gay doesn't have a negative association for me so that doesn't bother me much. I truly don't think that a person could become gay based on what name they were given so a bit silly to worry about that, IMO.

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cornsilk · 24/04/2008 17:48

Isn't John Lennon's son called Julian?

OrmIrian · 24/04/2008 17:47

I must admit I only know slightly irritating and very posh Julians. One I work with
But not a bad name in itself. DH wanted to call DS#1 Julian after Julian Dicks.....

Not keen on Wesley.

Califrau · 24/04/2008 17:47

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