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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can't decide name and it's driving me mad

77 replies

whatisthebabyname · 24/10/2024 20:13

Hi all :) I've named changed because this is so outing.

So I'm due my second boy next year, we already have Oscar. Our surname is Cunningham. DH loves Stanley but I'm just not sure. DS has told my mum and DH's mum that the baby is called Stanley (our mistake for talking about names in front of him!🤦‍♀️) and the reactions weren't great. I think that's putting me off the name too which I know it shouldn't but I can't help it. What do you all think of Stanley?

Any suggestions for names? We also need a middle name😫

Names that we liked but don't anymore are:

Jack
Alfie
Harry
Ernie
Louis
Charlie
Jasper
Felix

There's an endless list of names that DH doesn't like but I'd be here all night🤦‍♀️

I just don't think we're ever going to have a name that I love which is such a shame because I love Oscar's name so much🙁

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FayCarew · 25/10/2024 10:15

I like Stanley. Names don't have to match sibling's name, and parents and siblings shouldn't get a say.

I don't know how old Oscar is but it was probably too soon to tell him much about the baby.

RedOnyx · 25/10/2024 09:53

Another one who immediately thinks of Flat Stanley.

Could Ainsley, Blakely or Finley be an alternative?

Other suggestions:
Elliot
Jonathan
Elijah
Killian
Joshua

Gemstonebeach · 25/10/2024 08:31

August, Maxwell, Tobias, Theodore, Miles? Not a fan of Stanley myself.

unmemorableusername · 25/10/2024 08:27

Felix goes well with Oscar.

Mumofgirls2017 · 25/10/2024 08:12

Love Stanley. What about

sidney
rowan
ralph
rex
harvey
teddy
frank
jude
max
leo
wilfred

MerryMarys · 25/10/2024 07:46

Don't call him Felix as that would make them the Odd Couple Grin

I like the suggestions of
Jasper
Henry
Quentin

They all go well with Oscar and your surname

Beachs · 25/10/2024 07:09

I love the name Stanley no Stan obviously in the minority, personally not sure it goes with Oscar.
Please don’t call him Felix it’s a cats name and together with Oscar would make you sound like a crazy cat lady

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 25/10/2024 00:23

Ashley
Bentley
Bradley
Brynlee
Finley
Riley
Westley
Oliver
George
Aurther
Brandon
Mason
Ethan
Sebastian
Charlie
Franklin
Finn
Flynn
William
Ben
Hugo
Rupert
Edward
Harry
John
Ryan
Alfie
Nyle
Bobby
Robin
Theo
Aaron
Albie
Leo
Liam
Nathanial

whenthelevee · 25/10/2024 00:06

I agree your surname calls for a traditional name. Stanley wouldn't be my choice, but if you both love it I'm sure you'll make it work.

I think Louis goes well with Oscar and your surname, but lots of other good suggestions.

Fraaahnces · 24/10/2024 23:15

I like Edward but prefer Ned to Ted
I will admit that Flat Stanley is the first thing that came to mind

GiftWrappedSuburbanDreams · 24/10/2024 23:13

Sebastian
Finn/Finley
Lucas
Isaac

Wherestheoffswitch · 24/10/2024 23:04

Tobias
Zachary
Teddy
Caleb
Louis
Lyall
Lenny
Bertie

Theoldwoman · 24/10/2024 22:51

Not a fan of Stanley. Too Corrie Street for me.

Oscar and :

Rufus Edgar Cunningham
Rupert Joseph Cunningham
Archibald Ragnar Cunningham
Cosmo George Cunningham
Corbin Alexander Cunningham
Uriah William Cunningham
Sebastian Elias Cunningham
Tobias Bartholomew Cunningham
Lucas Victor Cunningham
Patrick Francis Cunningham
Quentin Raphael Cunningham
Julian Wade Cunningham
Weston Zachary Cunningham
Christian Lee Cunningham
Evan Mathew Cunningham
Leo Michael Cunningham
Curtis Jeremy Cunningham
Benjamin Nicholas Cunningham
Reuben Cole Cunningham

Arcticlife · 24/10/2024 22:22

Felix is so lovely! What about Rory?

BluebirdBoogie · 24/10/2024 22:20

Lawrence
Leon
John

Moreteaandchocolate · 24/10/2024 22:18

How about Finley instead of Stanley?

Or do you like, Oscar and…

Max
Noah
Leo
Jonah
Isaac
Zachary
Lucas
Elliot
Evan
Eli
Henry
Lewis
Theo
Freddie

I like Stanley (I know a very cool teen called Stanley so it’s lost its old fashioned vibe for me)

caitlinsjoy · 24/10/2024 22:09

Stanley will inevitably be Stan. I don’t like Stan. What about Daniel/Dan?

RubyBirdy · 24/10/2024 22:03

Oscar and Sid

Grepes · 24/10/2024 21:59

Oscar and Stanley definitely go together - although I don’t know why they need to, they’re not going to be constantly introduced together for the rest of their lives.

Oscar and Freddie sound like names that go together (at our nursery there is an Oscar and Freddie sibling set). There are a lot of Oscars and Freddies about at the moment, they sound like cute cheeky names, Stanley seems a lot older but I don’t think that’s necessarily a negative thing.

Wesrad2015 · 24/10/2024 21:45

We have an Oscar who was going to be Stanley but I just couldn't get to like it - didn't help that we already have a Wesley and a dog called Radley so there were already too many names with ley!!!

It is so difficult trying to name a second as you want a name that goes with your first and we found boys names so hard to pick. For a while Oscar was Chandler but I just couldn't get past Friends with that one 😂

Good luck OP it is a difficult decision to make

MrsPositivity1 · 24/10/2024 21:41

I love Stanley as well as shortened Stan

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 24/10/2024 21:34

Oscar is quite nice, in a retro sort of way (albeit very popular). Really not keen on Stanley - I’m obviously in a minority but I see names like Stan, Frank etc just as old blokes on the allotment (my Grandad’s mates).

Oscar has a kind of cooler sound- I think you might need to look for retro names that have a cool diminutive, such as Raymond (Ray), Walter (Walt), Wilfred (Wilf), Abraham (Bram) etc. Or just go for a classic with the retro shortening- like Henry (Hal), Edward (Ted), William (Billy), Christopher (Kit) etc.

Ikeameatballs · 24/10/2024 21:25

I like Stanley!

Oscar and George Cunningham
Oscar and Freddie Cunningham
Oscar and Edwin Cunningham
Oscar and Luke Cunningham
Oscar and Rupert Cunningham

RosesAndHellebores · 24/10/2024 21:21

Louis goes. As does Arthur.

ODFOx · 24/10/2024 21:20

Richard (Richie)