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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which boys name would you pick?

59 replies

hebclgiwlwon · 16/03/2025 21:40

Baby due in May and we are really struggling with boys names.

We want to stay traditional but slightly more modern.

Which is your favourite please?

Ralph (Ralphie) - worried about this being a "dog" name.

Jude - has this become too popular?

Charlie - husband loves but I just can't seem to get on board? It's nice but never thought it would be my child's name.

Teddy - don't like Edward and don't want to end up with Eddie so would keep as Teddy.

Hugo - have loved for years but had some comments about knowing a dog called this.

Finn / Finley

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randoname · 18/03/2025 19:03

Hotdayinjuly · 16/03/2025 21:53

Could you use Theodore for Teddy? Just give options in adulthood.

This!

KayEmAy · 18/03/2025 18:58

Charlie and Finn :)

Jessieshome · 18/03/2025 16:56

GingerLiberalFeminist · 16/03/2025 21:50

Jude is really popular as is Finley. I like Charles more than Charlie

Our boy name list is
Edwin
Marcus
Christian
Dominic
Jonathan
Timothy
Rohan (hard H)

How lovely to see Jonathan on a list! Such a great name with so many alternatives if wanted.

Really like Dominic too.

Jessieshome · 18/03/2025 16:54

Theresacatinmykitchenwhatamigonnado · 16/03/2025 23:28

Ralph is the name of a penis. Ralphie is dreadful.
Teddy is just not a nice name.
Jude is marmite. I quite like it, but at the same time it's a middle aged woman's name.

Finn is ok.

A penis?!! Seriously? I have never ever hear this! 😂

Jessieshome · 18/03/2025 16:51

Ralph (Ralphie) - Dogs name to me.

Jude - I really really like this but it does get suggested a lot on here, I don't know any in real life, but perhaps that's because they are being born right now..

Charlie - meh, nice but dull and cutesy, in my opinion

Teddy - Awful, this was very fashionable about 10years ish ago, in my world anyway. A few I know sprang up and it's like calling a girl Dolly (which I know is also a name, but I've never met one) Can you imagine having a serious adult relationship with a 'Teddy'? But I know people love it!

Hugo - I like it, prefer Hugh/Huw. Bit of a dog name I suppose. It was uber posh (Harrow, Eton etc.) 20/30+ years ago but that seems to have gone now.

Finn / Finley - quite nice, I know one and he is lovely.

Gloschick · 18/03/2025 16:40

Teddy is too infantile to go on the birth certificate. The other names are fine though.
I'm not a fan on Ralphie. A similar option would be Ranulph, which can be shortened to Ran instead.

Chesticov · 18/03/2025 16:35

Jules?

Yerto · 18/03/2025 16:26

Jude is my favourite, it is more popular now but tbh so are all your names.
I would say Ralph is probably the least common where I am, I like the idea of him being Ralphie when he's young and then Ralph as a more formal name or for him as he gets older.
Charlie is a fine name, Teddy is too nicknamey for me as a given name, I like Finn/Finley and Hugo is a fine name I just can't get on board with it myself.

user1492757084 · 18/03/2025 13:45

I like best, in order:

Charles - Charley
Ralph - no nick name. Ralph sounds like a gentleman.
Hugo - Hugh is also handsome
Finley - Finn.

MirandaBlu · 18/03/2025 07:11

I would pick Hugo, quite happily - but I might also be tempted by the retro classic appeal of Hugh.

urbanbuddha · 18/03/2025 02:25

Jude

VenusClapTrap · 17/03/2025 22:08

I like Jude and Hugo. Dislike the others.

SummerDaysOnTheWay · 17/03/2025 20:46

I would go with Teddy but use Theodore for the long version then he can be Theo too if he likes.

shoopshoopdedoo · 17/03/2025 20:25

Charlie - this would be my pick, I really like it. I’d personally put Charles on the birth certificate, but I don’t think it really matters.

Teddy - every other baby boy I’ve met in the past two years has been Teddy or Freddie, and I like both (only as nicknames) but am a bit sick of them!

Jude and Finley - both seem a bit trendy, in that I don’t know any under 20 and then over the past few years they have become popular.

Ralph and Hugo - seem a bit posh and wet, though I know they are more popular now and probably shaking that association. I prefer Hugh.

Fridayfeeling77 · 17/03/2025 19:57

Absolutely none of them a lot sound very pretentious. Charlie has been done to death. I knew an awful boy called Finlay/Finley.

If I had my arm up my back it would have to be Jude.

LochKatrine · 17/03/2025 19:52

Not Teddy, it's just so incredibly popular, there will be loads at school. I know of six in the last couple of years.
How about Theo?
Joel
Caleb
Nathan
Victor
Leonard
Cedric
Henry

17caterpillars1mouse · 17/03/2025 19:46

Just noticed Finn. I like Finn, not Finley. Finnian is quite cool and also have a soft spot for Fintan if you're looking fir alternatives

17caterpillars1mouse · 17/03/2025 19:45

I like Charlie but clearly its not for you

Of your others I really like Jude but it us so popular and will probably date (I used it in the middle instead), Hugo is nice though again I know a few little Hugo's.

Hate Teddy. I cant imagine wanting to ne called Teddy as an adult, or date a Teddy. I think it sounds ridiculous, sorry. and not a fan of Ralph either, definitely not Ralphie

wafflesmgee · 17/03/2025 18:13

Jude

HugoYorway · 17/03/2025 18:12

Ralph (Ralphie) - don't like. Ralf or Raif?
Jude - not keen. Seems faddy.
Charlie - love it
Teddy - just Teddy is fine but seems faddy
Hugo - trendy
Finn / Finley - Like Finn but Finley is very popular

The dog name in your list is Teddy. I wouldn't worry about it.
Dogs near me are called names like Alfie, Archie, Bella and Ruby.

SorcererGaheris · 17/03/2025 16:53

I think Ralph, Jude and Charlie are all nice names, and I also like Finn.

YourAmberFawn · 17/03/2025 10:15

OurFlagMeansAfternoonTea · 17/03/2025 09:59

I wouldn't give a child a nickname like Charlie or worse, Teddie. They won't always be toddlers and may want an adult name one day.

For the past 25 years at least, Charlie has become very well established as a full name on its own.

I had at least 5 Charlie’s in my year at school - all full name.

If that is your worry (OP) I wouldn’t give too much mind to it. Every Charlie I have ever met (which is actually a lot) has been Charlie on the BC.

MummytoE · 17/03/2025 10:04

Definitely Jude

LadyQuackBeth · 17/03/2025 10:01

There are a lot more dogs called Teddy than Ralph or Hugo, if that is really a concern.

They are nice names, I like Jude, Charlie and Hugh. I only like Hugo in certain accents, so it would depend where you were.

Henry with the NN Hal is traditional/modern twist, as is Christian/Kit.

Gabriel?

OurFlagMeansAfternoonTea · 17/03/2025 09:59

I wouldn't give a child a nickname like Charlie or worse, Teddie. They won't always be toddlers and may want an adult name one day.