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Baby names

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

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

OP posts:
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TabloidFootprints · 17/03/2025 09:55

I'm afraid Ralph has the Forever connotations for me and also vomit.
Teddy is my favourite and I wanted DS1 to be that, but he would have been Edward for long
Otherwise, Jude

user2848502016 · 17/03/2025 09:51

I like Finn/Finley best from your list. Also like Jude and Ralph

BoleynMemories13 · 17/03/2025 06:46

Finn and Jude are by far my favourites here. Finley nn Finn is ok, but personally I'd just go for Finn which is a name in it's own right (whereas Finley sounds quite infantile).

Charlie is ok. I think it has stood the test of time as a stand alone name (I hate Charles).

Teddy is everywhere right now and this one doesn't work as well, for me, as a given name. I dislike Eddie too, but I would still use Edward. If you go with Teddy/Ted from the off I do think you can avoid Eddie. Personally, I prefer just Ted to Teddy. As others have said, Theodore is another option to get Teddy. Again, if you use your chosen nickname from the off I don't think Theo is inevitable.

Ralph is not for me (especially Ralphie, which is ridiculously infantile. I can't believe some people use this as a given name these days). I just don't like the sound. The name itself has posh vibes, yet when said aloud it sounds quite rough (to my ears). It's a strange one. I've never understood the appeal.

Hugo is not for me, either. I find this one very private school posh. It's up there with Rupert, Felix and Tobias.

BereftBeyondBelief · 17/03/2025 04:01

Finley Disguised

Hugo First

Rafe is the name of the joint that runs from the arsehole, round the bollocks to the penis.

NormasArse · 17/03/2025 03:21

Jude or Hugo.

I also like Julian and Hugh as less common alternatives.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 17/03/2025 03:12

Love Hugo. Second would be Charlie and then Jude.

DramaAlpaca · 16/03/2025 23:30

I love Finn and Jude.

I don't like any of the others, sorry.

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.

LoudPlumDog · 16/03/2025 23:20

Finley.

MajorCarolDanvers · 16/03/2025 22:52

Finlay is the only one I like

Chesticov · 16/03/2025 22:50

Hugo is my first choice from your list and have you considered Jago?

Love Jonah mentioned upthread too. How about Gus, Theo or Max?

Lleys · 16/03/2025 22:49

You have similar taste in boys names to me, I regret not naming my 4th son Leonard, nn Lenny

ChampagneSuperNova00 · 16/03/2025 22:44

Hugo or Huw. Also like Charlie.

my daughter has a dog name it became apparent that everyone seems to call their dog it (molly) but i still love it

rwalker · 16/03/2025 22:40

Ted

LilyJosephine · 16/03/2025 22:37

I not sure there’s such a thing as “traditional but slightly more modern” - unless you mean older names that have happened to become more trendy/popular recently? In which case I would say Jude and Hugo and possibly Ralph fit that brief, although they arent my taste as I’m usually not keen on trendier names (I’d prefer James or Joel or Hugh instead. I also really dislike the sound of Jude (rude/nude) and Ralph (vomiting) but that’s a personal thing sorry 🤣)

Finley/Finn just feels modern trendy to me, rather than anything traditional but I don’t hate it. Teddy is an adorable diminutive but personally I don’t think many older men would like it on the BC (even if they do go by Ted when older).

Of your list, the only one I quite like is Charlie - while I do prefer Charles, Charlie does still feel quite classic imo as I know a few older men called that too (like similar Harry, its not a diminutive that feels infantile).

You seem drawn to one/two syllable names the most - have you considered Evan, Toby, Louis or Owen? I think they might also fit the brief of traditional but fairly popular (modern).

mathanxiety · 16/03/2025 22:27

I like Charlie, Finn, and Hugo.

I've never come across a dog named Hugo

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 16/03/2025 22:22

Hugo.

Ladamesansmerci · 16/03/2025 22:20

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

Don't worry about popularity, just go with what you love. I actually like them all except Hugo!

MaybeItWasMe · 16/03/2025 22:20

Onlyvisiting · 16/03/2025 22:04

I like Finn /Finley of those. (Or Finnigan)
I'd probably get used to Hugo, it just has associations of drippy posh boys.
Although the vicar of Dibley might be to blame for that 😅
I prefer Hugh.

Theodore is nice, you can call him Teddy but has the option of Theo if he hates it. (I really like theo)

Christopher
Marcus
Arthur
Henry
Benjamin
Jonah

I love all of @Onlyvisiting’s choices. Classic but not overused. Christopher is definitely due a comeback - a really strong, sophisticated name.

Mumofgirls2017 · 16/03/2025 22:20

Teddy if short for Edward or Theodore. Otherwise Ralph or Jude.

MaybeItWasMe · 16/03/2025 22:18

Also Hugo.
Ralph makes me think of Forever by Judy Blume in which he was a key member character! It’s making a comeback (!) on Netflix so might be best avoided.
There are many, many Charlies and Finns/Finlays in every year group at school.
Teddy’s lovely but also a dog name, I think.
Not keen on Jude. Have taught a few and they’ve all been Ralphs dicks.

HappySats · 16/03/2025 22:12

Absolutely love Charlie, Finley and Hugo although biased as i looked after 3 brothers with the names. They are all older now, 1 is an adult the younger 2 are teens. Their names have suited them all their lives.

Onlyvisiting · 16/03/2025 22:04

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

I like Finn /Finley of those. (Or Finnigan)
I'd probably get used to Hugo, it just has associations of drippy posh boys.
Although the vicar of Dibley might be to blame for that 😅
I prefer Hugh.

Theodore is nice, you can call him Teddy but has the option of Theo if he hates it. (I really like theo)

Christopher
Marcus
Arthur
Henry
Benjamin
Jonah

Mamofboys5972 · 16/03/2025 21:57

I'm having a planned section on Tuesday and going for Teddy, Edward on birth certificate. My first son is Henry and I think they go really well. So I would say Teddy or Finn x

MissyB1 · 16/03/2025 21:56

Hugo is good, so is Ralph. Also like pp's suggestion of Rafe.

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