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Baby names

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

Original poster

Wilf or Frank?

62 replies

Palmleaf67 · 01/04/2025 09:52

Wilf would be Wilfred on Bc but referred to as Wilf day to day.

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PumpkinScarf · 03/04/2025 21:11

I love Wilfred! Gives the option of Freddie too

Emanwenym · 03/04/2025 19:26

Frilfwank?

Calliopespa · 03/04/2025 17:55

If you can’t choose you could make a melange: Filf or Wa..

LlynTegid · 03/04/2025 17:49

Frank of the two.
The person who mentioned Wilf rhyming with Milf and others makes a good point.

Mudkipper · 03/04/2025 17:45

Frank, but I'd call him Francis and shorten to Frank.

Wilf is an old man name to me.

MyKingdomForACat · 03/04/2025 15:03

My grandson is going to be Frank. It’s a nice name x

Emanwenym · 03/04/2025 14:59

@Oldandcobwebby , and what are the chances of little Wilf or Frank becoming a HCJ or the Poet Laureate?

How many of the names are 'U'?
List of High Court judges of England and Wales - Wikipedia
Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

Oldandcobwebby · 03/04/2025 14:46

Wilf(red) is fine by me, but, if you go for the alternative, why not use Francis on the birth certificate and then Frank as the diminutive? When he becomes a high court judge or the poet laureate, Frank may seem a little non-U.

Bluelavenders · 03/04/2025 14:22

Both are awful

DramaAlpaca · 01/04/2025 23:24

Strongly dislike both, sorry.

smallsilvercloud · 01/04/2025 23:22

Wilf

LadyGAgain · 01/04/2025 23:22

Wilf. Frank is wet.

Calliopespa · 01/04/2025 23:06

SallyD00lally · 01/04/2025 22:54

True

But then Wilf makes me think of a wilting lettuce for some inexplicable reason?! 😳🤣

Show quote history

If you straighten the f it looks like a t.

But I like Wilf. It has character. Maybe wouldn’t it choose myself but then I’m unadventurous with names.

DoNoTakeNo · 01/04/2025 23:01

Not a fan of either tbh. There are so many lovely traditional names for boys out there - many 100s on MN - perhaps you could choose something from there??

Calliopespa · 01/04/2025 22:56

… of course Marjorie is probably from the Taylor Swift song but it’s funny how something that random can “ re-issue” a name to a new generation.

In my day it was just a “see-saw” nursery rhyme!

SallyD00lally · 01/04/2025 22:54

RightOnTheEdge · 01/04/2025 22:53

I think Wilf.
Frank is an ugly name.
It just makes me think of Frank Spencer and Frank Butcher.

True

But then Wilf makes me think of a wilting lettuce for some inexplicable reason?! 😳🤣

RightOnTheEdge · 01/04/2025 22:53

I think Wilf.
Frank is an ugly name.
It just makes me think of Frank Spencer and Frank Butcher.

Calliopespa · 01/04/2025 22:52

Uricon2 · 01/04/2025 22:47

Wilfred think of Wilfred Owen. Frank my WW2 action man FIL, so both positive. Frankly (sorry) I'd go for Francis if you go for the second, more options.

It does make me smile because 20 years ago, both would have been considered abhorrent, I love the name resurgences.

It’s funny how names cycle. I met a little Marjorie the other day and whereas I always thought it was an old lady name, it was fresh and sweet on her.

SallyD00lally · 01/04/2025 22:52

Wilf is a dreadful name.

Frank isn't too bad although it's very popular in my local area.

Uricon2 · 01/04/2025 22:47

Wilfred think of Wilfred Owen. Frank my WW2 action man FIL, so both positive. Frankly (sorry) I'd go for Francis if you go for the second, more options.

It does make me smile because 20 years ago, both would have been considered abhorrent, I love the name resurgences.

morbidlyabeast · 01/04/2025 22:46

Frank. Really don’t like Wilf, it’s one of those names that has come back in fashion in recent years and is everywhere. A bit like Stanley. Wilf sounds a bit wet to me whereas Frank is a good, solid timeless name.

LilyJosephine · 01/04/2025 22:42

Wilfred nn Wilf. Lovely name, glad it’s come back into fashion again (like similar Alfred). It has quite elegant retro vibes.

Nothing wrong as such with Frank, but despite both being names from a similar era, Frank still sounds much more “old man” to me.

Calliopespa · 01/04/2025 22:37

HoldingTheDoor · 01/04/2025 22:31

Neither but Wilfred is the least worst. Frank has to be one of the ugliest names ever.

No need to be quite so “frank” about it! 🤣

Luzina · 01/04/2025 22:35

Neither but Wilf is awful

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 01/04/2025 22:32

Wilfred's okay, I prefer Fred to Wilf, it's a bit wet-sounding.
Francis is nice, better than just Frank as a given name.