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Baby names

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Original poster

Hector or Edmund?

115 replies

Tessa23 · 14/05/2025 00:00

Hector or Edmund? Thoughts appreciated! neither are my top 5 but they are where my DH and I sort of cross over …

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Topseyt123 · 20/01/2026 03:27

Edmund for me. Prefer Edward though.

Hectoring means loudly lecturing/bullying, so for that reason I wouldn't use Hector.

LivingTheDreamish · 20/01/2026 03:20

St. John???? Oh dear OP.

I like both Hector and Edmund (nn Ned). Sometimes the name is a compromise but it grows on you. They are both good names.

MatildaRani · 20/01/2026 01:56

Hector brings to mind Hannibal Lecter. Edmund is meh.

CurlewKate · 20/01/2026 01:27

I’d go for one of the many names that can be shortened to Ed or Ned. Better to have the possibility of a social class neutral name, IMHO. Can’t think of anything you can do with Hector….

Giraffehaver · 19/01/2026 22:47

I much prefer Edwin to Edmund so I'd chose that over Hector but Hector over Edmund

ncghghgh · 19/01/2026 17:04

PurpleChrayn · 14/05/2025 08:37

Neither! Unless you’re an 18th-century noble family in Norfolk.

🤣

Agree, neither.

dailyconniptions · 19/01/2026 17:03

Hector is an extremely ugly name im afraid. Edmund is a bit better.

midlifeattheoasis · 19/01/2026 17:01

Neither

Alcoholrecovery · 19/01/2026 16:02

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:30

Just noticed this is a zombie thread - which is always awkward with names once the child is born ...😬

Haha I didn’t notice that!

Alcoholrecovery · 19/01/2026 16:00

Hector is my number one boys name choice. Hopefully one day I’ll get to use it when I finally get a puppy.

it does also make me think of the verb but I think it’s a cool enough name to overlook that. Hector’s House and Morrissey are why I love it so much.

Reddelilah · 19/01/2026 15:58

Heck Shock

Emanwenym · 19/01/2026 15:56

It will be Hec.

CatsSleepFatandWalkThin · 19/01/2026 12:38

Both great names. I think Hector is best as unlikely to be shortened.

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:36

Simplelifeday · 19/01/2026 12:32

Ugh neither. Hector is a meat headed bully and Edmund sounds like a wet lettuce.
Sorry OP!

Actually I know some rather bookish Hectors and to me Edmund sounds rather manly, being tied to all those "protector" or "guardian" name meanings.

It goes to show how associations vary.

Simplelifeday · 19/01/2026 12:32

Ugh neither. Hector is a meat headed bully and Edmund sounds like a wet lettuce.
Sorry OP!

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:30

Just noticed this is a zombie thread - which is always awkward with names once the child is born ...😬

CrotchetyQuaver · 19/01/2026 12:26

FluffykinsTheFerociousFeralFelineFury · 16/06/2025 13:38

There should be a law against dogs having people names, or vice versa.

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Did you never see the kids programme about a dog and his kennel called Hector's House? It's very old, it was around over 50 years ago when I was little.

Hector is considered more of a dogs name because of that childhood association for many people!

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:23

Tessa23 · 14/05/2025 10:24

well I favour : james, Charles, Benedict, Sebastian, jasper.
dh favours: St John, clement, Cecil, Hector. Horatio

I know I’m right. But that’s marriage…

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I love Benedict, and like to see Charles being used in lieu of the ever more ubiquitous Charlie. James is great, though unexciting: I think Benedict James is a lovely combination.

I'm afraid I'm with your DH on Jasper and Sebastian. I used to like Sebastian when it was a good old Catholic name (such as the Flytes in Brideshead) and wasn't all that often heard. But it has undergone a huge vibe shift in the last 20 years or so, I think probably after that Cruel Intentions movie, then maybe the driver Sebastian Vettel. I hear it being screeched in supermarkets, malls and carparks everywhere and I just don't think it is the name it once was,

Jasper always sounds "MC but trying to be UC" to me. It's the kind of Fulham/ red trousers of names.

I rather like both Hector and Horatio from DH's list, though a Cecil can only ever be a total drip, so I'm saying neither of you wins hands down.

CrotchetyQuaver · 19/01/2026 12:22

Edmund wins for me, we have a dog called Hector
or Edwin? Ed, Ted kind of diminutives if needed which I think are far better than Hec or Heccy

Noideawhatiam · 19/01/2026 12:17

I much prefer Edmund.
I know a baby Cedric which has really grown on me.
Other suggestions Laurence or Douglas.

user1492757084 · 19/01/2026 12:13

Both fine names.

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:11

Reddelilah · 16/06/2025 13:04

Ted as in Tedmund 🤔😂?

I would think that Ed is most likely shortening!

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Ted is a classic short form for Edward, so not a huge stretch for Edmund.

Calliopespa · 19/01/2026 12:09

I know some lovely Hectors, and I like the very old English names like Edmund and Alfred.

Can I suggest Harold as a middle ground between the two - Harry for short? Its one of my favourite boy names at present. Really underused.

GingerFox2021 · 19/01/2026 09:33

I like both a lot!!
What name did you choose in the end @Tessa23 ?

MinnieMountain · 16/06/2025 15:48

FluffykinsTheFerociousFeralFelineFury · 16/06/2025 13:38

There should be a law against dogs having people names, or vice versa.

Show quote history

Agreed. DH’s aunt is British but lives in Norway. Her vet thought she was weird for giving her dog a human name.

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