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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bramwell, Wilfred, Digby or Atticus (yes I know…)

195 replies

Lelongducanal · 23/06/2025 09:26

Aware all of these are a bit/a lot out there. Our elder DS is called Nathaniel and tbh I wish I’d saved his middle name for no 2 (Rowan) but too late now!

Digby (Diggy for short) - dh loves, I’m not sure
Bramwell (Bram) - I love, dh not sure, can anyone think of a good alternative long name that shortens to Bram?!
Atticus (Attie) - we both like but worry about associations to the character post Go Set a Watchman
Wilfred (Wilf but obvs he has the option of Fred if he chooses) - DH loves, I’m not sure and don’t like the Boris Johnson connection

Find boys names so hard! Any views? Alternatives which are unusual but less marmite?

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Zov · 23/06/2025 10:56

Wilfred. Not keen on the others. Atticus is awful!

IleftmybaginNewportPagnell · 23/06/2025 10:53

Lelongducanal · 23/06/2025 10:18

This is very interesting! I thought they might raise some strong opinions. Helpful to hear that overly biblical concern is not really a thing, and also good point that none of them ‘go’ with Nathaniel/Nate. Didn’t know about the Aldi/Bramwell connection.

Middle name likely to be Robin or James (family names, I like Robin tbh but dh not keen as first name).

Thanks to all those who made some suggestions, I like:
Isaac
Cassian
Benjamin but used a lot in the family
Still like Atticus but someone made a good point on potential faddiness.

It’s funny that Digby is a dog name to so many ppl - to us the association was dashing fighter pilot 😅

Ah it’s a great film, Digby the Biggest Dog in the World but I’m much older than you 😂. The boy I wish I’d called Gabriel is actually a Benjamin - I tried for so long to keep to that or Benji but it was only myself and lovely elderly Jewish auntie who stuck with Benji. When he went to school, he asked another boy his name “Ben”, his reply - “you can’t be, I’m Ben” they were friends all through school but Ben2’s mum only told me this recently 😂

Laura931 · 23/06/2025 10:53

I know brothers where the middle name of DS1 is DS2’s first name. I think it’s nice of they share a name…

TheCurious0range · 23/06/2025 10:51

Isn't Bramwell the Aldi brand for condiments and tinned things? Eg Bramwell beans?
From your list I like Wilfred/wilf the best

shellyleppard · 23/06/2025 10:49

Atticus makes me think of to kill a mockingbird character

rainandtrains · 23/06/2025 10:48

Boys names are hard!

Slightly less common names from my list which might suit your vibe:

Walter
Kit
Jethro
Remy
Woody
Aidan
Devon

Karatema · 23/06/2025 10:47

Lelongducanal · 23/06/2025 09:39

Interesting! Hadn’t thought of that. I think it might be too late as we do call him ‘Nathaniel Rowan’ when we’re emphasising a point, so it is sort of in use.

Show quote history

All parents use children’s full names when making a point so Nathaniel Rowan or Rowan Wilfred is, for example, fine. The children will learn that when Mummy uses Nathaniel, as the starter, rather than Nate - he!s to listen and little Rowan is Scot free 😂

LittlleMy · 23/06/2025 10:42

@Lelongducanal i like Asa and Silas.

WaltzingWaters · 23/06/2025 10:41

Digby seems a bit of a dogs name.

Bramwell makes me think of Bramwell Brown, from the old children’s stories Old Bear. I mean, he was a lovely bear. Not keen on Abraham. But not sure about Bram in general anyway.

I think Atticus/Attie is the best name there.

reinforcementz · 23/06/2025 10:37

Hamish?

Polistock · 23/06/2025 10:35

I think that you seem to find your own options a little bit cringey is maybe a sign that none of them are quite the right name for you!

Haven't read the full thread but I think Jude, Gabriel, Benjamin, Reuben, Zach are more in the Nathaniel family than Bramwell and Atticus.

softlyfallsthesnow · 23/06/2025 10:34

SofaFromRomania · 23/06/2025 10:28

Putting Isambard (Sam) and Laurence (Larry) here too as names of the siblings in real life of names you've mentioned.

Why call a child Isambard and then go with Sam? It's hardly the usual full name, so lifelong explanations etc.
I can see why you wouldn't want to be Isambard but, all the same...

IleftmybaginNewportPagnell · 23/06/2025 10:34

Is your surname Stoker? Also Digby will always be the biggest dog in the world. How about Gabriel? I regret not calling my youngest that as I love Gabe.

girljulian · 23/06/2025 10:29

Bbq1 · 23/06/2025 10:25

Abraham isn't shortened tio Bram. It's Abe.

Show quote history

It can be Bram, as in Bram Stoker.

softlyfallsthesnow · 23/06/2025 10:29

TheCountessofLocksley · 23/06/2025 10:23

@softlyfallsthesnowbut hopefully polite enough to stay quiet 😂

Eyelids are silentWink

Mischance · 23/06/2025 10:29

Just call him Rowan if that is what you really like. The fact that it is your other son's middle name is neither here no there.

harrietm87 · 23/06/2025 10:29

Bbq1 · 23/06/2025 10:25

Abraham isn't shortened tio Bram. It's Abe.

Show quote history

Bram Stoker (who wrote Dracula) was Abraham. It’s a classic shortening.

Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 23/06/2025 10:28

If you like Digby what about Douglas, Dougie for short?

Limoncellotape · 23/06/2025 10:28

I don't hate hate those names. I'm just not convinced they're the same vibe as Nathaniel really.

Wilfred is the nicest I think but it also a trendy name. Atticus whilst not common just really does also feel rather "of the moment" somehow. But is not a bad name at all, if you like it. Bram is quite cool but less so Bramwell or Abraham. I can't really get behind Digby, sorry. Barnaby is a nicer alternative.

Have you thought about Christopher (Kit), Nicholas (Nick or Cole), Benjamin, Alexander (many options), Edward, Laurence (Laurie, Ren)? These all feel like classics more similar to Nathaniel without giving strong biblical vibes which you seem to want to avoid. (Personally though, I think Nathaniel and Zachary is great and not too biblical at all).

If you wanted something more out there then a few other names which spring to mind are Jasper, Casper, Tristan, Evander (Van).

Edit: I'm going to suggest Rafael and Gabriel as well.

Also thumbs up for PP's previous suggestion of Isambard (Sam).

SofaFromRomania · 23/06/2025 10:28

Putting Isambard (Sam) and Laurence (Larry) here too as names of the siblings in real life of names you've mentioned.

girljulian · 23/06/2025 10:28

I love Atticus. Wilfred and Digby...nah. Bramwell could be cool but it does make me think of Branwell Bronte, who was a bit of a nutter.

thecatneuterer · 23/06/2025 10:27

Is Bramwell a name? Branwell is a (weird) name, made famous by the dissolute brother of the Brontë sisters. If I were to hear of a Bramwell I'd assume the parents had vaguely heard of Branwell but had got it wrong.

MirandaBlu · 23/06/2025 10:26

Abram - or at a stretch even Avram - feels a bit more modern than Abraham. I would consider using just Bram, though.

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 23/06/2025 10:26

I like the name Herbert. I also remember loving the name Humbert, who was the main character in a story book that I had as a child... then, as an adult, I heard of Nabokov and rather went off the name.

Bbq1 · 23/06/2025 10:25

Lelongducanal · 23/06/2025 09:30

Nathaniel and Abraham feels a bit heavily biblical… but I guess Nate and Bram less so.

Abraham isn't shortened tio Bram. It's Abe.

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