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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boys name choices - help!

34 replies

Zeduk · 20/07/2025 13:19

Struggling with name choice, what do people think of:

Arlo
Zach
Zander
Aidan
Kieran
Theo
Sebastian

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BlueBelle7979 · 24/07/2025 17:19

Sebastian is lovely

LoudPlumDog · 24/07/2025 13:54

Sebastian is my favourite!

Calliopespa · 24/07/2025 11:47

DuchessOfNarcissex · 22/07/2025 19:52

Both the first name and surname are quite unusual, and they're not from the same cultures but there is alliteration.

To make up something with the same sort of pattern, but it's nothing like it:
Rio Carew or Caio MacKeith or Taya Patel

I see what you mean!

DuchessOfNarcissex · 22/07/2025 19:52

Both the first name and surname are quite unusual, and they're not from the same cultures but there is alliteration.

To make up something with the same sort of pattern, but it's nothing like it:
Rio Carew or Caio MacKeith or Taya Patel

Calliopespa · 22/07/2025 16:25

DuchessOfNarcissex · 22/07/2025 15:06

Try each one with the surname.
A friend's DC has a name that I wouldn't have chosen, but combined with the surname it's stunning.

now we're all curious ...

DuchessOfNarcissex · 22/07/2025 15:06

Try each one with the surname.
A friend's DC has a name that I wouldn't have chosen, but combined with the surname it's stunning.

LivingTheDreamish · 22/07/2025 05:51

I like Aidan and Sebastian. Also Zach but only if short for Zachary.

Original poster
Zeduk · 21/07/2025 21:26

Thanks all - really helpful insights! Some different views between husband and I, he prefers Arlo (I like it but am worried it will date quite easily) going to discuss further and see what we decide

OP posts:
GabrielaAlmeida · 21/07/2025 21:23

Zeduk · 20/07/2025 13:19

Struggling with name choice, what do people think of:

Arlo
Zach
Zander
Aidan
Kieran
Theo
Sebastian

Hi! My husband and I were looking for names for our baby and found a really cool web app that helped us a lot. It's called Namey – super easy to use!😊

RichPetuniaAgain · 21/07/2025 21:05

Aidan is lovely.

StarlightBlues · 21/07/2025 07:50

Theo is a lovely name but so so popular. If that would put you off I wouldn’t use it.

Arlo is lovely but again quite popular.

I prefer Zachary nn Zach to Zachary on its own but I do like the name.

Kieran is a nice name but I don’t know if it’s a bit dated - most I know are in their 30s.

Like Sebastian, Aidan and Zander.

Limonades · 21/07/2025 07:16

Sebastian is too long. It will inevitably be shortened to Seb/by or Basty, both of which are awful

Aidan is the nicest from your list.

user1492757084 · 21/07/2025 06:47

All too trendy for me, sorry.

LucasBuck · 21/07/2025 00:27

Zack is fab - short, punchy and fun sounding but personally I’d probably spell it this way if it’s not going to be short for Zachary (as Zack is the more popular spelling than Zach as a standalone).

Xander is also great and would be my second choice - again, I’d use this spelling, both because Zander is a fish and because Xander is just more popular (even as a standalone name rather than as an Alexander shortening).

Sebastian is nice but I dislike Seb and I’ve personally never known any who weren’t shortened. Aidan is also lovely - especially if you have Irish links (in England it often gets misspelled as Aiden though). Theo and Arlo are much too trendy sounding for me. Kieran feels a bit dated (90’s) although that may be area dependent.

SaintGermain · 20/07/2025 23:31

Theo is lovely.

Qoopwhooping · 20/07/2025 23:16

Sebastian ❤️

LittleDoveLove · 20/07/2025 23:14

All nice except Aidan for me. I would probably go for Alexander and shorten to Zander rather than just Zander if I went for that though.

StampOnTheGround · 20/07/2025 22:44

Love Zach - although prefer the Zack spelling if not short for Zachary.
Theo is nice but very overused.
I do like Arlo.
Not keen on the others!

Mumofgirls2017 · 20/07/2025 22:08

Zach or Sebastian

DuchessOfNarcissex · 20/07/2025 19:07

Arlo - currently very popular. Will probably date badly.
Zach - currently popular, either as Zachary, Zack, Zac, Zak, Zach etc
Zander - a fish. Xander short for Alexander is better.
Aidan - OK, would think Irish heritage. Slightly tarnished by Jayden, Kayden, Brayden.
Kieran - dated. would think Irish heritage, Ciarán is a better spelling.
Theo - boring and overused.
Sebastian - OK but will be Seb.

@Zeduk , The Darkgreener web site is useful for checking how popular names are: Babies called Theo in England & Wales since 1996

Names being popular might not be an issue but he'll probably be Theo Surname most of the time.

Calliopespa · 20/07/2025 16:05

gotellsomeone · 20/07/2025 15:48

Arlo, Theo - nice but bit teddy bear/dog name
Zach, Sebastian - fine
Zander- nice as a shortening to Alexander and spelt Xander.
Aiden, Kieran - dreadful

My thoughts on these exactly. Kieran just sounds like a variant of Karen to me. Aiden is just a name I don't like - I think the first syllable "Eh?" puts me off.

Sebastian I think is having an identity crisis. It used to be posh and seldom used, but is suddenly very used and is being cried out to young boys in every shopping mall. I'm not sure where it will land.

I also prefer Xander to Zander.

Steelworks · 20/07/2025 15:53

Arlo - very popular recently. Ok name.
Zach - line as shortcut Zachary or Isaac
Zander - short for Alexander. People may spell it Xander.
Aidan - ok,
Kieran - ok
Theo - short for Theodore, quite popular also
Sebastian - ok

gotellsomeone · 20/07/2025 15:48

Arlo, Theo - nice but bit teddy bear/dog name
Zach, Sebastian - fine
Zander- nice as a shortening to Alexander and spelt Xander.
Aiden, Kieran - dreadful

weegiemum · 20/07/2025 15:42

Aidan!
(I have one!)

Weeee · 20/07/2025 15:41

Xander and Sebastian are great names