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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic but rare baby boy names

135 replies

TheFutureIs · 29/08/2025 09:15

I’m a teacher, so when naming a baby I want something unusual but not weird.
I loved Alastair but unfortunately my partner has a cousin named this
Girl names are so much easier!
Any suggestions of similar names?

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user1492757084 · 07/09/2025 01:29

Timothy - Tim
John
Jock
Alistair is handsome, especially if the cousin is a fine man.
Leander
Duncan
Hamish
Angus

Datageneratinguniverse · 07/09/2025 00:10

Named our girl Peregrine, always get so many compliments on the name!
we call her Peri for short

User6761 · 31/08/2025 16:40

boysmuminherts · 31/08/2025 12:31

Raphael nn Rafe
Barnaby
Nathaniel
Dominic
Jasper
Otis
Arlo
Sebastian
Milo
Felix

Some of my favourites

Really like the suggestion of Nathaniel (and like Nathan too). I know a lovely adult Barnaby and the name has really grown on me. Sebastien good too.

If OP's school is anything like my child's then I'm guessing she has taught several Otis, Felix, Arlo, and Milos. They're not rare names for children these days. I've met two sets of young brothers called Arlo and Otis recently. Very 2010s/20s names, and not ones that I think are, or will become, classics.

Silverbirchleaf · 31/08/2025 14:49

midlifemover21 · 31/08/2025 12:38

@TheFutureIs I randomly just met an adult Roscoe on holiday. I thought then what a wonderful name. He was such a calm, fun knowledgeable guy.

Not sure how you would pronounce it but he pronounced his more Ros-cow with a longer sound on the ‘ow’ bit.

I agree, great name, but always makes me think of the sheriff in Dukes of Hazard.

midlifemover21 · 31/08/2025 12:38

@TheFutureIs I randomly just met an adult Roscoe on holiday. I thought then what a wonderful name. He was such a calm, fun knowledgeable guy.

Not sure how you would pronounce it but he pronounced his more Ros-cow with a longer sound on the ‘ow’ bit.

boysmuminherts · 31/08/2025 12:31

Raphael nn Rafe
Barnaby
Nathaniel
Dominic
Jasper
Otis
Arlo
Sebastian
Milo
Felix

Some of my favourites

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 31/08/2025 07:23

Fauntleroy

maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2025 07:05

Alec.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 31/08/2025 06:32

Tedbar
barnaby

comoatoupeira · 31/08/2025 06:31

TheFutureIs · 29/08/2025 09:32

My current list

Xander
Newton
Emerson
Lando
Monty
Roscoe
Hamish
Murdoch
Indigo
Laurie

American!

muddyford · 31/08/2025 06:30

Edwin
Alaric
Richard
Robert

sunnyhoneybumblebee · 31/08/2025 06:25

There is a boy in my sons class called Julian

Silverbirchleaf · 30/08/2025 21:01

Jolostar123 · 30/08/2025 10:14

Buddy
Teddy
Henry
Cruise
Hugo
Winter

Teddy is hardly unusual, with every other baby boy or dog seemingly called this name.

Liss19 · 30/08/2025 20:44

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2025 20:35

My eldest is Max, there aren't many about ( none at his Nursery , one at his Primary , none in secondary or through his 4 University years )

If I want to wind him up I call him Maximillian or Maxx ( as in TKMaxx Grin )

Show quote history

Hes 6 and he gets called a mixture of Maxi, Maximoomoo, Maximus (horse off of tangled) little legs, and when hes in trouble its the full shebang Maximilian!!!! 😆. There is one other older boy called Max at his school, not sure if its just Max or a longer variation. My grandads name was ian so thats the reason we chose Maximilian as the long version 😊

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2025 20:41

Ralph (Lord of the Flies character)
Saul (love this name)
Kirk ( good Scottish name and a nod to Star Trek)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2025 20:35

Liss19 · 30/08/2025 10:10

Alexander is the English version of Alistair. My first born is Alexander and his brothers middle name is Alistair. I liked Atticus but hubby had a colleague with that name who was a complete twit apparently so that was a no from him 🫠. I liked Julian and Dexter, this was while naming our middle son, he ended up being Maximilian Alistair i wanted Alistair to be his first name but now hes here he's definitely a Max 😅 and when he was born on 24/7 we had to laugh and said well Max has got to be his name now. We didnt name him till he came out lol.

My eldest is Max, there aren't many about ( none at his Nursery , one at his Primary , none in secondary or through his 4 University years )

If I want to wind him up I call him Maximillian or Maxx ( as in TKMaxx Grin )

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2025 20:31

I love Hector and Amos

HaughtyAndCold · 30/08/2025 20:25

Richard
Patrick
Jonathan

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 30/08/2025 20:12

Samuel, Seanan, Harris, Oisín

PepperAnne8 · 30/08/2025 11:46

Our little boy is called Felix. Not too common but not crazy out there either. I think it suits all ages too

granthamgrizzler · 30/08/2025 10:48

Edwin / Edgar
Patrick
Adam / Euan / Evan
Neil
Paul
Tristan
Felix

naomisno1fan · 30/08/2025 10:41

Richard
Edgar
Hamish
vincent
Gregor
Graham
Flynn
Malcolm
Stephen
Jasper
Sebastian
Bartholomew
Cedric
Percy
Howard
Bruce
Humphrey
Bertrand
Bernard
Clive
Wallace
Paul
Douglas
Donald
Fergus
Magnus
Augustus
Clarence
Laurence
Leonard
Scott
Barnabas
Simon
Phillip
Cuthbert
Earl
Julien
Julius

willltheybeok · 30/08/2025 10:38

Florian
Caspian
Lysander
Betrand
Pierce
Corin
Christian
Gabriel
Otto
Julian
Amos
Malachi
Rufus
Magnus

Missmoodyminx · 30/08/2025 10:30

Frankie
Eris
Matthew
Stefan

Holldstock1 · 30/08/2025 10:25

Kieran / Ciaran
Connor
Callum
Conal
Campbell
Finn
Keith
Ian / Iain
Bailey
Kevin
Murray
Gregory

Whatever you choose by the time they go to school there will be 3 or 4 with the same name that year! So just choose one you like.

Also if you have more than one child dont choose names starting with the same sound - you'll end up calling the wrong name out!!