Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
TonTonMacoute · 29/08/2025 18:57

I love

Rollo
Robin

Scottish vibe
Geordie
Hector

PS It's interesting how short versions of names become names - Lando is surely short for Orlando (love that name too). I don't think this is new as MIL was named Betty, although it's short for Elizabeth and that was ages ago!

Memberofstaff · 29/08/2025 18:47

Lawrence, nickname Laurie

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 29/08/2025 18:46

Oh and Robert, love the name Robert.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 29/08/2025 18:45

Howard
Sidney
Billy (William)
Roy
Stanley
Adam

Housewife2010 · 29/08/2025 18:37

Astrabees · 29/08/2025 11:16

Laurence, please spell it the classic way. Benedict is another of my favourites.

Actually "Lawrence" is the traditional English spelling. The French spelling "Laurence" became popular due to Laurence Olivier.

fudgesmummy · 29/08/2025 18:31

My 2 little grandsons are called Chester and Hugh.
Never met any others!

Mummabear04 · 29/08/2025 18:01

TheFutureIs · 29/08/2025 11:18

Maybe classic wasn’t the right word, think I meant don’t want anything too outlandish.
Yes I do have Scottish heritage

Oren

CatchTheWind1920 · 29/08/2025 18:00

TheFutureIs · 29/08/2025 11:18

Maybe classic wasn’t the right word, think I meant don’t want anything too outlandish.
Yes I do have Scottish heritage

Lachlan
Colm
Malcolm
Fraser
Ruairaidh

DeliaOwens · 29/08/2025 17:59

Based on older gentlemen at my family church:
Albert
Arnold
Bill
David
Norman
Ralph
Walter

JazbayGrapes · 29/08/2025 17:31

Hadrian

delfttulipvase · 29/08/2025 17:08

Barnaby
Nathaniel
Bruno
Piers
Percy
Toby

BooseysMom · 29/08/2025 16:56

AdaColeman · 29/08/2025 10:55

Cornelius
Inigo
Isambard
Erik
Piers
Reginald
Valentine
Vincent

I love Vincent. I wanted that name for DS.
Angus too.

Reuben is a classic name don't think mentioned yet.

user0177561 · 29/08/2025 16:54

Coby
Jaylan
Huxley
Rico
Everett
Navy
Lachlan
Ari
Romie
Hudson

ginasevern · 29/08/2025 16:47

Christopher
Ian (or Iain)
Adam
Jonathan
Richard
Andrew
Anthony
Terence

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 29/08/2025 16:46

Gregor
Austin
Guy
Edgar

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 29/08/2025 16:44

Barnaby/ Barnabus
Elijah
Gavin
Horatio
Hugh
Hugo
Norman
Rudyard
Sholto

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 29/08/2025 16:42

Christopher

mixedbeans · 29/08/2025 16:41

I love the name John (but I think I'd spell it Jon).

AgentPidge · 29/08/2025 16:37

PanderBare · 29/08/2025 16:24

@AgentPidge Sasha (the girl's name is Sacha)
Sacha is French (m). Sascha is German (m). Sasha os Russian (m)
Sasha (UK) is unisex but usually (f).

Edited

I was thinking of the Russian boy's name. I knew a girl called Sacha (English). So I suppose the OP could use whichever spelling she likes for either sex!

PanderBare · 29/08/2025 16:24

@AgentPidge Sasha (the girl's name is Sacha)
Sacha is French (m). Sascha is German (m). Sasha os Russian (m)
Sasha (UK) is unisex but usually (f).

yousillygoose · 29/08/2025 16:17

TheFutureIs · 29/08/2025 09:32

My current list

Xander
Newton
Emerson
Lando
Monty
Roscoe
Hamish
Murdoch
Indigo
Laurie

Xander is quite popular round where I live.

I also think Lando will start to become quite popular soon, owing to Lando Norris doing pretty well in F1 at the moment.

The same thing happened with Jenson Button. There seemed to be a surge in baby boys being called Jenson!

AgentPidge · 29/08/2025 16:04

Sebastian
Raphael
Sasha (the girl's name is Sacha)
Robin
Thaddeus
Daniel
Kit (nn for Christopher)

Charlieangle · 29/08/2025 16:04

Sebastian
Matthew
Rufus
Tom
Myles
Arthur
Ted
Ernie
Albert

PanderBare · 29/08/2025 16:01

@TheFutureIs Maybe classic wasn’t the right word, I assume that someone has already pointed this out to you.
Newton will be Newt.

lizziebuck · 29/08/2025 15:41

Look in the bible. Ham, Japeth, Noah, there’s hundreds of names barely used…