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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sebastian or Samuel?

64 replies

Georgia324 · 16/09/2025 21:58

Struggling for a name for a sibling for our 4yo son Alexander. We have narrowed to Sebastian (nn Seb/Sebby) or Samuel (nn Sam), or potentially Oliver (though it’s v popular). Thoughts? I’m worried Sebastian is a bit pretentious and we can’t carry it off. I love Sam but I don’t love Samuel. Thanks!

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mathanxiety · 17/09/2025 02:36

I greatly prefer Samuel. I've never known one who ever used the full name, but I'd put it on the BC.

Seb always makes me think 'sebaceous', and the full name Sebastian seems quite harsh to my ears.

LivingTheDreamish · 17/09/2025 02:31

Do you truly prefer Sebastian and are being put off by your Dad?

user1492757084 · 17/09/2025 02:26

Alexander and Samuel sound handsome.
Alex and Sam.

Original poster
Georgia324 · 16/09/2025 23:10

All very helpful comments, thank you! I guess we can’t go wrong so we’ll test both out over the coming days (DS2 is 8 days old and registration is 2 weeks today). Annoyingly I told my step-mum we were favouring Sebastian and apparently my dad hates it. I know that doesn’t matter but I am still under his clutches somehow & never want to disappoint him (though continuously do).

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Calliopespa · 16/09/2025 23:05

Samuel definitely.

Sebastian used to be unusual but has been picked up by a while new cohort in recent years (and not all elegant as has been suggested above) and is being used here, there and everywhere. Lots of Sebs and Bastians being hollered at the park.

Samuel is classic and timeless.

LivingTheDreamish · 16/09/2025 22:46

You can't go wrong with either Sebastian or Samuel in my opinion, although I personally prefer the friendlier Samuel/Sam. If you don't love Samuel (for nn Sam) about Samson?

Emanwenym · 16/09/2025 22:22

Sam

4Tornot4T · 16/09/2025 22:21

I love Sebastian with nn Seb and it sounds great with Alexander which is my absolute favourite boys name. Both good strong names. I'm not so keen on Samuel or Sam personally.

SkaneTos · 16/09/2025 22:18

Both Sebastian and Samuel are great names!

I actually know brothers with the names Alexander and Sebastian.

ApricotCheesecake · 16/09/2025 22:14

Sebastian (Seb) - love it.

OopsieeDaisy · 16/09/2025 22:14

I really like both although I’m not personally a fan of Sebby (love Seb!). I also think you can get away with Sam as a standalone name rather than being short for Samuel - probably because I know a couple - I am usually someone who would avoid ‘nicknames’ as names.

Alexandrine · 16/09/2025 22:13

Difficult - I feel the same way about loving friendly sounding Sam but being less bothered for Samuel (although I don’t dislike it). I love Alexander btw.

However I think most multi syllable boys names seem to get shortened, at least once they hit senior school age (and it continues into adulthood). And I much prefer Sam to Seb or Olly.

But I don’t think you have to worry about Sebastian being pretentious (it’s fairly popular across economic groups now) and equally Oliver isn’t that popular if you consider the wide spread of names being used - in fact Oliver (and names like Alexander, Samuel etc) actually stand out more now imo as most of the young boys I know have nickname-style names ending in “ie/y” or short names ending in “o”. Weirdly I do know a few young Seb’s though (must be an area thing) - but only one Olly and one Sam.

Moreteaandchocolate · 16/09/2025 22:07

I love them both, two of my favourite names. I’d pick Sebastian as I love Seb, it’s a very cool nn, and hits that sweet spot of being familiar but not overused.

Bloodyscarymary · 16/09/2025 22:04

I think Sebastian and Alexander are lovely together and both have the same level of gravitas and masculine elegance. To me Samuel is much softer and doesn’t quite match Alexander in energy? I don’t think Sebastian is pretentious, especially if you feel you can pull of Alexander, which is equally pretentious given its history of emperors!