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Baby names

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Original poster

Stuck for baby boy names, our favourite just got vito’d by my mother!

167 replies

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

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Bigearringsbigsmile · 23/11/2025 10:44

Hugo
Charles

DuchessOfNarcissex · 23/11/2025 10:43

@Viviennemary · 11/11/2025 23:21
I agree that Archer is a bit of a daft name.why not use George as a first name.
Agree. It's a surname and looks like a longer name for Archie because you didn't like Archibald.
Hugo is OK but a bit posh.
It's not. There are lots of them.

Wellnowlookhere · 23/11/2025 10:17

If you go with Archer, rest assured your mother will call him Archie anyway, so make sure you’re prepared to deal
with that, because it might grate after a while. Names are a personal choice. I don’t like Archer, and Archie even less, but that’s just me. I’m not a fan of nicknames as names full stop, but again, personal choice.
If you go for Wilf, call him Wilfred and shorten it to give the kid a choice. Tobie (Toby) to me is absolutely a dogs name, but I like Tobias as a much stronger and more unusual name. Otis is a cats name - sorry. Charlie is up there with the Archie’s and Alfie’s of the world as totally overdone, as is Seb. Those guys are everywhere. I’d spend the next few months looking at other names if you’re not sure, tell absolutely nobody - especially your mother who had her go when she had you so she can butt out, and then practice shouting those names up the stairs at full volume several times a day, as you will do for the next 18 years. That’ll give you a good idea of what you like and don’t like 😁

Carlyove · 23/11/2025 10:02

Viviennemary · 11/11/2025 23:21

I agree that Archer is a bit of a daft name.why not use George as a first name. Its a very nice acceptable name. Dont much like any on your list. Hugo is OK but a bit posh.

Why is it daft?

Carlyove · 23/11/2025 10:01

meltingalways · 21/11/2025 22:01

I had similar with my daughter fern. Now my mum acts like she never said she dislikes it and says it’s lovely. She gets annoyed if I say she didn’t like it 😵‍💫 go with the choice you love. I’m so glad I stuck with fern xx

Omg this!!! 🤣

Carlyove · 23/11/2025 10:00

Please please use Archer you’ll regret it if you don’t!
i think it’s a great name but it doesn’t matter what others think.

my mum was very opinionated on my name choices which massively swayed me but luckily the name we chose for our little girl we never told anyone beforehand my mum would have hated it
when we announced her name I knew it took a while for her to get used to it but she now loves it

just go for it it’s a great name x

meltingalways · 21/11/2025 22:01

I had similar with my daughter fern. Now my mum acts like she never said she dislikes it and says it’s lovely. She gets annoyed if I say she didn’t like it 😵‍💫 go with the choice you love. I’m so glad I stuck with fern xx

Iizzyb · 21/11/2025 22:00

We know an Archer he’s a brilliant kid! Ignore dm and use your name x

ohdearmemummy · 21/11/2025 20:31

Walter

rosegarden95 · 21/11/2025 20:24

Charlie

Marcipix · 19/11/2025 01:35

Archer is great, much better than Archie.
Definitely use the name you want.

WithChips · 18/11/2025 22:54

I like all your names including Archer but Otis is my favourite.

Only thing is I would spell Toby like that and not Tobie

user1492757084 · 12/11/2025 04:40

Apart from Wilf, your names are all quite commonly used.
Hugo is the only full name on your list; your style embraces nick names.
George is a fine second name; it goes with many first names.

My favourites, inspired from your list ..

Hugo George
Sebastian George
Wilbur George
Charles George
Alistair George
Archibald George

MySilentLions · 11/11/2025 23:24

Rosscameasdoody · 08/10/2025 20:57

My step daughter had a baby boy this morning and has called him Freddie.

Congratulations!

Viviennemary · 11/11/2025 23:21

I agree that Archer is a bit of a daft name.why not use George as a first name. Its a very nice acceptable name. Dont much like any on your list. Hugo is OK but a bit posh.

MySilentLions · 11/11/2025 23:17

CuckooPond · 08/10/2025 08:49

OP, if you’re old enough to have a baby, you’re old enough to recognise that your mother doesn’t get a veto on what you call your baby.

Yup!

MySilentLions · 11/11/2025 23:12

SandrenaIsMyBloodType · 08/10/2025 07:56

I think Otis is really cool.
I also think it’s very important that your mother understands that she doesn’t get a vote. Not in the naming of your child and not in any of the other millions of parenting decisions you will make over the next 20 years. She can offer advice or an opinion, if you ask for it but, even if you asked for it, you aren’t obliged to take it. Get used to saying “thanks for the advice mum but actually we’re going to…..”

This this a hundred times this. Dont start out letting her think that she rules your parenting decisions.
Use the name you love.
You may well have to advocate for your child a LOT in life, so start now by being strong and using the name YOU and your partner want.

EmotionallyWeird · 11/11/2025 22:33

Archer is not really my style but if anything could make me choose it, it would be someone telling me I couldn't. It is none of your mum's business what names you choose and I really hope you don't let her comment influence your decision. For what it's worth, I like Hugo and Charlie from your list - but I want you to choose Archer now, just to show you won't be pushed around.

TheLivelyRose · 11/11/2025 10:57

Sebastian.

Seb is such a cool name.

dhfoody47 · 11/11/2025 09:20

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

Love all your names, particularly Wlif 😊 your baby, your choice - my son is Harvey 💙

Go1we · 09/10/2025 20:26

My boy a friend called Acer which is lovely

SorcererGaheris · 09/10/2025 12:36

I think if you really want Archer, then you should use it.

Personally, I don't think it goes very well with the middle name George, I think George Archer sounds better off the tongue, but that's just me.

I like Charlie the most from your list.

If you're determined to use a different name, then I'd suggest:

Arthur
Peter
Edmund
Robin
Julian
Douglas
Dennis

LilacReader · 09/10/2025 12:26

We purposely didn't tell anyone our names as I didn't want anyone to dismiss them before baby was born. My MIL told us after having one of our sons that she didn't like 'Oscar' when she first heard the name but after talking to a friend who said her daughter was going to call her baby that if she had a boy and a few others of her friends who loved it, she soon changed her tune. So, can only say, please don't tell ANYONE until it's too late!!

ImogenBrocklehurst · 09/10/2025 10:48

Got nothing to do with your mother. Your baby, your choice.

HRchatter · 09/10/2025 09:48

Househassles · 08/10/2025 18:59

Archer is certainly "a real name". Archie, arguably, is a diminutive - she'd sound a little less unreasonable if she were arguing it the other way around - e.g., use Archer, not Archie. But yeah: not her baby, not her veto. Regardless of what you decide - Archer or something else - stop talking to her about the subject.

How about Asher?

As in a brimful of Asher on the 45 ….

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