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Baby names

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

Original poster

Zebedee

204 replies

dyma · 01/11/2025 08:31

Yea or nay as a middle name for Leo?

Looking for something a bit unusual to balance out a short popular first name. Love Zebedee but is it too much?

Family names not an option. Feel free to suggest other ideas (3 syllables or more ideally as surname is also short). TIA

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ArtfulDenimSheep · 01/11/2025 20:37

Uhohuho · 01/11/2025 08:37

Zebulon? French version of Zebedee?

I love Caspian but you could also go for Sebastian.

Like Zebulon it's really unusual and much better than Zebedee imo

Ladygodalmighty · 01/11/2025 20:28

Zebulon if you must have a "Z" or Gabriel, Bartholomew, Hercules, Nathaniel, Romeo, Valentine all 3 syllables?

BlackBeltInOrigami · 01/11/2025 20:12

Vicar: Do you, Leo Zebeedee, take Jane Mary’. No, please don’t do this to your son. Call him Leo Zeb, or Leo Zach/Zachary. Don’t label him with that moniker, middle name or not.

Firsttimebabymummy · 01/11/2025 20:11

I don't dislike it, but couldn't use it myself.

How about Leo Sullivan?

Gillyyy · 01/11/2025 19:58

Love it! I know a little Zebedee who goes by Zeb.

Leo Zebedee is cute but if it was me I’d go for Zebedee Leo! I know that’s not what you asked though!

Also, I think the idea of coming across like you haven’t tried too hard is strange, of course your child's name should be considered and an inspired choice! Or just name them whatever is in the top ten!

Leedsfan247 · 01/11/2025 19:22

Boooooooooooing

Lovetoplan2 · 01/11/2025 19:20

Poor child!

YDBear · 01/11/2025 18:59

Zebedee Tring—wasn’t he the road mender in The Archers back in the 60s?

sharkstale · 01/11/2025 18:59

dyma · 01/11/2025 09:47

Thanks for all the thoughts so far. It definitely seems to divide the crowd.

Just to stress in case some people missed it: this would be a MIDDLE name for an already decided first name (Leo). We know the first name is popular but it has been chosen for lots of good reasons and we love it. Just after something a bit more interesting than the usual James, Alexander, etc. to pair with it.

I don't care about the Magic Roundabout association and don't think he is likely to be teased over a middle name anyway. But I'm a bit worried it comes across really try-hard/OTT as some PPs have said.

My brother was teased for his middle name. As his sister, I also teased him when we were kids (siblings, eh). So unless you plan on keeping it hidden (in which case, why use it?), it can definitely happen. And his wasn't as silly sounding as Zebedee.

I love pp's suggestion of using Zachary.

AnAudacityofinlaws · 01/11/2025 18:40

Needspaceforlego · 01/11/2025 09:17

Op how aboyt Dylon Zebedee or Dougal Zebedee Leo is a bit boring.

And go the full Magic Roundabout?

PurpleFlower1983 · 01/11/2025 18:35

It’s just a bit silly isn’t it?

embolass · 01/11/2025 18:32

Heard it all now 🤦🏻‍♀️

HugoYorway · 01/11/2025 18:32

Zebulon is a different name,
Zebedee and Zebediah are different forms of the same name.

InterestedDad37 · 01/11/2025 18:29

Eric 😄

corlan · 01/11/2025 18:27

I like the name Zebedee and Zeb for short. In the same vein you have Zebulon - I think it was Grandpa's name in The Waltons.

Speckly · 01/11/2025 18:25

I think it’s short for Zebediah. Why not use that?

HugoYorway · 01/11/2025 18:24

@CeffylCoch , it was a joke.

Mangetoutmangetouti · 01/11/2025 18:23

Zeb is cool , if it’s a middle name I don’t think children of the future will take any notice and none of them will remember the magic roundabout unless it becomes fashionable again.
in which case there will be loads of kids called zebedee

Mumoftwoandcats · 01/11/2025 18:18

Istanbol · 01/11/2025 08:34

No. I’m old enough to remember the Magic Roundabout

This. It’s a no from me

Mydadsbirthday · 01/11/2025 18:14

Time for bed said Zebedee

Well before my time and even I think of the magic roundabout!

Lallie87 · 01/11/2025 18:12

I worked with a guy about 25 years ago who had a little boy named Zebedee. They used to call him Zeb or Zebby for short.
It’s a Bible name - Zebedee was the father of the disciples James and John, so it’s been around a lot longer as a name than the Magic Roundabout!
If you like it, go for it - you can always give him a more traditional middle name.

CeffylCoch · 01/11/2025 18:06

HugoYorway · 01/11/2025 08:50

Nobody under the age of 60 will have heard of Magic Roundabout and the kids of today won't bully because of a name.
I know this because I'm a teacher and a mother, and my children are called Splodge, Biscuit amd Brunch. They've never been teased.

I'm 49 and remember it.. No to the name though

HarryGrotter · 01/11/2025 17:59

I think it depends on surname as you don’t want his initials to spell something unfortunate! For instance I wanted to call DS1 George Oliver, but our surname begins with a B so he’d have been GOB!

mathanxiety · 01/11/2025 17:04

I think the Zebedee/ skibidi reference upthread is relevant. The Magic Roundabout not so much.

If you want something unusual to pair with the lovely Leo, there are some great suggestions upthread. I really like Zephaniah.
Zacchaeus
Jeremiah
Nicodemus
Nathaniel
Gideon
Isaiah
Matthias
Solomon
Elijah
Ephraim
Simeon

Snugglemonkey · 01/11/2025 16:41

I like it. More than I like Leo. I would make Leo the middle name.