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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

OP posts:
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Beamur · 01/11/2025 10:11

I like it a lot. I think you can have fun with a middle name.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/11/2025 10:11

It’s reminds me of skibbedy toilet

SayLessPan · 01/11/2025 10:10

See my link above, @EleanorReally. People are speaking as if it was invented by the BBC and has never been heard of outside that.

HugoYorway · 01/11/2025 10:09

@softlyfallsthesnow , Zeb Soanes .

EleanorReally · 01/11/2025 10:07

SayLessPan · 01/11/2025 10:07

So no one’s interested in the actual history of the name?

what is the history?

Dollymylove · 01/11/2025 10:07

Gowlett · 01/11/2025 09:56

I mean l love it. But no. Zephan is cool.

Or Zephaniah. The name of one of my great great grandfathers. Cool name 😎

SayLessPan · 01/11/2025 10:07

So no one’s interested in the actual history of the name?

softlyfallsthesnow · 01/11/2025 10:05

I love the idea from a pp that Zebedee is too try hard and then adds the alternative suggestion of Peregrine.
Anyway, the name doesn't seemed to have harmed the broadcaster Zeb Sones, and I presume that's his first name. Middle names can be anything.

BakedBeansMum · 01/11/2025 10:02

Nope! But then it’s my Auntie’s cat’s name!

Gowlett · 01/11/2025 09:56

I mean l love it. But no. Zephan is cool.

StrongLikeMamma · 01/11/2025 09:53

Other ideas:

Orlando
Xavier
Elija
Maximilian
Caspian
Zachariah
Zachary
Malachi
Leander

wandawaves · 01/11/2025 09:52

I have no idea what the magic roundabout is, but Zebedee is a ridiculous name.

It reminds me of the name pronounced Absidee, spelt Abcde. 🙄🙄

ladyamy · 01/11/2025 09:52

No

HugoYorway · 01/11/2025 09:51

@TerrierSlave , read my post again. Smile

luckylavender · 01/11/2025 09:50

I love it

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
Dollymylove · 01/11/2025 09:45

Istanbol · 01/11/2025 08:34

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

Same here. Perhaps Dougal would be a better choice 🤣🤣

PastaAllaNorma · 01/11/2025 09:40

The Big Breakfast repeated the Magic Roundabout in the 90s. I used to risk making myself late so I could watch it before catching the bus.

BunnyLake · 01/11/2025 09:40

PracticalPixie · 01/11/2025 08:59

Not a fan and comes across as different for the sake of being different / a bit try hard.

How about;

Valentine
Malachi
Rafferty
Josiah
Elias ?

Malachi is good.

Leo Malachi sounds nice to me.

EleanorReally · 01/11/2025 09:40

mystepballchange · 01/11/2025 09:20

Oh OK, so no one can call their child a name because you watched a programme with someone who shared that name.

Do you not realise how fucking ridiculous you sound?

Show quote history

i agree, it is Time for Bed!

Mirroronthefloor · 01/11/2025 09:39

Ohpleeeease · 01/11/2025 09:08

The generation who remember The Magic Roundabout will always have that association but those coming after won’t. I’m not sure I care for the name anyway, it’s something about that double ee at the end, a bit twee maybe? If you like biblical, what about Zeke, short for Ezekiel?

edited to say three short one syllable names could be quite cool!

Edited

I am 24 and my mother had me watching old cartoons like magic roundabout. However my first thought was Orthodox Jew/Old Testament prophet name

KnickerlessParsons · 01/11/2025 09:37

Zebediah is better than Zebedee.

user2848502016 · 01/11/2025 09:36

No it’s awful! My first thought was the magic roundabout
How about Zachary instead? Alexander is also nice with Leo

Mirroronthefloor · 01/11/2025 09:35

sounds very ultra Orthodox Jewish. Think outside of that might draw some unnecessary attention but there’s kids these days with names a lot more outlandish so maybe not

CarriMarie · 01/11/2025 09:35

I know a Leo Zachary and think those names go well together.