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Baby names

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

Boy names both classic yet not too common?

117 replies

User3056 · 27/11/2025 00:02

Wondering if anyone can advise? I’m desperate for our soon to be ds to have a relatively traditional/classic name and yet my husband would like something that is not popular as he so likes having a unique name himself.. so we are coming at it from completely different perspectives. If I had total free rein I would love an Oliver or Theo and he would probably like Forest or Bodhi.

Our current list is Nicholas(Nico), Raphael(Rafe), Christopher(Kit) or Joseph(Joey). I’ve obviously looked at ONS data for these to see their popularity but can anyone tell me if these names are particularly common or names they hear regularly/have many of in their baby groups etc, as would like to find a good compromise with dh.

OP posts:
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Seashor · 07/05/2026 20:16

Clement or Anselm

Enko · 03/05/2026 08:41

Congratulations

weatherthorp · 03/05/2026 08:36

User3056 · 01/05/2026 22:07

We ended up going with Dominic thanks to your, and one other poster’s suggestion, thanks so much - we love it!

Congratulations! A beautiful name. Welcome to the world, Dominic.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/05/2026 08:08

Wilfred Alfred alisdair malcome Benjamin /benji

bridgetreilly · 01/05/2026 23:46

ETA Should have read to the end of the thread. Congrats, OP!

User3056 · 01/05/2026 22:07

Lampzade · 30/11/2025 05:03

From your list Nicholas Christopher from your list
Raphael is lovely too
Joseph is a beautiful name but has always been popular
What about Dominic or Gabriel?

Edited

We ended up going with Dominic thanks to your, and one other poster’s suggestion, thanks so much - we love it!

OP posts:
User3056 · 01/05/2026 22:07

weatherthorp · 27/11/2025 10:46

I really like your shortlist, especially Christopher/Kit and Joseph which were top of my list too. Out of the names you mentioned, Bodhi is by far the one I've heard most often at baby groups. Also a couple of Olivers and Theos, and one Raphael.

I lean towards classic names so am biased, but I find that non-traditional names stick out more so you wouldn't bat an eyelid at meeting your third Oliver of the day but you would at your third Forest. Which makes them feel more 'popular' if that makes sense?

Other possible names: Samuel, Edward/Edmund/Edwin, Dominic, Robin, Hamish, Elias, Isaac, Zachary, Joel, Miles.

We ended up going with Dominic thanks to your, and one other poster’s suggestion, thanks so much - we love it!

OP posts:
Maraudingmarauders · 30/11/2025 21:26

KilliMonjaro · 29/11/2025 06:35

Roger? We’re not naming a middle aged plumber here - it’s a baby! 🤣

Someone’s got to repopulate the plumber population!
(I love Roger!)

HatStickBoots · 30/11/2025 09:12

I used to know a fellow student named Lloyd, which I thought was an attractive, unusual name.

WeAreNotOk · 30/11/2025 05:04

Byron - classic, defo not a common name usage.

Lampzade · 30/11/2025 05:03

From your list Nicholas Christopher from your list
Raphael is lovely too
Joseph is a beautiful name but has always been popular
What about Dominic or Gabriel?

HopSpringsEternal · 30/11/2025 04:10

Makingpeace · 29/11/2025 00:05

Good job it's not your thread then! Although I'm intrigued what the association is for you that generates such a negative association to the name. Didn't you ever read Charlotte's Web?

I don't think many men would aspire to be a little piglet!

staybyyou · 29/11/2025 23:07

Joel
Ralph
Daniel
Jasper
Rufus

Calliopespa · 29/11/2025 22:35

TheBirdintheCave · 29/11/2025 22:30

It’s the Irish and French spelling (I think?). My Irish great granddad was Edmond and went by Ned :)

I like Ned too.

TheBirdintheCave · 29/11/2025 22:30

Calliopespa · 28/11/2025 22:51

I like Edmond with an O

It’s the Irish and French spelling (I think?). My Irish great granddad was Edmond and went by Ned :)

Zitroneneis · 29/11/2025 11:24

gerispringer · 29/11/2025 08:46

Richard
Robert
James
Alexander
Francis
Mark/ Marco

James and Alex(ander) are very common.

Marco is lovely!

gerispringer · 29/11/2025 08:46

Richard
Robert
James
Alexander
Francis
Mark/ Marco

Stopthatplease · 29/11/2025 08:32

Douglas
Willoughby
Reginald
Tristram
Benedict
Richard
Edmund
Edgar
Ivor
I know a raffie, kit and a Joseph. Lots of Arlos, albies and milos round here too.

RuthW · 29/11/2025 08:24

Nicholas is the only one on your list not popular.

WhistleforChristmasTime · 29/11/2025 08:18

Nathan?

KilliMonjaro · 29/11/2025 06:35

Maraudingmarauders · 28/11/2025 23:19

Christian
Jasper
James
Gabriel
Julian
Roger

Then problem with going for traditional with a slightly quirky nickname (Nico, Kit) is you can bet as soon as they’re in school they’ll end up as Nick and Chris, so it depends how you feel about that! We’ve got a traditional first name and an Italian middle name to reference family
heritage. If we were to have another boy I think we’d go with James but stuck on a middle name. I love all of the above but DH is a bit more common traditional - Sam, Jonathan etc so we have to find a compromise.

Roger? We’re not naming a middle aged plumber here - it’s a baby! 🤣

KilliMonjaro · 29/11/2025 06:33

Pick a name you both like and stop worrying about ONS data!

Ideas:

Toby
Everett
Zach
Leo
Leander
Jack
Liam
George
Isaac

Leon
Lucas
Xavier
Louis
Milo
Albie
Felix
Callum
Oscar
Reuben
Jude
Dexter

Zitroneneis · 29/11/2025 06:24

Makingpeace · 29/11/2025 00:05

Good job it's not your thread then! Although I'm intrigued what the association is for you that generates such a negative association to the name. Didn't you ever read Charlotte's Web?

The Pig association?Shock

Makingpeace · 29/11/2025 00:05

HopSpringsEternal · 28/11/2025 23:58

Come on no one would called their loved child Wilbur.

Good job it's not your thread then! Although I'm intrigued what the association is for you that generates such a negative association to the name. Didn't you ever read Charlotte's Web?

HopSpringsEternal · 28/11/2025 23:58

Makingpeace · 28/11/2025 23:56

They're a bit more interesting and less common than Wilfred and Benjamin, is all!

Come on no one would called their loved child Wilbur.