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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help us pick a boy name!!

55 replies

zcy9079 · 14/01/2026 13:38

Our baby boy was born in late December, and we’re still struggling to decide a name!
We live in the UK, but not local, so this is where we could really use some help. We’re not always sure which names might have certain associations we wouldn’t be aware of!!
Here’s current shortlist. How do you rank them and any associations with them?

Lawrence (does it come across too serious?)
Rhys
Arthur
Levi
Felix (cat?)

Thanks!

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Giraffehaver · 14/01/2026 22:24

How about Laurie which takes the stiffness out of Laurence/Lawrence?

Needmorelego · 14/01/2026 22:00

From your list I like Levi best.
Felix is my second favourite.
(I knew I boy I thought was called Felix. Turns out he was called Phoenix 🤣)

RegalDiamondMonster · 14/01/2026 21:55

Felix is by far my favourite on your list. It's a great name. Although it is a cat food, there are lots of young boys called Felix. It's been a top 100 name in England and Wales since 2017. The older generations might think cat food but the younger ones won't, they'll be much more likely to associate it with someone they know.
The only other one I like on your list is Arthur.

user2848502016 · 14/01/2026 19:19

Lawrence - lovely classic name, no not to serious (and you could go Laurie as a nickname)

Rhys - also lovely will probably be pronounced “Reece” unless you’re in Wales

Arthur - love

Levi - probably wouldn’t choose it myself but it’s a nice name

Felix - nice, it is a popular boy’s name although yes it is also the name of a cat!

My favourite is probably Arthur but I like them all

Moreteaandchocolate · 14/01/2026 17:26
  1. Arthur - popular but I still love it and it would be one of my top choices if I had another boy.
  2. Rhys - love this
  3. Felix - cat associations are getting less as I meet more people with the name
  4. Laurence - the ones I know are Laurie or Loz by secondary school age, I’m not too keen on either
  5. Levi - a bit down market
CJones11 · 14/01/2026 17:07

My favourite would be Rhys, but I think this works so well as a middle name.

What about alternatives like:

Lawson
Flynn
Alexander (xander)
Elias
Samuel
Jasper

Lollylavender · 14/01/2026 16:45

Felix is Feline

Onefortheroad25 · 14/01/2026 15:59

I only like Rhys from your list.

Hiptothisjive · 14/01/2026 15:58

zcy9079 · 14/01/2026 14:08

Thanks everyone — this has been really interesting to read!

I hadn’t realised Felix was so universally a cat (though that does make me smile). Arthur being overused is what I thought too and we try to avoid that! Levi clearly divides opinion too

Lots to mull over — appreciate all the honest thoughts!

Yeah Felix is probably the most popular cat food here.

Help us pick a boy name!!
ThisTwinklyTaupeLurker · 14/01/2026 15:54

Rhys is my top out of your list. Short classic Welsh name seen across all age groups and not just in wales. Really like Arthur too. Lawrence is my least favourite.

Fifthtimelucky · 14/01/2026 14:58

Lawrence - My favourite. I don’t mind either spelling. Reminds of Lawrence Durrell and DH Lawrence.

Rhys - I would use only if I was Welsh (which I’m not).

Arthur - always sounds very boring and old fashioned to me, but now very popular of course.

Levi - I would use only if I was Jewish (which I’m not) but I also feel that way about names like Isaac and Reuben, which seem very widely popular these days.

Felix - cat.

ImFineItsAllFine · 14/01/2026 14:55

I like Rhys and Felix best.

Arther is OK but massively overused where I live. There's billions of them under the age of about 10.

Not sure about Levi, I dont hate it but I don't love it either.

Lawrence is a bit of a mouthful and you risk spelling confusion with Laurence. Laurie as a short version is awful, so that's my least favourite from your list.

SwallowsandAmazonians · 14/01/2026 14:49

I like all of them.

Lawrence is good, Laurie as a nickname
Rhys has current ACOTAR association but that will fade quickly.
Arthur, a classic
Levi, I'm Jewish and it means something specific to me (a particular tribe) but is enough in general use that I wouldn't be concerned about it
Felix, wouldn't worry about the cat thing, it's a lovely name and my first association would the meaning lucky

Emanwenym · 14/01/2026 14:38

Which goes best with your surname?

@zcy9079 , of the names on your list, Arthur is probably the most classic one.
Many of the Royal family have it as a middle name. (King Charles III, Prince William, Prince Louis...).

Felix is a very popular cat food brand but cats aside it's a good classic name.

17caterpillars1mouse · 14/01/2026 14:28

Congratulations on your little boy

Lawrence - I really like this, has a classical feel but is currently unusual. Laurie is a cool nickname

Rhys - i like this spelling best, but i find the name a bit dated to the 80s / early 90s

Arthur - a nixe name, but overdone in my area. I know so many under 3s named Arthur. Would make a lovely middle name though. Lawrence Arthur?

Levi - this is my least favourite

Felix - yes i think cat. Not a fan

Helpmefindmysoul · 14/01/2026 14:26

What about Oliver?

Isaac
James
Tobias
Theodore / Theo
Ethan
Jack
Jacob

SharkPants · 14/01/2026 14:26

Little Arthur. It's a classic - love it.

mrstambourinewoman · 14/01/2026 14:25

Love Felix. Great name. Know a brilliant one who has not yet been targeted by cat insults. Never met a little Lawrence , Laurie is very cute

Fundays12 · 14/01/2026 14:20

zcy9079 · 14/01/2026 13:38

Our baby boy was born in late December, and we’re still struggling to decide a name!
We live in the UK, but not local, so this is where we could really use some help. We’re not always sure which names might have certain associations we wouldn’t be aware of!!
Here’s current shortlist. How do you rank them and any associations with them?

Lawrence (does it come across too serious?)
Rhys
Arthur
Levi
Felix (cat?)

Thanks!

Lawrence -boring
Rhys - decent but maybe popular depending on your area
Arthur - i know 2 cats called Arthur so can't see it as anything other than a cats name but that's just me
Levi - really unsure
Felix - cat food

WaltzingWaters · 14/01/2026 14:17

All nice names. Levi is my favourite, though seems a marmite type name!

Itsokaytomorrowisanewday · 14/01/2026 14:15

Finlay could be a nice alternative

Lollylavender · 14/01/2026 14:11

Felix is definitely a 🐈! There’s a cartoon of Felix the cat and there’s the cat food 🐈‍⬛

Original poster
zcy9079 · 14/01/2026 14:08

Thanks everyone — this has been really interesting to read!

I hadn’t realised Felix was so universally a cat (though that does make me smile). Arthur being overused is what I thought too and we try to avoid that! Levi clearly divides opinion too

Lots to mull over — appreciate all the honest thoughts!

OP posts:
Original poster
zcy9079 · 14/01/2026 14:02

Thank you!😊

OP posts:
Emanwenym · 14/01/2026 13:57

I like Rhys! Classic and not overused. I know dozens of them. Mostly middle aged. I'm Welsh.

I like a pp's suggestion of Clive.