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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names like Wilbur

55 replies

BunnyWilliams · 14/02/2026 16:55

I love vintage and older baby names, especially those that are softer sounding. We already have already used Rupert and Theodore.

We've recently found out we're expecting a boy. I had a huge girl name list but can't find many boys names that Iove. DH and I both love Wilbur but I'm aware of the pig connotations and the general dislike of the name.

Can you suggest any other similar names? I don't like Wilfred because it's too popular here. We've also talked about Barnaby but DH isn't as keen. Middle name will be Charles (family name).

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Liposanlightblue · 20/03/2026 13:00

I prefer Elmer 🐘

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 20/03/2026 07:27

KingofQueens · 19/03/2026 23:47

I have a Wilbur in his late teens. Only ever had positive comments about it and no mention of the pig.
He's only ever been Wilbur to friends and at school. At home he gets called Wilbs mostly. But he's never been Will.

Same as mine. He’s 9 and his friends call him Wilbur. They call each other by their full names and if there is a duplicate name that person is called their full name e.g John smith or John brown. Never Will 😊

KingofQueens · 19/03/2026 23:47

I have a Wilbur in his late teens. Only ever had positive comments about it and no mention of the pig.
He's only ever been Wilbur to friends and at school. At home he gets called Wilbs mostly. But he's never been Will.

TheBirdintheCave · 19/03/2026 23:39

Wilbur is great, definitely go with that :)

Inmyuggs · 19/03/2026 23:37

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GibbyWB · 19/03/2026 23:33

Hello, i also have a Wilbur and so many people compliment the name. Nobody links it really to charlottes web - we do however live near Colchester Zoo, and my son loves the fact that a pig is names after him!!

TicklishNewt · 20/02/2026 21:57

Makes me think of Wilbur in Mr Ed. 😂

Seashor · 20/02/2026 21:45

Edwin,
Anselm,
Clement

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 19/02/2026 22:04

Jasper

Ohfudgeoff · 19/02/2026 21:58

BunnyWilliams · 14/02/2026 18:04

Thank you. That's really good to know. At the moment, no other name is coming close for me. I also think it's gorgeous.

Show quote history

I love the name Wilbur 😍 it was on my list too.

Also had:
Wilfred
Ralph
Henry
Vincent
Atticus
Giles
Rufus
Arthur
Jonah
Benedict

slaintebab · 19/02/2026 21:51

Wilbur is lovely and I wouldn’t think about the pig at all!

Giraffehaver · 19/02/2026 21:37

Wilbur is great. How about Cedric

Lollylavender · 19/02/2026 15:33

I don’t like the sound or look of Wilbur.

BootleggedMaterial · 19/02/2026 12:54

My friend has a Wilbur. Charlotte's Web drifted into mind the first time but now the name is associated with the actual child. As would happen with most names!

Felix is a good example. I considered it ten years ago but the cat came to mind quite a lot (not the reason we didn't use it). Since then there are about 10 Felixes I've come across so the cat association is long gone.

Unless CW is your favourite book in the world the association is likely to be fleeting.

sunflowerdaisies · 19/02/2026 09:08

I think pig straight away - difference with Tom and Stuart is that they are more common names so don’t have such a strong association to the animal. I also think Felix equals cat for example. I’d use something like William instead.

Original poster
BunnyWilliams · 19/02/2026 08:45

ChuckCharles · 19/02/2026 01:09

Please don’t name your child after a pig.

We wouldn't be naming him after a pig. It just happens to be a chosen name of literary character as well. In fact, a rather lovely literary character if you ask me. Would you say don't use Stuart because it's the name of a mouse? Or don't use Tom because it's the name of a cat?
I'm not sure why everyone gets so hung up on Charlotte's Web. Is it just because he's a pig?

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 19/02/2026 08:23

I loved Wilbur so much. I really wanted to use it but I couldn't get it by my husband haha, glad you've decided to use it! I think we've got similar taste based on your names. Just in case, also like Edmund, Edgar, Benedict, Arthur.

ChuckCharles · 19/02/2026 01:09

Please don’t name your child after a pig.

Hertiness · 19/02/2026 00:56

Y'all are going to have kids who hate their names. Why name a kid something they're going to have to pick a nickname to hide? There's a person up there who said these are guinea pig names.

But anyway, choose Eustace.

dailyconniptions · 17/02/2026 06:23

Jasper, Seymour, Edward, Toby, Tristan.

CeciliaMars · 17/02/2026 06:13

Ernest.

user1492757084 · 17/02/2026 03:21

Rupert, Theodore and Wilbur Charles sound great.

Others..
Victor
Edgar
Geoffrey
Sylvester
David
Stirling
Archibald
Wiloughby
Leopold
Zelman

Chinsupmeloves · 15/02/2026 19:49

Willow

SouthLondonMum22 · 15/02/2026 19:44

I have a Rupert and a friend has just called her new baby Wilbur. If you love Wilbur, go for it!

Other suggestions -

Chester
Cyrus
Emrys
Franklin
Hector
Julian
Laurence
Leonard
Lucian
Nathaniel
Otto
Percy
Quinn
Sidney
Silas
Stanley
Vincent
Walter
Wesley

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 15/02/2026 19:00

@BunnyWilliams Good choice. We call ours Wil for short but generally call him Wilbur. Hes 9 and very happy with his name.