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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on Lin, Rumi, Reo and Arran for a baby boy?

85 replies

Bumpfull · 14/03/2026 05:03

We’re having a boy and have come up with our shortlist of names. We’re not tied to any particular culture as we have a mixed heritage family. We also want something slightly different from the current popular names - we have multiple friends with Noah’s and Maya’s (I love both these names though)!

Our shortlist is:
Lin
Rumi
Reo
Arran

Would love to hear any thoughts on these as we don’t have a favourite out of them.

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DramaAlpaca · 15/03/2026 01:03

I know an Arran (male). It's a nice name.

User6761 · 14/03/2026 23:31

Love Arran. Know a couple of young Arrans (in Scotland). I think I'd assume Lin was a girl.

Foxytights · 14/03/2026 23:28

I like Arran best, but people will assume it’s Aaron. I like Aaron too, but I suspect it’s not “out there” enough for you. Lin will be mistaken for Lynne. Rumi will be connected to K-pop demon hunters - also sounds a like a girl’s name to me. I wouldn’t choose Reo, it’s a bit silly, but if you have to choose that one it would be better to spell it Rio imo.

RegalDiamondMonster · 14/03/2026 23:01

Arran is nice.

For a Scottish-island inspired name, there's a name popular in Orkney - Thorfinn - which I like.

I like the poet too but Rumi will definitely have k-pop demon hunters vibes these days.

Lin i would similarly think of as a girl's name.

Reo if it's pronounced like Rio is fine, but I prefer the spelling and meaning of Rio.

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/03/2026 22:35

Lin will surely be confused with Lynne (the girl’s name).

Arran is nice.

Giraffehaver · 14/03/2026 22:30

Arran is a great strong name. I really like it

Firebird83 · 14/03/2026 14:48

Arran is the only ok one. Reo is too much like Rio as in Rio Ferdinand. Lin people will think is the girls name Lynn. Isn’t Rumi Beyoncé’s daughter’s name?

Oblivionnnnn · 14/03/2026 11:46

Arran is a great name and very popular here in Scotland - I know boys and girls named Arran.

Also Harris and Innes, both of which I really like too.

MissingSockDetective · 14/03/2026 11:30

Rumi and Lin seem too close to being names for girls. Arran I like, Reo is a fine enough name, but looks like a typo.

giddyboo · 14/03/2026 11:24

Really like Arran.

Avantiagain · 14/03/2026 11:06

Arran

HopSpringsEternal · 14/03/2026 10:33

Catcatcatcatcat · 14/03/2026 06:37

I wouldn’t lumber my child with a lifetime of spelling issues

I have a name that has about twelve spellings.It has never bothered me. Far prefer my unusual name than to be called something very ordinary.

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 10:30

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 10:26

Not quite sure why you're picking a fight on this. You said yourself Aaron and Arran are pronounced the same and where I live people hearing a name pronounced "a - run" would be extremely likely to write Aaron. I certainly would.

The OP said she would love to hear people's thoughts on her shortlist and I gave my honest views. She doesn't have to listen to me!

Show quote history

My bad. I should have said they are not pronounced the same! I’ve no excuse either as I’m Irish and we have the Aran Islands and Arranmore Island which is off the coast of Donegal and I’ve been on both of them (well one of the Aran Islands).

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 10:26

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 07:58

But it’s not the standard spelling anywhere as it’s a completely different name?

Show quote history

Not quite sure why you're picking a fight on this. You said yourself Aaron and Arran are pronounced the same and where I live people hearing a name pronounced "a - run" would be extremely likely to write Aaron. I certainly would.

The OP said she would love to hear people's thoughts on her shortlist and I gave my honest views. She doesn't have to listen to me!

Mosaic80 · 14/03/2026 10:20

Rumi and arran are my favourites. Although you may get Arun or Aaron spellings.

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 14/03/2026 10:18

I like Arran, but then I’m Scottish and have met many people with Scottish place names as first names (Iona, Skye, Rona, Arran, Harris, Coll, Kyle, Lewis, Angus - even Leith and Paisley, although I suspect the latter was more a nod to Prince than the Scottish town). It may sound alike but Arran is a completely different name to Aaron so I don’t understand the comments about using the ‘standard spelling’. The standard spelling of Arran (the island) is Arran!

Elleoeez · 14/03/2026 09:39

I like Reo but I’d spell it Rio.

Misnofitness · 14/03/2026 09:13

LaurelSorrel · 14/03/2026 08:25

Rumi is the female lead in K pop demon hunters which has been hugely wildly popular among kids for about a year. It’s going to have a sequel shortly and the makers are saying it will go on to become a series of films and they expect it to be around for a long time. Obviously it may not be!

I didn’t catch whether this is your first child - if so then everybody may have forgotten about this show by the time he’s old enough to care.

Considering how long frozen and moana have been popular I don’t think k pop demon hunters is going anywhere by the time the child will be in school

thetinsoldier · 14/03/2026 08:50

Lin - too much confusion with spelling. And it’s a girl’s name!!

reo -never heard of it. Like Rio, though.

rumi -nice

Arran - lovely, especially if you have links to the island

ChoosingMyOwnRandomUsername · 14/03/2026 08:49

Sorry but I think they're all awful.

Lin is least offensive but will definitely be constantly mispelled and misheard. It just looks a bit unfinished.
Rumi sound like you let your six year old pick.
Reo and Arran simply look like mispellings or the desperate attempts to be you-nique. Again, constantly misheard and mispelled.

Edinburghdaze · 14/03/2026 08:44

MiddleAgedDread · 14/03/2026 08:03

Yeah but kids are also called Skye, Iona, Lewis and Harris!! I’ve yet to met a Mull or Barra though…..

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I’ve met a Coll!

I like Arran best of names listed. Rumi is ok too but sounds like it is more usually female and Lin sounds female too. Reo - not keen.

Freshherbsandsandwiches · 14/03/2026 08:39

AD1509 · 14/03/2026 05:30

I would avoid Rumi in the era of K-pop demon hunters

My thoughts exactly! Even though I quite like the name

LaurelSorrel · 14/03/2026 08:25

Rumi is the female lead in K pop demon hunters which has been hugely wildly popular among kids for about a year. It’s going to have a sequel shortly and the makers are saying it will go on to become a series of films and they expect it to be around for a long time. Obviously it may not be!

I didn’t catch whether this is your first child - if so then everybody may have forgotten about this show by the time he’s old enough to care.

LondonLady1980 · 14/03/2026 08:16

Bumpfull · 14/03/2026 05:03

We’re having a boy and have come up with our shortlist of names. We’re not tied to any particular culture as we have a mixed heritage family. We also want something slightly different from the current popular names - we have multiple friends with Noah’s and Maya’s (I love both these names though)!

Our shortlist is:
Lin
Rumi
Reo
Arran

Would love to hear any thoughts on these as we don’t have a favourite out of them.

My best friend has got an Arron and it’s great as hes almost 13 and we’ve never come across another one.

They toyed with having the tradition spelling but they don’t like the pronunciation of Air-ron which Aaron would generate. They didn’t want him having to spend his whole life correcting people on how to pronounce his name.

They have Scottish heritage which is why they went for it, but it’s a lovely name on its own too.

MarmaladeSandwich7 · 14/03/2026 08:13

Arran is great