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Baby names

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

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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Silverbirchleaf · 14/03/2026 08:09

Lin - people may assume it’s Lyn/Lynn , a girls name.
Rumi - is this Roomey or Rum - me,
Reo - usually spelt Rio?
Arran - definitely the best of the bunch!

AdaDex · 14/03/2026 08:09

nonevernotever · 14/03/2026 05:38

Yes but I don't see why place names are problematic?

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It worked for the Wombles......

fashionqueen0123 · 14/03/2026 08:06

Misnofitness · 14/03/2026 07:32

this is clearly your first child. For the love of god please don’t give your son the same name as a k pop demon hunter. I would say 60% of my child’s school was dressed as rumi for Halloween… and world book day 😂

Haha same.

People will think you’ve got it from there and it’s a girl.

I do like the name but it’s bad timing

MiddleAgedDread · 14/03/2026 08:03

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 05:26

Isn't Arran an Island off Scotland?

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

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 07:58

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 06:52

As it's the standard spelling where I live, I would just make life easier by choosing that spelling. I've seen Indian heritage boys called Aran but no-one called Arran personally.

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

wishfulthinking25 · 14/03/2026 07:57

MidnightPatrol · 14/03/2026 06:38

This can happen whatever your name is - mine is very conventional and is still frequently spelled incorrectly.

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Absolutely second this. My name is quite common and I have to correct people on the spelling frequently.

Pricesandvices · 14/03/2026 07:52

Beyonce daughter is called Rumi.
Lin and Reo look like they're shortened nicknames. They'll be spelt wrong.
Arran is nice, but will probably be spelt Aaron a fair bit.

firstofallimadelight · 14/03/2026 07:47

Love rumi, Lin is ok. Dont like Arran or Reo.

SchoolDilemma17 · 14/03/2026 07:42

Lin: the reference is obvious (probably not for kids though) and a bit too try hard for me. I know older men in German speaking countries called Lin as an abbreviation of Lienhard.
Reo sounds too much like Leo for me.

SchoolDilemma17 · 14/03/2026 07:39

Tonissister · 14/03/2026 05:13

I'm biased towards Rumi as he is one of my favourite poets and I have never seen the name used.

Also love Arran.

Not keen on Lin or Reo.

Beyonce and a singer (Serj Tankian) both have a Rumi

PrincessOfPreschool · 14/03/2026 07:38

I like Arran best. It's obvious how to say it. It's also somewhere most people have heard of. I do like Rumi (again, pronunciation is straightforward and most people heard of him). I didn't know about the K pop connection though as my kids are well out of that age group now! I think it'll still be fine anyway...

Misnofitness · 14/03/2026 07:32

this is clearly your first child. For the love of god please don’t give your son the same name as a k pop demon hunter. I would say 60% of my child’s school was dressed as rumi for Halloween… and world book day 😂

stargirl27 · 14/03/2026 07:29

Also having your name misspelt doesn’t really affect your life imo. People spell my name wrong pretty much every time I tell it to them because it’s an abnormal spelling of an unusual name. I’m not bothered and just spell it out for them.

stargirl27 · 14/03/2026 07:28

I like Rumi and Arran. Reo is nice too. Not a huge fan of Lin.

luckylavender · 14/03/2026 07:27

24Dogcuddler · 14/03/2026 07:25

Arran is a good strong name. I really wouldn’t use Lin for the reasons others have said ( Lynn/ Lynne is a girl’s name and was popular in the 1950s and 60s)

Lin has always been a male name in Wales

luckylavender · 14/03/2026 07:27

I think Arran will be misspelled a lot - one r. Ditto Lin. Lynn, Lyn etc

24Dogcuddler · 14/03/2026 07:25

Arran is a good strong name. I really wouldn’t use Lin for the reasons others have said ( Lynn/ Lynne is a girl’s name and was popular in the 1950s and 60s)

PurpleThistle7 · 14/03/2026 07:18

I live in Scotland and there are lots of children named after the islands - Iona’s everywhere. So I like that (and like Arran as a place). Definitely not Rumi nowadays unless you’re doing it on purpose - anyone with slightly older children will assume you’re a superfan.

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 14/03/2026 07:15

Rumi makes me think k pop demon hunters so i would give that a miss. arran is a nice strong name though

lottiegarbanzo · 14/03/2026 07:11

I definitely would not use Aaron. It’s distinctly Biblical (fine if you want that but different from your other names) and invites varied pronunciations - Air-ron, Ahh-ron.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/03/2026 07:05

I like Rumi and Arran. Nice sounds, nice references.

To me Lin sounds like Lyn / Lynne (girl’s name). Lin-Manuel is ‘explained’ by the Manuel part.

Reo sounds like a footballer homage or maybe a film reference that I don’t know.

I’d spell Arran Arun though. There are so many variants on that name. I see Aaron as a different but similar name. But given Arun exists and is more phonetic and there’s no ‘need’ for the extra R, I think Arran will always be mis-spelt.

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 06:52

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 06:48

But Aaron is a completely different name even if it’s pronounced the same!

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As it's the standard spelling where I live, I would just make life easier by choosing that spelling. I've seen Indian heritage boys called Aran but no-one called Arran personally.

Hollyhobbi · 14/03/2026 06:48

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 06:46

I'd go for Aaron (spelt like that). Rumi is quite nice but looks like it's short for something. I've come across a few boys called Rio, not Reo. Lin will be confused with a girl. Manuel (Manny) would be better if you want to tribute Lin-Manuel.

But Aaron is a completely different name even if it’s pronounced the same!

railcardfan · 14/03/2026 06:46

I'd go for Aaron (spelt like that). Rumi is quite nice but looks like it's short for something. I've come across a few boys called Rio, not Reo. Lin will be confused with a girl. Manuel (Manny) would be better if you want to tribute Lin-Manuel.

AllWasWell · 14/03/2026 06:44

I would probably avoid Rumi due to the popularity of K pop demon hunters and it being one of the main female characters. It’s also getting a sequel so not going away anytime soon