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Baby names

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

Original poster

Graham??

119 replies

chandellina · 17/06/2008 22:03

Hi, we are thinking of this name for our son, it was the name of DH's father. Looking for any reactions. It doesn't seem to be a terribly popular name yet i have come across enough Grahams to make me think it's an acceptable and traditional name.
Am i missing something?

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Alishanty · 18/06/2008 14:06

Quite like it. I used to want to call my future son Graham after Graham Coxon in Blur! lol

TwoFirTreesToday · 18/06/2008 14:03

I quite like it, and there wont be 4 more in his class at school

Twelvelegs · 18/06/2008 13:09

Here's our Grayham with a quick reminder.... horrid name, like Colin, Ian, Kenneth, Brian, Neil etc.

Original poster
chandellina · 18/06/2008 13:08

sitdownplease - thanks and i have to agree. old fashioned names regularly go through renaissances so i'm thinking the time could be ripe for Graham.

puppy monkey - too right but a lot of it seems to make the journey across the ocean or we wouldn't have all this Hayden Kayden Jayden palaver.

They are clearly ripping off Brit girl names over there too.

Top 10 Names for 2007 (US)
1 Jacob / Emily
2 Michael / Isabella
3 Ethan / Emma
4 Joshua / Ava
5 Daniel / Madison
6 Christopher / Sophia
7 Anthony / Olivia
8 William / Abigail
9 Matthew / Hannah
10 Andrew / Elizabeth

OP posts:
naswm · 18/06/2008 13:06

Ryobi - look in chat

Ryobi · 18/06/2008 13:03

its up to you what you call your baby if you like graham call it him

LuLuBai · 18/06/2008 13:02

Sitdown I think it is a question of how long ago it was last popular. We take names from our grandparents and greatgrandparents generation, but names from our parents generation are still too close for comfort to have come full circle and sound cool again (Maureen, Alan, Keith all seem rather middle aged, no?). Personally I don't think we are yet ready for a Graham revival but happy to be proved wrong.

LadyK · 18/06/2008 13:01

I love the name Graham! Of course it is my husband's name, but I like it anyway.

LuLuBai · 18/06/2008 12:58

There was a bloke at my school who was actually called Malcolm Graham. Bizarrely he was extremely good looking and never wore a tank top.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 18/06/2008 12:57

I love it that people are dismissing it as boring or middle aged but threads asking for opinions on Pearl, Ruby, Mabel seem to elicit positive responses.

They are old lady names, old ladies in polyester frocks and cardigans (possibly with a brooch added on Sundays) waiting for the tea trolley to come round in their care home.

Sure they are prettier sounding names than Kathleen, Doreen, Dorothy, Ethel etc but dismissing Graham as middle aged when people are rediscovering Archie, Alfie, Freddie, turn of the century boys names, seems odd to me.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 18/06/2008 12:51

I love it.

Now that's decided, what about a middle name ?

WendyWeber · 18/06/2008 12:45

I believe Kevin is cool in France too - ditto

Nancy66 · 18/06/2008 12:35

I agree Puppymonkey. Eg. Kevin is really popular in America - it's like our Jack.

PuppyMonkey · 18/06/2008 12:34

Please note, just because something is "cool in America" that does not necessarily make it "cool." Quite the reverse, often.

kitsmummy · 18/06/2008 11:51

I truly hate it i'm afraid to say. Makes me think of a head to toe beige civil servant with really bad shoes and v dull personality. And with that really bad curly hair that the blokes wear short-ish but not short enough so it grows upwards.

Original poster
chandellina · 18/06/2008 11:31

thanks lady thompson.

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Nemoandthefishes · 18/06/2008 11:28

Dh is 30 and a graham and for as long as I have known him he gets called with G or gray

Rosevie · 18/06/2008 11:04

Bit boring and middle aged.

Flllight · 18/06/2008 11:04

Not cos it's old but because it is just not an attractive name - to me, anyway.

If you like it then do it - it's up to you, entirely!

I never liked it even when it was the name of the moment.

I like Nigel though...

Flllight · 18/06/2008 11:02

No, sorry, I really really hate it!!!

ChicaLovesBranstonPickle · 18/06/2008 11:00

I like it.

Nbg · 18/06/2008 10:56

I dont like Graham at all but Gray is lovely.

CrushWithEyeliner · 18/06/2008 10:54

i love it - against the grain

great

LadyThompson · 18/06/2008 10:51

I hadn't ever thought of Graham, I must admit. But at least he'll be unusual amongst all the Caspars, Oscars and Olivers. I much prefer Graham to Graeme, and Graham Greene was pretty special after all (amazing writer, womaniser, spy etc). Though actually, his REAL first name was in fact Henry! So he must've thought Graham sounded good. I do think though you should shorten it to Gray, which is a cool name for anybody.

Original poster
chandellina · 18/06/2008 10:10

THJ - yeah Brit names are beloved and rather trendy in the US - Nigel or Trevor is like the epitome of cool in certain sets. hate to have to remind myself that Graham in the US is associated with an extremely well-known type of biscuit - Graham Crackers (not to mention Teddy Grahams). we may live there for some of his school years so it's a risk.

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