Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Which boys’ name do you prefer: Arran, Arthur, Sebastian or William?

54 replies

tutifruiti1 · 19/05/2026 11:26

We’re expecting a baby boy and finding it difficult to pick a name. Not sure whether to go classic or a bit more distinctive. We like these names below but aren’t sure:

  • Arran
  • Arthur
  • Sebastian
  • William
Which one do you like? Thanks!
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
GladHazelPoster · 14/06/2026 11:39

Aran is a fantastic name. Full of life and not common at all. Love it!
I also like Oscar, Niall and Ronan

Sparksauty · 26/05/2026 15:46

1000% Sebastian Arthur and William both very dull & Arran too obscure.

CarriMarie · 20/05/2026 23:47

I like Arran or Aran, think one of those spellings is best if want to avoid the Air-on pronunciation of Aaron.
Also like Arthur, a good strong name but very popular.
Like the sound of Sebastian but not keen on shortenings.
Not keen on William except maybe as middle name if family connections.

Citadelica · 20/05/2026 15:03

Arran - 100%. Always said i'd name a son Arran, tho had no sons

17caterpillars1mouse · 20/05/2026 15:02

I love Sebastian but never used it as i'm not the biggest fan of Seb / Sebby. I do love Basti as a nn but i cpuld also forsee the issues with that shortening so avoiding using it

William i like, love shortened to Liam, less keen on Will or Billy

Arthur is lovely but way too popular for me. Gorgeous as a middle name though

Arran is nice, more unusual these days. I like the Aaron spelling mord though

Calliopespa · 20/05/2026 14:55

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 20/05/2026 12:05

I’m Scottish so Arran to me is the island. I prefer the Aaron spelling for humans.

I like Arthur. That would be my pick.

Sebastian has gone from posh to overused try hard. Nope.

Also not keen on William. Willy jokes.

Edited

This sums up my thoughts perfectly.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 20/05/2026 14:52

William

lifeisgoodrightnow · 20/05/2026 14:41

Arthur

namechangefor2mins · 20/05/2026 14:35

William. The shortened version that his friends will call him by, Will, is really lovely too.

Lookonline · 20/05/2026 14:28

I was told I would have had Sebastian as a middle name if I had been a boy. Lovely name. However my first name would have been Roger - so I was very thankful I was a girl. Maybe it's not as common now but when I was a teen "roger" was common slang for having sex.

User6761 · 20/05/2026 14:11

Love Arran, know a couple of young Arrans (in Scotland). I associate it with the other Scottish island names commonly used as first names - Lewis, Harris, Isla(y), Skye, Iona - I don't associate it with the biblical Aaron at all, although obviously pronunciations are similar.

NamingNoNames · 20/05/2026 14:10

'Like the jumpers?' Definitely not. Aran jumpers are from Ireland. Not to be confused with Yr Aran.
Guernsey jumpers are from Guernsey. Jerseys are from Jersey and Mars bars are from Mars. Smile

silenceinthemind · 20/05/2026 14:04

I find William boring and my teenage boys know 1000s of Wills. I like Sebastian (Seb) and Arthur, although that is also getting quite common now if that bothers you. I like Arran too, would assume it was an Indian spelt name like Aaron, like Dillon or Dhillon instead of Dylan.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 20/05/2026 13:59

Arran is an island in south-west Scotland. The jumpers come from the Aran Islands in Ireland. Note the difference in spellling. I have a strong family connection to Arran and at least 50% of the people I mention it to say 'Like the jumpers?' A little boy saddled with this name would also have to deal with this, over and above the confusion with Aaron, the biblical name.

My preference would be for William. Classic timeless name. You can't go wrong with it.

Xmasallergies · 20/05/2026 13:55

Sebastian

ItchyandScratchyRUs · 20/05/2026 12:08

Arran followed by Sebastian. Arthur seems very old fashioned and William will get shortened to Bill or Willy or Billy.

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 20/05/2026 12:05

I’m Scottish so Arran to me is the island. I prefer the Aaron spelling for humans.

I like Arthur. That would be my pick.

Sebastian has gone from posh to overused try hard. Nope.

Also not keen on William. Willy jokes.

stopringingme · 20/05/2026 11:59

Arthur is my favourite from your list, followed by William.

I don't mind Sebastian but would not be a favourite.

Not keen on Arran.

NamingNoNames · 20/05/2026 11:02

I like Arran - I know one and his parents are Irish, and that probably affects my opinion in that I don't think 'Aaron, Aaran, Arun, Aron, Arron...?'

Sebastian seems a bit sebaceous, and he probably has a sister called Matilda, Tabitha or Ottilie and half-sibling called Jaxxon or Darcey.

DramaAlpaca · 19/05/2026 22:32

I like Arran.

Arthur and William, both good classic names.

Sebastian is too long for me; I much prefer short names.

Giraffehaver · 19/05/2026 22:28

William

BaronessBomburst · 19/05/2026 18:44

Use three of them: Sebastian William Arthur Surname, or Sebastian William Arran Surname

OccasionalHope · 19/05/2026 18:11

Sebastian.

Calliopespa · 19/05/2026 18:09

mcmuffin22 · 19/05/2026 17:39

I know an Arran.... he's a heavy sweater.

Show quote history

😂

WhatNextImScared · 19/05/2026 18:07

Sebastian. Arran just says jumper to me.

Swipe left for the next trending thread