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Baby names

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

James, Edward, or Benedict - suggestions welcome!

66 replies

TheGreyInThisCity · 28/05/2026 12:16

It’s still early days, but I’m expecting baby number 2 and we’re starting to think about names. I think we’ve got a girl’s name sorted, but boys’ names are harder! Our DS’s name is Laurence, and we’re hoping to find something fairly classic but ideally not super common.

So far on our shortlist we have:
James (DH’s preferred)
Edward
Benedict

I also really like Alexander, Sebastian, and William, but we can’t use those as we have close relatives with those names. Any thoughts on the names we like, or any other suggestions are appreciated! Thanks

OP posts:
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GladHazelPoster · 15/06/2026 07:35

sittingonabeach · 15/06/2026 07:22

Only if you want your child to hate you!

"Some dogs don't... and some dogs do."

sittingonabeach · 15/06/2026 07:22

GladHazelPoster · 14/06/2026 11:42

Cornelius or Edmund are excellent choices

Only if you want your child to hate you!

GladHazelPoster · 14/06/2026 11:42

Cornelius or Edmund are excellent choices

CoffeeBeansGalore · 03/06/2026 10:17

James is lovely, classic.
Laurence & Peter
Laurence & Marcus
Laurence & Thomas
Laurence & Nathan
Laurence & Harvey

sittingonabeach · 03/06/2026 10:06

James isn’t that common in our area

SuperGinger · 03/06/2026 10:01

Benedict only passes muster if you are Catholic.
James and Edward are great.

OtterandaRock · 03/06/2026 09:54

Excellentsausages · 03/06/2026 09:52

And a snowman.

Beyond the Wall there are plenty of Olaves.

Excellentsausages · 03/06/2026 09:52

OtterandaRock · 03/06/2026 09:51

Olaf is a king and a saint!

And a snowman.

OtterandaRock · 03/06/2026 09:51

Excellentsausages · 03/06/2026 09:50

I mean I know kids don't really tease about names anymore but I do think Olaf is so firmly a snowman that it's pushing it!

Other ideas for OP:
Jasper
Julius
Caspar
Tobias
Robin
Fabian
Ralph
Felix
Tristan

I like Edmund from PP

Olaf is a king and a saint!

Excellentsausages · 03/06/2026 09:50

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 12:00

Nothing is wrong with Cosmo, Damian, Olaf, Thorlak, or indeed Mungo, Cuthbert, Wulfstan, Petroc, and Teilo.

ETA Magnus and Dunstan

Edited

I mean I know kids don't really tease about names anymore but I do think Olaf is so firmly a snowman that it's pushing it!

Other ideas for OP:
Jasper
Julius
Caspar
Tobias
Robin
Fabian
Ralph
Felix
Tristan

I like Edmund from PP

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 15:06

Aidan
Albert
Aldwyn
Aldhelm
Aquinas
Bartholomew
Dominic
Florentius
Hadrian
Honorius
Jordan
Martin
Oswyn
Theodore
are also excellent (some as second names). If you enjoy Brideshead or Harry Potter, or are not from southern England, these are fine heritage names.

MinnieMountain · 30/05/2026 14:57

Edward is a pretty popular name. Edmund much less so (my 12yo is Edmund. He likes it).

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 14:54

SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 02:04

Wishing strength to all the poor buggers called Ambrose and Oswald 🙏

I know an Ambrose, who is quite a strong character. The Welsh equivalent is Emrys.

You get 2 for the price of 1: the Roman St Ambrose, and King Arthur's Merlinus Ambrosius.

user1492757084 · 30/05/2026 13:15

All fine as brother for Laurence.
My favourite is Edward.

Others ..

David
Dominic
Charles
Herbert
Sylvester
Winston.

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 12:00

OxRug · 30/05/2026 10:34

Thorlack? 🤪

Fucking hell OP. Don’t listen to these suggestions please. Go with James. Lovely name

Nothing is wrong with Cosmo, Damian, Olaf, Thorlak, or indeed Mungo, Cuthbert, Wulfstan, Petroc, and Teilo.

ETA Magnus and Dunstan

OxRug · 30/05/2026 10:34

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 01:50

Benedict is beautiful and strong.
Benedict James
Gregory James
Francis Augustine
James Columba
How about:
Aelred
Ambrose
Oswald
Thorlak

Thorlack? 🤪

Fucking hell OP. Don’t listen to these suggestions please. Go with James. Lovely name

Eenameenadeeka · 30/05/2026 10:30

I love Benedict. I didn't end up going with it due to the dick sound, but it's a lovely name. I like Ben/Benny as well.

How about Edmund, Edgar, Edwin, Wilbur, Arthur

VeganSteakAndFries · 30/05/2026 07:50

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 01:50

Benedict is beautiful and strong.
Benedict James
Gregory James
Francis Augustine
James Columba
How about:
Aelred
Ambrose
Oswald
Thorlak

And THORLAK!!!

VeganSteakAndFries · 30/05/2026 07:49

James.
Really dislike the others .

MynameisnotJohn · 30/05/2026 07:12

All absolutely fine. Agree that Francis goes really well. Don’t both variations of Ben just get called Ben? Which seems a bit dull. So many Ben/Sam/Josh these days.

Musicaltheatremum · 30/05/2026 06:54

I have a James. It's a fabulous name. (Biased slightly)

SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 02:04

Wishing strength to all the poor buggers called Ambrose and Oswald 🙏

OtterandaRock · 30/05/2026 01:50

Benedict is beautiful and strong.
Benedict James
Gregory James
Francis Augustine
James Columba
How about:
Aelred
Ambrose
Oswald
Thorlak

SkippitySkoppity · 30/05/2026 01:35

Benedict is so weak-chinned and wet. All the other names on your list are preferable.

LlynTegid · 29/05/2026 18:43

Benedict of the three you have selected.

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