Page 2 | James, Edward, or Benedict - suggestions welcome!

TheGreyInThisCity · 2026-05-28T11:16:01+00:00

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

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Mumofgirls2017 · 29/05/2026 18:39

Laurence and…

vincent
frederick
elliott
nicholas
christopher
walter
jasper
charles
patrick
sidney
ernest
douglas

LivingTheDreamish · 29/05/2026 02:10

Edward is nice (nn Ned so you have Ned and Laurie). I agree you can't use Hugh.

Hamish?

Peanutlicious · 29/05/2026 01:12

Benedict is fab

Katrinawaves · 28/05/2026 23:05

I like Tobias and Marcus which others have suggested.

I’ve also always liked Gideon, Noah and Jude

Giraffehaver · 28/05/2026 23:00

I know a Laurence Alistair and Daniel sibset and think they really go together

LilyLemonade · 28/05/2026 22:20

James, Edward and Benedict are all lovely names. I like Benedict best.

Other ideas:
Marcus
John
Leon

HorrorPudding · 28/05/2026 22:16

My DS has spent 21 years living with the name Benedict and he’s never had a dick jokes aimed at him he says. Lots of other much worse teasing but no plays on the “dict” bit of the name. Not sure that’s going to be much of a problem in reality!

holdupp · 28/05/2026 20:53

I love all of them apart from Benedict which I think is horrid. All I hear is the dick in it.

Dontgoforward · 28/05/2026 20:36

Oh I love Benedict! And times have changed a lot with names these days, it's a lot less likely to be seen as an unusual take the mick name. I'd call him Benny for short.
James is a classic, but common.
What about Ryan? It was a popular name in the 90s but haven't come across anyone below 25 with the name in a long time.

SueDunome · 28/05/2026 20:33

Benedict will be extremely common soon, thanks to Bridgerton. Also, I agree that Ben's a dick is cruel bullying

ICantStomachWhelks · 28/05/2026 20:31

Silverbirchleaf · 28/05/2026 13:59

Three great names on your list.

Other suggestions-
Tobias
Guy
Julius
Richard
Zachary
Adam

Oh! Tobias is lovely.

Stoicandhappy · 28/05/2026 20:27

James and Edward are great. I like Alexander too.

Firebird83 · 28/05/2026 20:27

What about Edmund?

Original poster

TheGreyInThisCity · 28/05/2026 20:27

Everlore · 28/05/2026 14:10

All lovely names. However, if you are looking for something a little more unusual then James may not be the best choice, it is, by some way, by far the most common boy's name in our daughter's peer group, probably at least twice as common as the next most popular.
However, this is just a small sample size based on children in our area who attend groups with our daughter, it may not be the case where you live.
Finally, though I understand it defeats the entire point of this forum and , indeed, my own comment, I would never ask anybody, whether that be family or friends or complete strangers on the internet, for thoughts on your putative baby names. It should be entirely you and your partner's choice. No name will ever please everyone and people's reasons for disliking a name are usually completely arbitrary and often irrational and should bear no weight with you.

Weirdly I’ve only met one little James round here, it must vary across the country. That’s good advice though, thank you 😊

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Jk987 · 28/05/2026 14:18

Benjamin instead of Benedict

Everlore · 28/05/2026 14:10

All lovely names. However, if you are looking for something a little more unusual then James may not be the best choice, it is, by some way, by far the most common boy's name in our daughter's peer group, probably at least twice as common as the next most popular.
However, this is just a small sample size based on children in our area who attend groups with our daughter, it may not be the case where you live.
Finally, though I understand it defeats the entire point of this forum and , indeed, my own comment, I would never ask anybody, whether that be family or friends or complete strangers on the internet, for thoughts on your putative baby names. It should be entirely you and your partner's choice. No name will ever please everyone and people's reasons for disliking a name are usually completely arbitrary and often irrational and should bear no weight with you.

Whatdomenactuallydo · 28/05/2026 14:05

Benedict becomes Ben's a dick in school. Have a rethink! Went to school with one ( state school). Miserable time for him. If he is off to Eton, ignore me!

Silverbirchleaf · 28/05/2026 13:59

Three great names on your list.

Other suggestions-
Tobias
Guy
Julius
Richard
Zachary
Adam

HorrorPudding · 28/05/2026 13:57

I have a now adult DS called Benedict. It’s quite a Catholic name but may not have that association for many people these days I guess. My DS is known as Ben day to day and finds that most people assume he is a Benjamin so he often has to correct the assumption on documents etc. I don’t come across many Benedicts.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 28/05/2026 13:53

TheGreyInThisCity · 28/05/2026 13:28

Thank you. These are all great ideas, and actually Francis was on the shortlist for DS, I’d forgotten!

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Francis was my granddad’s name and a family name, he was known as Frank.

Snugglemonkey · 28/05/2026 13:46

Benedict! James would be a lovely middle name.

Bunnyofhope · 28/05/2026 13:34

Benedict is fab, but I would imagine a high Catholic. Not quite Jacob Rees Mogg, but headed off in that direction.

AgnesMcDoo · 28/05/2026 13:34

James - love it
Edward - not bad
Benedict - awful

Original poster

TheGreyInThisCity · 28/05/2026 13:33

Byron1990 · 28/05/2026 12:52

I have an Edward and my other son’s middle name is Laurence, we also loved Julian, Hugh and William

I like Julian and Hugh, only issue with Hugh is that we sometimes called DS Laurie, I’m not sure I can have a Hugh and a Laurie 😅

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Original poster

TheGreyInThisCity · 28/05/2026 13:28

TomatoSandwiches · 28/05/2026 12:27

I like Edward and Benedict.

Names that go with Laurence,

Julian
Francis
Robert
Douglas
Rupert
Alistar
Christopher
Joseph
Neil
Eric

Thank you. These are all great ideas, and actually Francis was on the shortlist for DS, I’d forgotten!

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