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Baby names

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

Thoughts on Ludovic, Octavian, Julius and Lucian for a baby?

54 replies

LimeslemonsPomegranates · 06/07/2026 12:29

I am contemplating these for my short list.

Ludovic (Ludo):
Name of a family friend. It is a very ordinary name in France and Canada, it has the neutrality of a name like Michael, but is the French equivalent of Gary in terms of Gen X baby name popularity and is now almost completely unused for babies in France. Most people have probably heard of it as it has been used in low numbers in the UK for centuries and also via Ben Fogle's son. Is it still useable here for this generation? Alternative French form of Ludwig/Louis. Really the full name is just a way to shortcut to the cute Ludo (I quite like Labyrinth).

Octavian? I assume some sort of eighth association is needed to use this, 8th day of the month or 8th child, is it useable outside of that context?

Julius: I knew an intelligent and thoughtful Julius so generally positive associations for me, but that was a much older generation and names change in how they are used and perceived. Any positive or negative associations?

Lucian: Will it be Lucy?

Also if you had to choose between Ranulph and Edmund, which would you choose?

Thank you

OP posts:
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DeeNiall · 06/07/2026 16:22

Ridley4 · 06/07/2026 14:18

I have two friends whose dogs are called Ludo

Are they black labradors?

TheChewdors · 06/07/2026 16:19

All are wanky

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 16:16

ChamonixMountainBum · 06/07/2026 14:24

With names like that just make sure they attend a private school and not the local comp

🤣🤣🤣 dying here.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 16:15

Holdonforsummer · 06/07/2026 16:02

Crikey, I hate them all, sorry! They sound incredibly pompous.

Same. It’s a child you’re naming here.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 16:15

Anselm and Sixtus are 2 of Rees-Mogg’s children, lucky kids. Not Octavian.

Marmalade71 · 06/07/2026 16:13

I think they sound worse as a group than they would individually. In reality the only one on its own that would cause a 👀 in me would be Octavian which is, I’m sorry, ridiculously pompous.

All the others have charm and individuality without being silly. Do give some thought to the friendship group the lad is likely to have though.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 06/07/2026 16:10

Ludo and Julius are lovely names!

HoppityBun · 06/07/2026 16:05

How about something a bit less fanciful, like eg

Cosmo
Terence
Horatio
Lysander
Zebedee?

Holdonforsummer · 06/07/2026 16:02

Crikey, I hate them all, sorry! They sound incredibly pompous.

Firebird83 · 06/07/2026 15:41

These names are so Mumsnet pretentious 😁

The only one I like is Edmund

SleepingStandingUp · 06/07/2026 14:35

Oh and Edmund for pronunciations reasons a

SleepingStandingUp · 06/07/2026 14:34

Lucien was on my boys list, he can easily be a Lu or Luke. Octavia was on my girls l list. No number 8 assocs. Only heard of Octavian for a boy recently else it would've been in the list. For clarity though I have a Castiel so my choices aren't mainstream

yonem · 06/07/2026 14:26

Edmund is lovely.
Ranulph is dreadful sorry. There are few names I’d hate to be called more than this.
Much prefer Julian to Julius.
Octavian is a bit much.
Ludovic is ok but might seem a bit odd if no foreign ancestry.
I don’t love Lucian but I think the more likely nickname is Luce. It is open to bullying with Lucy though.

EspanaPorfavor · 06/07/2026 14:26

Very roman republicky!

I like Octavian though it does sound very grand. Ludo (Ludovic) is quite cool but a bit pet name like. Julius I’m not a fan of but maybe because I knew a pompous one. I prefer Julian. Lucian I prefer the spelling Lucien but I think it’s nice.

MegMortimer · 06/07/2026 14:25

I'm with the PP said all are great apart from Octavian which has definite Rees Mogg vibes.

ChamonixMountainBum · 06/07/2026 14:24

With names like that just make sure they attend a private school and not the local comp

bellventrico · 06/07/2026 14:22

I like them all except Octavian

Alouest · 06/07/2026 14:21

I really like Ludo(vic). Also like Julius and Lucian. Not mad keen on Octavian.

I know a Lucian and nobody calls him Lucy.

Lovephil · 06/07/2026 14:20

I like Edmund. Ludovic not bad. The rest all sound too pretentious to me. Sorry.

Ridley4 · 06/07/2026 14:18

I have two friends whose dogs are called Ludo

Fuckingfuckssake · 06/07/2026 14:16

I love Ludo, mainly because of Labyrinth.

DeeNiall · 06/07/2026 13:55

metalstrawsarecoldbutnotsoggy · 06/07/2026 13:51

I know a Lucien it’s pronounced loosh-uhn kind of and he definitely doesn’t get calls Lucy or Luci-anne.

Most people say Lucy-an.

metalstrawsarecoldbutnotsoggy · 06/07/2026 13:51

I know a Lucien it’s pronounced loosh-uhn kind of and he definitely doesn’t get calls Lucy or Luci-anne.

WackyMaccaThumbsAloft · 06/07/2026 13:49

Ludo/Ludovic is my favourite by far.

Octavian is a lot, and also likely to get misspelled as the more common Octavia. (If you like Octavian and Julius, how about Augustus?)

I'm not mad on Edmund but that may be because it's an ex's name. Ranulph is good but will be mistaken for Randolph (as it has been on this thread). I also worry that a name with only one well-known namesake is a bit of a hostage to fortune.

YourWinter · 06/07/2026 13:44

Ludo
or Julian (not Julius)