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Baby names

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

Recognisable but uncommon boy names please!

104 replies

Firsttimebabymummy · 27/07/2026 16:31

Brother for Alexandra. Prefer traditional/ classic feel.
Alexandra was perfect as lots of nn options, not too popular and not too out there. We like the Regal feel.
The names don't need to 'match' but this gives you an example of what we like.

Really struggling with boys names so open to any suggestions you can think of please!

So far we like Frederick but feel it's too popular.
Maverick as an alternative- not sure.
James- we both love the name but have a negative association.
Jonathan
Sullivan
Matthew
Timothy- but is alliteration with surname.

Can't use Louis, Christopher, Edward, George or William.

Not so keen on 'ie' names such as Alfie and Archie.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SleepingStandingUp · 28/07/2026 23:51

Sebastian would be my pick for you

Pieceofpurplesky · 28/07/2026 23:46

Zachariah
Nicholas
Gabriel
Lucas

dreamingofgoodhair · 28/07/2026 23:45

Rex - regal

Strokethefurrywall · 28/07/2026 23:40

I have a 12 year old Sullivan. He loves his name, but it’s definitely not regal.

Giraffehaver · 28/07/2026 22:16

Rufus

SummerNocturnal · 28/07/2026 21:32

Raphael/Rafi
Caleb
Sebastien
Maxim
Jude
Lysander

Ipollita · 28/07/2026 21:29

Emmett
Felix
Owen
Isaac
Martin

Vaguelyclassical · 28/07/2026 21:18

villamariavintrapp · 27/07/2026 16:38

Baldrick?

ooh, cunning!

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 28/07/2026 14:21

Iknowthatfeeling · 27/07/2026 16:49

Sullivan is a name I rarely see recommended on these threads yet has a lovely nickname option and is very recognised and easy to spell! I wouldn't personally choose it but it's actually a lovely name and would fit well with your preference.

I know a 20-year-old Sullivan who goes by Sully. I have to admit, I do not think it's a lovely nickname due to the meaning of the word "sully".

Runsaway · 28/07/2026 14:18

Neither Maverick nor Sullivan go at all.
Conrad
Rupert
Maximilian
Ferdinand
Peter
Caspar
John

Imtiredthisyear · 28/07/2026 13:39

Jasper, it compliments beautifully.

IAmARayOfSunshine · 28/07/2026 13:31

Maverick isn’t great and it’s a big name to live up to!

James is very safe, bit dull. Definitely not uncommon. Frederick is popular or at least Freddie is. George is probably the most common name in my DC’s school.

User6761 · 28/07/2026 09:06

I love Matthew and Peter. Other ideas...

Alexandra and
Roderick
Samuel
Quentin
Cameron
Jasper
Vincent
Victor
Owen
Wilfred
Benjamin

aberturret · 28/07/2026 08:46

Alexandra has a slight Scottish feel to me so what about:

Alastair
Andrew
Angus
Finlay
Fraser
Callum
Cameron
Brodie
Lennox
Lachlan
Lewis
Blair
Murray
Euan
Innes

Notellinganyone · 28/07/2026 08:39

A lot of the suggestions, Maverick, Donovan, Sullivan are a totally different vibe to Alexandra which is classic. Edmund is a good shout. Unusual but not daft and has similar royal connotations.

Hedjwitch · 28/07/2026 08:39

Simon
Magnus
Laurence
Angus
Joseph
Nicholas
Fabien
Christian

user1492757084 · 28/07/2026 08:33

David
Ormond
Eric
Kenrick
Lennox
Merrick
Doveton
Hendrix
Barry
Forbes

Thistimearound · 28/07/2026 08:24

Maxwell or Maximilian?
Tobias

Underused but traditional boys names are the holy grail really. So few choices compared to girls. Once we’d vetoed the names we couldn’t used due to close family or surname I never felt we had that much choice. Even names I felt to be a bit “out there” all seemed to be in the Top 100.

Sullivan is a nice name but not at all traditional, regal etc. I’d expected someone who liked Sullivan to also be considering other surname names like Cooper, Harris etc.

Helenbelena · 28/07/2026 07:38

Alexandra &

Nicholas
Quentin
Robert
Jonathan
Dominic

Thepossibility · 27/07/2026 22:06

I only know one Maverick and he is the most fab child. Smart and gifted at sports. Great name. Mav and Alex.

tartyflette · 27/07/2026 22:06

Patrick. A classic — not unusual but not exactly common either. Unless you’re in Ireland.

Mumofgirls2017 · 27/07/2026 22:02

I wouldn’t go for maverick as it’s very different to your other favourites and it’s not very classic.

Alexandra and

arthur
sebastian
nicholas
leonard
leopold
daniel
oliver
elliott
theodore
Franklin
zachary
wilfred
maxwell
vincent
douglas
stanley
benjamin

tonotcare · 27/07/2026 21:46

Laurence/ Laurie

timoteigirl · 27/07/2026 21:44

Thinking of royal names:
Daniel
Julian
Carl
Gabriel
Caspian
Casimir
Christian
Vincent

Lampzade · 27/07/2026 21:39

I know you don’t want James but that is the first name that came to mind

Dominic
Nicholas - the only issue is that the name will be shortened to the dreadful sounding ‘Nick’
Sebastian would be great