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Baby names

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

Original poster

Need help naming baby boy - what’s your favorite?

71 replies

ragnar21 · 02/09/2026 08:05

Continuing deliberations on our baby boys name (due in a few months) and we finally have a top 5!

Here are our top choices:

Christian
Francis
Nicholas
Spencer
Hugh

Middle name will most likely be James, but could also be Jack or John (all family names with equal importance). Surname is one syllable beginning with B.

Please let me know your favourite but please don’t be too negative about the others as I’m very sensitive to criticism and we have exhausted all other name options so it will definitely need to be one of these five. His big sister’s name is Hailey Elizabeth.

OP posts:
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LittleGreenShoots · 02/09/2026 18:00

I love Christian! It's such a strong manly name and not used very much. It gives me retro Christian Slater vibes.

Francis I'm not so keen on because it is unisex to the ear and I know a couple of female Frances's, so it feels a bit feminine to me.

bluescarf · 02/09/2026 18:00

I’d go for Hugh out of those. The others are all open to lots of nicknames which I don’t really like. I do like Spencer but he’d most probably be called Spen at school by friends.

Virtually all names become one syllable eventually!

Silverbirchleaf · 02/09/2026 17:58

Nicholas is my favourite.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/09/2026 17:53

Nicholas or Spencer.

17caterpillars1mouse · 02/09/2026 17:43

Christian - love this. I considered this gor my first baby but it was a bit too close to the Christian Grey era. Don't think thats an issue anymore. He could also go by Kit which is quite in at the moment

Francis - i used to like it, but then i met a few who all go by Frankie which i dont like, and they havent been the nicest children either

Nicholas - lovely. Nicky is cute on a toddler but i also really like just Nicholas. Ive not met a young Nicholas

Spencer - dislike, reminds me of made in chelsea

Hugh - it ok, seems on the rise, along with Hugo. So many baby / Toddler Hugo's about. Also know a few Huwie's under 10

MyCatIsAnAeroplane · 02/09/2026 16:56

Nicholas will forever be Nick, whether you like it or not.

Spencer is a bit lispy.

Francis is ok, and Frank is ok.

Hugh I like but doesn’t go with your middle names, not that it necessarily matters as when do you say them all aloud?

WritingMumm · 02/09/2026 16:53

Francis is cute and unusual.

i wouldn’t personally choose three one-syllable names so for that reason I wouldn’t choose Hugh.

Berlinlover · 02/09/2026 16:32

My favourite is Spencer.

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 02/09/2026 16:30

I like Nicholas and Francis the best.

GlaikitWeeNyaff · 02/09/2026 16:23

I like Hugh from your choices , or even Hugo.

fumingrightnow1 · 02/09/2026 16:21

I like Spencer

lydialucy · 02/09/2026 16:20

Nicholas

MyOtherProfile · 02/09/2026 16:19

I'm really hoping that one day a poster will be able to explain why they put a baby naming thread in Arts and Crafts. So far nobody has come back to tell us.

Xanadu58 · 02/09/2026 16:15

Nicholas or Spencer

luckylavender · 02/09/2026 16:12

I like Francis and Nicholas best. Spencer and Hugh are ok, Don't like Christian.

Daffodilsinthespring · 02/09/2026 16:10

Christian shortened to Kit.

PancakeCloud · 02/09/2026 16:06

Hugh or Francis

JoyousWriter · 02/09/2026 16:03

None of those but definitely not Nicholas (copper bottom)

AquamarinePearlGold · 02/09/2026 08:26

Ooo none of these are to my taste if I’m honest so I can’t choose or rank them for you op sorry.

Here are some other ideas, starting with the same letters for you:

Casper, Callum
Fintan, Freddie
Neo, Noah
Sylvan, Sonny,
Hamish, Henry,

Since our taste in names are clearly so different, you may well hate all of them!

HorseandHeron · 02/09/2026 08:08

I've always liked Francis. It's classic and yet underused. Also like Christian.

Less keen on Nicholas (knickerless), Spencer (Marks &) or Hugh, which sounds a bit like someone sneezing.

toomuchtodaytoomuch · 02/09/2026 08:07

All lovely names! Personally I like Spencer the most.

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