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Baby names

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

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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:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tartyflette · 04/09/2026 22:46

Christian is really not good, what if he wants to convert to a different religion? And why would you use the name if you’re not Christians?
Nicholas is a traditional name and takes shortening very well. Spencer might bring Spencer Matthews to mind (but probably not for very long, although his wife seems to be more well known) the others are just ok.

Sudagame · 04/09/2026 22:46

Saul - lovely name with a beautiful meaning...Hebrew meaning 'longed for' or 'prayed for'.

Sudagame · 05/09/2026 04:40

Ah l see you've added some specific names .....or maybe they were there originally. Apologies, it was late at night and l just saw 'we need a name, what's your favourite ?' Secretely hopes Saul is added

Homebird8 · 05/09/2026 04:55

Great list, I’ve used three of them so would be biased. Not sure I like the other two.

Iocanepowder · 05/09/2026 05:06

Francis is my favourite.

Least favourite is Christian.

Pinkyhere · 06/09/2026 00:26

Nicholas is my favourite
Also like Spencer

ByLilacMember · 06/09/2026 00:29

I love Francis

Any1ForTennis · 06/09/2026 00:31

Francis with nn Frank for a trendy modern twist if you want.

Any1ForTennis · 06/09/2026 00:34

MrsMoastyToasty · 02/09/2026 18:10

Not a J middle name with Hugh otherwise it may sound like Huge. Even worse if your surname is Balls or similar.

The rest are fine saints names and I also like Spencer.

Kid would probably love being called Hugh J Balls 😆. Brother to Richard presumably!

mathanxiety · 06/09/2026 02:25

I love Nicholas and Francis.

Not keen on Spencer or Christian. Hugh is ok.

Whoops75 · 06/09/2026 02:35

Love Nicholas.

UpDownAllAround1 · 06/09/2026 03:39

Any but not Hugh

opalfruits76 · 06/09/2026 09:58

Spencer

Moveoverdarlin · 06/09/2026 10:01

I would go James as a first name and Spencer as a middle name.

James is timeless whereas many in your list I feel are a bit dated.

TallagallaPenguin · 06/09/2026 10:51

Nicholas then Christian, as I like them both and also all nickname options.

NamingNoNames · 06/09/2026 11:25

TallagallaPenguin · 06/09/2026 10:51

Nicholas then Christian, as I like them both and also all nickname options.

Like Spike, Sonny or Chip?

WellThatsNotAGrowthMindset · 06/09/2026 12:01

Christian - I do like but used to prefer as a middle name (because of Shades of Grey/nip and tuck)

Francis - I was going to use but then the Pope nicked it

Nicholas - more keen on the nn Nick
Spencer - more keen on the nn Spence

Hugh - prefer Hugo

With all that in mind,

Christian James B.
Francis John B.
Nicholas James B.
Spencer Christian B.
Hugh Christian B.
(Hugh Jack no because of Jackman, Hugh Francis I like but think of Stu Francis)

I like Jack as a first name
I also like Caleb
And I like Joshua James (JJ)

I don't teach any Christians or Hughes, very few Nicholases or Francises.
Out your five, Spencer is the most popular in my school.

TallagallaPenguin · 06/09/2026 14:26

NamingNoNames · 06/09/2026 11:25

Like Spike, Sonny or Chip?

Show quote history

Wasn’t aware of those being particular nicknames for Nicholas or Christian, which is what I meant…

I meant that I think the more common nicknames Nick, Nicky, Nico, Kit or Chris are all good. I’m sure if OP wants to call him kiddo, pickle, sonny or bubbles she can do that as well!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 06/09/2026 18:44

Love them all except Spencer, which is a surname. If you look through old episodes of 'Are you being served' there is one where Mr Lucas has a puppet called 'Spencer the Spider' that he is frightening Miss Brahms with. I can never see the name Spencer without thinking of this!

thornbury · 06/09/2026 18:48

Nicholas - its a classic and works well in many languages.

SwanUpmanship · 06/09/2026 18:49

Nicholas or Francis are my favourites, I think they both go better with a one-syllable J- middle name than the others.

Between those two, consider how you might feel about possible nicknames (not something you can influence once the child is at school) - Nick/Frank/Frankie.

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