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Baby names

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

Original poster

Atticus, or Louie, or Tomas, or something else?

31 replies

Spink · 18/07/2008 11:32

I'm wasting time when I should be doing something productive and losing myself in a baby name pit Pg with no2, not even sure if it is a boy... but we have a sort of short list already and want reactions!

we've got a definite middle name, dh's mum's maiden name, she died of cancer a few years ago so we want to honour her - it will be Cleary

So with our possible first names:
Atticus Cleary
Louie Cleary
Tomas Cleary

our surname is one syllable and pretty unusual. often have to spell it..

Any ideas?

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hatrick · 18/07/2008 18:41

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Original poster
Spink · 18/07/2008 18:31

dh is now saying Henry.
I quite like Henry
but Henry Cleary?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spink · 18/07/2008 18:31

squonk - not for AAAAAGES, due date is 12 Jan. ds was 2 weeks early, and both i and my bro were 2 & 3 weeks early, so my ma tells me to prepare myself for a Christmas or NYear labour. Got any plans over the festive season???
Of course, now, having said that I'll prob go overdue and s/he'll be a Feb babe like ds

OP posts:
MadamePlatypus · 18/07/2008 16:44

It has to be Atticus. Atticus is such a great character.

OurHamsterisevil · 18/07/2008 16:37

Love Atticus and Louie. Thomas is a bit boring IMO. But I like wierd names

cyteen · 18/07/2008 15:06

When I encounter a Louis I never know whether he's a Louie or a Lewis, as people will use Louis for both pronunciations, and I don't assume one or the other as getting people's names wrong bugs me.

I don't like either version anyway, but to say that confusion automatically equals daftness is a bit wrong.

fryalot · 18/07/2008 15:06

spink - ooooh yes, I would love to come on your birth thread

when are you due? (not that it matters, I'll be there anyway)

Ledodgy · 18/07/2008 15:04

Well he was daft then.

LadyThompson · 18/07/2008 15:03

Yeah, but Louis Armstrong used to pronounce his OWN name Loo-iss, it was everyone else that called him Loo-ee.

Original poster
Spink · 18/07/2008 15:00

argh, yes what am I thinking. thanks for the reality check, ledodgy & flowerybeanbag
I will not bend to people's daftness in the future. It is their daftness. let them have it.

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flowerybeanbag · 18/07/2008 14:59

Well quite.

Ledodgy · 18/07/2008 14:57

I agree and at least it will help you sort out the weeds from the chaff if people haven't heard of Louis Armstrong, Louis XIV or Louis Theroux they aren't worth knowing.

flowerybeanbag · 18/07/2008 14:56

If Tomas isn't for a poncey reason then that's lovely.

I think trying to accommodate people's daftness isn't a good reason for going with Louie. The correct spelling is Louis and I think most people know how it's pronounced, you might have to correct some people but if you spell it Louie, you'll be continually correcting people's spelling of it.

Imagine if he's a high court judge or a newsreader or something and it's spelled Louie. Louis much better imo.

Disclaimer: my dog is called Louis and when we went to the vet the other day we were called in to our appointment as 'Lewis'. Louis didn't even look up and she had to say it twice to get my attention!

Ledodgy · 18/07/2008 14:52

I don't know really it depends how daft people are.

Original poster
Spink · 18/07/2008 14:51

Do you think people are likely to pronounce louis loo-is rather than loo-ey? if so, is spelling it "louie" the best shot at getting it pronounced the way we want??

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Original poster
Spink · 18/07/2008 14:45

I don't mind spelling Louis or Louie actually, want the pronounciation loo-ey and would go with whichever spelling is easier for people I think

Tomas would be spelled like that because of my nationality and that is the way we spell it! I have a valid reason for a diff spelling, not being poncey honest

I've always had 2 unusual names, had to spell both of them, and now I'm married I've got another name I need to spell (thankfully a short one). It didn't ever particularly bother me, tbh, and for that reason I'm not too concerned about giving a 'safer' first name.
Having said that I don't want my dcs to have unusual names for the sake of it, as LookattheLottie said, there are lots of Toms, and that is fine, I just want a name that we like!

Don't suppose this list have made you think of any others we might like?

and hello squonk! - I've been lurking on Franny's overdue thread and silently applauding your doula-ness. Can you come to my giving birth thread please??

OP posts:
cyteen · 18/07/2008 14:44

Tomas is lovelier!

LullyOfShallot · 18/07/2008 14:37

Atticus is lovely

flowerybeanbag · 18/07/2008 14:35

Not Atticus.

If Louie spell it Louis
If Tomas spell it Thomas

Ledodgy · 18/07/2008 14:34

But lewis is spelt lewis. Louis is spelt Louis.

overthemill · 18/07/2008 14:32

had a friend who called ds Louis and he was always called loo - is. but she wanted it loo - ey

Ledodgy · 18/07/2008 14:30

Louis and Thomas.

LookattheLottie · 18/07/2008 14:30

Don't like Atticus at all, sorry.

Thomas, well you'll get another 5 in the class but it's a 'safe' name I suppose. I think Tom is very sweet for a wee boy. Nice name, but popular.

I LOVE Louie, although you will spend lots of time spelling it for people.

jette · 18/07/2008 14:29

Its not that hard to spell Atticus!

norkmaiden · 18/07/2008 14:25

I like them all, but not sure I'm brave enough for Atticus. No reason why you shouldn't be though!