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Baby names

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

Original poster

Plain surname crazy first name?

60 replies

SAEJ · 03/02/2009 00:27

DH and I can't decide. . . . we have a bland surname - Johnson - yawn (have to say my maiden name was better but I was feeling traditional!).

So, if we have a plain surname then do you think that means you can get away with a more unusual first name (particularly for a boy who is less likely to change surname) or should it be plain plus plain??

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VeryAnnieMary · 03/02/2009 12:36

Humphrey! In memory of Chairman Humph! I think Humphrey Johnson is nice.

(Am bitter about being at work again after snow day so am obsessing...)

CarryOnUpTheLiffey · 03/02/2009 11:52

Alice, I completely agree, even if I rang somebody after twenty years and said

"it's rachel smith" (eg) because it's just such a normal name it's still entirely possible that I might have to say, you know me from workplacexyz! and then they'd remember me instantly, but my name, in its entirety is so bland that it doesn't automatically instantly ring bells after a long time. I know this to be true!!

CarryOnUpTheLiffey · 03/02/2009 11:48

Monty Victor Johnson would be fabulous.

CarryOnUpTheLiffey · 03/02/2009 11:47

Also, make sure that the middle name is unusual for his generation.

My parents compounded the boring sur name and boring first name by giving me the middle name of Jane. Which I don't dislike, but it is Normal+Normal+Normal.

There are millions of me, in UK, Australia, America, NZ, SA, Ireland, it's ridiculous!

Original poster
SAEJ · 03/02/2009 11:42

Opps, Barnabas. Typo. . . .

Funny because Lyndon is my Dads name (he is welsh) and his initials are LBJ - Lyndon Badge (another welsh name. I have never heard of Badge used anywhere else.

I like Monty too but am just not sure about Montgomery, don't really like the idea of christening a child with just Monty - I would prfere to give them the full name to give it longevity.

OP posts:
CarryOnUpTheLiffey · 03/02/2009 11:38

I meant to add that that is one way of making sure that the name as a whole is rarer.

CarryOnUpTheLiffey · 03/02/2009 11:37

Yes I think so.

My name is not this, but along the lines of, Elizabeth Cooper.

You should see how many of me there are on facebook.

My mother's first name is a different nationality to our surname. Eg, Clodagh Cooper. This means that although neither of her names is uncommon, the combination is rarer.

MrsBadger · 03/02/2009 11:32

yes, Barnabas

seeker · 03/02/2009 11:22

Isn't it Barnabas, not Barnabus? Or am I wrong?

MarmadukeScarlet · 03/02/2009 11:14

Nothing wrong with Marmaduke

We have the kind of forrin surname that makes folk ask several times what it is!

I have gone for strong traditional names from that country (unusal and but getting more usual sadly overhere) so folk concentrate more on the firstname than on the slightly amusing surname.

I like Monty too, although reminds me of the short form of Johnathon - Jonty, which several of my DB's school friends were saddled with.

I knew a great Digby, although now think of friend's Labrador.

Agree about the plain middle name suggestion, both my two have 'normal' ones to give them the option in future.

LuLuBai · 03/02/2009 11:04

PMSL @ Boris

kalo12 · 03/02/2009 10:54

like boris you mean?

yes definately

rutger
lucas
rodrigo

LuLuBai · 03/02/2009 10:52

Yup - go unusual. I've known two John Johnsons.

Love Digby, Wilbur and Barnaby (which I think works better with your surname than Barnabus although in isolation I like both equally).

It's like Inigo Jones, Indiana Jones or Zadie Smith - memorable and distinctive because their first names are out of the ordinary.

wheresthehamster · 03/02/2009 09:59

Didn't copy you - honestly

wheresthehamster · 03/02/2009 09:58

lol at Lyndon Johnson

Digby sounds best from your list. I don't like the others. Barnaby is better than Barnabus. Although I quite like Monty Johnson.

christiana · 03/02/2009 09:54

Message withdrawn

VeryAnnieMary · 03/02/2009 09:52

ps Wilbur is gorgeous.

MadameCastafiore · 03/02/2009 09:50

Our second name is a boring Brown and DS is called Max - it isn't boring but manly and strong - well I think so.

I like Wilbur - he can shorten it to Wil when he gets teased at least!

SoMuchToBits · 03/02/2009 09:49

too wacky I mean (before the pedants descend!)

SoMuchToBits · 03/02/2009 09:49

I would choose something that is interesting and unusual, without being to wacky. I would then give him a more plain middle name, so that if he really hates his first name, he has a bit of choice.

VeryAnnieMary · 03/02/2009 09:47

I agree - I was once a Jones and wish I'd kept it in order to have some first-name fun. I listened to a radio play with a character called Iolanthe Jones once - love it! Sadly DP surname is more"exotic" and difficult to spell so it's Marys and Johns for us to compensate...

MrsBadger · 03/02/2009 09:46

I actually like Montgomery
Monty Johnson is pretty cool - I like the assonance of the similar vowel sounds

Tiberius? Isembard?

shoobidoo · 03/02/2009 09:39

Agree with others that a common first name combined with a common surname (Johnson) is boring and will make his name much less memorable.

However, teaming Johnson with a more interesting/unique name will give him a higher profile in people's minds which, imo, is a clear advantage.

I particularly like

Montgomery Johnson
Quentin Johnson
Wilbur Johnson

Original poster
SAEJ · 03/02/2009 06:30

Nooka - DH also wanted me to consieder Marmaduke........

OP posts:
nooka · 03/02/2009 06:03

Exactly seeker. I have an unusual name which I love. But I always get very positive feedback about it. I doubt Caravaggio will have that experience, and what on earth is the point if he always calls himself Cal (although Calvin is cool).

Giving your child a name that he may well be ashamed of is not the best gift in the world. Not that I think the OP is on that track (although Heathcliff comes bloody close IMO)