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Baby names

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

Original poster

Short go-anywhere boys' names. Adam? Simon?

166 replies

MrsBadger · 27/09/2009 14:43

we have tight criteria and are low on ideas.

Must be one or two syllables, not too easy to shorten and not an abbreviation of a longer classic (so not Tom, Ben, Joe).

Erring slightly on the side of poncey rather than ch modern or unique.

So far ideas include
Adam
Simon
John (tentative as is an uncle)
Alex (tentative due to Alex / Alexander rows)

wish we could use James but is already bagged.

middle name will be Henry, surname is one long syllable (think Stone or Rowe).

bring it on, oh wise MNers...

OP posts:
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Jamieandhismagictorch · 29/09/2009 13:34

Evan, deffo (sorry, I'm a bit obsessed .....)

Original poster
MrsBadger · 29/09/2009 13:22

yes that was him Lancelottie, well remembered
No to several otherwise good suggestions due to shortenings (Steve, Ed and Pete).
Austin was on the long-list in case dd was a boy but am not sure it passes the brickie test. DD would be thrilled with Justin but I am not buying

so far we have
Adam
Simon
Reuben
John
Aaron
Evan
Mark

I like Owen but growing up in Wales DH knew tons and got Owen-ed out. Like (um) Sarah - pretty name but I have had my quota, iyswim.

OP posts:
Lancelottie · 29/09/2009 13:06

Is it your DH who ruled out Eleanor as a bit too twee last time round?

And do you have v good reason for avoiding Laurence this time?

Meanwhile:
Owen?
Austin?
Justin?
Stephen?
Edmund?

GreatGooglyMoogly · 29/09/2009 12:50

Frank
Fred
Clive
Finn
Kurt

zipzap · 29/09/2009 12:38

How about:

Eli
Noah
Seth
Toby
Nico
Zeke

LadyMetroland · 29/09/2009 12:22

Do you like Peter? A timeless classic, fits all classes, and hardly any around these days (like John).

Or what about Justin?

Original poster
MrsBadger · 29/09/2009 12:05

put it this way, if we used Rory for this one we would sound very silly when calling them both

actually putting John with DH's name sounds a bit silly too

[mulls]

OP posts:
GreatGooglyMoogly · 29/09/2009 12:04

Glen
Paul
Keiran
Euan
Jack
Ethan
Claude

BonsoirAnna · 29/09/2009 11:56

Doesn't your DD have a name with a short o-sound? If your surname has a long o-sound maybe you should avoid yet more o variants and choose a name with a different vowel sound.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 29/09/2009 10:59

MrsBadger I love Evan. Please choose it.

Alternatively, if you want to play the Welsh card, what about Haydn (pronounced, confusingly, Hayden).

Great for a chorister !

Original poster
MrsBadger · 29/09/2009 09:50

Well no, exactly, no more than (eg) David, Daniel, Benjamin, Jonathan etc. In fact Aaron is on the shortlist if we can decide how it can be pronounced .

I'm not sure John is dull - like Jane and Susan it was once ubiquitous but not any more

Hugh, Rory, Miles and Giles are good ideas but perhaps erring too far towards the poncey - what if he (like DH) ends up in the pub with a lot of builders?

It's this fine line between chorister and brickie...

OP posts:
BonsoirAnna · 29/09/2009 09:02

Simon and Reuben are equally Jewish in my book . I like both, a lot.

DSS1 is Alexandre, and is mostly called Alex. It's a bit too ubiquitous. DP says he wouldn't choose it now, despite thinking it's a lovely name - he'd prefer something a little less used.

John is very dull!

Adam - OK. Doesn't excite me.

How about Giles? Very underused these days in English.

LittleMissWorryHead · 28/09/2009 22:26

Hamish, Fraser, Arlo, Peter and Leo all completely rock. Choose one of them....

missmem · 28/09/2009 22:12

Adam lovely and underused so there won't be many Adam's, if any, at his school.

Not keen on Simon.

Pollyanna · 28/09/2009 22:09

Rory
Giles
Miles
Max
Alan
Arlo
Owen
Mark
Hamish
Ian

5inthebed · 28/09/2009 22:02

Aaron?

pointydoug · 28/09/2009 21:58

Evan is nice, very nice.

No to Rhys.

Stinkyfeet · 28/09/2009 21:39

Daniel

crockydoodle · 28/09/2009 21:38

Robert
George

Original poster
MrsBadger · 28/09/2009 21:36

DH said Reuben too Jewish

but I have secretly kept it on the shortlist

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 28/09/2009 21:32

Ruben?

Original poster
MrsBadger · 28/09/2009 21:23

fimbo, if it's not a boy then there was a hell of a coincidentally placed bit of fluff on the lens of the scanner...

am considering Evan - we could play the Welsh card if necc. Rhys also possible but not sure it passes the chorister test.

OP posts:
pointydoug · 28/09/2009 20:41

I suppose you;ve considered Michael?

Nickname nightmares?

pointydoug · 28/09/2009 20:38

I know exactly tge sort of name you mean, badge.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 28/09/2009 17:27

Blimey, am forgetful today - Asa is also a favourite of mine