Pretentious/ try hard/ boring? Your thoughts please!

[flox]

Hi all, what are your thoughts on the following names on our shortlist:

Jasper
Albert
Benjamin

We love all of them but there seems to be a slight downside or two to all of them (we're a fussy, indecisive pair!). With Jasper we're concerned it's a bit try hard or too unusual and Benjamin too boring for example.

Naming a baby seems such a big decision so we want to get it right but we're now going round in circles of indecision! Your help is much appreciated. Ta!

Jasper....too common
Albert...trying too hard
Benjamin...ok but very popular

I love them all.

Love Jasper not keen on the others

Jasper -

Albert - great, brilliant. nn Bert?
Benjamin - love it, but very popular

Albert Benjamin

Jasper and Albert are very classic imo, not pretentious at all. Benjamin is too, of course, but there are a thousand and one Bens and it depends whether you want to add to the pile.

Also, if anyone has an idea how popular each of our shortlist names is, that would be very helpful. We've no idea! Ta again!

They're all nice Albert may be a little too of the moment, so may date quite quickly.

like them all, and haven't heard any of them around this very southerly neck of the woods ...........

I hate Albert but love Jasper and Benjamin.

In order of preference.....

1. Jasper
2. Benjamin
3. Albert

Unfortunately the ONS has stopped publishing the top baby names lists. The most recent one was 2008, have a look at this top 100 boys names 2004-2008

There's also a list of all boys' names used in England and Wales in 2008 (not just the top 100).

#18 - Benjamin - 3274 babies
#170 - Albert - 294 babies
#196 - Jasper - 241 babies

So Jasper and Albert are pretty close in terms of popularity, with Benjamin way out in front.

Have you considered Benedict (#382, 99 babies)?

Or use Benedick, from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Jasper is lovely. Also like Caspar.

Love Jasper. Classic but somehow quirky too.

Albert - Growing on me the more I think about it, but don't like Bert much.

Benjamin - Can't believe Benjamin was still so popular in 2008. I think every other boy was called Ben when I was at school (I'm 32 btw). Definitely too popular for my choice.

The problem for em is that they all have associateions

"Oh, Sir Jasper do not touch me...."

The lion's et Albert. And him in his Sunday clothes too...." and

Banjamin Bunny.

Too much and too varied reading in my youth I'm afraid!

Thanks for all your replies so far, a great help, please keep them coming.

To everyone who's voting for Jasper, I really love the name too and keep wondering why it isn't more popular. Why is this?

I only know of 1 Jasper and he's in his 70s, so not common arounf this midling parts either. I think it's a great name.

Bertie/bert is a cute boy nn but not sure for an adult.

Benedick from 'Much Ado about Nothing'?

I think that Jasper is gaining popularity because of the Twilight films. I adore it but DH thinks it may end up being a bit trendy and over used for a time. In answer to your question: Jasper all the way, I am just bitter it has been vetoed for me!

Benjamin

There are a lot of Alberts around here, and I think it will be used by people who want an alternative to the ubiquitous Freddie/Alfie, and so will become very popular too.

Tbh I don't like it much.

Jasper I like but then I hadn't realised it was in Twilight. Any name which is in that complete pile of crap is automatically a no-no in my book!

So, name your child Ben. Or if you want something less common, I agree that Benedick/Benedict (provided you are not in the US!) might be a good way to go.

ahem - sorry yes, wrong play - Benedick is in Much Ado about Nothing - he is the lover of Beatrice.

There's a Jasper Rabbit, as well as Benjamin Bunny. Albert is fine, imo. Passes the bunny test anyhow.

Benedict
Arnold
Justin
Fabian
Julian
Emmett
Tobias
?

Love Jasper