How popular is Monty?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Have you come across many?

My DH really likes it (I'm still holding out for Patrick, despite some concerns), but I'm not sure it's really us. I think it might be a bit aspirational for us - he'll go to the local comprehensive, not a private school.

What do you think?

I think you feel (I speak for myself and then generalise, of course!) that somehow girls carry get away with a more unusual name, and I don't think the same is true for a boy. I don't know why that should be, though. So, in a way that would bother me hugely if our girls' names became really popular, it doesn't bother me too much if Monty does - if that makes any sense at all. I think it might end up as popular as Theo, and Gabriel like you say, but maybe not so popular as Alfie - but really, who knows?

We have an Irish surname, though FIL s Scottish (but his family from Ireland originally) and FIL was astounded that we'd used a 'Scottish' middle name (Hamish) for DS. He asked why the Scottish link (my grandfather was Scottish too). For DS we should have just picked 'English' names apparently (he also can't get over the fact that my cat is called 'Angus').

Well, I'm nearly there - I almost can imagine him being a Monty. It's just the full name bit.

I'm not sure that Montgomery, Montague or Montmorency goes with our other DC's names (Romilly, Nancy,& Joseph).

I know a couple but I also know quite a few Patricks too.

I know two labradors called Monty (black, lively, slobbery but fun).

Patrick is great, under-used, lots of nickname potential.

I think that Montgomery goes best with your other DC's names (which are fab by the way - great taste!)

I vetoed Monty for both DS's. The second time DP came really close to getting his way but I didn't feel it "went" with DS1's name by then. But he wanted to use Montague, as it rhymes with our surname. I saved the poor child needless to say. I can quietly admit on here though that I do think it's a pretty great name.

Not keen - v posh sounding.

May not be too bad if you are, in fact, v posh!

It's awful,very wet,and all I can picture is a labrador.

i know a 2 and a half yr old Monty, he is a lovely sweet little boy and i like the name, i dont think its hugely popular but might be one of those names that becomes so?

its a much better name than patrick imo.

I'm not sure that Monty on its own really goes with your other dc's names either... sorry. Joseph is such a classic and elegant name, I would think a brother named Monty had got a raw deal. Absolutely love both your dd's names by the way.

Oh blimey - it really is a love or hate name isn't it? And no, we're not posh and I'm just worried that it'll sound like we're trying to be.

I wasn't entirely sure if it 'went' with the other names either, but sometimes you're too close to it to tell. I'm not even sure Monty 'goes' with our surname - sounds a bit like a place when you say it. Hmmmmmm.

"Not keen - v posh sounding. May not be too bad if you are, in fact, v posh!"

But how can you tell if the OPs ds will be 'posh' or not? I really struggle with this categorisation of names and people. What defines someone being posh anyway? Education, money, accent, what? I thought we're over this class issue now....

thereislight - just seen yr comment, - not offended at all! Quite flattered really. Just extremely middle class, but not married posh, not living posh, but no-one has ever looked weirdly at us, like 'off to the nearest public school with you...'

tammytoby you know I think the class thing is still going strong, sadly.

It's reassuring that you say that no one has ever looked weirdly at you for picking Monty, grumpypants. I mean - where I live there are loads of boys named 'Louis', 'Theo', 'Alex' and 'Caspar' and I suppose they're no less posh but does anyone bat an eyelid about those names? I know I don't.

I know one two year old Monty who is down for the local prep school.

I love, love, love, love it.

I know two Montys. One has a brother Carson and the other a sister Eliza.

Personally I don't like surnames as first names so it's not for me. I prefer Jonty as a NN for John or Jonathan.

I'm not sure I would have said that Monty is a surname as a first name - but I suppose I can see what you mean. I think it's been long established as a first name not to fall into that category, though.

Monty is a short form of Montgomery or Montague, which are both surnames used as first names. Yes, used as first names for a while now so I guess it's the same as Harvey, Sidney, Stanley.

(And even Montmorency) Yes, I agree with you - though as it's well established, I don't think it's in the Carson, Tucker, Tyler, Mitchell category - well it doesn't seem so to me.

Incidentally, our DD's name orginally started as a place name, then a surname before becoming a boys' name and is now more often used for a girl. I guess this is what happens with names.

I love Monty. DS3 would have been Monty but when he arrived he just didn't look like one. (his birth certificate would have been Montgomery).

I find the MN class obsession thing funny - surely one either likes a name and it works with one's surname/child's siblings or it doesn't. So you choose it or you don't. Does it really matter what other people think?

FWIW, Jasper was the other name on our very short shortlist - but he didn't look like one of them either - so he's a Rory instead....but I still wish we'd gone with Monty - even though I know a couple now. (We also have a 6 yr old Theo(dore) - ahead of the curve, but am a bit sad at how popular it now is.)

I'm not really sure if it's an MN obsession - for me MN is somewhere for me to discuss naming concerns without talking to people on RL. I think those issues are there (for me) in RL, too.

I do like the name Monty (not quite as much as my DH does!!) and I'm possibly over-thinking things. I do have reservations (see very dull posts from me above :)) and I'm not 100% sure it works with other DC's names or our surname - but DH hates the naming process and has switched off - so I've only got people on MN to bore to death with my ramblings.

I've never heard monty used for anything other that a dog apart from in the simpsons. Hold out for Patrick IMO.

Hmmm - we seem to have stopped discussing it at home. It's annoying as I like to have a name by now as I think it helps me bond a bit. I hope that doesn't sound too daft.

Monty is on my top favourites list despite my parents having a dog called Monty years ago, and yes he was very naughty (he used to stick his head through the next door neighbours cat flap scrounging for food, they did feed him waitrose sausages though so I guess he wasn't to blame). Its not put me off, I think its unusual - which is a good thing, just need to pursuade DH that its a good choice.