OK - a dilemma. Which would you choose?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

So far, after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing at home and here, on MN, we might've whittled it down to a shortlist of two.

Patrick or Angus

There really aren't any other contenders.

Here's the problem:

(I've mentioned this before - apologies to those of you who've already responded) DH has a nephew in his 20s called Patrick. If we use this name the surname will also be the same.

Angus is the name that my DH picked straightaway but I discounted initially, but it is a name I really like. The reason I discounted it is that it's also the name of our cat.

In DH's family - names repeat themselves and while this obviously isn't a problem within his family, I'd quite like our new DS to have his own name (DS1 has the same name as Grandfather, but as they are of different generations, I don't think this matters so much).

Any thoughts?

Light, I see you're still in a quandry - just like us with the name Jasper! It is so difficult - I can't even say, like you, that I was nearly going to give the cat any other name than Jasper as Jasper is the name we love.

We've been trying out the cat's new name but it is very difficult to see and call him anything other than Jasper. I know the cat couldn't care less what we call him - it's just our heads we can't get round it!

Dear oh dear, what a pair we are ;)

I prefer Patrick, but have only known dogs called Angus.

What did you rename your cat, treecloud?

Barney = but it ain't going well so far :S

Oh dear - I hope it sticks soon.

Mind you, I call all my kids (and the cat) each others' names most of the time so they're all pretty used to answering to anything - so they might not even notice!!

My parents gave their dog the same name as me.

Turtle, so the dog was named after or before you arrived? How did you feel about it?

So, in theory, your parent's dog should be offended? :)

The dog came after me. Way after, I was about 30.

I'm not sure the dog was offended exactly, but we never liked each other. (Me and the dog, that is, not the parents!)

sorry skippingturtle but that's really made me laugh

thereisalightanditnevergoesout
Sorry I didnt mean to be annoying about finding another baby name book, I know how you feel, i've been looking for over 40 wks now and still undecided (If this goes on, I start my 42nd wk of pregnancy on thurs :S) its just that I have 8 baby name books and I've only really liked this one ...

www.amazon.co.uk/Brilliant-Book-Baby-Names-Whats/dp/0007258895/ref=pd_sim_b_6

Happy to oblige sedgie. The really funny thing is that my parents didn't think it was remotely weird...

OP, I think you should go for Gus for the baby. Controversial, I know.

sedgiebaby you weren't annoying and sorry if I made you think I was annoyed - I'm just fed up - but then, I can see you must be too! Blimey - 40 weeks of searching. You see, normally, we're (by 'we' I mean 'I am') normally pretty much decided by the 12 week scan (sometimes I've even had something in mind prior to conception - I know how scary and controlling that makes me sound, btw :)) so this is all a bit new.

I've got a feeling I'll be posting one of those 'Help - the baby's 6 weeks old and is being registered at 3 O'clock but we haven't decided on a name yet' posts.

I will check out that book - thamk you for the tip. And I hope you find something soon, too. You'll let us know, won't you? xxx

I think Angus is much much nicer than Patrick.... & he is a very old cat! [cat]

Btw that baby name book is the one I always recommend - it really is very good.

I prefer Angus. I don't see a problem with the cat ... I mean, you love the cat, you chose a name you love and if you name your DC Angus the cat will then become the longest lived pet in history

I doubt many of your extended family know your cat's name - just call the cat Bagpuss or Cat or something.

I worked with someone who had been named Timothy after his parents' goldfish ....

My husband was given the same name as the family dog! I like Angus best - go for it!

I'm amazed you have a cat who seems to know what his name is and pay attention when you shout it Mine is sublimely indifferent.

Having said that, I love Patrick. Angus for some reason I can't work out makes me think of heaps of fish on trawlers. Although I like Gus, for the baby.

That's really tough. Two excellent names. I'm going to say Patrick but I do love Angus too (and Fergus).

Francis isn't an option, sadly - our surname begins with F and I don't like alliterative names - and we also have a Nancy - it might sound like we have a Sinatra thing :).

Has anyone commented about Frank and Nancy to your sister?

I don't have a problem with the Sinatra thing, really - I can just imagine it being one of those things I'll forever be explaining - though that could say more about the people I know and am related to, I suppose...

Yes - I think Francis/Frances is great. Just a bit peeved, for hat reason, I married Mr F!