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OK, big ask this one but please help!

98 replies

meadowlarks · 27/09/2010 18:51

Right, DP and I are TTC. So I know this may seem astronomically early to be discussing names but if you knew how polarised our tastes were you'd understand that the sooner we can work something out the less torturous this process has to be.

Basically, for a boy, we both have really set ideas of what we want. I like posh more traditional names and he prefers more common straightforward ones that are generally shorter. So, as a compromise we'd like a longer name that can be shortened easily. So far, we like:

Augustus nn Gus
Bartholomew nn Bart
Walter nn Walt
Algernon nn Algy
Wilfred nn Wilf
Jeremiah nn Jem

However, there are exceptions to this: I have a massive Italian name fetish and I love Nero (yes, really), Jacopo, Raphael and Giuseppe. The problem is, we're not Italian in any way and fear it might look odd on an English kid. We also like Vere (a family name on both sides), Cuthbert (my granddad) and Alban.

For girls, we both think Julia's beatiful (think Diana Quick in Brideshead Revisited) but maybe a little common. We also like Astrid, Elizabeth and Minerva.

Any suggestions/comments would be welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
duncandisorderly · 27/09/2010 18:55

I hope you have a girl.

belgo · 27/09/2010 18:55

Angus/Fergus/Gustavo can all be nicknamed Gus.
What about
Gilbert/Bertie

Don't call him Nero! It's dreadful. No good associations at all.

It would be hard to get away with Guiseppe if you are not italian; but Raphael is fine.

NomDePlume · 27/09/2010 18:57

You cannot saddle a child with Cuthbert or Walter. Cruel

Italian / obviously foreign names on blatantly non-foreign kids just looks utterly pretentious.

jpg · 27/09/2010 18:58

girls would fare better in your world Smile but beautiful does have a u in it Grin

SoupDragon · 27/09/2010 18:59

Julia's knife. Not common at all.

meadowlarks · 27/09/2010 18:59

Righto. So pretty much none then?

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SoupDragon · 27/09/2010 19:00

Nice.

Damn iPad autocorrectt!!

rubyslippers · 27/09/2010 19:00

I don't think any of the boys names are great TBH

astrid is fabulous though

SoupDragon · 27/09/2010 19:01

Bart is too tied up with the Simpsons to be usable.

meadowlarks · 27/09/2010 19:02

Right...so maybe you'd like to suggest something better then?

OP posts:
belgo · 27/09/2010 19:04

Don't worry about the Simpsons, they are practically over.

ChynaDoll2006 · 27/09/2010 19:05

Reginald nn Reggie?

minipie · 27/09/2010 19:05

Not that keen on your longer boys' names tbh especially Cuthbert and Algernon - they are just asking to be the subject of much teasing.

Also not sure about a very Italian name if you have no Italian connection... However some of the less frilly Italian names are getting more common in England, eg Luca or Nico.

What about:

Edmund nn Ed
Frederick nn Fred
Benjamin (or Benedict) nn Ben
Maximilian nn Max
Dominic nn Dom
Nathaniel nn Nat or Nate
Alexander nn Alec or Alex?

(I like your girls' names, and don't think Julia is particularly common).

meadowlarks · 27/09/2010 19:07

Totally forgot to say we also really like Elias, which I suppose is a bit less cringeworthy.

minipie - Thanks, good suggestions.

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RumourOfAHurricane · 27/09/2010 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Haliborange · 27/09/2010 19:10

You're really not allowed to call a child Nero. What a name to live up (or down) to!

Your girl's names are better than the boys ones, with the exception of Minerva who can only be a kaftan-wearing bossy boots.

Alban isn't so bad.

Haliborange · 27/09/2010 19:10

Like Elias a LOT.

NomDePlume · 27/09/2010 19:11

Your girls choices are nice

meadowlarks · 27/09/2010 19:13

DP has just told me to post Leonora and Beatrix. We'd crossed them off but what the hell...

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openerofjars · 27/09/2010 19:15

Are you sure you're not pg and the crazy lady hormones are starting to kick in? Grin

I don't think you can call a baby Wilf unless you're going to stick a false moustache on him, but Julia, Astrid and Elizabeth are fine.

Minerva is 93 but still has all her own teeth and joined the WRNS in the war because she liked the uniform...

Needaname · 27/09/2010 19:16

All the girls' names are nice but Minerva has Harry Potter connotations for me. I don't know any baby or child Julias so I don't think it's common.

Wilfred and Jeremiah (and the nn's) are the only ones that wouldn't raise an eyebrow (too high) - and Raphael too which is used by people without Italian connections now. Feel free to ignore me though because they've all been on my list at some stage!

We're going with Christian nn Kit or Hugo if that helps.

NomDePlume · 27/09/2010 19:16

I like Benedict & Bart

NomDePlume · 27/09/2010 19:17

I love Hero for a girl (obv) but could never use it myself

NomDePlume · 27/09/2010 19:23

Sebastian

Ptolomy (sorry)

Lucian

SoupDragon · 27/09/2010 19:23

Benedict is good
Leonora, not one Idd go for but it's not w brow-raiser
Beartrix, have never liked this, i much prefer Beatrice.
Elias is nice

Nathaniel?