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Baby names

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

Anyone else just not really like boys' names?

61 replies

Trinaluce · 17/02/2011 18:11

I'm currently 17 weeks with dc2, don't know what we're having and won't either - but I'm having the same problem I did with DD. Going through all the names, I just don't tend to like boys' names! The few that I do like are my brother-in-law's name, my sister's boyf's name and my cousin's husband!

I also like Jeffrey, as that was a family name - but DH likes Geofrrey as THAT was a family name, so no agreement there... I've gone through the family tree and turned up such gems as Walter and half a million Johns and James's -sigh-

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LifeOfKate · 18/02/2011 21:59

I'm having the same trouble. DS is called Noah, but I don't want to use another biblical name as we're not at all religious Blush

DH and I have looked through the 2009 baby names list and didn't find one that we liked or would work with our surname before we gave up at about number 1200 Hmm I am threatening to use Noah2 if this one is another DS :o

Trinaluce · 18/02/2011 23:35

I agree, a lot of boys' names seem to be more obviously religious than girls' - Noah, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, Abraham....

Couldn't really use anything that would be shortened to Ed because of the friend I mentioned. Which is a shame, because I quite like Edwin and Edmund!

We went through the 'E's' last night for girls and boys: 4 or 5 for the girls, NOTHING for the boys! I think my problem is that all the names I really REALLY like I couldn't bring myself to use as I might as well stick a name on the child on their first day of school saying 'Please bully me'...

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thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 19/02/2011 00:00

Yep - I know what you mean. We have 2 DDs (and I could name another 20 really easily) and 2 DSs. DS1 was always going to be Joseph after DH's dad - but we could agree on anything for DS2 for ages. DH wanted the family name of James, but although nice, just didn't do it for me, and other names I liked had already been used for cousins.

Its hard.

lockets - I really like Johnny - I dreamed we changed DS2's name to Johnny the other night.

PaWithABra · 19/02/2011 00:20

i agree its a fine line to walk..

there is a current fashion for 'old' names like stan, archie and the like and in my opion far to many middle class names like oliver and noah. I think these are chosen by those who aspire to be middle class as i am sure the real middle classes stick to James and sebastian.

many of the 'new' names do tend to have "ASBO" associations as one of the earlier psters put it.

I dont know , My second son was the hardest to choose.

My advice would be to give him a name that can be used in all situations .. i mean who would trust a Lawyer called spike .. But try to find a name that has a easy and likable abreviation / nickname in case he grows p to be a a bricklayer not a lawyer.

I have a Jimmy and A Leon

PaWithABra · 19/02/2011 00:22

i dont think a name will encourage bullying tho,

I think that has got much more to do with how one is taught to wear it.

OliveMalay · 19/02/2011 00:37

So which are the names you "really really like"? Maybe we can convince you they're cool and won't have bullying potential?

Trinaluce · 19/02/2011 00:49

All names from things like Narnia and Gilbert and Sullivan Wink

Caspian, Strephon, Roderick, Leonard (quite like this anyway, and it's a family name Smile), Reepicheep (KIDDING Grin)....

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OliveMalay · 19/02/2011 00:55

Leonard is fine, I've seen it mentioned positively on a few MN threads before now :)

Caspian is nice, and there's no reason why you shouldn't use it, though yes most people would think "Narnia". Would you consider Caspar?

Strephon is a bit Strepsil-like, sorry!

Roderick is a perfectly good name too.

Any more? :)

PaulaYatesbiggestfan · 19/02/2011 00:55

Boris - perfect

PaWithABra · 19/02/2011 01:00

Roderick, Leonard

are both sound and strong names.

Not too fashionable nor too dated.

Cant imagine why anyone would get any stick for theses names.

nooka · 19/02/2011 06:29

Roderick is a great name. I've know a few Rod's and they have all been great guys (popular and down to earth too). I really like Christopher too, and there aren't many of the around now. If you've only got to E I think there is hope for you yet!

I think that your friend would be a little odd if he thought a baby called Edmund or Edwin was called after him if he is an Edward.

Trinaluce · 19/02/2011 09:53

This Edward is an 'Ed' - so ANYTHING that would get shortened to Ed would get hijacked, he's just that type of guy! We could call the child Edelbert and he'd think it was after him....

Strephon isn't one I'd use anyway - LOVE it, but the character is half a fairy, which is not something I'd ever want a growing boy to have to contend with!

I also like Finian, Florian, Gilbert (and Sullivan actually!), Humphrey, Isidore (wouldn't use as DD is Isobel), Laurence and Percival

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SnapFrakkleAndPop · 19/02/2011 10:18

Finian, Roderick, Leonard, Laurence and Gilbert I would all use!

Percival I love but dislike Percy (personally) and I knew a very sweet 80 odd year old Humphrey whose nickname was, unfortunately, Hump, so that would put me off.

OliveMalay · 19/02/2011 11:10

Fininan and Florian sound a bit flouncy.

I like Gilbert, Sullivan and Laurence.

Personally wouldn't go for Humphrey or Percival.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 19/02/2011 16:28

nooka my 2 Ex boyfriends have been Roderick and Christopher in that order Grin. So, obviously I wouldn't use either!!

A lot of the names I liked were vetoed by DH as he works with offenders and apparently some of them were names of offenders he had had dealings with. Made it a bit tricky.

noonar · 19/02/2011 16:45

oh gosh, me too.

there are plenty i secretly like but they are probably too poncy to actually use eg

jude
rupert
caspar

or too trendy old-fashioned- names -back -in fashion eg

bert
frank

noonar · 19/02/2011 16:46

i love reuben but tis over used,imo

clouiseg · 19/02/2011 21:30

Omg expecting a DS after having 3 DDs so its been a nightmare choosing a boys name. I had several girls names all ready to go but DH and I have only agreed on one boys....Riley.

And I'm still unsure Shock. I just don't know if I like it! However FIL did point out that the only connection he could think of is "he has the life of Riley"! Could be worse!!

I love Alfie but he HATES it! I've found I just don't like many boys names...and any I do like belong to family/friends (who all have DSs)!

I'm really worried that I wont make up my mind by the time my 10 weeks are up! And I literally only have ONE name in the running Blush.

Odelay · 19/02/2011 21:50

I'm just the same as you op. I was sure ds was going to be a girl so didn't get too worried that our boys list was conspicuous by it's absence.

In the event I was so tired and relieved he was finally out after a long labour I went with Dp's choice (tobias) without being crazy about it. But it's grown on ne and now I love it and it is totally ds

However we are totally at a loss for even one name for this next one

I tend towards the slightly outlandish but know I wont be doing my child any favours in reality. It's so hard

CitizenOscar · 28/02/2011 23:48

Totally. At this rate, we're just going to have to call him Baby forever! Before we found out he was definitely going to be a boy, DH & I had agreed on a name (the only one we liked at all, although worried it's too popular). Now DH has changed his mind and likes a name I don't like. So we're at stalemate and I'm lurking on threads like this, desperately trying to find a name I like enough to suggest as an alternative. No luck so far :(

humanfraggle · 01/03/2011 10:34

me too, we have a long list of girls names but only 2 boys names on the list!

blondepinhead · 01/03/2011 10:57

OMG Jude is an awesome name!

Love Gilbert, Luka, Aidan, Stanley, Frederick (Fred). Guy is my DB's name, is weirdly neutral for a supposedly posh name (see Guy Pearce et al).

Anyway, anything a bit out of the ordinary is fine these days - at DD's nursery there's an Aeneas, so all the other names seem pretty normal in comparison!

Prinpo · 01/03/2011 19:38

So glad I'm not the only one in this boat.

Cuppa, you sum it up perfectly Grin.

We have two DDs and I have a long list of names I'd be happy with for DC3 but, as we're not finding out what we're having, I need to be prepared in case it's a boy.

So far, DH has vetoed Angus and we have a tentative maybe on Joel. I have to say, though, that I don't love either of those names in the same way that I love the girls names we're considering.

It just doesn't seem right to end up going with a name that we don't love Sad. Oh well, only half-way through so plenty of time.

fifi25 · 01/03/2011 21:35

i have 3 girls, theres not many boys names i like, my list would be

Matthew
Christopher
Mark
Lee
Sam

how safe are they but i like boys to have a boys name, i hate some of the celeb fancy names.Grin

Trinaluce · 01/03/2011 21:41

Prinpo I'm about halfway too, so there's no rush. I just LOVE looking at names - always have. If it wasn't for having to afford them and give birth to them (and them having to live with the names Wink)I could have HUNDREDS of babies Grin

I think my problem with the boys' names I like is that they're perhaps too .... feminine?! These days perhaps conceived as a little poncey and pretty!

That being said, I think it's ADORABLE that the little boy playing Brick on The Middle is called Atticus - he's got so far to go to grow into it, bless his adorable little heart!

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