The hunt for the holy grail continures ...

[littlemissw]

In my constant hunt for a boys name to fall in love with, I've come across this list. I am liking quite a few (discounting the ones that are currently in the top 100), but I am a little worried that they may be TOO old fashioned. I am very aware that pregnancy can seriously cloud one's judgment, so please tell me: Would I be committing a crime giving my DS a name such as Warren / Percy / Elmer / Rufus, etc.?

No...DS is number 2 on the list and if this one is a DS he will be number 6.

A friend has just had a little baby called Rufus. I love it!

Not Percy (as in the saying point Percy at the porcelain)! Warren is quite American (need not matter at all) and will bring forth nicknames to do with rabbits. Like Rufus. Like Frank a lot (Lampard is a hero to some and in any case it was my father's name) - it's a strong name.

Elmer is an Elephant; I'm not keen on Warren ("what do you call a man with a rabbit up his bum?"), and though I think Percy is a lovely name it might not be that easy to live with. I quite like Rufus, and I don't think you have to be redheaded to carry it off.

It's an American list, so there are some presidents' names in there, hence Grover (Cleveland)

All 4 of your choices are fine. Elmer's a bit unusual, and may just bring to mind Elmer Fudd for some, but it's an okay name.
I used to think Rufus was a camp name, but I'm okay with it now (still personally wouldn't name my son it, but I don't get the association any more). People like Rufus Hound and Rufus Weinwright have been really good for the name.

The only one I would name my own son is Percy, but I wouldn't say it was any better than any of the others.

Rufus - I LOVE it!
Elmer is always gong to be Fudd, sorry

The only one I like in those 4 is Rufus...

Elmer = elderly or dead American
Warren = can't stop thinking about that joke re. man with rabbits up his bum
Percy = isn't he a character from Thomas the Tank Engine?

Just scanned the boys' list - amazed to see that Marion and Alva, both of which (well Marion in particular) I think are lovely girls' names, are included! I always thought John Wayne's parents were real meanies, but presumably not if Marion was generally accepted as a boy's name back in the late C19/early C20 US of A .

I like Rufus from the names you've mentioned, and I like most of the names on the 1880s list - lots of real classics.

Warren I like, but Elmer definitely precedes "Fudd", and Rufus is a dog name, as it rhymes with "Doofus". Percy is doable.

I really like Ross, Everett, Calvin, and Silas, and I love Walter. (Reminds me of Walter Bishop from Fringe :) )

Warren - I like it, but I'm biased I know a lovely New Zealander called Warren
Percy - not to my taste, I think M and S Percy Pig
Elmer - no, sounds feminine
Rufus - its rather posh, but I quite like it. Would be too posh for my DH though.

The only one I wouldn't go for is Elmer, because he is an elephant.. your poor child would never escape that!

I have known two lovely Warrens, one of which was a boy in my class at school, so I don't see it as too old-fashioned.

Percy is lovely, but it is an abbreviation. How do you feel about Percival?

Rufus is also gorgeous, and I think the easiest of the four to live with. Less likely to be ribbed at school.

My husband's name is Norman. He was named after his grand-father. It could have been worse, his grand-father's middle-name was Tracy! My point is though, that some names although they may be lovely to the parents will give the child years of abuse at school. Norm was bullied until he was about 13 and learnt judo. I don't want to put you off anything other than Elmer, but do think carefully about what your child's life will be like!