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Baby names

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

AIBU to call my son Leo?

31 replies

IWishIWasAFrog · 26/09/2011 15:16

Was pretty certain that we would call DS2 (due last Saturday but no sign of him yet!) Leo as a first name. Middle name Nicolaas (family name). Just told an (older) friend of MIL's, her first reaction was oh, you can't call him that, Tony Blair called his son that and he is so slimy Confused

So, baby name jury, AIBU to call my son Leo? DS1 is called Ben and we have a difficult Dutch surname that always needs spelling or correcting, need a short name that will 'work' and sound the same in Germanic languages and English.

OP posts:
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GetOrfMo1Land · 26/09/2011 15:17

YABU

headfairy · 26/09/2011 15:19

YANBU, I like the name Leo. I'm a Leo (star sign that is, not my name :o) and it's a lovely name - mind you, I used to have a heartbreakingly handsome friend who was called Leo so I might be biased. Somehow I feel all Leos are heartbreakingly handsome now.

Not Leo Sayer though.

He's not heartbreakingly handsome.

At all.

:o

IWishIWasAFrog · 26/09/2011 15:19

Really? I'm no TB fan but surely you can find assosciations with most names?

OP posts:
greenzebra · 26/09/2011 15:20

how ridiculous that someone would say that to you. Leo is a great name and I dont think of Tony Blair when I hear it, some people say stupid things about names, it goes very well with Ben also.

This is why when I was pg we didnt tell anyone the names we had thought of.

sunnysunchild · 26/09/2011 15:20

Nothing wrong remotely with Leo. I don't immediately think of Tony B when I hear the name.

Call him Leo if you like the name!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 26/09/2011 15:20

Of course you're not BU. Leo is a lovely name and before I read your OP I couldn't think for a moment why you shouldn't use it. Having read it, it's a completely dud reason for not using a name. Forget the silly woman and use it if you like it :)

Hope he arrives soon!

Wimminsinit · 26/09/2011 15:21

Leo is lovely. Your friend sounds a bit bonkers.

MogandMe · 26/09/2011 15:22

I read it as Lego Hmm

So YABU to call him LEGO
YANBU to call him Leo - much more normal name!

IWishIWasAFrog · 26/09/2011 15:22

thanks headfairy, you don't have a magic wand to get labour going do you? I thought it was a name that would do in all situations iykwim, cannot be shortened to anything, doesn't really rhyme with anything (thinking of horrible schoolyard nnames)...

OP posts:
meditrina · 26/09/2011 15:23

I'm afraid I think "Blair" too. But only you can decide if that's enough to put you off.

Leon, however, doesn't have the same taint.

Meteorite · 26/09/2011 15:24

Presumably you're not giving birth to Tony Blair's son, so YANBU :)

Witherhills · 26/09/2011 15:25

I love Leo too.
Have no idea why I would be reticent to use it, but I would

Meteorite · 26/09/2011 15:25

(no offence to Leo Blair by the way, I just mean your baby will be your family's Leo, nothing to do with anyone else who's used the name).

lolajane2009 · 26/09/2011 15:25

I think Titantic tbh, not Blair.

CitizenOscar · 26/09/2011 15:27

It's a great name. Don't be put off!

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 26/09/2011 15:29

As long as you use Leo, and not something poncey like Leonidas, or Leontes!

IWishIWasAFrog · 26/09/2011 15:29

thank you thank you thank you! Feel a bit better now. Friend is MIL's schoolfriend who also lives in the UK and thinks she is a bit posh

OP posts:
Fillybuster · 26/09/2011 15:30

Its a fab name....don't let anyone put you off! My son is called the same thing, but in another language. And I know 3 Leos in my dds year, and they are all lovely.

Good luck with the birth :)

GlaikitFizzog · 26/09/2011 15:31

Well I called my DS Blair, tell you MIL she is lucky you aren't using that :o!

I love Leo, I am one, hear me roar! Its got feck all to do with your MIL what you call you DS, she had her shot with her DCs.

ShoutyHamster · 26/09/2011 15:31

She's bonkers - Leo is lovely.

Now if you were planning to call him TonyBlair Nicolaas, I would see her point.

ShoutyHamster · 26/09/2011 15:32

My DH is a lovely Leo too (starsign, not name)

Not that I believe in all that jumbly Grin

TheyCallMeKipper · 26/09/2011 15:32

It is a lovely name. That is a truly daft reason, and I have no idea why your friend would say such an odd thing Hmm

Ephiny · 26/09/2011 15:32

I like it, fantastic name. Had completely forgotten that it was the name of Tony Blair's son and I doubt that would be the association most people make (not that it's the worst thing in the world if they do surely?).

Leon is nice too.

GlaikitFizzog · 26/09/2011 15:34

Oops, must read things properly! Not your MIL but MIL friend! My opinion still stands though.

SunnilyEnough · 26/09/2011 15:34

How about Lev? Works in both English and German.