Boys names - going round in circles

[surreyhillsmumtobe]

Having been something of a Mumsnet voyeur for a few months now I now feel brave enough to post! I'm 25 weeks pregnant, expecting a boy and we seem to be going round in circles with names. Any thoughts on the following shortlist?

• George
• Edward (Eddie, Ted)
• Arthur (although not keen on Art or Artie)
• Felix
• Wilfred (Wilf)
• Barnaby (Barney)

Would really welcome other suggestions along these lines - I guess we're erring towards quite traditional names but trying to steer clear of super popular ones...

Really like Wilf. Every time I hear Barney, all I can think is that horrible big purple thing. Edison?

George is gorgeous and the best by far.

Do love Arthur, Felix also very nice. Barnaby is lovely, but agree with Jenn1982 re. Barney.

I love Ted/Teddy but not Edward; I think the latter is dull.

Really dislike Wilfred and Wilf - old man names and not in a good way, sorry!

Thanks Jenn - I like Wilf too. DH thinks it might be a bit 'weak' sounding. He's erring more towards George as a more 'solid, robust' name.

I don't have the same issue with Barney but maybe that's because I don't have kids yet so the purple dinosaur hasn't featured in my world...

CurwySwide - if we went with Arthur, would people naturally try and shorten do you think?

Edison would be pushing it with DH!

George, Edward and Felix are all good solid classic names :) I like Ed/Eddie as nicknames but not so keen on Ted (it's a teddy's nickname!)

Arthur and Wilfred are too "old man" IMO. Barnaby sounds a bit wet to me.

I know a couple of little Arthurs (both gorgeous!) - neither of them has their name shortened. It doesn't seem natural to me to shorten Arthur to Art, as it adds in a hard 'T' and makes it a completely different sounding name.

Normally, nicknames sound just like shortened versions of the full name - Benjamin/Ben, Samuel/Sam, Daniel/Dan. Don't think I am explaining myself very well, sorry!

Oh but I think I may be contradicting myself with regards to Edward/Teddy though!

Alfred - Alfie
Artur - Artie or Art
Bertram - Bertie
Albert - Alb or Alby
Wilfred - Fredo

Towndon - I think you're right, I know what you mean about Barnaby, not enough hard sounds in there.

CurwySwide - thanks for confirming about Arthurs not being shortened, that makes me feel better about it.

I think I can now narrow to:

Arthur
Edward
George

But then I'm concerned there will be more than one in his class at school. Is this likely and does it really matter?

George

It's not that likely, and no it doesn't matter :) Choose a name you love!

I know two little Arthurs neither are ever called anything other than Arthur.. It is a gorgeous name.

I like them all in exactly the order you have written them I.e. George the best and Barnaby least!

How about Sebastian or Henry? I also love Oliver, William and Benjamin but probably too popular for you...Thomas and Harry for the same reason..

George and Edward are both lovely.

i'd go for Edward out of your new shortlist. There are lots of variations so if you call him Ted or Teddy (which I think is so sweet) chances are the others will be Eds or Eddies.

Thanks ladies. Trying to avoid William and Henry/Harry because of the Royal connection. Have a brother called Benjamin and DH is Thomas so they're ruled out. Love Oliver but can't bring myself to go with the #1 most popular boy's name from 2010! Not keen on Sebastian - reminds me of someone I'd rather forget from my teenage years!

Does anyone know if you can see name popularity lists segmented by region? Just a thought that it must be quite different all over the country so being in the SE might be a very different picture to the national average. Maybe I'm getting just a tad too technical...?!

Yes there are names by regions - don't have the link but don't think too difficult to find. Most English regions are very similar but Wales/Scotland differ...

I personally would also look at the past 10 years lists (not just few years) as some very popular names weren't top 10 in say 2000 (Oliver for example) and might drop a little over the next few years so over a 20 year period (the same kind of generation as our children) Oliver might not actually be as popular as we all think...completely understand your point though. I have an Oliver (don't live in UK though) and get irritated when everyone always comments on how many Olivers they know as if it's a slight on my Oliver (I still love the name though!)...I know more Thomas/Jack/Joshua/variations of Luke/James/Matthew/Michael/Daniel etc...

Ooh- these names are on my list too! I have a George already, love that name, and Wilf is quite high on my list. Wilbur is also on there. As are Victor (Vic), Eli, Jasper and Abraham (Abe).

I like Arthur from your list, and Edward, as Teddy. I like Benedict as well, but it is already a family name.

My George is the only one in his class, but we are North. It may be more popular down south.

this seems to have regional variations

I like Arthur and Felix. I'd avoid George and Edward if you're worried about popularity. How about Gregory, Quentin, Raphael or Patrick?

George or Felix

Thanks evamummy. Edward is actually pretty far down the list of popular names from 2010 but Montsti makes a good point about looking at the lists from the last 10 years to get a feel for popularity overall for that generation - I guess some names will pop up in one particular year but then might drop right off the following year.

Anyone know when the 2011 popular names lists will be published? Due early March... Must stop obsessing about these lists!

I know someone who has 3 DS - George, Arthur and Frank - none of them my cup of tea though!

I know of an Albert who is adorable!!

How about Nathaniel, Jacob or Daniel?