Jasper

[Nightstar]

There seems to mixed views on this name when I posted it amoungst others but no real explaination as to why people liked or disliked it?

Jasper is my dogs name! i've also met a few other people with pets called Jasper, unfortunate but it does seem to more common amongst animals than humans :o

I prefer Caspar, but Jasper is quite elegant in a 30's country house set kind of way. I do know of a couple under five, though, so it might be getting more popular.

I like it. Agree it's becoming more popular. Not a name to choose if you live on a gritty council estate and your child's peers will be called Jayden and Kai, though.

I like Jasper, although in the past it may have been seen as a bit 'posh', I don't think that is too much of a problem anymore as there are loads of these types of names becoming more popular. Do you have other DC's? It would mix well with earthy type names (although I'm not sure how to explain what I mean by that).

Where I grew up (n.Devon), Jasper is the name for a wasp. That would put me off naming my own child Jasper!

It was on my list for ds2 and was my favorite name. H disagreed though and we went for something much more dull and traditional.

Yes, he will have a sister called Rose

I like it.

I love it, my DPs best friend's dog is called it so could not use it

What about Atticus or Cassius?

I love Jasper,

DH has vetoed as all he thinks of when he hears the name is Jasper Carrot!

It is rising though, perhaps because of Twilight success?

My cat is called Jasper.

We used to have a budgie called Jasper.
It does seem popular with pets!!

Jasper was also a wasp in Cambridgeshire when I was growing up - possibly american slang? (air bases nearby). Think it has a bit of a medieval feel tho (like Jester maybe?) which I like but could make for a difficult childhood...

Love it- but biased

It was described once as classic eccentric which i thought was the perfect description.

interestingly enough newfashionedmum, my research googling suggests that it's from guepe - wasp in French. Maybe is more a southern thing?

I love Jasper. It was on my list at one point, but chucked off by XP.

I like Percy and Hector as well.

ahh - a norman rather than a yankee thing then sticky?

www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?start=0&t=5796
wiki.answers.com/Q/In_American_slang_what_does_the_word_Jasper_or_Jaspers_mean
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jasper

i think the take home message is: always cross ref your name choices with QI, wiki and urban dictionary!

oops sorry

wasp
woollyback
womaniser/alpha male

wow, now I know!

For me "Jasper" will always conjure up an image of an enormous boy in my year at school jumping from table top to table top, flapping his exercise book and shouting "kill the Jasper, kill the Jasper". He was talking about a wasp, just to be clear!

My grandfather was named Jasper although everyone called him Jack. I quite like it, think it elegant and not common from overuse. Howeve I realise I could be biased

Jasper will be fine if you are going the Public School route. Not at all good at sink comprehensive.

Close friend just called her ds Jasper. Everyone seems to like it. I think its a good name as long as he isn't a redhead.Kids don't know who he is now do they? ( Jasper carrot )