Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Quentin

32 replies

happybigbump · 26/03/2012 12:07

Dh loves Quentin and, whilst I wasn't sure initially, I'm starting to like it myself. We have a short surname and it would go quite well together. What do you think? Would people assume we're Quentin Tarantino fans? I've heard it mentioned on here increasingly so perhaps it's becoming more popular?

We're thinking
Quentin Alexander
Quentin Charles

to give him a more 'common' middle name in case he doesn't like his first name.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
EdithWeston · 26/03/2012 12:09

As long as the short surname isn't "Crisp", it'll be fine.

savoycabbage · 26/03/2012 12:11

I would think of Uncle Quentin. And his blueprints.

tammytoby · 26/03/2012 12:12

Love it. Q is a cool initial.

evamummy · 26/03/2012 12:15

Reminds me of the lovely Quentin Blake, which is probably what most kids would think of too.

Nice name - unusual but still classic/normal.

DoubleGlazing · 26/03/2012 12:17

I don't like it, sorry.

mopsyflopsy · 26/03/2012 12:20

I love it but am biased as we have one (aged 8). He seems to like his name, and thinks having 'Q' as his initial is 'cool'.

CecilyP · 26/03/2012 12:31

I quite like it, though had thought it rather posh. Still remember the Conservative MP Quintin Hogg. And Quentin Crisp whose real name was actually Denis Pratt. I thought Quentin Tarantino might have led to it becoming more popular. I believe it was used in the olden days to name a fifth son, so never common and very unusual as families became smaller. I think it goes very well with Alexander and a short surname.

hellokitty123 · 26/03/2012 12:45

There is a little Quentin in my ds's nursery class - he's very cute so I now associate it with him. Would have thought people today associate it more with Quentin Blake and Quentin Tarantino than Quentin Crisp.

As with any name, people quickly think of your child and it loses any previous associations.

Agree that Quentin Alexander sounds great.

shoobidoo · 26/03/2012 13:38

Quentin is great - classic, cool and underused!

squoosh · 26/03/2012 13:40

I think Uncle Quentin from the Famous Five. He and Aunt Fanny, the very definition of hands off parenting.

Think he was a scientist, a grumpy one at that.

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2012 16:46

I think of the Famous Five too. And for some reason, it automatically means (to me) someone who is gay. I really don't know why that is!

CecilyP · 26/03/2012 17:32

Quentin Crisp himself, by any chance? I have only met one other Quentin, now in his 60s, comfortably off family, almost certainly not gay.

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2012 20:13

Yep, that's him, it's Quentin Crisp. Came out all subconsciously!

EdithWeston · 26/03/2012 20:28

Not exactly subconscious - he was mentioned in the second post of the thread.

DialMforMummy · 26/03/2012 20:55

I like it.

SoozyWoozy · 26/03/2012 21:17

I like it - quirky without being weird iyswim.

I thought Quentin Blake and also Quentin Wilson - is that his surname? The bloke who knows a lot about cars LOL :)

MerryMarigold · 27/03/2012 09:37

Oh yes, sorry Edith. Subconscious in that I didn't connect the name 'Quentin Crisp' with the gay association until I Googled him and realised, "Ahhhhh...that's where I'm getting it from."

happybigbump · 27/03/2012 15:17

Thanks for your input, Ladies. Sounds like the consensus is positive, and if the only negative is a long dead gay writer, then that is nothing to worry about imo. I agree - Quentin Blake (or Tarantino) is more likely to be on the younger generations's mind when they hear the name.

Now we need to choose a middle name. I agree that Alexander probably goes better although Charles has more meaning to us (relative's name).

Any other thoughts?

OP posts:
SoozyWoozy · 27/03/2012 16:09

Quentin Charles
Quentin Alexander

Hmmm... prefer the one syllable option, and I love Charles anyway :)

smother · 27/03/2012 23:14

Quentin is fab. I prefer Quentin Alexander. Gorgeous name!

Pasiphae · 28/03/2012 10:02

Quentin Charles rocks, Quentin Alexander feels very "now" though....

tummytickler · 28/03/2012 10:44

Quentin Charles is fabulous. Charles is such a fabulous classic, and with Quentin it sounds very elegant. Alexander is fine, but doesn't set my world on fire, even as a mn.

SootySweepandSue · 28/03/2012 10:46

I think it's very posh esp with those middle names. Maybe it reminds me of Tarquin think that's what it is.

rachel1970 · 28/03/2012 11:40

I like Quentin. I know one nicknamed Quinn.

MagsAloof · 28/03/2012 11:41

I have to be honest, Crispin and Quentin are two of my least favourite names ever. They just scream slightly camp and very posh to me. Sorry!