Willoughby - love it or hate it?

[katiemonkey]

We're really keen on calling our first DS Willoughby, but are having second thoughts as we've had quite a lot of negative reactions! What do you think of the name? If you don't like it, can you suggest any other three syllable alternatives?

My alternatives:

Mackenzie (Mack)
Raphael
Frederick
Elijah

Solomon

I quite like it although am not sure I would use it myself as would not fit with our surname.

I have taught a Willoughby - TBH I wasn't sure if it was a boy or girl when I first saw the name on my class list (but that can be the same with a number of names).

Also, he was known as Willoughby (was 12 when I taught him) and nobody seemed to have any problem with his name.

I love it!

OMG, it's horrible. Sorry. :( Of all the names I've read on this board, this has to be my least favourite.

What about William?

I was going to suggest William too. Willoughby does sound very posh and surnamey.

I love the sound of it - reminds me of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase! But I don't think I'd risk it as a first name due to Holly Willoughboobie, which is a shame :( Have it as a middle maybe?

My great great great great (I forget how many greats tbh) uncle, born 1852, was a Willoughby. Willoughby Cornelius in fact. I love it.

Solomon
Raphael
Abraham
Erasmus
Josiah
Zachary
Thaddeus
Theodore
Cassius
Finegan

Oooh I love Cassius.

Thanks for all the responses! DH and I have just read them and may stick to our guns - there's more loves than I was expecting. Although we're definitely going to investigate Willoughboobie. Think I missed that headline! Hopefully no one would remember that in a few years....

Love it! I have a Barnaby so similar taste?

Love it. I know one in his 30s. Known to friends as Woppy.

It's dire, sorry. It will make him a figure of fun for the bullies.

Love it. Will is an obvious and really nice nickname. Willoughby a zillion times more interesting than William.

He'll get called Holly.

Yes but Willoughby was his surname in Sense and Sensibility.

'Known to friends as Woppy'... I'm not sure that's going to help to be honest.

i love it !! I can imagine him with long flowy hair too

Brilliant name.

Celebrity juice - Keith lemon always introduces her as holly willoughboobie every week. It was my first thought..... Sorry

I know Woppy is a bit daft but he seems to like it!

I have a small cousin Willoughby. I've not heard that it was causing any problems. I do think it must be a bit tough to learn to write though!

It sounds like one of those overly pretentions Tarquin-style names that you only see on MN.

Also it reminds me of kangaroos.

Even Willoughby's actual first name was John...!!

It's awful. But it's even more awful that people think it sounds like a girl's name!