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Baby names

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

Harlyn

37 replies

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 14:50

What do you think of this as a middle name? The other DC each have a middle name after people who mean something special to us, so we thought this time we should go for a place special to us as Harlyn Bay is where DH and I met. I reckon it's pretty unisex, so could use if for either gender. What do you think?

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HappyCamel · 14/06/2012 14:54

I think it's fine as a middle name, probably a bit girlie because of the "Lyn", it's a nice idea because it has meaning.

goingtoofast · 14/06/2012 14:56

I think it's awful, sorry.

Lannie33 · 14/06/2012 15:07

Love it!!! If it's a boy you might consider spelling it Harlen for a more masculine version?

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 15:20

Not sure if spelling it differently would take away the meaning, IYSWIM? I do see it's quite girly with that spelling though.

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mumeuro · 14/06/2012 15:24

lovely and unusual in a good way for a girl's middle name, not so much for a boy...

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 15:49

Hmm may have to find an alternative in a boy. Initially I thought it sounded like more of a boys name.

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rockinhippy · 14/06/2012 15:59

Harlyn doesn't sound masculine to me either - Harland is similar & is a boys name, we know a man with this as his middle name, but now uses it as his first name as he prefers it

newmum001 · 14/06/2012 16:14

I know a boy called Harlyn, also named after Harlyn Bay i think. Its a lovely name.

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 17:15

Harland is quite nice, but doesn't quite have the same meaning.

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cece · 14/06/2012 17:19

As a middle name? OK. I immediately thought of Harlyn Bay (my fav beach) and would just assume you had had a lovely time there iyswim Wink

Lakota · 14/06/2012 17:20

I think it's great. It is after all a middle name, so it's not like he'll be mistaken for a girl all the time. Besides, Lynn is a Welsh male name, so it doesn't sound particularly feminine to me. My nephew also has a middle name relating to a beach his parents love. He has a 'regular' first name.

It's similar to Harlow for a girl, granted, but I always thought that was quite a masculine sounding name anyway.

kitsonkittykat · 14/06/2012 17:23

As a middle name it is alright, but I too would have thought it was a girl's name.

Lakota · 14/06/2012 17:25

Sorry, I mis-read assumed you knew you were having a boy. It's fine for a girl too. Maybe just don't go for an ambiguous first name.

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 18:15

Lakota, first name likely to be Nicholas or Sebastian so not ambiguous there :)

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Lakota · 14/06/2012 19:05

That would be great then. Go for it!

TinkerMaloo · 14/06/2012 19:25

I like unusual middle names and its significant to you so do it! :)

StepOutOfSpring · 14/06/2012 20:17

The "Lyn" ending sounds feminine to me as well I'm afraid. I prefer Harley. But if it's a middle name and has significance to you then why not?

Pooka · 14/06/2012 20:19

I instantly thought of Harlyn bay too.

Is absolutely fine for a boy or a girl. Quite unisex IMO.

AThingInYourLife · 14/06/2012 20:21

Fine as a middle name.

It's a bit "where the shagging happened" a la Brooklyn Beckham though :o

Pooka · 14/06/2012 20:51

I don't suppose you took a trip down coast to Constantine? Or inland to st merryn? Or over to rock Wink. Iirc there's a small hamlet called towan between Harlyn and Constantine/trevose head.

Or you could just go for a Cornish middle name.

But I rather like Harlyn and I think of it as a boys name.

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 20:56

Ah yes we had considered that, but it wasn't :o

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UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 20:58

Pooka, we had considered Constantine but our surname is Otter and such a crap surname does not deserve such a fabulous name before it!

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spudmasher · 14/06/2012 20:59

I think with the emphasis on the Har not the lyn, great for a boy.

spudmasher · 14/06/2012 21:00

Unsocialite, glad you didn't consider Booby's.

UnSocialite · 14/06/2012 22:03

DH did come out with that suggestion too, spud Hmm

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