How would these somewhat rare boys' names go over in the UK?

[eversomuch]

We're trying to decide on a boy's name. We want it to be not extremely common, but not OTT or pretentious. We're not originally British, so would appreciate thoughts on the following names, esp with regard to any possible UK cultural perceptions (if any):

Cedric
Chester
Ivan
Kieran (not really rare, I know)
Laszlo
Malcolm
Marshall
Maurice
Munro
Rye
Trevor

Cedric - very old fashioned and in my mind linked to bespectacled accountants
Chester - sounds american
Ivan - common islington type name
Kieran, very common
Laszlo - unusual
Malcolm - old fashioned though we have a beloved one in our family!
Marshall - american
Maurice - old fashioned
Munro - scottish, common
Rye - unusual
Trevor - old fashioned

i teach and all these names except kieran sound like the sort of names boys would love to tease

I think Malcolm and Trevor are a bit middle-aged man-ish; the others are certainly not common (in terms of usage!) - some nice names in there! :)

I have a friend called Malcolm, and a cat called Chester :)

I like most of those names, I hate Cedric though.

Oh and my sisters surname is Munro so I couldn't ever use it as a first name, it would always sound strange to me.

Cedric - very pre WW2 retro, a bit weedy
Chester - have heard of a couple of baby Chesters, also quite old fashioned but enjoying resurgence
Ivan - not that rare
Kieran (not really rare, I know) - extremely popular in 70's, 80's, maybe 90's too. Lots of them around although not too many born these days
Laszlo - never met or heard of one
Malcolm - very common in Scotland amongst all age groups. Has old man vibe in England
Marshall - very American, reminds me of Eminem
Maurice - old fashioned, 60 something member of the Rotary Club.
Munro - Scottish, never met a person called this, more common as a surname, also the name for type of hill in Scotland
Rye - bread or Scotch
Trevor - NO NO NO extremely dated and is just awful. Is almost a comedy name at this stage due to its 1970's, 1980's image. Trevors and Waynes are best friends, wear shell suits and try and grow a wispy little moustache when they're 15. NO!

That's a proper mixture. I'd say Cedric, Maurice and Trevor were men aged around 70, Chester and Rye were American, Munroe and Malcolm were Scots, Laszlo and Ivan were Eastern European and Kieran was Irish.
Personally I like Laszlo and Kieran although I wouldn't choose them.

Hi OP,

Cedric - to me sounds old fashioned, but old fashioned names seem to be making a comeback in the UK!

Chester - there's a place called Chester in the north, but I don't particularly associate the name Chester with the place. I think it sounds quite modern.

Ivan - I'm not too keen on this, also I think people could make jokes on the name take the MN user name ivanapoo!

Kieran - I like this name best :)

Laszlo - I like this too, sounds Italian to me?

Malcolm - reminds me of the American show Malcolm in the Middle, the only two Malcolm's I know in real life are middle aged, but again, old fashioned names seem to be rising in popularity.

Marshall - this has a similar ring to Chester to my mind, nice, sounds modern.

Maurice - I asked my DH if he'd like this name if we have another boy! I prefer the spelling Morris, but that's more of a surname spelling I think. I like it!

Munro - this sounds modern to me, I've not heard it as a name before, but I think it must belong to some people!

Rye - I'm not keen on as a name on it's own, maybe as a nickname for Ryan, but otherwise it makes me think of rye bread - sorry.

Trevor - sorry but this reminds me of evil Trevor on Eastenders! I do know a very nice Trevor in real life though :)

Quite an interesting mix of names! Go for what you like best, other people will learn to like the name you choose and they will associate the name with your baby, so don't worry what other people think!

Congratulations by the way :)

I like Cedric!

Cedric - please don't

Chester - sounds ok if said with an american accent

Ivan - quite nice, not too outlandish

Kieran - v v popular

Laszlo - pronounced Lash-loh? (EEuropean) or Laz-low? Prepare him for a lifetime of explaining how to pronounce it.

Malcolm - good solid Scottish name. also nice in it's shortened form.

Marshall - makes me think of an amplifier. Sounds American as a name. Also reminds me of AbFab

Maurice - Bee Gees

Munro - Mariah Carey. No no no no.

Rye - again no

Trevor - too fuddy duddy.

Cedric: v old fashioned
Chester: American
Ivan: the terrible
Kieran (not really rare, I know) : not at all unusual
Laszlo : Uusual, would think mabe the parents had some e european connection
Malcolm: middle aged
Marshall: v american
Maurice: middle aged man with a moustache
Munro: American
Rye: makes me think of bread
Trevor: middle aged and a bit weedy

I like cedric too... maybe a bit too much of a harry potter link..

Ivan.. then engine?

kieran, lots of 20's/30's men called this.

trevor and malcolm make me think of middle aged men.

not sure about the others

Cedric is dreadful. Don't like any of them very much. Ivan isn't too bad. Kieran isn't bad either. They must just be not my sort of names. Munro and Rye. No. Made me think of Munrospun tweed and Rye bread.

Kieran is possibly most common boys name around here, 3 or 4 of them in DS's yr at school. I thought it was on the MN list of Chav names, too.

Posh: Cedric, Ivan, Laszlo
American: Chester, Marshall
Scottish & odd if you're not Scottish: Malcolm, Munro
old-fashioned: Maurice, Trevor
Weird, will get mistaken for Ryan: Rye

Favourite three would be Ciaran (with a c), Maurice and Ivan.

Cedric - posh and wet
Chester - a dog's name or a place
Ivan - OK, might get "Ivan the Terrible" comments
Kieran (not really rare, I know) - quite a nice Irish name, prefer the spelling Ciaran
Laszlo - harsh
Malcolm - old-fashioned
Marshall - surname
Maurice - old-fashioned but I quite like it
Munro - too surnamey
Rye - strange
Trevor - unfashionable

The best three are:
Kieran (Agree better with a C - but dont want to offend any K-lovers!!)
Malcolm - not overkeen but quite like 'mal'
Laszlo -quite quirky - quite like it

Really cant understand why anyone would use Chester (its cockney rhyming slang - google it).

They are all horrible names.

All on the fucking awful end of awful.

I like Cedric.

Also Malcolm and Kieran are quite nice.

Trevor is awful.

Tbh, not keen on these. Ivan is ok. Trevor and Malcolm are for much older age groups. Maurice - I know a 40 year old who shortens it to Mo.

It completely depends where you are going to be living and where he will be going to school. Most of these names (with the exception of Kieran) will be bait for bullies outside of very middle class areas. I love Lazslo (Hungarian, right?) and Ivan. I wouldn't worry too much, if you love a name, go with it. See what he looks like when he makes an appearance.

I know youngsters with each of the following names:
Chester, Ivan, Maurice
They all suit their names (as people tend to in the end!).

I've heard of a Marshall and a Munro.

Haven't heard of a Rye before but I quite like it. I don't imagine any of these being picked on particularly but that might be because I live in a very multicultural area of London and anything goes.

Sorry, I think they are all awful

I like Cedric best out of that list. As a Scot I'd say Malcolm is OK but old fashioned and Munro is more of a surname (kind of name an American with Scottish heritage might use), I'd go for Murdo or Mungo in preference.

I like the name Trevor, I think its cool in a Stanley type of way.

Just as a side thought really - if kids actually bully (rather than just teasing, whixh every child will probably experience) due to a name, would that not be because their parents have commented on / laughed at the name. Kids will see a classmate, hear the name Cedric for the first time and move on, no? It's only when someone tells them its a weedy/dated name will they pick up on that.

Cedric and Chester - not my favourites, sound a bit like pet names ie dogs.

Ivan - again not one of my faves but perfectly nice.

Kieran I'm Irish - I know a lot but really like it.

Lazlo - would assume Casablanca connection

Maurice, Trevor, Malcolm, Marshall - dated and a bit try hard. Trevor in particular I feel would lead to teasing in school.

I like Munroe and Rye