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Shortlist of boys' names: what do you think?

26 replies

snowrevolution · 22/07/2012 19:12

OK, so I think we've narrowed it down to either Laurence (or possibly Lawrence - undecided), Jasper or Sebastian for a first name. Trying out different middle names with each of these (these are all either family names or have a particular meaning for us).

Let me know what you think (of first names, middle names and/or combination!). Really interested to know also what sort of person springs to mind with the above names. And also interested in any other first names in a similar vein, just in case we've missed something obvious that we both love!

Laurence Frederick
Laurence Orlando
Laurence Raphael

Jasper Harris
Jasper Laurence
Jasper Felix
Jasper Leonardo

Sebastian Frederick
Sebastian Orlando
Sebastian Felix

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racingheart · 22/07/2012 19:20

They're all really attractive. I'm not as keen on Jasper, but can see that they are lovely names, just one is less to my taste.

My favourites are Sebastian Orlando, Laurence Frederick or Laurence Raphael.

Ham69 · 22/07/2012 19:23

I love Laurence Raphael and Jasper Felix.
My friend has a Laurence which she shortens to Laurie which I really like also. The names don't conjure up any particular type of person to me, just nice names for a baby/ child/ adult.

Not so keen on Sebastian, getting very popular where I live.

racingheart · 22/07/2012 19:38

Laurence Frederick is a hero. He's really handsome, looks great in uniform and saves lives. Sebs and Jaspers are a bit artier and floatier. Attics full of easels and they wear soft white shirts. Jasper is a bit of a cad.

milkymocha · 22/07/2012 19:42

Would you be happy for Lawrence to be a Larry/Lawry? Sebastian to be a Seb? Etc

invicta · 22/07/2012 19:52

Sebastian I consider to be lightly posh, p'haps a city type.

Jasper I consider to be slightly out of the ordinary - someone who doesn't quite conform, but is happy with this. F Or a long time, the only jasper I knew was Japer Carrot the comic. Now it seems more popular

Lawrence doesn't conjur up an image. I like the nn Laurie.

shouldbedoingtheironing · 22/07/2012 20:18

Love Laurence/Laurie - classic but not over used. I would think interesting and arty type..

Laurence Frederick sounds perfect together Smile

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/07/2012 20:23

Adore Laurence/Laurie - dd1 would have been it had she been ds.

Laurence Frederick is fabulous.

Love RacingHeart's comments. :)

Dislike Harris (tweed) and Felix (cat).

LittlePandaBear · 22/07/2012 20:27

I like Sebastian and Lawrence, not so keen on Jasper.

I know of a family of three boys called Sebastian, Lawrence and Toby.

kickingKcurlyC · 22/07/2012 20:31

Sebastian is more popular I think, if that matters to you.

Mrsloverlovershabba · 22/07/2012 21:39

I love Jasper

evamummy · 22/07/2012 21:46

Jasper is cool.

The problem with both Sebastian is the lack of nice nicknames - Seb/Seba/Sebie/Bastian?

Laurence is the female form of Laurent so I'd use Lawrence for a boy. Nice name and nice nicknames - Lawrie.

exoticfruits · 22/07/2012 21:51

Laurence Frederick

Ham69 · 22/07/2012 21:52

The 2 Laurences I know are Laurence and go by the nn Laurie. I much prefer that spelling and don't think anyone in UK would think of it as feminine.

tammytoby · 22/07/2012 21:57

I prefer Jasper. Sebastian is ok but agree that the nicknames aren't that great.

Laurence is a French girls' name, the male version of Laurent, just like Florence. If your ds ever spends some time in France/Belgium, I'd definately spell it Lawrence. Who knows where our kids may study or work one day?

overthehill · 22/07/2012 23:57

We have a Laurence and everybody assumes it's spelt with a w, which is tedious. We read somewhere that the w version was originally American and I think of it as a surname. I don't think the u makes it sound feminine. I think it's a classless name, whereas the other two sound a bit posh to me.

Devora · 23/07/2012 00:05

Laurence Raphael is lovely.

The Jaspers sound pretty good too.

IHeartKingThistle · 23/07/2012 00:16

Laurence Raphael. Both names I had on my list for DS but were vetoed by DH!

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 23/07/2012 00:19

Really don't like Laurence. Jasper is ok. Sebastian is lovely. My favourite of the middle names is Raphael or Frederik.

My first choice would be Sebastian Raphael. I also like Sebastian Frederik, Jasper Raphael or Jasper Frederik.

mathanxiety · 23/07/2012 01:37

I like Raphael, Felix, Leonardo and Orlando much more than Laurence, Jassper and Sebastian.

Original poster
snowrevolution · 23/07/2012 06:37

Thanks for all your views! I think Laurence /Lawrence and Jasper might be edging out Sebastian. Love racingheart's comments; might just have to see whether newborn DS looks like he'll be more of a looks good in uniform or in a white floppy shirt when he appears Wink .

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emmyloo2 · 23/07/2012 07:22

Definitiely Jasper or Lawrence over Sebastian. Absolutely.

Jasper would be my favourite - I love this name. Lawrence with nn Lawrie is also great. Either is a good choice.

jaffacakehips · 23/07/2012 09:01

Ohhhh good list Smile

My pick in bold

Laurence Frederick - Is lovely
Laurence Orlando - COOL. Orlando for a first name?
Laurence Raphael - Not sure, don't hate it don't love it either.

Love the combos above, personal I'd spell it with a "W" pure for personally reasons.

Jasper Harris - Sounds like a future movie star!
Jasper Laurence - Like
Jasper Felix - Not sure about this one.
Jasper Leonardo - Like

Sebastian Frederick - Best from the Sebastian list.
Sebastian Orlando - Like
Sebastian Felix - Like.

Would you think about using Felix or Jasper as a first name? I only know one Sebastian, he's called Seb or Sebby.

Good Luck

LiteraryMermaid · 23/07/2012 11:48

Laurence Frederick - great! Sounds strong and heroic, like a character from Biggles!

Laurence Orlando - too much
Laurence Raphael - nice, but doesn't really flow for me

Jasper Harris - a bit rhymey with the 'a' sounds
Jasper Laurence - my favourite
Jasper Felix - nice
Jasper Leonardo - too fussy

Sebastian Frederick - too long
Sebastian Orlando - too fussy
Sebastian Felix - the best Sebastian choice imo

As far as my perceptions of the individual names go, Laurence makes me think of Laurie in Little Women (love this nn, by the way, but sadly I've come across many more Laurences who go by Larry or Loz!).

Sebastian is OK but always seems a bit effete to me, probably because of Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited. Used to be posh, now more aspirational I think!

Jasper is my favourite of the three (though closely followed by Laurence). Slightly alternative/edgy (a la the artist Jasper Johns), raffish and possibly slightly dangerous, in a Jilly Cooper kind of way!

Littlecherublegs · 23/07/2012 12:01

Sebastian is by far my favourite out of those names!
Like Sebastian Felix (mainly because the others make the name too long IMO).

Jasper Harris is ok.

Laurence Orlando is best out of the 'Laurence' names.

Original poster
snowrevolution · 23/07/2012 19:58

On the basis of this thread, Laurence Frederick looks like a clear winner, with three of the Jasper combos and Sebastian Felix as possible back-ups! Might need to discuss with DH first Wink but this has been very helpful in helping me clear my mind (was entering a bit of a baby name fog as we approach the due date).

Will probably decide on the basis of what suits DS most when he's actually born (although might be tricky to pigeonhole a newborn as a "strong hero" or an "arty alternative" type).

To those who asked, we had considered some of the middle names as first names, but ruled them out as they didn't work with our surname for one reason or another.

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