Latest shortlist of mostly rare boys' names

[eversomuch]

Ugh. Only nine weeks to go and we're still trying to decide on a boy's name.

We're looking for one that is 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):

Baxter
Carver
Clyde
Colin
Duncan
Owen
Quill
Quinn
Spencer

baxter is a soup - also a popular dog's name.
quill is a kind of fountain pen.

Above might not put you off anyway but worth knowing due to the playground..

Some of the others sound scottish/US Duncan/Quinn/Spencer.

Not much help - for record I quite like all your name choices!

Duncan, Duncan, Duncan is all I will say. Tremendous name and hugely underused.
Adrian is another good one that you don't hear enough of.

i like owen best on your list. agree baxter is soup. colin is just awful, its an older person's name and not especially classic either. carver is a sort of chair or someone who cuts up meat. hope your friend doesn't copy you as ours did.

Honestly? They're all awful. Duncan is the least awful but I knew a Duncan at university who was known as Spunky Dunky and that would put me off a bit.

All apart from Colin and Duncan sound like surnames to me. Quill is wierd, as is Carver - sounds like a psycho . Owen is Welsh (but that's fine - just wanted you to know that.) Clyde is the orang-utan in the Clint Eastwood films.

I too would suggest that you go with Duncan (which is Scottish).

I like Owen too.

I prefer Dexter to Baxter.

Maybe they're 'rare' for a reason?

Colin is not popular in the UK at the moment - it's one of those 70s names that hasn't come back yet (and it will, mark my words it will, with his brothers Trevor and Kevin )

How about Coll? It's an island off the coast of Scotland, but has a similar sound.

From your list I like Duncan.

I also like Gregor.

Of those I'd say that Duncan, Owen and Spencer are actually usable names for your son's generation.

Quinn I think would be seen as a girl's name since glee came out. Carver and quill aren't recognisable names.

Baxter could be in an American surname as name type of name way I suppose.

Clyde. Don't really know anything about it. Bonnie and Clyde of course. Baxter and Clyde aren't outrageous, just unknown.

Colin is common in my generation but was even mocked at school by an unfortunate colin's peers. It's not old enough to be anywhere near making a comeback either.

I have to say Quinn is too close to quim, which is not a nickname you want your child to have.

The names are not all to my taste but I would caution against naming your child:
Carver
Clyde
Quill

I like Baxter. I think it's quite cute!

I like Quinn, and Quill sounds nice too. Quinn being the nicer of the two.

Spencer is sweet, but maybe a tad pretentious. Reminds me of Balamory I think it is, with the character of the same name though!

Owen is ok but not rare, quite popular here I think!

All the others are been and gone names, for good reason IMO, sorry! :)

Can you imagine shouting it across the playground without wanting to die of embarrassment? If so, then it's fine. If not, don't use.

Owen is the only one I like. Colin and Duncan are the only other two I'd consider even vaguely useable tbh.

Spencer - a jacket
Baxter - another name for a baker according to google
Carver - somebody who carves
Quill - a pen
Quinn - I think he's in Jaws; it's a surname
Clyde - a river

Duncan! My all time favourite boys name. Sadly DH doesn't like it so none of my three boys have that name.

Owen is quite a common name in the NE. I know at least 7 under the age of 6

Baxter - too surnamed, and a major soup brand
Carver - too noun-y - would be heard as someone who carves, not good
Clyde - Bonnie and, or the river
Colin - OK but dated in a dull sort of way
Duncan - fine
Owen - fine
Quill - no, random feathery noun
Quinn - OK, but close to the slang for vagina
Spencer - fine

Baxter- makes soup. Soup is good. The name, not so much
Carver- person who serves the meat to accompany the soup
Clyde- pretty sure this is a football club
Colin- both of my grandfathers were Colins. It's an old man's name but not a trendy old man's name like Albie or Artie, more like Norman and Terry
Duncan- this is a good name
Owen- s'alright. I know a very, very naughty one though
Quill- a writing implement
Quinn- do NOT do this. At the very best it's feminine, at its worst it scans as 'quim'. I'll let you google it
Spencer- it's just meh

So Duncan definitely.

I like Spencer and Quinn. I think Colin will soon become trendy - it has a nice solid sound to it imo.

I'm least keen on Baxter, Owen and Clyde.

I know a 14 yo Colin
and you've solved something that was driving me mad, the very good looking boy at school, who's name I couldn't remember was Owen.

Not, given Owen Glendower etc. not an unusual name in Wales.

I like Owen best (Ross was nice too),

I associate Clyde with the river.

Owen is a strong name.

There are quite a few Duncans in my region (Merseyside), of different ages, all named after Duncan Ferguson (Everton Footballer).

Owen I suppose
Spencer - Frank Spencer

baxter - soup, Scottish brand tinned soup
carver - not keen
Clyde- river, I like it
Colin - I like
Duncan I like
Owen like and know a few
quill ghastly
Quinn -quite trendy
Spencer trendy and I know wee spencer

Baxter and Carver are both the 'surname as first name' trend. Not my taste, but ok if it's yours.

Colin - so far out of fashion it will come back one day. But I suspect you are far ahead of the curve. Quite cool though.

Quill - not a recognised name here. Reminds me of Americans who call their children things like Track or whatever.

Quinn - generally only recognised here as a girl's name, and only that since Glee.

Clyde, Owen, Duncan, Spencer - all fine. Quite a Scottish and Welsh theme there.. All nice. Duncan or Owen my favourites.

Duncan and Owen are the top contenders.

Followed by Spencer and Quinn, which are acceptable.

None of the others make me have positive feelings towards them

I hate all of them set,

Clyde and Ducan.