Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Brother name for Liam

30 replies

Systine · 15/01/2013 12:21

We have DS1 Liam, DS2 on the way.

What do you think about

Samuel
Spencer
Quentin

Or any other name on your mind? Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
RillaBlythe · 15/01/2013 12:22

Noel.

I like Samuel.

Thomas?

atthewelles · 15/01/2013 12:34

Liam is an Irish name and the others are very English. I don't think they really match.

chocoluvva · 15/01/2013 12:36

I know a Liam who has three brothers;

Cieran, Aidan and Finn.

fenzy84 · 15/01/2013 13:28

Out of your list I like Spencer but...

I like chocoluvva suggestion of Finn, I think that would work well

WhyIRayLiotta · 15/01/2013 13:32

I think maybe
Sean
Finn or
Conor
... All quite Irish names.

atthewelles · 15/01/2013 13:34

The problem is that a lot of Irish names seem to be considered chavvy in England nowadays - Conor, Ronan, Aiden, Sean, even though they're considered perfectly normal in Ireland. I would go with something vaguely celtic though (like Finn) if you want something to complement Liam.

atthewelles · 15/01/2013 13:35

x-post WhyIRayLiotta

leesmum · 15/01/2013 13:37

Owen x

atthewelles · 15/01/2013 13:43

Would you consider Hugh? Even though it's English there are several famous Hughs in Irish history.

Littlecherublegs · 15/01/2013 14:23

The Liam I know has a brother Kieran.
I prefer the spelling Ciaran and think it goes well with Liam.

Or: Sean/Shaun, Aidan/Haydn, Blake, Stewart, Marcus, Zac, Daniel, Joseph, Ryan, Brandon, Christian, Nathan

gillian88 · 15/01/2013 14:30

Rory?

Original poster
Systine · 15/01/2013 15:33

Thanks for all the advices!

We are originally from Asia, but stayed in Europe for a long time and moved to UK not long ago. DS2 will have a pure Asian name as his middle name just as DS1, but to make life easier, a Western first name will be given.

Actually we picked the name Liam when we were not in the UK yet (but knew that we were about to). We chose Liam simply because it is simple and pronounces well. We were not aware of its Irish origin at that time.

For DS2, we also like some simple and somehow international name (who knows whether we have to move again!) And will go with Liam.

Thanks again!

OP posts:
badtime · 15/01/2013 15:41

In Ireland (depending on family etc) there would be no reason why Liam couldn't have a brother with a more 'English' name (as long as it's a saint's name usually!)

If, for any reason, you did want to keep the theme, names like Aidan or Oscar or Finn are easy (although popular).

yabbadabba · 15/01/2013 15:47

I have a Liam and his brother is Aaron.

yabbadabba · 15/01/2013 15:49

Pronounced Ar-on not Air-on.

mathanxiety · 15/01/2013 17:57

Adam
Dylan
Bram
Roman -- very international
...complement Liam and are easy to pronounce.

Some other Irish names that are easy to pronounce and go well with Liam:
Fergus
Fintan
Owen
Ronan
Cormac
Oscar -- very international
Finn
Aran
Rory
Brendan
Lorcan
Declan

mathanxiety · 15/01/2013 17:59

Sorry, meant to add -- I think Samuel would be great from your list.
The others I'm not so sure I like at all.

aquashiv · 15/01/2013 18:15

Given your mo for name choosing how about John - simple classic international etc

Original poster
Systine · 15/01/2013 21:12

Thanks Ladies! The name has not necessarily to be Irish. We are neither English nor Irish, so I guess any name will do.

And we prefer the name having a nonambiguous pronunciation. To be honest, I tried several times to pronounce Kian with the help of a native British friend, just could not get it right. And some names would have different pronunciations depending on the region or person, e.g., Aaron mentioned by yabbadabba or Lois, or even Fergus (is it Fe-guh-s, or Fe-ge-s).

Certain names mentioned above are very nice, but have some bad meanings in our native language, so we also have to avoid.

Now the list changed to two names: Samuel and Benjamin. Do you have any ideas which are better? Or some more inspiring names?

I really appreciate your time and help!

OP posts:
leesmum · 15/01/2013 21:32

both are lovely and can be shortened (as boys names often do)

sweetestB · 15/01/2013 21:42

Benjamim.

mathanxiety · 16/01/2013 04:51

I love Benjamin --would be easy to pronounce and goes well with Liam. Ben is a lovely and easy nn too.

feministefatale · 16/01/2013 04:58

Not to add a name, but just to say... your children are not a "pair" they are two separate human beings who won't be in the same house for the vast majority of their lives and so you really don't have to be held back by choosing a name that sounds good with the other name any more than it should sound good with your first name or your partner's name.

AndABigBirdInaPearTree · 16/01/2013 05:05

ITA with Feministe! My boys names don't match at all, they are suited to each boy, they are not a matched set.

Pick whatever you both like the best and suits your new little bundle. Many congratulations!

Gwennan · 16/01/2013 11:09

I like your short list, particularly Benjamin, Samuel and Spencer. I like Quentin in theory but I think it could be a difficult name to wear, as it is quite aristocratic-sounding to my ears! All names have some sort of cultural baggage though.

Other names you may wish to consider:
Andrew
Anthony
Austin
Benedict
Caleb
Conrad
Dominic
Eli
Elliot
Ellis
Jack
Joseph
Nicholas
Noah
Oscar
Peter
Robert
Robin
Rowan
Thomas
Tobias/Toby

Liam is quite a short name so I have tried to think of others or names that have a good nickname (like Sam and Ben).