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Baby names

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Original poster

Gilligan for a boy?

49 replies

SlinkyB · 31/10/2013 21:00

Hi there, I'm expecting ds2 in Jan, and I really love the name Gil.

I don't like Gilbert or Gillespie though, so do you think Gilligan would work as a "full" name? We could call him Gilly as a nn when he was as baby, moving on to Gil as he gets older.

I know Gil is a name in its own right, but surname is only two syllables so I think a longer first name sounds/flows better. Plus I like slightly different names.

Thoughts please?

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Onesleeptillwembley · 31/10/2013 21:03

Awful, awful, awful would be a generous description.

bundaberg · 31/10/2013 21:03

i don't really like it all that much, but it isn't my baby! if you love it then use it :)

Bowlersarm · 31/10/2013 21:06

He would always be mistakenly called Jill or jilly IMO.

Gilbert would be the best bet for that not to happen.

But I def don't like Gilligan.

SirChenjin · 31/10/2013 21:15

Not keen, sorry.

How about Gilzean (Scottish name, usually pronounced Gillan)? Or just use Gillan?

DinkyMole · 31/10/2013 21:18

I really like it.

Original poster
SlinkyB · 31/10/2013 21:33

bowlers that's dh's fear; that written down Gilly would look like it's pronounced Jilly and people would think he's a she (although there are hundreds of unisex names out there, so guess you'd just get used to correcting people).

Sirc not heard or seen that Scottish name. We're in the west Country though, and think people would be very Confused about Gilzean. Gillan is ok, but looks a bit like Gillian.

Dinky Yay! Finally someone likes it!

OP posts:
fedupwithdeployment · 31/10/2013 21:33

Remember Andrew Gilligan, the journalist? I respect some of his work but no way would I name a baby after him! Your choice though.

flipchart · 31/10/2013 21:37

When I was a kid that was what I imagined my future son would be ca?led.
I wish I had gone with it

I think I was inspired by a children's programme called Gilligan's Island.

flipchart · 31/10/2013 21:41

Sorry, missed out words. I'm getting used to my new phone. I like the name. I know a few bl9kes with that name who are in their 20's and 30's.

YesterdayI · 31/10/2013 21:49

I am sorry but I don't like Gilligan or Gilly at all. Gil is ok but I would think the person was Frence and would pronounce it in a French way.

I don't much like Gilbert either. Gillespie is just about ok.

ThoRAVENomiki · 31/10/2013 21:53

I like it Smile

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/10/2013 21:55

I like Gil but really don't like Gilligan - sorry, but it is horrible.

Original poster
SlinkyB · 31/10/2013 21:55

Never heard of the journalist Andrew Gilligan! So would definitely not be naming my baby after him? Confused.

flipchart ooh, that's interesting you know a couple. Have seen Gilligan's Island pop up on Google, but never seen the show.

I like Rafferty too, but most people inc me tend to glottal stop around here, so am ruling out any names with 't' in the middle Sad

OP posts:
flipchart · 01/11/2013 08:20

It your baby so you choose. I picked the name I wanted for my son. A few months later I went with him to the school to pick ds1 up and one of the mums said to me ' do you know, I really hated that name when you said what he was called but I like it now!'

The lads I know are nic named to Gil and Gilly.

I think we live in such a diverse society any names seem to go!
I know a Henry, Ambrose, Sufyan, Theodore. ( known as Ted)

I live in the North West of England in an area where names used to be quite conservative but there is more variation these days.

putthecrispsDOWN · 01/11/2013 13:49

Love it...also love Gil or Gilly...its a nice flexible name which would suit a quiet/cheeky/outgoing person depending upon his personality. I love unusual names, go for it!

YesterdayI · 01/11/2013 13:53

How would you pronounce Gilly?

CordeliaRose · 01/11/2013 16:09

Hi OP - I've never heard of Gilligan, but I really like it. Gil is great as an nn and Gilly is cute. The most important thing is that you and your husband both like it Smile

How about 'Giggly' as a nn if you think Gilly might be mistaken for Jilly? Grin

BabyMakesFour · 01/11/2013 18:38

How about Gillan to get to Gil? I know a Gillan - it's actually his mother's maiden name. Her brother was always known as Gil and she wanted to keep it going.

TheCharWoman · 01/11/2013 20:03

I thought of Andrew Gilligan the journalist too...

Original poster
SlinkyB · 01/11/2013 20:29

Thanks for all your thoughts and input all, much appreciated!

yesterday it would be a hard 'g' for all the variants (ie the g you use for grass).

I knew a lovely old Irish man who was called Gillie/Gilly when I was a kid, and dh and I both have Irish roots.

Loving the Giggly suggestion! Grin

OP posts:
Mumpire · 01/11/2013 20:33

No. At a glance it looks like Gillian. What about Cillian? that's a bit less bonkers sounding (to me).

Gillespie is nice. Think it means bishop or something though.

Mumpire · 01/11/2013 20:36

Ah! googled it. Gillespie is from the gaelic 'giolla easpaig' servant of the bishop. I like it ! I shouldn't but I do.

lljkk · 01/11/2013 20:38

Gilligan's island, omg, Gilligan was the doofiest character on there. Any American will think you were insane to make this choice.

As for Gilly, is he a fish?

sorry, but you did ask.

JassyRadlett · 01/11/2013 20:54

You can only call him Gilligan if you call your next child Skipper.

Gilligan's Island was a huge sitcom in the 60s in the US and still on endless reruns there and in Australia.

Original poster
SlinkyB · 01/11/2013 21:03

I'm not worried about the Gilligan's Island connection tbh; if I'm too young to know anything about it (I'm mid thirties) then I'm pretty sure his peers wouldn't have a clue. And we're in the SW of England.

No, he isn't a fish as far as I'm aware lljkk, but there are lots of lovely names which have other meanings. Marina is a gorgeous girl's name, it's not just somewhere you store boats. Coral isn't just something you find on a reef.

I like Caspar too, but people go "oh, Caspar the friendly ghost". If you think about it, most names conjure up different images or memories, but once you know the person with that name, you then think of them, right?

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