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Original poster

Help needed please! Final name choice for our new baby boy- Arlo, Finn, Bertie or Joe?

51 replies

Debsbeharrell · 07/07/2014 12:01

Hi there, we've just given birth to our first child, a beautiful baby boy. We're absolutely delighted to welcome him into the world, however we can't decide between our top 4 names and need a bit of help. Your thoughts appreciated! Surname is quite long and difficult to spell so needs to be taken into consideration!

Our final 4:

  • Arlo
  • Bertie (to be christened Albert)
  • Joe
  • Finn

Thanks!
Debbie

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busyDays · 07/07/2014 13:43

I like both Arlo and Albert as names but I probably wouldn't choose them with your surname. I think any first name with an 'r' sound is a bit too much of a mouthful with your surname. I think Finn goes pretty well and Joe/Joseph works best with Beharrell. Albie Beharrell also has a nice ring to it and would be my preference over a Bertie as a nickname for Albert.

ShesARumUn · 07/07/2014 13:44

Why not go for Gilbert? Then three really cool nickname possibilities; Gil, Gilly and Bertie.

tachehag · 07/07/2014 13:53

Joe is by far the best.

Arlo v. bad. Bertie a bit faddish but quite cute.

Finn ubiquitous.

tachehag · 07/07/2014 13:53

Love Gilbert!

Whenwillwe3meetagain · 07/07/2014 13:59

A fab list all apart from Bertie are on mine too!
Go for Arlo it's ace!

Nereida · 07/07/2014 14:06

Definitely Albert with Bertie as a nickname. Albert is great!

MerryMarigold · 07/07/2014 14:10
  • Arlo - Bit too trendy, I think. The Tracey of the 2010's! Also, all the people I know with Arlos are a bit up their own botties.
  • Bertie - sounds brill with your surname. Don't think having a characterful name is bad. It's good for CV's! It's great for film/ play credits.
  • Joe - little bit boring
  • Finn - really like it. Not as faddy as Arlo I think. Know some good, down to earth people who have chosen this name for their dc.
Wishfulmakeupping · 07/07/2014 14:11

Albert by far

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 07/07/2014 14:16

Now that you've said the surname, I think Bertie!

Finn and Joe too safe and boring.

I'm not a massive fan of Arlo, but apart from that, I think it's too many L sounds with the surname.

However, Albert Beharrell is also a bit 'lots of L sounds' !!

Kate Bush has a Bertie...

hobblebobble · 07/07/2014 14:23

arlo

BuntyCollocks · 07/07/2014 14:24

I love Arlo. I very much want an Arlo. If I have another boy at any point, I am going to register him without my husband and call him Arlo. maybe

LongTailedTit · 07/07/2014 14:30

Arlo or Bertie/Albert I reckon - Bertie perhaps more flexible as he could choose Al or Albie in future too, but Arlo is a stronger name.

However, pleeeeease go for Gilbert! Grin I would have loved that for ds2 but in combination with our surname it made for far too many jokes.

stripedtortoise · 07/07/2014 14:30

Was going to suggest Bertie but having seen your surname it doesn't go IMO. Would also stay away from Arlo as it is also unusual as you point out.

Joseph nn Joe is the outright winner for me.

florascotia · 07/07/2014 14:42

Congratulations!

Any one of your names would be fine, but I think Albert nn Bertie would be the best. Classic, but has wit, as well. Sounds rather dashing ...

Re Finn - previous poster questioned popularity. Well, in 2013, Finn was 64th in Scotland and Finlay was 17th. In England and Wales in 2012, Finley was 34th and Finlay was 83rd. (A total altogether of 3381). I am sure that many Finleys or Finlays will get called Finn.

Re Arlo, this blog entry is about choosing Arlo as a name. It might just perhaps be of interest: sorry-about-the-mess.co.uk/2011/06/29/a-name-for-arlo/

DeadCert · 07/07/2014 14:56

I have a Joseph, who we call Joe. He is the only other one I have met, only one in his class at nursery and we get complimented on his name all the time.

I'm currently pregnant with number 2 and if it's a boy, we will call him Finn. Finn isn't in the top 100 names for boys in England, and to my mind, is a different name to Finlay/Finley.

Bertie and Arlo to me sound so pompous, but that might just be because I choose dull and common names. Wink

Good luck, just chose something you like. Most will have chosen Harry/Charlie/George/William/Jacob anyway!

BlueStarsAtNight · 07/07/2014 18:26

I vote Bertie, it's very cool with your surname.

I like Joe and Finn about equally.

Really dislike Arlo; all the parents of Arlo's I have met have been quite stuck-up and pretentious.

SmashingBlouse · 07/07/2014 18:32

Love Finn. If it matters, I dont actually know of any in real life either!

Arlo is nice too. Both interesting names.

Ragwort · 07/07/2014 18:38

Joe.

Personally I loathe the name Arlo (see Blue's comment Grin) and don't think it goes with your surname, Bertie is nice but again, not with your surname.

Don't like Finn either.

Sorry to be blunt.

My son's name is in the 'top 5' but I genuinely don't know any with the same name in his wide social circle.

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/07/2014 18:45

Arlo.

I know a lovely woman with a little Arlo!

AbsoluteCarine · 07/07/2014 18:55

Finn

MerryMarigold · 07/07/2014 19:00

Alis, I think your name speaks for itself in terms of taste Wink!

LJBanana · 07/07/2014 19:00

I have a Fin with another one on your list as his middle name.
So that gets my vote!

MerryMarigold · 07/07/2014 19:00

Also, Arlo is what inhabitants of Harlow call the place. I wouldn't want to be named after it.

Pidgy · 07/07/2014 19:38

Finn and Finlay/Finley are completely different names!! It's like saying John and Joshua are the same name IMO, so you can't combine the statistics.

Bowlersarm · 07/07/2014 19:40

Joe.