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Original poster

Arthur - Opinions please :-)

32 replies

heart2015 · 08/06/2015 15:22

Hi everyone,

My partner & I are expecting a little boy and both love the name Arthur (Artie for short) but friends reactions to this have been..... lukewarm.
We've already decided his middle name will be William and I think Arthur William is lovely and strong.
What is everyone's opinion on this? We were considering Henry as we like classic names but I think Henry is far to popular now.

Be gentle and thanks in advance! :-)

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FallingGoldfinch · 08/06/2015 15:25

It's very very popular just now - three out of last four boys I've heard of have been called it.

But it is also very nice . . .

af2000 · 08/06/2015 15:29

First up I would say don't tell your friends/family your name choices, they will always have an opinion and in my experience aren't backwards in letting you know they 'don't like that name' (with a screwed up cats bum face!)

Secondly, we have an Arthur so I cannot give you an unbiased opinion! our little boy has really grown to suit his name, he is strong and cheeky and very characterful and I love that his name matches so well with him! however when we picked it it wasn't featuring on any of the top names lists.. I think it does now though. And I do hear it reasonably frequently around here (south east london).. but it's a great name! BTW I think of it as more 'King Arthur' rather than 'old man'. Hope that helps!

sebsmummy1 · 08/06/2015 15:30

I really like it but it's extremely popular.

MamaLazarou · 08/06/2015 16:12

Love love LOVE Arthur.

(But not Artie)

MamaLazarou · 08/06/2015 16:12

No small Arthurs round here, BTW (South London)

swancourt · 08/06/2015 16:23

MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BOY'S NAME OF ALL TIME :)

I have two DDs. But if I ever have a DS, this is what I would like to call him.

DH, though, is not so keen, and says it doesn't have a one-syllable abbreviation. Apparently all men need this, for the pub. My DH is about as far from being blokey as it is possible to be, so I have no idea why he thinks this. He likes Frederick, and I'm not keen. So at the moment our compromise name is Alfred NN Freddie.

But Arthur is just gorgeous - it makes me think of somebody strong, kind, dependable and loving :)

ProfessorPickles · 08/06/2015 16:25

I don't know anyone named Arthur, everyone seems to be using surnames as first names where I am!

It's a lovely name Smile

ProfessorPickles · 08/06/2015 16:27

Swancourt, does your surname work as a nickname?
My brothers name doesn't get shortened so his friends call him by a shortened version of our surname!
That's how you can get away with having an Arthur haha

NerrSnerr · 08/06/2015 16:28

I like it, but it is very popular where I live. I know about 4 Arthurs born recently.

ClementineAndCordelia · 08/06/2015 16:45

I only know two around our area- both are 5/6 yrs old and really suit their names ( strong , bear- like , loving boys ( I think Arthur means Bear ?) anyway - yes it's gaining in popularity but if that doesn't bother you it's a fab name and also ageless :)

Marcipex · 08/06/2015 16:49

Arthur is great.
Sorry but Artie isn't great, think of the rhyme.

sweetpeame · 08/06/2015 18:31

I like Arthur, love nn Art. Go for it!

DefinitelyMaybeBaby · 08/06/2015 18:50

My DHs number 1 choice for our unborn baby but I'm more lukewarm towards it.
I keep hearing it's really popular, especially on mn, and it's been leaping up the name charts the last few years - at about number 50 now but expected to jump up again when the next list is published. However that being said I don't know any and I work with children and young people, and know loads of people having kids!

SylvaniansAtEase · 08/06/2015 18:51

Like a lot, know several, it's very popular now!

However nn isn't great - don't really like Art or Artie. The baby ones I know are always called by full name.

The only adult Arthur I know rejoices in the 'pub name' of Furry...Confused

coneywonder · 08/06/2015 19:00

My baby will be an arthur if it's a boy! I love it and not very popular where I live x

Sophronia · 08/06/2015 19:01

I like it a lot, Artie is cute too. I know one who goes by Bear as a nn, since Arthur means bear.

Archer26 · 08/06/2015 19:04

Love it. Really like Artie too. Go for it.

wigglesrock · 08/06/2015 19:37

It's not my cup of tea at all, I know quite a few, a couple of people in my husbands work have toddler and baby Arthurs and I know 2 at a toddler/baby group. There are none in my dds primary school and I didn't go to school with any. Apart from these under 4s I only know a 70 year old man and a man in his forties with the name - they both actively dislike it.

SaulGood · 08/06/2015 19:41

4 of the last 6 babies born to people I know were Arthur. Massively popular here.

fionadal · 08/06/2015 21:55

Arthur is ok - I really like the nickname Artie though!

It doesn't seem hugely popular in here in the SE. I've only met two under 4s.

If you like it, go for it!

DampAndRotten · 08/06/2015 22:00

Love it.

ImSoCoolNow · 08/06/2015 22:03

Love it.

From Glasgow and not heard of any Arthurs born around here that I know of anyway

Roseotto · 08/06/2015 23:17

Love it (but knew a lovely one growing up) but not Artie at all.

QuinoaLenghi · 09/06/2015 08:52

MN always States Artgur is really, really popular but it's not in the top 50 names (I think it's mid 60s). I have three primary/pre-prinary aged children in Londin but I've only come across two small Arthur's across all the schools, nurseries and playgroups I've frequented.

I know one 20 year old Arthur whose nn is Thor!

FWIW I love the name: it's classic, classless (used by kings and flat caps) and strong.

timelyreminder · 09/06/2015 10:13

Arthur is OK but I prefer your original choice of Henry. I don't know any little Arthurs or Henrys.