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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Tristan or Felix - thoughts?

62 replies

BettyBi0 · 06/04/2016 14:47

I'm interested in hearing people's gut instinct on these 2 names. No matter how prejudiced, blunt, or irrational.

What kind of profession could you imagine either one having? I'm worried that they both sound a bit drippy or even faddy but there are so few names me and DP agree on!

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bebo100 · 06/04/2016 14:49

I like Felix.

Not keen on Tristian, but maybe that's because I had a supplier who was called that, and he was indeed 'drippy'.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 06/04/2016 14:50

Not keen on Tristan but love Felix.

TheNaze73 · 06/04/2016 14:52

Felix for me. Tristan doesn't do it for me at all & sounds a bit like the name of someone who'd become the school spanner

ABitAsleep · 06/04/2016 15:19

In my honest opinion they both come across as very camp! Felix is probably a bit worse than Tristan...

Original poster

BettyBi0 · 06/04/2016 15:45

Yeah I can kind of see the camp thing.

My first instinct for Felix was kind of a softy/nerdy type but maybe I've been swayed since by watching too much orphan black.

OP posts:

Itinerary · 06/04/2016 15:57

I like both but slightly prefer Tristan.

MabelFurball · 06/04/2016 16:23

Keep thinking of Felix the cat and don't like the name Tristan.

Ipanema01 · 06/04/2016 16:57

I really really dislike Tristan and think it's drippy. Felix is quite a soft name but I like it, it's cool!

SpeakNoWords · 06/04/2016 17:02

Neither sounds nerdy or drippy to me. Felix is immediately followed by "the cat" when I hear it, and it seems therefore more like the name of a pet. But, if I met a child called Felix I think I would probably get used to it fairly quickly. Tristan is a great name, would suit lots of different professions.

Babylove2015 · 06/04/2016 17:05

I know one of both.

Tristan is a wet name and this Tristan ( early teens) is a nightmare brat to his parents and a total cry baby ( I mean every single time we see him). His younger sisters have much more maturity and guts then him.

Felix is late 20s/ early 30s, lives at home , we never thought he would ever get a job. Always hides in his bedroom ( everyone says it, not just my experince). By some miracle he has managed to get himself a part-time job that is not in a secure field of employment.

When I think of the name Felix, I think of Felix the cat.

17caterpillars1mouse · 06/04/2016 17:07

I can't get past the cat association with. Felix.

I really like Tristan though I prefer the more unusual Tristram which has a romantic feel to it

2ManySweets · 06/04/2016 17:09

I love both.

Felix is a very "happy" name and IME the two Tristan's I've met are cool guys both of who didn't want to go out with me but I'll let that drop ahem

If it helps Tristan is of Germanic origin and Felix Latin. Should you care

SpeakNoWords · 06/04/2016 17:13

Tristan isn't Germanic, I thought, rather Celtic/Old Welsh?

BoboBunnyH0p · 06/04/2016 17:56

Prefer Felix, Tristan to me says wanker (sorry) and also sounds like an estate agents or hair dressers name.

Winterdaisy · 06/04/2016 18:28

Felix means happy and i see it very much as bold boys name. Like it a lot. Used by royal family in north Europe (Sweden I think??)

Tristran - does seem a bit wet to me and the one I know is a spoilt moaning child so maybe that clouds my opinion. I would expect a limp hand shake from a Tristan.

AmyInTheBoonies · 06/04/2016 19:19

I love Tristan, it makes me think of Tristan and Isolde and seems like a romantic hero's name. But it all perception and lots of people seem to see it as a bit wet.

I like Felix too though it's more of a boyish and sweet name.

Stokey · 06/04/2016 21:37

Dh vetoed Tristan right away as being too posh. I loved it.

Felix was on our boys list, we had girls bit I like them both. Felix is probably more used if that is a factor for you.

mrsschu · 06/04/2016 21:43

Really like Felix. Would have been on my list for DS but my cousin used it first. I imagine a Felix to be intelligent and relaxed.

I really don't like Tristan, it sounds very weak to me.

DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2016 22:08

Felix is hippy & quirky.

Tristan is posh & wet.

lljkk · 06/04/2016 22:09

I have one... can be a crybaby but also a bit of a thug. We're not posh. :)

savasana · 06/04/2016 22:14

Oh dear. I have a Tristan and I love it! He's a crazy noisy chaotic but lovely boy. Not in the slightest wet or drippy! Glad I didn't ask on here first... So yeah I prefer Tristan over Felix, although I do like Felix and don't immediately associate it with cat.

ChangedToday · 07/04/2016 07:38

I know two of each. All positive. Nothing wet, posh or hippy about any of them or their families and backgrounds.
One Tristan is a bright boisterous schoolboy the others a determined scholar, now finally a Professor. Felix is a happy name for me, and the kids i know live up to that.

Olbersparadox · 07/04/2016 08:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Sophronia · 07/04/2016 10:02

I know a very non posh Tristan!

I'm not keen on either but if I had to pick I'd go with Tristan.

ABitAsleep · 07/04/2016 10:47

I do like the name Tristan, but I knew a Tristan at School, he was always a troublemaker and a bit of a goth. Always had his hair dyed strange colours, always wore black clothes and always wore skinny jeans and guyliner (not cool on a guy) Got into drugs. Did nothing with his life. (also not cool)

Felix is a cat.

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