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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Kester awful?

120 replies

crayfish · 02/12/2016 14:53

My hormone-addled brain can't decide if I love it or hate it. We are stuck for boys names because the only one I really loved I gave to DS1, so if this baby is another boy I'm stumped. DH is a Christopher and I think Kester is a nice nod to that but I'm not sure if it's a bit 'out there'?

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HoratioNightboy · 02/12/2016 17:30

Behindthename says it's the Scottish form of Christopher

This crops up on a few websites however in all my name research I have never come across a single instance of anyone in Scotland with the name (other than recent use). I've been actively looking too, as I'd love it to be a Scottish name, but so far I've found no evidence of it. If anyone has any genuine examples (pre-1962) I'd love to see them.

I do like the name though OP, but also love Hamish.

Corneliagoescamping · 02/12/2016 19:01

Absolutely love the name Kester. Also love Hester for a girl. Obviously not together though.

NavyandWhite · 02/12/2016 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
crayfish · 02/12/2016 20:40

It's not Scottish, it's actually more of an English derivative of Christopher (I've looked up the history).

My DS's name is on the list of posh Scottish names a PP put above, but it's not actually Scottish either!

I think Kesters out for me though, it's just too marmite. Plus autocorrect tried to make it 'Testers' just then... Confused

OP posts:
midsomermurderess · 02/12/2016 21:00

Is Shamus a posh Scottish name? I have never come across it, posh or not as it happens.

Jermajesty · 02/12/2016 21:07

I knew a Kester, he was fab. Nn Kez. Great name.

CakeRattleandRoll · 03/12/2016 05:41

I really like Kester. And Hector. And love Hamish.

RueDeDay · 03/12/2016 06:01

Love Hamish and Keir. Not keen on Hector, or Kester.

10Betty10 · 05/12/2016 18:17

My favourite ever student was called Kester and it suited him perfectly- it's a bright, cheerful and friendly name- I say do it!

celtiethree · 06/12/2016 00:19

Kester is great, I really like it.

JollyHockeyGit · 06/12/2016 00:51

Kester isn't as awful as some things I've seen on here! Hamish and Crawford are my guilty pleasures name-wise!

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 06/12/2016 09:29

I really like it.

anonymice · 06/12/2016 09:32

Kester Woodseaves is the very nice very foxy male character in a book set in Shropshire by Mary Webb called Precious Bane. He is a nice man so I like that name. Also my own name rhymes with fester and I never ever got teased about it. If you like it use it !!!

austenozzy · 06/12/2016 09:36

Reminds me of the Addams family!

KitNeutron · 06/12/2016 09:49

Hamish Hamish Hamish! It's wonderful, I love it.

Reality16 · 06/12/2016 09:56

It's awful

Ankleswingers · 06/12/2016 09:59

Reminds me of a bird- Kestrel.

I don't like it one bit. Sorry.

AlwaysYes · 06/12/2016 10:04

Not kean, how about Caelin, Kier, Ossian, Mungo? Ok, maybe not Mungo..

AlwaysYes · 06/12/2016 10:04

Keen! Not Kean. Xmas Blush

PattyPenguin · 06/12/2016 22:12

Kester was a popular diminutive from the 16th century to the 18th, when the name Christopher enjoyed a period of popularity (before becoming really quite rare in the 19th).

Hamish is actually a complete misunderstanding of a Gaelic name, Seumas. In Scots Gaelic and Irish one of the mutations (look 'em up, they're characteristic of the Celtic languages) is that in addressing a person, the s sound becomes h. So it's an Anglicised misrepresentation.

Like Mhairi - the Gaelic name is Máiri, where the m sound mutates to a v sound, which in Gaelic is spelled mh if the mutated letter is an m.

Kestersmum · 22/12/2016 21:30

Namechanged because this would totally "out" me. Only joining this thread three weeks late because it was pointed out to me.

I have a Kester - he is a fabulous teenager and we have never had anyone suggest his name was awful. We actually gave him that name because my DH's favourite film is Kes and because in a baby name book it was the only name we both ticked. I am wondering if the people that have known a Kester are people that know him - Hi!

I also have a Hamish and when we announced it we were asked why did we go for such a "normal" or "boring" name especially as we also have a daughter with an Irish gaelic name.

As for Hector - reminds me of Hector's house - no
I like Keir.

wizzler · 22/12/2016 21:38

love it... another big fan of Kester Woodseaves here .

BroomstickOfLove · 22/12/2016 21:44

I really like it. I know a couple of very lovely Kesters.

hoddtastic · 22/12/2016 22:48

Hector?Fergus? Francis? I quite like Dougal (Dougie for short)

anonymice · 22/12/2016 23:24

wizzler Kester woodseaves is my ideal man. I may have to call one of my card Kester because I am not going to have another child but it is a great name I agree !!!