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Baby names

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

Original poster

Amazing 19th century boys' names

82 replies

tinymeteor · 04/09/2017 10:14

I'm pregnant and can't sleep, so am idly trawling through all the baby names I can think of, by way of counting sheep.

Last night's musings were on fabulously OTT Victorian names for boys.

Isambard. Algernon. Melville.

I probably, almost certainly, maybe won't go there Grin

Any other suggestions?

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blueskyinmarch · 04/09/2017 10:16

I think Melville would be a great name for a boy. I don't think anyone would bat an eye if you used it here in Scotland.

WaxOnFeckOff · 04/09/2017 10:18

I'm terrible with my history but I'll add:

Oswald
Halbert
Eustace

Original poster
tinymeteor · 04/09/2017 10:18

Actually that one belonged to a Scottish family member born circa 1880s! Had no idea it was still current up there. Iiiiiinteresting....

OP posts:
Original poster
tinymeteor · 04/09/2017 10:18

Melville, that is

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 04/09/2017 10:22

Agree with bluesky Surname type names are still relatively common in Scotland so don't raise too many eyebrows. Even some of the Mc and Mac names are used. I know McKenzie was popular for a while and then came McCauley, but I know older people called Macgregor and Macinlay as well as Blair, Brody, Innes, Moir, Ainsley, Lindsay etc.

imjustanerd · 04/09/2017 10:23

Edmund

WaxOnFeckOff · 04/09/2017 10:24

Melville may have been popular in connection with the reformer James Melville in Scotland.

ArcheryAnnie · 04/09/2017 10:26

I'm now really regretting not calling DS "Isambard"...

thereinmadnesslies · 04/09/2017 10:28

My family had 'Cornelius' for several generations, sadly DH vetoed it 😂

Original poster
tinymeteor · 04/09/2017 10:49

Cornelius is a belter!

OP posts:
LadyKyliePonsonbyFarquhar · 04/09/2017 11:05

I love Edmund.

squoosh · 04/09/2017 11:08

I have an uncle Cornelius.

TheVanguardSix · 04/09/2017 11:08

Go beyond Victorian names.

Aelred

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 04/09/2017 20:13

Love Isembard and Edmund.

SerendipityFelix · 04/09/2017 20:15

I briefly dated someone who stated he wanted to call his firstborn son Isambard

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 04/09/2017 20:18

Isambard was on my husband's list, as was Caractacus! I vetoed both - and several more I can't remember now.

bridgetreilly · 04/09/2017 20:20

Greville
Fulke
Stafford
Euphem
Grissell
Adolphus

This is my favourite site for weird names of the past: thepeerage.com/surname_index.htm

FaFoutis · 04/09/2017 20:21

I'm working in the 1840s and 50s at the moment. There are quite a few little boys called Jabez. I'm not entirely sure how you would pronounce it though.

CaoNiMartacus · 04/09/2017 20:28

I have a friend named Aelred! I also know a guy called Alaric. My mates are so medieval.

averylongtimeago · 04/09/2017 20:29

Several called Truelove in DH' s family tree.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 04/09/2017 20:29

There's a teacher at the local high school called Erasmus. I love that.

GandalfsWrinklyHat · 04/09/2017 20:31

Willder - on a local gravestone. Died around 1880 iirc.

BikeRunSki · 04/09/2017 20:35

I know s 40ish Bartholomew and I wanted to call DS Isambard. DH vetoed, I am clearly ahead of my time.

Berrybakecake1 · 04/09/2017 20:37

Thaddeus
Hamilton
Obediah

BikeRunSki · 04/09/2017 20:37

Zaccheus
Jabez
Titus
Josiah
Augustus
Ambrose
Ephraim

All buried in my village church