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Original poster

Thoughts on Oliver, Jake, Finley or Liam

41 replies

ProseccoPoppy · 28/01/2018 19:45

Just that really! These are about the only four that DH and I can broadly agree on for a boy (he’s due in a couple of months so we have some time) and even then none feel like a perfect fit!! Not sure why this is so hard - it was so easy to pick DD’s name last time! Other ideas welcome!

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MikeUniformMike · 28/01/2018 19:49

Oliver - classic and very popular. I don't like Olly.
Jake - I like it but it is popular
Finley - nice but it's a bit twee. I think Finn is going to be a bit of a naughty boy's name.
Liam - I think it sounds dated, and is only OK if you have irish connections. I like it.

Original poster
ProseccoPoppy · 28/01/2018 19:57

Thanks!!Hmm the Irish connection point is a good one that I hadn’t thought of - we don’t have an Irish connection but do have quite an Irish sounding surname (Gaelic root I think) so sadly Liam may not be ideal.

OP posts:
mondler · 28/01/2018 20:11

Oliver - nice but very popular at moment (which doesn't have to be a bad thing). Ollie/Olly is a great knickname.

Finley - is getting much more popular (because of something to do with starwars apparently) but I really like it. Finn is a lovely knickname.

Jake - I know a fair few in their teens/twenties. I like the full Jacob with Jake as the knickname.

Liam - Probably my least fav out of all of them but I don't think you have to have Irish connections these days. There's plenty of Liams around that aren't Irish.

RavenWings · 28/01/2018 21:17

Oliver - hate it personally, overly popular and too soft and wet sounding.
Jake - it's nice but it's a bit nicknamey for me, I'd want something more grown up.
Finley - I agree that it's twee. I don't get the popularity of this one either.
Liam - love it. I don't think you need to be Irish to use it.

DramaAlpaca · 28/01/2018 21:19

I love all of them but my favourite is Liam.

Chocolatecake12 · 28/01/2018 21:24

Love Oliver (I’m biased) yes it’s popular but you don’t hear it any more than a lot of other names.
My ds 16 has always been the only one in his class, my ds11 hasn’t got any in his class and none in the year below either.

MancUnicorn · 28/01/2018 21:25

All these names are extremely common where I'm from, so there's no point rating them based on that (plus I don't even know if that bothers you! haha)

Oliver - Love the name. I know both children and adults with the name and think it's grand!
Jake - It's nice but I don't associate it with an adult if you get me? It's a very 'young' name. I still think it is nice though, grown on me over the years
Finley - I like the nickname Finn, but also know a couple of annoying kids with this name (MikeUniformMike hit the nail on the head with this one)
Liam - another "naughty boy name" I'm afraid, from experience anyways. I like it as a nickname for William though

GentlyGentlyOhDear · 28/01/2018 21:37

I love Oliver (but am biased!). Also like Finley and Jake. Liam does sound very 90s to me.
We also really liked Luke, as it is a similar type name I think.

Original poster
ProseccoPoppy · 28/01/2018 22:26

Wow thanks for all the responses! Smile

Popular doesn’t bother us, I get that it is a concern for some but not us. We are coming at it from two angles - I have an unusual name which I have never been fond of, and which is a pain to spell, DH’s name was incredibly popular the year he was born (and a few years either side) so he was always one of several boys with that name in any class at school - never bothered him, he likes his name and they also all had fun making up nicknames in their friendship group.

I have a relative in his mid 50s who is Jake (not who we’d be naming the baby for, and not a close enough relative for it to be weird) so I don’t really see the “young name” thing - guess that’s just who you know at any one point! Relative is James on his birth cert but has never used James at all - but guess that is an option, I am not very fond of Jacob (just keep picturing Jacob Rees-Mogg...)

Thanks for all the thoughts on Liam - interesting! William isn’t a runner for us (unfortunately - nice name but we can’t). Luke I like in the abstract but knew an absolutely vile Luke a few years ago so not keen!

I can see the Finn thing too. DH loves Finley though. Hmm... middle name maybe...

I don’t know - I really do like the name Oliver (and it seems quite safe) but I don’t love it in the way that I do DD’s name which felt perfect as soon as we settled on it! Keep hoping for that “oh - YES! That!” moment

OP posts:
BonnieF · 28/01/2018 22:39

All are good names, but as others have said, Oliver is very, very, very popular so he could be one of half a dozen or more Oliver / Olly / Olis in his school year.

As for Finley, isn’t the spelling Finlay more authentically Celtic?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 28/01/2018 23:24

💙 Liam.

userabcname · 29/01/2018 12:18

Not a fan of Liam. Leon or Leo maybe? I know someone with an Oliver - lovely name btw - and the other names on her list were Callum, Elliot and Michael if that's any help.

Papalazarou30 · 29/01/2018 12:24

Love Finley but I am biased Smile other names I liked were Reuben, Ethan and Noah.BF liked Stanley but I wasn't keen on that

BonesyBones · 29/01/2018 12:36

I have an Ollie and a Finlay, and very nearly had a Jake, so I'm definitely biased, but Finlay is the only one of my children's names I've never had second thoughts about.

Other names I liked (since we seem to have similar tastes) were:
Benjamin
Noah
Caleb
Callum
Austin

sirlee66 · 29/01/2018 12:37

Oh no! I'm in the exact same boat!! Jake/Jacob and Oliver are both on mine and DH list but none of the names on there have that... Yes I love it feel.

The names I LOVE DH hates! It's so frustrating!

I prefer the name Oliver, but as other PP have said, it's number 1 for this year! Sooo annoying!!

Scabbersley · 29/01/2018 12:37

I think they are all naughty boys names. Except Ollie and that's a bit wet.

Sorry.

Original poster
ProseccoPoppy · 29/01/2018 13:28

Bonesy I have a Benjamin, Callum and Noah in the near family so think they are a bit too close but otherwise do like them! Argh - really didn’t think this would be so tricky!!

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Demiguisee · 29/01/2018 13:44

Love Jake and Liam.

MammieBear · 29/01/2018 14:07

Depends on where you live anyway the popularity of a name. Don't let it put you off, if you love it use it or you'll regret it. All fine names on your list I happen to prefer the first two, one of which I will use if ours is a boy.

LoveInTokyo · 29/01/2018 18:43

I like Oliver the best, or Jacob nn Jake.

Serafinaaa · 29/01/2018 18:45

Prefer Finlay to Finley but it's a great name.

eightoutoftencats · 29/01/2018 18:52

Oliver: lovely name if a bit soft sounding.
Love Ollie too.

Jake I absolutely love but prefer Jacob.

Finlay I really like.

Liam is the only one on your list that I dislike... It's a naughty boy name to me.

DramaAlpaca · 29/01/2018 20:57

So as usual the Irish boys' names on this thread have been described as 'naughty boy' names by several posters.

What a surprise.

eightoutoftencats · 29/01/2018 21:13

Nothing to do with it being Irish, there's lots of Irish names I love, just not this one as I happen to know a few quite naughty Liams.
There are also plenty of other names I "label" in various ways due to the people I've met.... Don't think that's particularly unusual.

AmberTopaz · 29/01/2018 21:14

Not keen on Finley (although Finn is okay) but I like the other three.