Sebastian vs Fergus

[scrappysquirrel]

Opinions and thoughts please!

Nn for Sebastian would be Seb, Bass, Sebby

Nn for Fergus would be Fergs, Gus, Fergie

I like both. Not a fan of Bass nickname but rest great.
Assume both fit with your surname and you've checked initials.
Would there be middle name(s)?

I'd probably pick Sebastian if I had to choose one.

Fergus.

Both awful but probably Sebastian

Sebastian!
The Sebastian I know was called Basti when he was little, so sweet!

Sebastian

Sebastian definitely.

Definitely Sebastian.
We have a lovely Seb/Sebby next door.

Fergus!

Don't like the nicknames Seb, Sebby or Basty at all

Fergus

Fergus. I know 2 Sebastian’s. Both hard work. Little monsters.

I’m not responsible for that apostrophe!

Fergus.

I can’t stand Sebastian.

Fergus. Sebastian is now a bit of a downmarket name.

Sebastian.

I can't stand Fergus.

How in any way is Sebastian a 'downmarket name'?

Sebastian 100% but I don't like Bass.

Fergus is awful. And Fergie is feminine-sounding.

‘Downmarket’

Those names couldn't be more different, OP - one being traditionally upper middle class English and the other firmly rural Irish/Scottish. I guess it depends what the surname is - Sebastian Murphy would sound daft and so would Fergus Wedgwood-Smythe, however the other way round either might work!

Oh, how you mock. Mark my words, teachers will be on here saying just this before you know it. You might as well call your little Finn or Sebastian Jaiden.

I really like both.

I will also suggest Ferdinand nn Ferdie.

I know a few Jasons. The older ones were privately educated, the younger ones from the rough housing estate.
The same is happening with the name Sebastian.
I'd go for Ferdy.

I’m a teacher, never encountered this ‘downmarket’ wave of Sebastians.

Think you’ll be safe OP

Not yet.

I like Sebastian but it always makes me think of brideshead which then makes me sad.

So Mike, where do you hear them then? And what’s the criteria for being ‘downmarket’? Genuinely interested.

To use a term picked up on a thread about posh names, I feel I could use the term 'chevy'.
I mainly go by what acquaintances, friends and relatives call their offspring, but also am interested in trends.

I know a couple of young Noahs. Both sets of parents picked the name because it was unusual without being too out there. It is generally not loved on MN.
I know several Finns, some of which are called Finley. Finn chosen because it was a cool name.
I know plenty of teachers who tell me which names they feel trepidation about.

Sebastian suggests the parents named the child after the saint, the Shakespearean character or Sebastian Vettel, or that maybe they just liked the name. The name is going up in the popularity charts, which to me hints that it is going to be a bit, well, chevy.