Boys names - which is best/how many do you know?

[BB2018]

Advice and opinions on boys names please! We loved Arthur, but with all the chat around that being a potential for the new royal baby, I'm worried it's too popular now/have been slightly put off...

So the current shortlist is:
Arthur
Edward
Fred
William
Wilfred
Ralph
Rory
Alastair
Dylan

Which is your favourite? And mums out there - are any of these super popular? I don't want him to be one of dozens when he goes to school!

Our surname starts with H, and is two syllables... And it's our first baby, so no worries about matching siblings etc.

Rory

Arthur - I know 3 Arthur's who are 2 and under
Edward - I know 1 Edward who is 3
Fred - don't know any
William - I know tons of Williams but 2 under 3s
Wilfred - don't know any
Ralph - don't know any
Rory - I know 1 boy and 1 girl. Both under 2
Alastair - I know 1 he's 5
Dylan - know several though all older children

I like Arthur, Wilfred (though I worry no teenage boy would want this name), Rory, Alistair and Dillon (this spelling only)

Arthur- like know none
Edward- ok know lots of Ted/Teddy’s
Fred- ok very popular
William- classic and very popular
Wilfred- like it -know a few Wilfs
Ralph- good option-don’t know any
Rory- ok know a few
Alastair- love don’t know any was an option for my ds
Dylan- don’t like and massively popular

"Will is such a cool nickname"

Really? One letter from Willy? And a verb (Will, will you...) and noun...?

But it's great that we all have different tastes!

Ooh, those lists of how many under 3s you know with those names are super helpful, thanks!

Definitely getting some front runners (and we’ve ruled out Ralph now).

I’m not too worried about William/Willy - no Williams at my school go called that, it was generally shortened to Will.

Seems Alastair is well liked and not too common...

I think Will is cool and classy.

Alastair is a great choice!

Next question is Alastair/Alistair?

William by a long way! I know a fair few Williams/Wills but no babies or young children.

Edward.

Patrick?

I know loads of Arthurs and Williams, one fred, one dylan and one edward.

I'd go for Rory from your original list.

Loads of young Arthurs, Williams and especially Dylans here. And cats called Rory.
A lot of Freddies, too. And some Edwards.

I like Edward though, but would prefer Rory, Wilfred or Alistair. Only thing with Alistair is so many spellings and misspellings.

Oh forgot Wilfred. I know three of those.

Excellent names, I used three of them - Alasdair, Edward and Rory. Weirdly I know about six other Alistair/Alastair/Alasdairs just from his school. Two other Edwards and two other Rorys.

There are about a thousand Williams, all known as Will at their school. Also a couple of Dylans. Don't know any children with the other names.

I like all your names except Dylan which I intensely dislike.

If you're looking for suggestions my other DS is Angus

Those are my kind of names but I do know 5 or 6 Arthurs from ages 2 to 14.
I know a Fred in his 40's and one who is 5. That's a timeless name, I like it. Also same with Rory, Edward and Alistair. I know some in their 40's and came across one each around 5-9 years old, but not loads. All good choices.
Wilfred is a bit odd, not so sure about William. Dylan is a nice name too. I don't know any.

💙 Dylan.

It’s so varied isn’t it!
I think my tops are Alistair, Arthur and Wilfred, though I’m torn on the spelling of Alistair/Alastair now...

Excellent names - I have a William and an Edward.

And haven't come across anyone with the same name as either of them, but I'm sure I will!

Also - we don't do nicknames and my eldest is quick to point out his name is WillIAM to anyone who shortens it. As for my three year old, he stamps his feet and shouts I Edward

Edward or Rory

I like Dylan and William best, Billy and Will are nice shortening.

Alistair William Arthur and Rory

Dougal? I like Alastair

Morning!

We’ve ruled out Dylan, Ralph and Rory (just didn’t feel they were totally us).

So we’re down to Arthur, Alistair (that spelling I think as that’s how we’d pronounce it), Edward, William and Wilfred.

William and Edward are classics, but seem to be the most widely used, and Arthur is on the rise (wonder how many Arthurs there will be this year!)

Alistair and Wilfred still seem the least common.

How do those with children with popular names find it? Are they bothered by being Arthur H at school etc?

One of mine has to use his initial and really dislikes it. Sometimes says why didn’t you call me a less common name? (Dominic is his suggestion which was actually on my list and vetoed by DH as an aside)

How do those with children with popular names find it? Are they bothered by being Arthur H at school etc?

It can be a pain, especially if they share the same surname initial.