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Baby names

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

Original poster

Opinions

29 replies

Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 09:05

Hello :) I would love to hear your opinions on my names and I would appreciate suggestions if you have any. We're expecting a little boy.
My hubbys british and I'm german, the baby is probably gonna grow up in england but I still got a lot of family and friends in germany so it needs to be usuable in both countries. I really like unisex names which makes this even more complicated.

My list so far :

Alex
Jona
Bente
Noel
Robin
Till (Not unisex but I've been told it sounds pretty neutral in english cause of the female Tilly)

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Sessy19 · 21/07/2018 09:10

Tilly is an extremely popular name in my part of the UK, so a boy called Till might take a little getting used to.

But all your other names are really nice, some classic, some more unusual.

I like Noel. It’s not a big favourite on MN, so you may get some unkind comments. But I really like (I assume) the more German names, Bente and Jona (in the UK I think it’s spelt Jonah).

Congratulations xx

Icklepup · 21/07/2018 09:12

I only like Robin.

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 09:37

Thanks. :) I wasn’t so sure of the spelling of Jona. It just made more sense to me without the h but if it's the more popular spelling I really wouldn't mind spelling it with an h.

Bente is a frisian boy name and used male in north germany but used female in scandinavia so I guess it counds as unisex.

OP posts:
SophieE11 · 21/07/2018 09:49

I like Alex, Jonah and Robin.

Would Sam work in German?

unadventuretime · 21/07/2018 09:51

I like Robin. Noel is ok except for the Noel Edmonds connection and people might assume he has a Christmas birthday. Alex is ok but a bit boring. What about Alexis? Or Kim?

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 10:13

I don't really like Kim cause of the north Korea association. Alexis is nice I haven't thought of that name yet.

Sam could work it's not a unknown name in germany. I just don't really like that name. And you need to pronounce it english or otherwise it sounds close to Samen which is a word for sperm in german. And I just know some of my older relatives will get the pronounciation wrong. Don't wanna imagen those jokes. Blush

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 10:26

I don't think Bente or Till would work very well for a boy in the UK.

How about Erik or Steven?

MissWimpyDimple · 21/07/2018 10:33

Marcus
Lucas
Finn

Though not unisex.

Of your list, I like Alex and Till

Don't do Bente. It's opening him up for mickey-taking.

Jona(h) is nice, but in the UK its a hard J and in Germany a soft "y" sound. Having grown up between the two countries myself with a J name I can tell you that's annoying.

Chocolatecake12 · 21/07/2018 10:56

How about Lucas or Markus?

SophieE11 · 21/07/2018 10:56

Ha! Maybe not Sam then..

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 11:01

Thanks. I wouldn't have thought that the hard and soft J thing could get annoying.
Not exactly sure about the Uk but Finn actually is unisex in german.

And your definitely right about Bente, its of the table. Realisation just hit me that it sounds like Bend in english. As in "Bend over" Imagen an other child wanting to show him smth etc. and say "Bente, over there". Srsly I haven't thought this name through.

OP posts:
HJL2506 · 21/07/2018 11:04

I really like Robin!

MyBreadIsEggy · 21/07/2018 11:05

From your list I like Jona, but would add the “H” on the end Smile

AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 11:21

What about Bernard or Bertil?

TimesNewRoman · 21/07/2018 11:24

Definitely Robin

TatianaLarina · 21/07/2018 11:25

I think the greater consideration for Bente is that bent is the old and slightly offensive slang for gay.

Like Alex and Jonah/Jonas.

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 11:33

I didn't know that. Thank you! Yes Bente is definitely off the list.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 21/07/2018 12:01

Bent is also slang for someone with criminal leanings!

LovelyLemurs · 21/07/2018 12:03

Noel
Alex
Jona

All lovely

MikeUniformMike · 21/07/2018 14:40

Alex - ok
Jona - Jonah
Bente - girl's name
Noel - too christmassy
Robin - ok
Till (Not unisex but I've been told it sounds pretty neutral in english cause of the female Tilly) - No. It's a cash register.

KnickersOnTheLine · 21/07/2018 14:49

Jonas is lovely

I also like Erik that PP suggested

How about Bertie or Quinton or Emmanuel which are all male but almost unisex

Original poster
Marie8889 · 21/07/2018 18:00

I know that Till is another word for cash register but I don't think that association is bad. Reminds me of Bill.
I like Emmanuel it has a nice soft sound.

And thanks for all the answers!

OP posts:
LeeMiller · 21/07/2018 18:55

I think from your list, only Alex/Robin are truly unisex in English. I would assume Noel and Jonah/Jona were boys, though I know Noel is a girl's name too. There are lots of unisex diminutives in English - e.g. Jan/Sam/Max/Bobby/Vic/Charlie - but the full name is usually clearly male or female.

Nico is ambiguous, Florian always sounds quite soft and almost unisex to me.

mondler · 23/07/2018 18:40

I like Alex, Robin and Jona(h). I think in the UK Till will be very unusual and I could imagine them having to repeat themselves lots.

Would Kelsey work? I know a male and female (US and UK ) and have always thought it was nice. Also Tony or Terry?

deptfordgirl · 23/07/2018 21:22

I love Jonah.