George William

[shadow7uk]

Hello,

We are thinking George William(surname Ayres) we love this name and we believe giving your child a strong name is vital.

We aren't a fan of names that people have never heard of or that our child we constantly have to tell people how to spell/pronounce.

What do you think? Is it too boring or common?

I like both names individually (I have used George as a middle name for a child myself!) and I think they go well together. Yes, they are both popular, but not so popular that there are usually three in the class (although maybe George was about 20 years ago). I know of a school of about 200 children where there are three Georges and one William in the whole school.

Popular names aren't necessarily "boring." It depends on how they sound and what they mean to you personally. Presumably names become popular because there is something about them that sounds attractive to a lot of people!

I mean, it's fine. The names are classic but I don't really feel that they're particularly 'strong' or interesting. There will probably also be loads of them in his class as it sounds a bit like you've just use royal baby names which loads of people are doing at the moment

Prefer William George.

Go for a name you love. Luckily you won't come into contact with many of the people here who don't like those names

Those were my grandfather’s names — he was born about 1891.
So to me it sounds old fashioned and stodgy but if you like the combination, go ahead . No problem spelling or pronouncing it.

Yes, they are both popular, but not so popular that there are usually three in the class

Ha - there are three Williams in DD’s Y1 class!

They are both very, very popular. This is a major disadvantage from my POV but both DH and I are teachers and therefore have a slightly different perspective. If you don’t consider popularity to be a drawback then they are solid, classic names.

My grandad was called George William. I think it’s a good strong name x

A name doesn’t have to be ‘inspired’

But it doesn't have to be so common that he/she constantly has to add an initial.

There's thousands of lovely normal names that are a little less overused!

To answer the op, yes George is very boring.

we believe giving your child a strong name is vital.

I don't think George is strong. Not sure why your kid needs a 'strong' name though?

They are both very, very popular. This is a major disadvantage from my POV but both DH and I are teachers and therefore have a slightly different perspective.

A major disadvantage? Seriously? Please share how it's a major disadvantage to be called George or William.

I have a very common 80s name (8 of us in my secondary year group!) and I can't think of any scenario where it's been a major disadvantage

How defensive, Panda. I didn’t criticise the names. They’re perfectly lovely. They just aren’t for me.

DH and I had both taught for ten years plus when DC1 was born, encountering many hundreds of children between us. Most were delightful, some were not. Many lovely names consequently have some less than favourable connotations for us.

Therefore, when choosing names for our own children one of our main criteria was to choose a less popular name, reducing the likelihood that we would encounter tens of our children’s namesakes in our professional lives. OP specifically asked for opinions on whether these names are too popular. I explained that, for me, they are - but from my perspective as a teacher.

Is that so hard to understand?

Ah, I’ve just seen that you have a George. I can understand that you would be feeling defensive after some of the comments on this thread.

Some people have been rude about the names. I wasn’t one of them. I specifically said that I think them solid, classic names if popularity does not bother you.

Pockets yes it was hard to understand because you didn't actually explain that in your post. Which is why I asked you to share why you thought it would be a major disadvantage to have a very, very popular name. But you mean for yourself, not the actual child.

I've worked in the childcare industry in the past so understand this can mean you rule out names, particularly if they remind you of certain characters! But this can also include obscure / less popular names not just popular ones.

I said it was a major disadvantage from my point of view. I then explained why. I think that’s pretty explicit but I’m glad I was able to clarify for you.

I suggest you check out of this thread. George is a lovely name and you don’t need the opinions of randoms on the internet to validate that.

PS if it makes any difference, according to MN my children have the names of a bible-basher and a Victorian servant girl. The naughtiest child I ever taught was a Moses... 🤷‍♀️

I think I'm capable of deciding for myself when I'm done with a thread thank you.

I don't care what people think of the name George, I adore the name for its own reasons, regardless of where it ranks in popularity. I was just calling out specifically rude posters. You even said yourself some people have been rude.

I prefer some of the more popular yet classic names to the hipster names, (like Arlo) the more obscure biblical names, (like Zebidiah) some of the ‘posh’ names (like Rupert) the not quite grandpa chic names (like Maurice or Leonard) or the 1960s names (like Darren or Kevin.) I wouldn’t care that they were top 20.

George is perfectly fine. IMO.

We sometimes seem to forget WHY we name someone or something- to IDENTIFY.

So being an adult Steve, Sarah, Mike or a young Jack, Ellie or George means that you're likely not easily identifiable by your first name.

There are thousands of lovely interesting names to choose from!

Well I ADORE both the names George and William so I think the name is gorgeous! George William Ayres is darling, I would say go for it x

I know a George William who is 3 and I've never even thought of the royal connection until now! Go for it I say.