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Original poster

Classic or dull?

65 replies

Notrobusta · 04/06/2019 12:15

Have started to come up with a short list for girls and boys names and could do with some unbiased thoughts. Would like a classic name but don’t something that is considered a bit dull.

Girls

Elizabeth
Jennifer
Sophie
Alexandra

Boys

Joseph
Evan
Alexander
Benjamin
Matthew

Any other suggestions along these lines would be fab.

OP posts:
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ElfishBiatch · 04/06/2019 17:17

Crossposted 😂

lavenderblues · 04/06/2019 17:20

From the experience, Alex is the most natural and common shortening.

ElfishBiatch · 04/06/2019 17:24

Alexander can be Alex, Al, Xander, Sasha, Lex (Luther!)

bridgetreilly · 04/06/2019 17:30

Honestly, I think pretty much all of those are edging towards dull.

Girls:
Rosalind
Juliet
Camilla
Lois

Boys:
Richard
Gilbert
Edmund
Linus

BiscuitDrama · 04/06/2019 17:32

How about Sophia instead of Sophie?

Sexnotgender · 04/06/2019 17:33

I much prefer Sandy as a nn for Alexander.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/06/2019 17:35

Classic names are my absolute favourites and you can't go wrong with any of the ones in your OP. My own preference is for a name that everybody can pronounce correctly from seeing it written down and everybody can spell from hearing it said. I wouldn't have the patience to be constantly correcting people or spelling a name out. Both my children's names pass this test and so does my own.

Other names that might suit:
David
John/Jon/Jonathan
Daniel
Michael
Christopher
Robert

Louisa
Sarah
Susanna(h)
Lucy
Katherine
Mary
Harriet

zeeboo · 04/06/2019 17:37

All dull in my opinion, but I'm not you. You choose what you like.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/06/2019 17:40

Forgot to say I can't see how the most classic names can be considered dull. They are timeless.

Fruitloopcowabunga · 04/06/2019 17:40

Love these names (mostly). Also what about Frances, Emilia, Helena, Lucy? For boys I love Edward/Ned, Finnegan/Finn

Fruitloopcowabunga · 04/06/2019 17:41

Ooh and Hester.

SundayMorningSun · 04/06/2019 17:54

@lavenderblues

Jennifer and Matthew (Mathieu) have both been top 10 names in France in the past. I don't have German stats to hand.

These names travel just fine.

I am not saying that ALL of these names are EQUALLY classic/international - just that names which are classic are likely to be thought boring in some quarters.

MadameJosephine · 04/06/2019 17:56

Not dull at all.

I love Elizabeth, Jennifer and Alexandra - lots of potential for shorter nicknames too with them all. They are classic names which are not overused. I have a 6 year old Jennifer and have yet to meet another child with her name. We actually considered Elizabeth for her too along with Emmeline and Constance. I think Sophie is the exception on your list though, I know quite a few Sophies.

From your boys list my favourite is Alexander. I also really like Nathaniel and Christopher

wineandcatsandlego · 04/06/2019 17:58

Elizabeth, Benjamin and Matthew were all in my top 5s for boys and girls when we found bd out we were expecting. Lovely, classic names that will stand them for life!

Bluerussian · 04/06/2019 18:05

Very good, classic names and it is a pleasant change to read that someone is considering any of them, rather than some of the 'off the wall' fashionable and/or chavvy names people inflict on their kids.

Any of those will not embarrass a child as they grow up.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 04/06/2019 18:24

Joseph is still very popular, your other choices must less so. All nice, though I'm not a fan of Evan myself... I prefer the Welsh spelling Efan (eh-VAN). My favourite is Benjamin.

All your girl choices are lovely, though I suspect that a Sophie will keep getting called Sophia as there are so many around. Elizabeth is very much my favourite here, I've not come across a little Elizabeth for ages!!

lavenderblues · 04/06/2019 18:47

Mathieu (French) and Matthias (German) are pronounced very differently to Matthew!

lavenderblues · 04/06/2019 18:48

Sophie and Joseph travel the best imo.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/06/2019 18:57

OP has not said name needs to travel, so don't know where that's come from.

Original poster
Notrobusta · 04/06/2019 19:57

Thanks for the feedback all. I’m not concerned about how the names will travel as I used to live aboard and my name doesn’t travel well and it never bothered me. Love the suggestions. I like Nathaniel but husband not keen. We can’t use David, Robert Michael, Richard or John. Have a family full of men with the classic names which is difficult. I’m glad people are mostly saying that the classics needn’t be dull. My husband reckons most men prefer a normal name eg Tom, Sam etc to something unusual . He is keen on the solid names that can’t be teased for if that makes sense.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notrobusta · 04/06/2019 19:59

I also like Katherine/Catherine but not overly keen on Kate as a nickname.

OP posts:
lavenderblues · 04/06/2019 20:00

He is keen on the solid names that can’t be teased for if that makes sense.

Most names can be teased with a little imagination Grin

lavenderblues · 04/06/2019 20:01

So I wouldn't worry about that aspect (unless you're thinking of calling them Willy or Fanny)!

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 04/06/2019 20:01

I agree with a PP:

Alexander and Alexandra are both excellent, strong and timeless names. Neither are especially popular (depends on your cutoff). They both work well internationally and have several lovely nicknames

Great names. And yes, I have one of my own who is now using the full version after recently graduating and loves it.

JaneGlorianaVillanueva · 04/06/2019 20:02

I like Sophie and Alexandra and Alexander and Benjamin