Boys Name

[Mangotango123]

I have always loved the named Wilfred (nn Wilf/Wilfy) but my brother and sister in law have a new-born son called Wilbert and I feel perhaps Wilfred is too close in sound to their baby, and obviously the beginning 3 letters are identical?

They call him either Bertie or Wilby. The other name my husband and I liked for our baby (due next year) is Herbert with nn Herbie or Bertie but we feel that too is too similar.

Very annoying! Do you think its OK to continue with Wilfred as a name?

How often do you see them? Tbh I didn’t know wilbert was a name! No shade to all the people who will suddenly pop up to tell me otherwise...

I would go for it, and they can be the two wilfs? The next girl in the family can be Wilma, and you can start a whole family name trend?

They live relatively close, we see them for family gatherings and Xmas time and the two boys would be in the same primary school.

Tbh I didnt know it was a name either, its kind of blended a few names together. I think they wanted Bertie but didnt want the conventional 'Albert' but its left me wondering whether its worth continuing with our name Wilf (I was a bit gutted when they announced the name!)

Honestly, I think it's fine. It would have broken me too a bit, but if their son always goes by Bertie and yours by Wilf, then that's fine! And if as adults either or both of them want to use their full name, it wouldn't be a problem at all. I think you may need to prepare yourself for comments about the "grandson set" or whatever, but if you love the name enough to put up with some raised eyebrows, go for it.

It's fine. I don't think it's a problem - I bet the kids will love having similar-ish names anyway
Love the name Wilfred by the way. Much nicer than Herbert

Plus there's so many nickname options with both names for the boys to pick completely different nicknames if they wanted (unlikely!) when older
Don't let it put you off the name you always had in mind. I think you'll regret not using it

I think it would ok to still use the name.

If you feel uncomfortable though could you maybe use William or Wilson etc, and then you could still use Wilf.

It is fine! I have never heard of Wilbert but I like Wilfred a lot. Herbert not so mucj, although nickname Herbie is adorable.

Wilbert sounds a bit made up to me. I'd wonder if they'd misheard Wilbur.

Personally, I don't like Wilfred or Herbert. However, I wouldn't discount either because of similarity to Wilbert.

Alfred could be Alf or Freddie if that's any good? Alf is the nearest I can think of to Wilf.

Walter (Walt), Raymond (Ray), Edwin and Eric are among the not-yet-overused 'old man' names IMO.