Florian or Fabien?

[BiscuitLover09876]

And what do you think of when you hear them?

[Laureatus]

I work with one of each! They are not British, so Fabian is pronounced fah-be-yen not fay-be-an. Very nice names.

[GiltEdges]

Love Florian. Like Fabian, but only the "Fab" pronunciation.

[AdriannaP]

Florian is very German, but old school. Most Florians are probably over 40, don’t think it’s a popular baby name.

[LittleGwyneth]

I love Florian but I think you tend to get Florrie or Flo as a nn, whereas you get Fab for Fabian. So depends what you prefer really.

[urbanbuddha]

I like Fabienne for a girl but that doesn't help you.
Sorry, but I don't like either Fabian or Florian. Isn't Florian the lion in Hey Duggee with the dragon's breath? If Fabian is Fab it's okay-ish.
Finn.

[Edenember]

Like Fabian. Don’t like Florian.

[Conniebluesky]

My son is called Fabian, so I obviously love it. My husband is German and we chose it because we wanted a European name that also worked in the UK.

My son is in his twenties and has never been bullied. The only thing that people have said to him is that they think the name is quite posh. He loves his name.

[ElectraBlue]

As someone who is actually called 'Fabienne' Irl, it made me chuckle to see the male version of my name described as 'wet', 'poncy', 'frilly', 'pretentious' and (best of all) 'awful'...:)

I really like my name. Friends will often shorten it to 'Fab' which I think is pretty cool. I have had so many people, male and female, telling me that they really like my name over the years.

Frankly, I would go with the name that you like the most and not worry about what other people think.

[PrincessesRUs]

Both awful names!

[Bobsyer]

Florian is my absolute favourite boys name, but I would never use it because it would need a French lilt, and I'm just not pretentious enough to be able to pull that off! Plus I live in Liverpool and a scouse Florian just doesn't compute .

Personally I just wouldn't use either in the UK.

[Mandarinsatsuma]

@Anoisagusaris

Both awful. Up there with my other least favourite boy’s name - Percy.

Percy is a lot worse

[Anoisagusaris]

Both awful. Up there with my other least favourite boy’s name - Percy.

[Ikeameatballs]

I quite like Fabian, though it wouldn’t be my first choice. I prefer Fab-e-an but perhaps that’s just because it’s the pronunciation I’m more familiar with?

I actively dislike Florian. I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t like flower names for girls or Florence/Flora either.

[Incognito22333]

These names were very popular in Germany/Switzerland/Austria in the 1980s. Interestingly the trend there now is for very old fashioned traditional German names or English names.

[EightWheelGirl]

Both a bit poncy IMHO.

[FlamingoDust]

Love them both! I would have said Fab-e-an but like both pronunciations. I don't see either as 'wet' names and do not think they would lead to any teasing at all!

[katem22]

Florian. I love it but it wouldn't go with our surname (also has an 'or' sound and ends in 'an'!

[InkKeepsRunning]

Ps m - I’d also assume you were quite left-wing with a name like Fabian. Might not be true or matter, but similar to Keir & Aneurin my first assumption would be a political connection.

[InkKeepsRunning]

Florian is my absolute number one favourite name.

I also like the sound of Fabian and some of the connotations (eg Fabian society) but I think it means something like bean-eater or bean-farmer which put me off.

[MonsteraDeliciosa]

I love Florian! So... European! I do wish it would catch on here. I think Fabian is quite nice too. Either would make a good change from the raft of penny-a-dozen Henrys, Olivers, Freddies and Archies.

However, Fabian and Florian are not ‘nice’ unusual names, they’re very wet and frilly sounding. I really don’t think a boy would thank you for calling him that - they’re neither fashionable nor strong, just quite pretentious and insipid

@Glassofshloer you need to learn not to express your opinions as facts.

[yoshiblue]

My DS is called Florian!!! We pronounce it Floh-ree-an (rather than the German Floor-ree-an)

My DH is half German so we wanted something a bit more European. We live in a major city and I wouldn't say it's posh at all.

He is a lively child with lots of character, he suits his name and he personally likes it.

A lot of people call him Flo as a nickname. He doesn't mind that, but prefers his full name.

The majority of people comment on how lovely his name is, I guess the odd few that don't, don't comment! 🤣

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

I don't like Florian. Makes me think of some rosy cheeked goat herder in lederhosen.

Fabian is cool.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

Quite like Fabian, fits with names like Lucian, Julian etc.. MC slightly bookish feel?? I'd use the English Fabian spelling rather than the French Fabien though - because of the publishing company I think people do know it, and you'd be correcting a lot if you use the e. I'd say it FAY-be-un

Florian - it's very floral.. maybe slightly odd unless you come from a country in which it's common, as it will just make people in the UK think of Flora. But it's nice enough. I'd say it FLOR-re-un

[WaitinginVain]

Like Fabian but would pronounce Fab- ian, not Fay-bian. I know a lovely Fabio - don't know if that's something you'd consider?

Sorry, don't like Florian and certainly not Flo.

[toastofthetown]

I don't see Florian or Fabian as "wet" or "posh". I see them both as names which are standard in mainland Europe (though I don't like the Fay-bian pronunciation the OP likes). I see them as softer boys names, which I like and is a pretty big name trend at the moment. The name threads on Mumsnet in general favour very traditional names and not everyone wants to choose a "normal" name like Oliver and George.