Florian or Fabien?

[BiscuitLover09876]

And what do you think of when you hear them?

[AuntDympna]

Are you from a German linguistic background? These are unusual in UK.

[VenusClapTrap]

I love Florian. It’s a great name. Fabian is also nice, but I prefer Florian. I wouldn’t shorten it.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

To me, Florian has a bit of European glamour and I rather like it. This helped by the fact that the only one I know is quite dishy.
I know Fabien pronounced both ways. I quite like it too but less that Florian.

[Doomscrolling]

Very Little Lord Fauntleroy names - I’m picturing crushed velvet outfits with large lacy collars. Ringlets, definitely.

[Glassofshloer]

@Doomscrolling

Very Little Lord Fauntleroy names - I’m picturing crushed velvet outfits with large lacy collars. Ringlets, definitely.

Haha me too!

[TheQueenOfProcrastination]

Love them both.

[Ellmau]

I like Florian but it's a bit flowery and might lead to bullying at school.

Fabian is nice.

[Bonnealle]

Why would they be bullied? There are people called Daisy, Rose, Poppy etc. I don’t see how having a name like a flower, or sounding like the word flower would lead to bullying? I think maybe you’re pronouncing it incorrectly as it sounds nothing like flower anyway, more like floor.

[Glassofshloer]

@Bonnealle

Why would they be bullied? There are people called Daisy, Rose, Poppy etc. I don’t see how having a name like a flower, or sounding like the word flower would lead to bullying? I think maybe you’re pronouncing it incorrectly as it sounds nothing like flower anyway, more like floor.

I think because it’s a boys name, and flowery names on boys aren’t seen as ‘masculine’. I know it’s a bit unfair but I don’t think a bunch of 8 year old boys are going to pay much attention to the unfairness of gender stereotypes, they’ll just see it as something to tease.

[LozMarieFielder]

Florian is nice (I think of flowers/nature) but I love Fabian (pronounced fah-bian) I think of Aesop’s Fables.

I have also known one Florian, whereas I have never met a Fabian.

[BiscuitLover09876]

@Glassofshloer I think you underestimate the range of names today, particularly the number of gender neutral. It's really not that big of a thing, especially in more diverse areas. I'm glad the days are over where you're not seen as weird if your name isn't David or John.

[Glassofshloer]

[quote BiscuitLover09876]@Glassofshloer I think you underestimate the range of names today, particularly the number of gender neutral. It's really not that big of a thing, especially in more diverse areas. I'm glad the days are over where you're not seen as weird if your name isn't David or John.[/quote]
Not at all, my daughter doesn’t have a run of the mill name & up until the summer I lived in a large and diverse city, encountering a range of people every day. I have children in my family with very unusual names.

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 if I’m being honest.

Please don’t let your kid be teased.

[Softwonder]

Love both, but if pressed to call my son either it would be Fabian.

The connotations for both (for me) are they are quite Public School-y, posh boy names from an eccentric artsy family where the mum is an sculpter with bright clothes and long hair and dad perhaps is a music or film producer. Sisters called Kitty and Saskia and a brother called Cosmo.

[BiscuitLover09876]

@Glassofshloer that's a little unkind. I actually quite like "wet" names. My current child has a "wet" name.

These names are actually more usual in parts of Europe where I am descended from..

[sageandbasil]

I had both of these on my list I think they're great. I would pronounce Fabian, Fay be Ann not fab e an.

Florian may just have the edge for me!

[Glassofshloer]

[quote BiscuitLover09876]@Glassofshloer that's a little unkind. I actually quite like "wet" names. My current child has a "wet" name.

These names are actually more usual in parts of Europe where I am descended from..[/quote]
Yes absolutely, but not here, which is where I assume you’re intending to bring up your child (unless I’m wrong). I’m not trying to be unkind, but parents tend project what they want their child to be in a name (ie eccentric, intelligent, posh, quirky). When all teenagers want generally is to fit in & be seen as ‘cool’. I have a name which is regularly called ‘classic’, ‘strong’ and ‘elegant’ on here. But it made me absolutely cringe telling boys my name as it just isn’t feminine or pretty.

Equally most boys will want to be called something normal & fairly masculine.

[ILoveToads]

@DaisyandSimeon

Florian sounds very girly and little lord fauntleroy (classic story for the less well eduated) Yes, I know its spelt wrongly.

'Less well educated'?

With punctuation like yours? 🤣🤣

[DebbieHarrysCheekbones]

Florian is a beautiful name for a boy and a man

[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.

[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.

[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

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

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

Fabian is cool.

[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! 🤣

[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.

[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.