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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Traditional names for boys that aren’t super popular?

170 replies

DrPrincessFluffyToYou · 03/12/2021 19:41

I love unusual names - for example I was set on Cosmo, but DH absolutely hates it.

DH prefers traditional names like George or Harold, but for various reasons can’t use Harold and half of little boys seem to be George or William or Henry! Any traditional names which are slightly less popular? I am struggling!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
dizzydizzydizzy · 04/12/2021 12:45

Colin
Ian
Robert
Gordon

Gillypip · 04/12/2021 13:12

Elliot, Anselm

mon34 · 04/12/2021 13:17

I like

Jack

Fred

Edward

William

Alfred

Crispynoodle · 04/12/2021 13:37

My SIL is called Giles, I love his name

Ellmau · 04/12/2021 16:08

Rufus
Maximilian
Humphrey
Gilbert
Ludovic
Lawrence
Anselm
Cedric
Bevis
Zephaniah
Seth
Caleb
Jesse
Roderick
Justinian
Claudius
Edwin
Edmund
Edgar
Silas
Quentin
Digby
Digory
Walter
Ranulph
Lancelot
Percival
Gawain
Reginald
Raymond
Clement
Maurice
Joachim
Jabez
Ailred
Ferdinand
Godwin
Harold
Tancred
Constantine

wingsofabird · 04/12/2021 16:49

Avoid all the top 100 names. Obviously names like Roman are fastest rising names and should be avoided if popularity a concern, already top 30 will be top 10-20 next year

How about

Laurence
Tristan
Alistair
Caleb
Ellis
Richard
Simon
Paul

octoberfarm · 04/12/2021 17:03

How about Alden or Abraham (nn Bram)?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 04/12/2021 19:09

It's a difficult one if your DH likes traditional names - because many are timeless and therefore eternally popular ie. nearly always in the top 100 historically - think Edward, Henry, William, Alexander, James, Charles, George, Thomas etc. BUT this means that they won't date (and some of the names do have less common nn's that mean your child could still stand out from their peers if you/he wanted - think Xan or Lex for Alexander, Cal for Charles, Jem for James, Ned or Bear for Edward etc).

Or you could look at the less popular (now) very traditional names - but that does often mean they'll likely be majority used by middle aged or older men, like Hugh, Phillip, Richard, Stephen, Peter, Robert, John etc.

Or I suppose you can try to find names that still seem more traditional sounding but were rarely especially popular - Edgar, Edmund, Guy, Piers, Benedict, Hector etc

It's not an easy choice if you both have different name styles OP! Smile

Skysblue · 04/12/2021 19:17

Sydney

BertieBotts · 04/12/2021 19:32

I'm getting Arnold from your posts for some reason.

I really like Tobias/Toby (or Tobi)
Alfred and Albert are lovely too. Fred short for Alfred.

We have a Leo and an Alexander. They are popular but not overly so. I haven't met millions of others and I think they're gorgeous names. We liked Robin and Rowan too but too close to other family names.

Have you tried doing your family histories? Sometimes you find interesting names there. Lots of Alfred's on my family tree. Stanley is another family name that's just old enough to come back around I think.

Lampzade · 04/12/2021 19:34

Richard

imamearcat · 04/12/2021 19:37

Jasper
Conrad

thickthighs73 · 04/12/2021 19:38

I love the name Gabriel

miltonj · 04/12/2021 19:39

Ormerod

drpet49 · 04/12/2021 19:47

Lucian
Gabriel
Seth

douliket · 04/12/2021 20:50

Reuben, my great grandfathers name

KateInHappyland · 04/12/2021 20:52

Ivor is my favourite.
Also quite like Wilfred (depending on how you feel about the BoJo association).

poolblue · 04/12/2021 20:56

Laurence and Benedict are my top two

AudTheDeepMinded · 04/12/2021 20:57

Bartholomew
Neville
Clarence (clary/larry)
Laurence (Laurie)
Howard (Howie)
Tobias

thickthighs73 · 04/12/2021 20:57

@douliket

Reuben, my great grandfathers name
Wonderful name
legaladvice10 · 04/12/2021 20:58

Nicholas

thickthighs73 · 04/12/2021 20:59

@drpet49

Lucian Gabriel Seth
Another vote for Lucian
Harpydragon · 04/12/2021 21:09

Howard
Digby
James
John
Nigel
Phinaeus
Timothy
Kit (Christopher)

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/12/2021 21:09

Rex is an established name of its own.
The actor Rex Harrison was a Reginald, but Rex is not a usual short form of Reginald.

Rex can just be Rex. It means “King”.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/12/2021 21:10

Dominic
Patrick
Nicholas
Jonathan
Peter
Anthony