Timeless and elegant names - Liam or Reuben?

[SweetMeadow]

Hello, this is my first post but I’m an avid Mumsnet post reader!

I’m feeling quite stuck about deciding on names for our little boy arriving imminently!

I am really keen on a timeless and elegant name and so far, I’m only seriously considering either Reuben Oisín or Liam Oisín. Oisín would be the only middle name and I have always loved that name. I also want a name that’s not too popular - probably asking for a lot here!

I’m Irish but live in the UK. My daughter is Rosa.

Do you have a preference for those names and do you think they meet the criteria of timeless and elegant?!

Thank you so much for any thoughts!

I love Liam as a short version of William.

I'd put William on the birth cert

How is Liam short for William?

Will-Liam - kinda says the name?

I wouldn't say that Liam was timeless or elegant.

I quite like Reuben. It has been out of fashion for a couple of generations now, but is having a burst of popularity at the moment, probably swept along by all the "Granny" style names like Violet and Maude.

So of your two names I'd choose Reuben, though I wouldn't say it was timeless.

I’ve always loved Liam.

Reuben is lovely but VERY popular. I know 3.

Liam is neither timeless nor elegant.

Will-Liam - kinda says the name?

But don't you say WILL-yam? And not Wi-LIAM?

@Lilaclavenders

Will-Liam - kinda says the name?

But don't you say WILL-yam? And not Wi-LIAM?

I say will-i-am. Three syllables. Any difference between pronunciation of the Liam bit at the end is normal. We don’t pronounce Eliza in the same way as Elizabeth.

Really like Liam. It's a lovely name.

You've asked on MN though so you'll get your twatty judgemental comments.

Oisin was the hapless producer who Jeremy Clarkson thumped. Nothing wrong with the name but best to know...

I like Reuben more than Liam but I like Oisin a million times more than either of them. I know an Oisin, he introduced himself as Osh and that's how we know him.
I don't think a lifetime of "it's pronounced x" is as bad as people make it out on MN. I always have to inform people my name is spelled one way and not another. It's not the end of the world.

Oisin Reuben sounds nicer than Reuben Oisin imo.

@whenwilliwillibefamous

Oisin was the hapless producer who Jeremy Clarkson thumped. Nothing wrong with the name but best to know...

What difference does that make? He was the victim of an assault. And it’s not the first association anyone is going to make, surely.

I've got a Liam and yes he was born in the 90s. The name Liam has been around for years. Liam Neeson and politician Liam Fox spring to mind.

@lisajane46

I've got a Liam and yes he was born in the 90s. The name Liam has been around for years. Liam Neeson and politician Liam Fox spring to mind.

To be fair, Liam Neeson is a William.

@Blimecory but found fame as Liam

Neither are timeless or elegant!

I love Liam - that’s our name for a DS! Clearly not everyone agrees though

I have a Reuben - yet to meet another one in real life always get lots of compliments on it, have never had it misspelt and it gets shortened to Reu

Thank you all very much for your honest replies which have been really insightful.

My feeling is that Liam is a strong name and it will become more popular and rise above some of the older, less complimentary associations! I always associate it with a lovely, gentle boy but it just goes to show how we all have different perceptions and sometimes a bit of time is needed to give it that space to become popular/appreciated(?) again. So I feel those who are choosing it now may be ahead of their time!

Thank you all again so much. I wasn’t sure I’d get any replies so I have found this very helpful!

My gosh, there are so many ignorant comments about Liam here, I’m not even sure where to start.

It’s a beautiful, respectful name in Ireland (not that that should matter) but to give an example, it’s the name of a previous Taoiseach (Prime Minister)

The hilarious thing is, is that the posters who insult and sneer at names from from another culture, are actually showing their own ignorance and stupidity, which makes them appear downmarket. The irony 🤣

OP, they’re both lovely names. I personally love Rosa and Reuben together.

*respectable

Liam is generally considered “common”.

If you care about the perceptions of others then it’s probably best avoided if you’re looking for timeless and classic

@MurderAtTheBeautyPageant

I'm getting the feeling from this thread that being called Reuben must involve a lot of 'no, it's r.e.u.b.e.n'.

I agree! I love Reuben but ruled it out for DS because of the spelling issue.

I like the name Liam but I don't think it's timeless or elegant I'm afraid.

What about Oscar? Aidan? Conan?

Love Reuben but then two of mine have Hebrew names, not because I'm religious but just because I like them. Afraid Liam to me says Liam Gallagher or there's a boy on that Shameless programme called that...... I'll say no more or I'll be called Hyacinth Bucket 🤐 not heard of Oisin so not sure of the pronunciation but love the nickname Osh as a poster above mentioned.

Nothing timeless or elegant about either of them.

Liam was the name of a very lovely gentle old Irishman I knew, OP. Go for it.