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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Thoughts on Leo?

49 replies

Sunshine1996 · 07/04/2022 09:50

DS is due in 4 weeks, we have been pretty set on Leo for a while as we originally had this if DD was a boy. However I’ve had a few odd looks when telling people our name choice. I know it’s a diminutive but I just don’t really like Leonardo, Leonard, Leon etc.
Middle name will be Joshua (family name)
Does anyone have any other suggestions? Also liked Reuben but partner didn’t.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tearinghairout · 07/04/2022 20:02

[quote KirstenBlest]@tearinghairout, you are probably younger than me. I happen to like Leo (and Mark and Stephen but they were overused in my age group)

What puts me off Leo is that I reached my 40s having only met 2 then suddenly there are Leos everywhere.

When some friends used it for their DS about 16 yrs ago - they needed a name that would work in several languages- I thought it was a good choice[/quote]
I don't like Mark but I quite like Stephen. And? So what? Your post came across as saying that 'a certain group of people will think this way'. Nope. Not this member of that group, so please refrain from such ageist generalisations. Cheers.

SummaLuvin · 07/04/2022 20:16

The thing with age based generalisations is that they exist because they are founded in fact. A generation have shared cultural experiences and references and backdrop to their lives, and that groups them and informs their opinions consciously and unconsciously. Of course not everyone in any cross section of society acts and thinks entirely the same, and there will always be those who go against the grain, and subsections within the wider group, but there are trends to be found based on age. Pretending that doesn’t exist is daft.

DogsAndGin · 07/04/2022 20:20

It’s lovely. I consider it a name in its own right

bloominglovelyorange · 07/04/2022 21:57

Leo is a gorgeous name

WeasilyPleased · 07/04/2022 22:07

I love Leo. So does my 87 year old grandma. It's the name of her postman and she really loves him!
Surely we should be above any kind of stereotyping? It's so ridiculous.

Custardpudding · 07/04/2022 22:09

Lovely
Doesn’t need to be longer. If you like it then have it. Don’t turn it into something you don’t like as much

becca3210 · 07/04/2022 22:09

I love it!

Nnique · 07/04/2022 22:11

I like it. It’s a name in its own right and doesn’t have to be a diminutive.

bubblybrooke · 07/04/2022 23:00

I really like Leo, it’s a really cute name. It’s also very popular as well.

Fundays12 · 07/04/2022 23:04

My eldest was going to be Leo if he had been born fair haired and blue eyed like me. He looked like his dad so we went with a different name. Leo is a lovely name.

DramaAlpaca · 07/04/2022 23:07

I really like Leo, and funnily enough I've never met one.

Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 23:09

I think Leo Joshua is gorgeous. I’ve looked after one Leo, it’s not too popular in my area! Joshua Leo is also really nice. I’m not as keen on Reuben but it’s a nice enough name - I just have only ever met one and he was a very wet and whiny child. I think it ruined my perception of the name as every time I hear it I remember him whining about something!

Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 23:11

I do think it’s better not to ask about names but to tell though. So I never said ‘oh what do you think of Clara?’ I just waited until the baby was born and said ‘this is Clara.’

My child’s name isn’t actually Clara! But anyway I think that’s the best way. Other people can name their own kids!

NeedToKnow101 · 08/04/2022 09:21

Love it

KirstenBlest · 08/04/2022 13:10

@tearinghairout, you're touchy aren't yoy. I used the word older but I didn't say how much older. My (slightly) older siblings were sniffy about baby names, my parents weren't

If you don't have children or mix with them, you won't know what names seem more current, I suppose. I've heard people say that mainstream names like Theo and Freya are a bit unusual.

tearinghairout · 08/04/2022 20:38

@KirstenBlest, yes, I am touchy about what I perceive to be casual sexism, ageism, or otherwise unfair generalisations.

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 09/04/2022 19:03

It's not a diminutive, though. There are about 12 popes called Pope Leo! They're not all secretly called Leonardo or something.

I think it's lovely, anyway. Maybe people are actually reacting weirdly because they know so many, who knows.

spearmynt · 10/04/2022 08:18

I'm surprised to hear you have been getting strange looks as Leo is a perfectly normal name. Go for it!

timoteigirl · 10/04/2022 19:09

I personally dislike Leo and see it as a pet / dog's name the same as Rex, so why not Leon? What about Dominic?

Padderbadger · 15/04/2022 02:26

@NuffSaidSam I exactly the same!

AletheiaVeritas · 26/01/2023 17:05

Leo is a beautiful, very classic name.

It’s not been very popular until recent decades, but Leo is a Latin name and has been in use since Roman times.

Pinkdafodils · 26/01/2023 20:15

Zombie thread....

Purpletopaz42 · 27/01/2023 19:10

I really like Leo and I think it's fine to use it as a full name. I've heard Leo's popular but I only know one personally.

BridieConvert · 28/01/2023 18:52

I think Leo is really popular now, I wouldn't personally choose it.

I love Reuben!
I prefer Liam over Leo I think. Also popular but more timeless in my opinion.

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