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Baby names

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

Refine my boy’s list

30 replies

HisHX · 04/06/2022 20:10

Please help me cut down my (fat too long) boy’s list! Any connotations I should be aware of? Any excessively common right now? Any that are objectively awful that I’ve somehow become name blind to?!
thanks! X

Barney
William (Billy)
Charles (Charlie)
Dominic
Ethan
Eric
Finn
Fraser
George
Jack
Jesse
Joseph (Joe)
Jude
Leonard (Lenny)
Milo
Otto
Rory
Samuel (Sam)
Sid

OP posts:
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HisHX · 04/06/2022 20:10

Far too*!

OP posts:
Clairejay34 · 04/06/2022 20:45

I would say Jack, Finn and Rory are all really popular where I am (they are all lovely names though!)

My favourites from your list are Samuel (Sam) and Jude.

Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 04/06/2022 20:47

Charlie, Finn and George are very popular.
As a teacher I'd also say there are at least 3 Joes in every year group without fail.
I really like Milo but know quite a few babies with that name.
I love Otto and Ethan.
Also worth remembering if you absolutely love a name then don't let popularity put you off. When it's your own DC's name, it won't matter.

Luxa · 04/06/2022 20:47

None are 'awful', it's just a case of personal preference.

My favourites in no particular order would be

Sid
Ethan
Eric
Joseph
George

Least faves

Rory
Otto
Finn
Fraser
Jesse

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/06/2022 20:47

Keep.

Ethan
Finn
Jude
William.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/06/2022 20:48

Also like Otto

lalaley · 04/06/2022 20:51

Lovely list. Joe, Sam, Finn, George, Rory very popular at the moment. Otto and Milo I think will date badly. The others are all lovely, my favourite is Leonard/Lenny - such a good name, strong as well as with a nice sound, and not too common these days.

17caterpillars1mouse · 04/06/2022 20:55

Barney - I like as a NN for Barnaby or Barnabas but not as a stand alone name

William (Billy) - it's a nice classic, not a fan of Billy at all though, 'billy the kid'. My favourite NN is Liam but I also like Will

Charles (Charlie) - like Charlie, hate Charles. It's so stuffy sounding

Dominic - I like it. Nice classic

Ethan - not a fan

Eric - really not a fan. Always seems very American to me

Finn - it's ok. I prefer Flynn

Fraser - not a fan

George - hate George

Jack - like it

Jesse - really dislike, but maybe because the only one I know is a spoilt brat

Joseph (Joe) - really like Joseph but not a huge fan of Joe

Jude - lovely, prefer Judah NN Jude

Leonard (Lenny) - Leonard is ok. Hate Lenny

Milo - really dislike it

Otto - not a fan

Rory - lovely

Samuel (Sam) - like it, prefer Samson

Sid - ok as a NN for Sidney, prefer Sydney on a girl

CaptainCarp · 04/06/2022 20:59

The only 1 with a connotation for me is Barney as I immediately think of the purple dinosaur.

My top 1 would be Dominic

It was 1 of my suggestions but DP knows too many.

ahwobabob · 04/06/2022 21:04

Barney - still associate it with the big purple dinosaur. Or a cat. My neighbour was calling out for their son called Barney and I thought she was trying to call her cat
William (Billy) - beige name
Charles (Charlie) - another beige name
Dominic - ok
Ethan - very very popular
Eric - haven't heard this name for a while.
Finn - very very popular with all the Finley's
Fraser - like it
George - like it
Jack - not a fan
Jesse - no opinion
Joseph (Joe) - beige
Jude - nah
Leonard (Lenny) - not a fan
Milo - like it
Otto - not a fan
Rory - like it
Samuel (Sam) - wet
Sid - the sloth

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/06/2022 22:06

I’d go for Sidney nn Sid, Barnabas nn Barney or Dominic

a few alternatives below

Barney - as a nn for Barnabas / Barnaby great - it’s too babyish as a full name
William (Billy) - done to death
Charles (Charlie) - done to death
Dominic - nice
Ethan - a fad that’s had it’s day. Elijah?
Eric - it’s due a revival, but.. no
Finn - overused
Fraser - only if you are Scottish
George - done to death
Jack - done to death to the moon and back
Jesse - great
Joseph (Joe) - classic, Josiah nn Jo more unusual
Jude - nice, having a moment though. Joel would be more unusual
Leonard (Lenny) - same as Eric, it’s due a revival but it makes me think of a 50s dad washing his car so no
Milo - overdone, will date. Miles or Giles?
Otto - same, also makes me think of Nazis. Ivo or Ivor?
Rory - same, sadly because I love it. Robert nn Robbie?
Samuel (Sam) - classic but been overdone, Daniel or Michael fresher right now
Sid - if short for Sydney then great

Glitternails1 · 04/06/2022 22:50

Some of these names are super popular right now and some were popular when I was growing up (I’m in my 20s). Traditional boys names will ALWAYS be popular, so keep that in mind.

The most popular names right now: William, Charlie, Ethan, Finn, George, Jack, Joseph, Sam.

I’m not keen on Dominic, Eric, Fraser, Milo, Otto, Rory and Sid.

PeekAtYou · 04/06/2022 23:06

My least fave:

Barney- purple dinosaur
Eric - 80s vibes makes me think of Trump's son
Rory- super popular rn
Milo- not keen
Jesse- not keen

Best names
Fraser
Sam
Otto
Joseph
Jack

OK
Billy
Charlie
Finn
Dominic
Lenny
George
Jude

Mumofgirls2017 · 04/06/2022 23:10

Barney- dinosaur
sid- naff
milo- Aussie drink
leonard- bbt

User6761 · 04/06/2022 23:51

Barney - dislike, Flintstones
William (Billy) - ok
Charles (Charlie) - dislike
Dominic - like
Ethan - ok
Eric - dislike
Finn - like
Fraser - love
George - hate
Jack - like
Jesse - dislike
Joseph (Joe) - like
Jude - negative connotations, Jew in German, written on yellow stars
Leonard (Lenny) - have a friend with a Lenny and it's really grown on me.
Milo - Aussie drink
Otto - ok
Rory - like
Samuel (Sam) - ok
Sid - hate

Other suggestions:
Ezra
Evan
Elis
Flynn
Findlay
Jonah
Lawrence (Lawrie)
Casper (Cass)

ElenaSt · 04/06/2022 23:54

I like Finn and Jude.

Barney is a dinosaur.

DuchessOfSausage · 05/06/2022 13:27

Barney - prefer Barnaby
William (Billy) - ok
Charles (Charlie) - like
Dominic - don't like Dom
Ethan - ok
Eric - ok
Finn - nice but too popular
Fraser - like
George - like
Jack - nice but too popular
Jesse - dislike
Joseph (Joe) - ok
Jude - dislike
Leonard (Lenny) - ok
Milo - dislike
Otto - dislike
Rory - ok
Samuel (Sam) - like
Sid - don't like

MissPocket · 05/06/2022 13:32

William and Joseph are my favourite.

JuneJubilee · 05/06/2022 13:39

Barney NO. Big Purple Fella!
William (Billy) Will not Billy
Charles (Charlie) ✅
Dominic (nah)
Ethan (nah)
Eric NO dated, not due a revival
Finn OK
Fraser NO, again dated
George ✅
Jack meh
Jesse. NO - too frilly for me, for a boy.
Joseph (Joe) no, just dislike.
Jude no, again just dislike
Leonard (Lenny) no just no
Milo it's a Tweenies character/hit drink
Otto Dear God No
Rory 'ok'
Samuel (Sam)Noooooo
Sid Definitely NO.

some suggestions...

nathaniel nate
Mathew Matty
benjamin Ben

Good Luck!!

IStandWithMaya · 05/06/2022 14:16

Barney - no
William (Billy) - William = great, but I'm
not keen on Billy (Bunter)
Charles (Charlie) - love it
Dominic - love it
Ethan - ok
Eric - ok
Finn - ok
Fraser - ok
George -nice
Jack - nice
Jesse - no (Jessie = effeminate man)
Joseph (Joe) - love it
Jude - ok
Leonard (Lenny) - nice
Milo - no (it's a milkshake mix)
Otto - love it
Rory - love it
Samuel (Sam) - love it
Sid - no, it's a diminutive

Fivebeanchilli · 05/06/2022 14:25

Barney - nice as a nn for Barnaby but Barney on its own is just a big purple dinosaur
William (Billy) - I like William but Billy always seems a bit unpleasant to me for some reason
Charles (Charlie) - ok
Dominic - lovely
Ethan - slightly dull to me
Eric - ok
Finn - lovely but popular
Fraser - ok
George - ok
Jack - nice. Strong and pleasant. Popular though
Jesse - lovely but you will get plenty of the older generation saying that it means a feminine man
Joseph (Joe) - ok. A bit dull
Jude - lovely
Leonard (Lenny) - don't like
Milo - nice
Otto - lovely
Rory - ok
Samuel (Sam) - very dull to me
Sid - don't like

I would go for Dominic. Second choices for me would be Jude or Barnaby (or William but with Will as a nn)

Dyra · 05/06/2022 14:27

Dominic
Ethan
Finn
Jude
Milo

HisHX · 05/06/2022 15:05

Thanks everyone! Not much love for Barney (I would’ve used Barnaby nn Barney), I thought the purple dinosaur/Flinstone days were long gone but obviously not, so that’s been helpful! Removing that one, Eric, Joseph and Leonard. Also swapping Finn for Flynn as someone suggested. “Shortlist” of 15 😂

OP posts:
WeasilyPleased · 05/06/2022 22:34

Sid Barney Otto and Milo would go for me. I really dont like any of them.
My favourite is Joseph but you've ditched it!

marblemad · 06/06/2022 01:10

Charles (Charlie) 3 but only for charlie I don't like charles
Eric 4
Finn 1 first three on my top ten I love
George 7
Jude 9
Leonard (Lenny) 6
Milo 8
Otto 2
Rory 5
Sid 10 least favourite