Thoughts on the name George?

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Where is George at these days in terms of is it considered a nice name or fashioned etc?

Should caveat this by saying I’m Irish and George is currently ranked 84th most popular baby name - so I don’t think it’s as popular as it is in the U.K.

we like the name George as it means ‘farmer’ and we both come from a long line of farmers so a nod to that heritage. Also feel that it’s a strong name, no clear nickname and cute for a baby but also fine for a man.

What are others thoughts on it! We are a bit worried about reactions but Charlie and Freddie and Harry are very popular here so don’t think it’s too out there to use.

A nice name though very popular - though of course, that might not matter to you.

The meaning of a name is very important to me, so personally I wouldn't choose George (it means farmer/ one who works with the earth) but as you're a farming family it makes perfect sense

A bit wet. Conjures up an overweight child in my mind

Thanks all, mixed but mostly positive. I totally get the boring connotation and plain/unremarkable bit unfortunately that actually seems to be to our tastes! Cant stand names like Arlo, Roman, Alfie, Max, Ruben etc that seem to be very in at the minute!

@RevoltingHumanHead yes DH brought up George Hook too today but then he’s not really around anymore. Agreed it was probably too English before but it’s amazing how much more popular the ‘Royal’ names are getting - our different friends have a Henry, Harry, William, Arthur and Charlie so we reckon George would fit right in! According to CSO around 80 babies were called George last year and way more called Harry & Charles/Charlie (both in top 20!) we also have v English names ourselves for Irish people (think like Olivia and William) - I don’t think I’d use it if we were Aine & Sean for example!

It’s also why we don’t really want to go with an Irish name. I play trad music and he plays GAA but we don’t really have any interaction with the Irish language.

I wonder if the overweight connotations come from that Georgie Porgie rhyme! Hopefully that’s not being taught in school/nursery anymore.

Love it.

So dull

I just feel like it’ll be super cute on a little kid!

Love it.

Awful name. Sounds like a steam train braking.

I didn’t mean unremarkable as an insult. I prefer unremarkable names. I have a rather remarkable name myself and it means I get a lot of, well, remarks. And obviously every person remarking thinks they’re the first one ever to say anything, but I’ve been responding to these remarks for my whole life! It’s really dull. I think it’s better to give a child a name they can wear and not a name that wears them.

i I wonder if the overweight connotations come from that Georgie Porgie rhyme!

I've seen this suggested on here before but there is no mention of being overweight in that rhyme. "Georgie Porgie pudding and pie" is just playing around with alliteration, it doesn't say he looked like a pudding or ate a lot of pudding. What Georgie actually does in that rhyme doesn't make him sound like a very pleasant person, but nobody ever seems to mention that as a disadvantage of George.

Personally I think it is a lovely name and it is one of my 20-something DS's middle names. It would have been his first name but there was another little boy called George in our immediate circle of friends and we thought it might get confusing - and George did indeed get very popular just after that. I think it is one of those names that is not spectacular, but solid and traditional and will always sound OK, similar to something like James or William. Even in my generation when it was rather unfashionable, it wasn't a case of "ugh, what an old grandad name!" but "oh that's nice, you don't hear it very often any more." Oh, and when I think of a famous George, my first thought is not Prince George but George Harrison!

I like it but am biased. My ds is called George, ten years before Prince George came along and the name gained popularity.

@Kanaloa its a fair point. It’s amazing how we are influenced by our own names. I think that’s why myself and DH veer toward liking no nonsense names. I have a name that is totally normal but constantly given the wrong version and I pretty much have given up on correcting people - very like I’m called KatherinE - yet people keep calling me KaterinA instead. So annoying! I like that George is George. End of. But then there’s the voice in the back of your mind worrying it’s too plain and boring!! Finding the decision of naming a child for their whole life really tough!!

I've always loved the name George. I would have considered it from the outset but my husband vetoed it very early on!

The name George has been in or near the top 10 boys' names for the past 20 years so William and Kate were just picking an already very popular name for their son.

Agreed it was probably too English before but it’s amazing how much more popular the ‘Royal’ names are getting - our different friends have a Henry, Harry, William, Arthur and Charlie so we reckon George would fit right in!

I'd say with Charlie people were hesitant for a couple of decades in because Haughey looms large where that name is concerned, but enough time has passed now for that to have retreated. I'd say Bertie won't be popular for a few tears yet though!

But yes, I Harry seems v popular so I can't see George standing out too much. And he'll have the benefit of everyone knowing how to pronounce and spell his name but will probably be the only one in his various peer groups. Unlike all the Finns and allllllll the Jacks.

I don’t know why this name is so popular it’s really ugly sounding

I love it - biased as named FB it 25 years ago after 4 generations named the same, so traditional (at least to us) but never had any bother with it, and he loves his name. Not actually come across any others either (in England).

Yes I’ve always liked it! I run a shop personalising baby items online and it is actually one of the more popular names, I’ve done it more than a handful of times anyway so it seems to be making a comeback. I don’t think you should go by popularity though, just go with which name you like most

My family are all Irish but I was born and raised (and currently living) in England. I named my son George and had a lot of comments from family in Ireland about it being too English, nothing horrible just why did you choose such an English name or that's very English don't you think.

Obviously I'm not there all the time so don't know how much that would affect day to day life and this was 5 years ago so name trends change etc. The comments stopped by the time he was two.

Love it!

I didn't realise Georgie Porgie was a fat shame name. Will have to look into my friend calling my son that now as she might be a bully 🙃

I'm Irish and I personally love it but a few of my family members ruled it out for being "too English" 🙄

@Confusion101 @whatwhhat yes I did say to DH if we go for it X and Y relative of his is going to comment!! On my side by siblings have a Henry and William both under 4 so I don’t think George is too much of a stretch!

I don't like it personally (for me it conjures up images of George Dubya Bush and men of a similar age), but it's an acceptable name. I am also Irish.

I live in south Dublin ... plenty of Georges in primary schools around here