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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ambrose or Barnaby?

51 replies

22Dec22 · 25/08/2022 23:54

to go with middle name Wilbur and 2 syllable surname? Are they too feminine or too popular at the moment..? Similar alternative names you prefer?

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Pemba · 27/08/2022 18:13

Barnaby would be cute for a little boy ( I still remember the Barnaby the Bear cartoon) but works fine as a man's name. Nickname Barny.

Ambrose though,I picture a very old farmer with a West Country accent. Also (do they still sell it?) Ambrosia creamed rice, rice pudding in a tin. The name just seems quaint and very antiquated somehow.

ChagSameachDoreen · 27/08/2022 21:44

Ambrose is great.

Barnaby reminds me of crusty barnacles.

DramaAlpaca · 28/08/2022 03:02

Dislike both, but Barnaby goes best with Wilbur.

Our taste in names is clearly very different.

pinklavenders · 28/08/2022 14:51

Ambrose is great! Classic and cool.

I don't like Barnaby much

Mummytobe333 · 28/08/2022 15:45

Not a fan of either sorry 😞

CanofCant · 28/08/2022 18:48

I adore Ambrose and always feel sad that DH didn't like it so it was relegated to middle name for DS.

chocolatesand · 29/08/2022 07:23

Isn’t Ambrose a brand of custard? That’s all I think when I hear Ambrose. I would have liked it otherwise.

I really like Barnaby

Firebird83 · 29/08/2022 23:57

Ambrose! I like Barnabas but not Barnaby.

PurpleFlower1983 · 30/08/2022 23:20

BreathingDeep · 26/08/2022 10:12

My last baby would have been Barnaby had she not been a girl so that definitely gets my vote. I love it shortened to Barney and picture him as a little grubby-kneed fellow with stones and sticks in his pockets and a massive grin.

My little one is called Barnaby and he’s a little, blonde 13 month old who fits your description exactly!

ofwarren · 30/08/2022 23:23

I quite like the sound of Ambrose. I'm not a fan of Barnaby, it makes me think of the bear and Barney the dinosaur.

Moonchild18 · 30/08/2022 23:37

I like both, in fact we've had cats with those names over the years!

Gracelynn · 30/08/2022 23:49

I like both!

SoftSheen · 30/08/2022 23:51

Barnaby

londonlass71 · 31/08/2022 00:01

Neither.

pinklavenders · 31/08/2022 06:34

I like both but prefer Ambrose

PritiPatelsMaker · 31/08/2022 06:51

Love Ambrose.

crossstitchingnana · 31/08/2022 06:54

The trend for names is definitely out there.

pimlicoanna · 31/08/2022 10:51

Wilbur is so much better than either of the proposed first names.

pinklavenders · 31/08/2022 11:04

Wilbur? I'm really not a fan personally

Ambrose and Barnaby are great classic names. Really like them both.

drpet49 · 31/08/2022 20:11

Barnaby

PutsFootInIt · 01/09/2022 23:24

I thought Ambrose was a girls name and makes me think of custard! I prefer Barnaby and I love Barney which it could be shortened to.

carefullycourageous · 01/09/2022 23:27

Neither, sorry.

Barnaby is a better sound but makes me think Midsummer. Ambrose is just custardy.

Both a bit pretentious.

LaLaLouella · 01/09/2022 23:28

Seriously? Both pretty awful tbh

KezzabellaB · 01/09/2022 23:30

Sorry not keen on either!

Hshhshsh · 01/09/2022 23:33

Custard