Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Maurice vs Atticus vs Wilbur

69 replies

Bearfriend · 25/02/2023 01:33

These are the top three options and I’m interested to hear some thoughts because I’m a bit torn.

Maurice- My personal favorite honestly, but I asked my mother and sister about it and they weren’t big fans. I like the idea of a nickname being Marcy. Reminds me of the novel by E.M Forster.

Atticus- I love the name kit but feel it would be too short as a first name and it could be a nickname for Atticus.

Wilbur- A variation on William as I find it’s quite popular, however, we already have a Winnifred and not sure if they’re too similar being w names. There’s the possibility of being a Will or Bertie, and also Wilby which I think is quite cute.

Also open to similar classic, a bit old-fashioned style name suggestions!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Reddahlias · 25/02/2023 15:13

And I hope most other teachers are more open minded

Luredbyapomegranate · 25/02/2023 15:33

Atticus - great name

Maurice is alright

Wilbur is a bit twee and too much so when partnered with Winnifred

AnnieMore · 25/02/2023 15:42

Maurice is too mimsy.

I love Atticus but I know 2. Also love Wilbur. I know 2 Wilfs but no Wilburs.

ourflagmeansdeath · 25/02/2023 15:47

I really do love Wilbur but it will be associated with the Minecraft Streamer called Wilbur Soot with the younger generation who my daughter used to love. Maurice seems feminine to me, not too sure why. I do like Atticus, the character in To Kill a Mockingbird is great!

WaltzingWaters · 25/02/2023 15:52

Marcy is very feminine. Not keen on Maurice at all.
kit short for Atticus is nice. That’s my pick!

MsJuniper · 25/02/2023 17:09

I teach a Maurice and have absolutely no issue saying his (or any other) name multiple times a day!

Stoater · 26/02/2023 20:47

SpringIntoChaos · 25/02/2023 12:26

Obviously this is your baby you're naming, so 🤷‍♀️

But as you've asked for opinions...to me they are all just really ugly names...and I do apologise OP as I know that sounds mean, and that's not my intention at all.

I call out a register of 30 x Year 2 children twice a day, so I do hear (and say) lots of names. I just can't put a face to a 6 year old boy called Wilbur, Maurice or Atticus, or imagine saying these names tens of times a day (as teachers have to do). Teachers generally don't use family nicknames either (unless you specifically ask them to do so) so I'd be calling 'Atticus, it's your turn to give out the milk today.' Or "Maurice Smith, please stop licking Wilbur's shoe!'

Also, my daughter had a rat called Wilbur 🤷‍♀️

You are really quite rude. It's personal choice. These names are actually real names too that real people have.

toastofthetown · 26/02/2023 21:57

Maurice - I don’t have any strong view on this, other than pronunciation confusion which other posters have mentioned. I don’t like Marcy as a nickname and I think it would a tough one to make stick. Mo is cute though.

Atticus - ‘I want people to think I’m cultured and well read, but actually I’ve only read a Dan Brown book since leaving school’. Might not be fair or accurate, but that’s how I feel about people naming their children Atticus. Kit is also a bit of stretch, so if you like like, just use Kit.

Wilbur - I think Wilbur is sweet, but I wouldn’t use as Will is the obvious diminutive and it’s not for me. Bertie (as with your other names) feels a bit far removed.

peaceinourtime · 01/03/2023 21:52

I've known one Atticus, its a nice name. Maurice is also nice. I think for nicknames they can come from anything, for example I use a Albie whose birth name is Donald and its not a middle name.

Daisychained8 · 01/03/2023 23:27

LOVE Wilbur.
Like Atticus.
Dislike Maurice.

AnotherSpare · 02/03/2023 00:23

Congratulations on having a Winnifred, what a wonderful choice of name!

My grandad was Wilby so that's my first choice from your list. Second choice Maurice, though I don't think Marcy is a good nickname for a boy, that's definitely considered a girl's name.

Lavender14 · 02/03/2023 00:24

I'd go Wilbur as a first choice, Atticus as a second. I would get put off Maurice because he could get Moe as his nickname which makes me think of the Simpsons!

Hobbesmanc · 02/03/2023 07:35

I love Winifred! Such a cool girls name.

Not a fan of Maurice especially with the Mau Rees pronunciation. Morris is a little better. Only one I know gets Moz.

Love Atticus. But if you want Kit why not go for Christopher or Kester.

Reddahlias · 02/03/2023 08:05

I really like Maurice and think it's due a revival!

FriedasCarLoad · 02/03/2023 08:12

I LOVE Maurice.

Quite like Wilbur.

Not so keen on Atticus, but it's neither bad nor boring, so I'd prefer it to plenty of other choices!

SamSmithsGoldenShower · 02/03/2023 10:39

They're all terrible Confused

User6761 · 02/03/2023 10:53

My son loves Winnie and Wilbur books so those names together just make me think of that book series.

Atticus is an ok name but very (too?) strongly associated with TKAMB for me.

Maurice is an ok name (I'm presuming pronounced Morris), not one I'd choose myself but a nice chance to all the 'ie' boys names.

Like PP suggestion of Lawrence.
How about Francis, Nicholas, Miles, Timothy, Matthew?

Ameanstreakamilewide · 02/03/2023 13:32

Bearfriend · 25/02/2023 01:33

These are the top three options and I’m interested to hear some thoughts because I’m a bit torn.

Maurice- My personal favorite honestly, but I asked my mother and sister about it and they weren’t big fans. I like the idea of a nickname being Marcy. Reminds me of the novel by E.M Forster.

Atticus- I love the name kit but feel it would be too short as a first name and it could be a nickname for Atticus.

Wilbur- A variation on William as I find it’s quite popular, however, we already have a Winnifred and not sure if they’re too similar being w names. There’s the possibility of being a Will or Bertie, and also Wilby which I think is quite cute.

Also open to similar classic, a bit old-fashioned style name suggestions!

Or perhaps you could just choose normal, human names?

daisypond · 02/03/2023 19:41

I know both a Maurice and an Atticus -they’re both in their 50s.

I really like Maurice. It’s a great name -pronounced Morris.

Atticus is now too associated with To Kill A Mocking Bird.

Wilbur is the pig, I’m afraid. Wilfred is a million times better.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread