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Baby names

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

Original poster

Under the radar yet classic boy's names?

80 replies

TheBirdintheCave · 26/04/2023 11:59

Unfortunately, my last pregnancy ended in my second miscarriage in December. We're now just about to start our first IVF cycle (first stim tonight!) so have been talking about names again. With IVF we're apparently 6% more likely to have a boy (!) so, with that in mind:

1: What would you choose from our current list?
2: What else would you suggest that is similar?

I'd describe our style as being under the radar yet classic and we currently have one son called Gilbert.

Current list:

Edmond* (nn Ned)
Julian (or Jolyon)
Conrad
Colin
Leonard
Jory**

Middle names would be Richard Anthony (or the other way around).

*The French spelling after my great granddad.
** Husband is half Cornish so more Cornish options would be nice too.

OP posts:
Maraudingmarauders · 27/04/2023 16:05

TheBirdintheCave · 27/04/2023 10:20

I ran some of these names past husband last night. He likes all of the Cornish ones I mentioned but we both agree they just don't feel quite right with Gilbert for some reason.

He likes Lucian a lot more than I expected him to which was a nice surprise so that's officially on the list now. I keep trying to get him on board with Conrad but he's not a fan 😂 Malcolm and Dorian were another two we realised we both liked, though Dorian's lack of history taints it a little for me.

Edmond is still number one for us I think. In terms of spelling, I appreciate that the French way is not the go to but I'm pretty sure all Catherine/Katherines get by ok as do the myriad of Isobel/Isabelle/Ysabel/Ishbels etc. Even I have to spell my name out every time I say it and haven't found it too tedious yet after 36 years 😅

Thanks to everyone for all of your suggestions/responses thus far! I'll make a new list as/when we get pregnant and hopefully can refine some of our choices a little more.

Dorian is the name of an ancient Greek population from the 5th century BC if that helps at all for history! You don't get much older...

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 27/04/2023 16:12

What about Tristan, as a name with a Cornish connection which is also traditional and not overused?

WomensLandArmy · 27/04/2023 16:14

Petroc

Fiddledeedeeee · 27/04/2023 20:02

A couple of your names were on our list, so others we had were:

Alec
Laurence
Patrick
Miles

midsomermurderess · 27/04/2023 20:25

John. It seems to almost have disappeared, but what is not to like? Classic, traditional, strong.

Thighdentitycrisis · 27/04/2023 20:31

When I think classic underused names I always for some reason think of the apostles (I’m not Christian)

Mathew
Mark
Luke
Phillip
John
Peter
Paul
Simon
James
Bartholomew
Judas (Jude)

or you could have another ‘bert ending like Osbert

needacupoftea23 · 27/04/2023 20:42

I say Conrad only because my partner is called Conrad James (insert last name) and everyone comments on how you never really hear that name and his nick name is Cj we are only in our 20s and when I say con to people they automatically think Connor but then when I says "oh no his name is Conrad" they all say how unusual it is to hear that name in the younger generation ☺️

YellowFleece · 27/04/2023 20:45

I love Jory, Colin & Leonard.

I also like Cormoran for the Cornish connection, Ernest, Cyril, Morris, Abraham (Bram) and Victor

TiredOfCleaning · 29/04/2023 12:04

I came acorss a Peter and a Michael in my younger DS's swimming class today! Both circa 10 years old. I was charmed by both names!

Nimbostratus100 · 29/04/2023 14:06

has anyone suggested Philip?

Ambroserock · 29/04/2023 15:10

Edmond is a fabulous name.

Other underused classics that spring to mind that go well with Gilbert:
Walter
Ivo
Ancel
Vivian.

Cornishish connection with last one.

Pieceofpurplesky · 29/04/2023 15:15

I love Gordon nn Gordy. Old fashioned and cute - needs to be back out there.

CubeMorphine · 29/04/2023 16:00

Francis has always been one of my most favourite names. None of my children are names this because my husband hates it and says it's too posh. I love it though.

orangeflags · 29/04/2023 16:33

Michael. But I'm really saying that because of the John Travolta film which I love

Buebananas · 29/04/2023 16:49

I think there are still way too many middle aged Michaels/Mikes around. We know at least 10 aged 44-60, along with Steves!

Gonegrey31 · 29/04/2023 16:53

Ralph
Arthur
Raymond
Hereward

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 29/04/2023 17:01

Christopher. Hugely under the radar now, but I predict a comeback soon 😉

Buebananas · 29/04/2023 17:06

I predict these to rise in popularity over the next few years:

Leonard
Christopher
Quentin
Philip
Jonathan

DingsBum · 29/04/2023 17:06

Vincent (Vinnie for short)
Francis (Frank/ie for short)
Leonard or Lennie 😍

(I do like Gilbert, apparently in mediaeval times it was the top name for cats, so much so that Gyb became colloquial name for all cats!)

Delphigirl · 29/04/2023 17:15

Came on here to say Gilbert!

But May I also suggest as an excellent, old, aristocratic and basically unused name - Sylvester? So cool. Gilbert and Sylvester.

Also instead of Edmund / Edmond, may I suggest Esmond as a good alternative.

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/04/2023 23:59

I like Leonard from your list

Too early for a Colin revival I think and I’m not a Conrad fan

Jago is a nice Cornish name
Corin
Patrick
Laurence
Dashiell
Ignatius
Diggory
Barnabas / Barnaby
Fabian
Lucian
Douglas
Duncan
Justin
Gideon

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 30/04/2023 14:38

I like Anthony (as a first or middle name). Julian is also quite lovely.

Leonard/Leo is by far my favourite.
Jonathan?

Delphigirl · 30/04/2023 14:43

Oooh bravo @Luredbyapomegranate for Dashiell! That gets my vote. Gilbert and Dashiell.

Longdarkcloud · 30/04/2023 15:35

Unfortunately the Colin’s I’ve met over my long life have been far from inspiring.
Colin means “little Nicolas” so you could go for Nicolas/Nicholas.
Any way, good luck OP and come back for more options in a few months

Frankley · 30/04/2023 16:07

Hector