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Baby names

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

Jacob or Dylan for a boy?

45 replies

PrincessTitan · 13/04/2024 15:36

Brother to Noah.
Was set on Jacob, but love the meaning of Dylan "son of the sea".
Jacob 'family name' or Dylan Jacob (as don't want to completely met Jacob go).
Much thanks

OP posts:
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SittingBackAndWatchingTheClowns · 13/04/2024 15:39

It depends on your surname. If it's Jacobson, Jackson, Jones, Johnson, or anything like that - no to Jacob. I prefer Jacob to Dylan, though.

FastFashionFashionFast · 13/04/2024 15:42

Jacob is a lot nicer imo

ChrisPriss · 13/04/2024 15:43

Jacob

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/04/2024 15:45

I always think of Jacob Rees Mogg when I hear the name Jacob (he's our local MP so it's a name we hear a lot).

Glitterbiscuits · 13/04/2024 16:11

I think Dylan is an excellent choice.

HoldingOnForAHeron · 13/04/2024 16:34

Jacob. I don't like Dylan.

aSpanielintheworks · 13/04/2024 16:36

They are two of my favourite baby names, so I'd either go for Dylan Jacob, or Jacob Dylan.

Not too helpful!

SallyWD · 13/04/2024 16:45

I really like both but prefer Jacob

Berlinlover · 13/04/2024 16:47

They’re both lovely names, I couldn’t pick a favourite.

WhiteLeopard · 13/04/2024 16:48

I prefer Jacob

Moreteaandchocolate · 13/04/2024 17:01

Love both! Jacob just edges ahead for me I think as I love the short version “Jake”

Sunnnybunny72 · 13/04/2024 17:02

Jacob. Dislike Dylan.

itispersonal · 13/04/2024 17:10

I'd pick Jacob!

I would have used Dylan as a name before - but many of the children I have taught who have been challenging have been called Dylan!

Babyroobs · 13/04/2024 17:10

Jacob - lovely name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/04/2024 17:51

Both lovely names- but although Jacob makes more sense with Noah as a sibset (both being popular Biblical choices) , I actually prefer Dylan as I’m less keen on Jake (which in my experience most Jacobs get shortened to once in school).

Noah and Dylan definitely sounds nicer than Noah and Jake to me - they have softer sounds.

mathanxiety · 13/04/2024 18:05

I'd be really, really wary of any website or baby name book purporting to give meanings of names.

When it comes to Irish, Welsh, and Scottish names, they are often hilariously wrong.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/04/2024 18:15

Noah and Jacob make a logical sibset as Old Testament choices, so I would go for Jacob
as long as you can live with it becoming Jake when he is older. I’ve taught a few dozen Jacobs and would say that approx three-quarters of them become Jake at some point during secondary school.

HoldingOnForAHeron · 13/04/2024 18:15

I doubt that is the meaning of Dylan, @PrincessTitan .
See @mathanxiety 's post.
The MN ones are bad not hilarious.

Liv999 · 13/04/2024 18:40

Dylan is lovely, I think Jacob is an ugly name, I do love Jake by itself though!

RoseMartha · 13/04/2024 18:41

Jacob

PrincessTitan · 13/04/2024 18:48

Thank you everyone. Given your all talking about shortening it, would you say Jacob or Jake as given name?
@IamnotwhouthinkIam @ZoyaTheDestroyer

OP posts:
Thethingswedoforlove · 13/04/2024 18:56

Jacob is my favourite boys name ever. I have two dds. So I haven’t used it. But I love love love it.

Thethingswedoforlove · 13/04/2024 18:56

Jacob Jacob Jacob. Not Jake as given name. Is my strong preference

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/04/2024 19:23

Absolutely Jacob as the given name. It may never be shortened. I only mention it because I am endlessly amazed at the number of people who use a name despite hating the most common diminutive. It’s more likely than not that your Jacob would become Jake so you should only use it if you would be happy with that.

TheBirdintheCave · 13/04/2024 19:29

@PrincessTitan

This website is a trusted resource for name meanings:

www.behindthename.com/name/dylan